I'm a US citizen. I was working for a school under a non-immigrant O visa. I was mistreated and the conditions at the school were hazardous (it was next to a mine), so I wrote a letter of resignation and left. There were other Americans working at the school and they felt the same way I did, and my leaving caused them to get angry and threaten to leave too. I would like to stay in Thailand a bit and take in some much-deserved holiday time, but my former employer has written me a threatening e-mail, essentially saying I need to pay back my airfare ("scholarship") and return to the USA immediately, as my work permit is cancelled.

 

What are my options here for staying? Can I travel to Myanmar and come back in a week on a visa-free entry? 

Your work permit doesn't give you permission to stay.

• IF you have an extension of stay (not a visa) based on the work your permission to stay becomes void once the work permit is cancelled and you need to leave or arrange an new extension of stay.
• IF your current permission to stay is 90 days from a recent visa entry ("non-immigrant O") then you can stay until the end of the 90 days without any problem.
• You can exit at some borders and immediately return for a 30 day visa exempt entry that can be extended by 30 days at immigration for 1,900 baht. But most Thai/Myanmar borders don't allow immediate re-entry.
• If you stayed in Myanmar for 1 week you should have no problem re-entering using visa exempt entry as long as you don't have a recent history of too many visa exempt entries.

Edited September 4, 20169 yr by elviajero

In case A you can get a 7 day extension pretty easily, but you need to be aware you're supposed to leave immediately. I'm not quite sure how that works. Like 24 hours from when, to when. Also you need to be aware that canceĺling a work permit ain't so easy. They need to give you a formal letter of termination, which you have to take to immigration, and sort out your status from there. I changed from work to retirement. I don't think saying your work permit is terminated means anything without the back-up documentation. 

If they paid your airfare and there is a clause in your contract about paying the money back if you leave early then you have to pay. As they probably have a copy of your passport it is pretty easy for them to get you arrested if you don't pay up. No clause in the contract than nothing to worry about.

Next to a mine ?

You talking mineral mine or one that could blow up !

If it was the second choice. I don't believe they would leave a bomb next to kids.

If it is first choice, why do you think it is such a big problem ? Why didn't the other teachers leave ?

How long has the school been at this location ?

Tell us the name of the school please.