Changing Jobs

[somtaran]

What are the implications of this regarding my visa situation.

I am currently teaching out in the sticks and I want to move to Bangkok in a few weeks and get a new job. For reasons that I cannot go into I cannot give my current employer any notice, so

basically I am just going to DO ONE. Where do I stand reagarding my visa. My 1 year visa is

valid until January.

[jomama]

The problem you might have is with your work permit. Your present employer has to release it so it can be used elsewhere. If they don't sign off, it's hard to get it reissued.

[somtaran]

The problem you might have is with your work permit. Your present employer has to release it so it can be used elsewhere. If they don't sign off, it's hard to get it reissued.

Are you saying that I must return my work permit to my present employer.

[Loaded]

It could be messy.

If the school cancels your wp you have 7 days to leave the country or your visa will be cancelled and you'll be on overstay, as I understand it. If they don't cancel, I think you can by yourself.

the visa thing does confuse me though, because you have a valid non-immB extended by immigration to match the term of your wp. Check the visa thing before you upsticks.

[otherstuff1957]

Actually, you are in a catch22 situtation here (but you're not alone!). One one hand, if your school cancels your Work Permit, your visa will be cancelled and you will have 7 days to leave the country. Unless the Labor Dept. forgets to inform Immigration, in which case your visa will remain valid.

On the other hand, if your school doesn't cancel your Work Permit, you will not be able to get a new Work Permit and will not be able to work legally! Of course - on the bright side - your visa will remain valid until it's expiration date .

I would not recommend giving your Work Permit to your school. When you leave your current job you need to give it back to the Labor Ministry. If you don't you have to report it lost (at a police station) and pay a fine.

The upshot of all this is that if you have a Work Permit and want to work and stay legally in Thailand, your current employer has to agree to let you go and has to do their end of the paperwork correctly. If they are not willing to let you go OR if they simply don't know how to cancel your Work Permit properly, you are stuck.

[Scott]

As difficult as it may be, the best thing is to inform your employer that you are leaving. There usually isn't too much of a big problem if you lie to them....tell them that someone in your family is sick and you must return to your country.

Where I work, our employer has been most gracious in things like this as long as she can save face. Since your next plan is to work in BKK, you might want to secure a job and take things from there. The employer doesn't need to know you never left the country.

Of course the best thing is to be completely up front, but that doesn't always work well.

Our school may be looking for teachers so if you want to PM me, that would be OK.