I hold an Australian passport and currently have a Media work permit. I have been offered another role with another company, which I understand would then be a” non-immigrant visa B” work permit.

My query is, who actually cancels my current work permit? Me or my employer? How is this done? And once it is cancelled, how long do I have until I have to leave Thailand?

Also for the non-immigrant B visa – can I remain in Thailand on a tourist visa while this is being processed? Does any application of it need to be done at an embassy outside Thailand?

Work permits are issued for the type of work you are doing not by the class of non immigrant visa you have.

Your employer can cancel your work permit with your permission or you can do it your self.

After you work permit is canceled you need to cancel your extension of stay at immigration if you have one. Visas are not canceled.

There is no time to leave after your extension is canceled unless you got it at the one stop center in Bangkok which still allows 7 days. Otherwise you have to leave on the date it is canceled unless you apply for a 7 day extension.

It is possible to to change from a tourist visa to a 90 day non immigrant visa (class b ) entry at Bangkok immigration. Most people need to go out for a non-b visa.

Thanks – you state: “After you work permit is canceled you need to cancel your extension of stay at immigration if you have one. Visas are not canceled.”

What do you mean by an “extension of stay”. I am unsure what that is? I have yet to do my first 90-day reporting – which currently ends on July 18. Does that mean if my work permit is cancelled before then I have until July 18 to leave Thailand?

Essentially what I am trying to do is this:

Once my M work permit is cancelled, I want to remain in Thailand until my new work permit is granted (and I assume from what your saying I need to leave Thailand to do that). So how do I do this?

If you are going to be due a report of staying longer than 90 days in the country you must have an extension of stay.

You probably had a single entry non-m visa that allowed you a 90 day permit to stay when you entered the country. Then you obtained an extension of that 90 days at an immigration office.

Once your current work permit is canceled you will not legally be able to stay in the country. You will have to leave and get a tourist or visa exempt entry so that your new employer can apply for your new work permit.

further to this:

My employer has said they need my passport to be able to cancel my work permit. Is that correct? therefore, it makes it difficult to fly out on the exact same day as logistically I don't know what time I would get my passport back, and then have to head to the airport to leave. Or is it wrong that they need my passport to cancel my work permit?

How do I apply for the seven day extension once my work permit is cancelled? can i do it online?

further to this:

My employer has said they need my passport to be able to cancel my work permit. Is that correct? therefore, it makes it difficult to fly out on the exact same day as logistically I don't know what time I would get my passport back, and then have to head to the airport to leave. Or is it wrong that they need my passport to cancel my work permit?

How do I apply for the seven day extension once my work permit is cancelled? can i do it online?

Canceling the work permit does not normally immediately cancel your extension.

Since you had a non-m visa I suspect your extension was obtained at the one stop center in Bangkok who give the 7 days without needing to apply for an extension.

No extension can be applied for online. You could apply for the 7 days with a letter from your employer stating the last day you will be working to cancel your current extension.