Change employer without leaving Thailand.

[Label89]

Hello. I am working in Thailand (engineer). I am going to change a company. So for this I need to make a new non-B visa. Is it possible to make a new visa without leaving Thailand? Can someone recommend agency in bkk, who can make it, please?

Best regards?

[ubonjoe]

You cannot get a new non-b visa without leaving the country. If you had a valid multiple entry non-b visa issued by a embassy or consulate you could easily change employers.

If you are on an extension of stay based upon working for a company issued by immigration it is possible to change employers. Both have to cooperate to do it. 

You new employer has to apply for your new work permit and obtain a application approval letter for it. Then you would need a termination letter stating your last day of work to cancel your current extension so that you could apply for a new one using the approval letter and supporting documents from your new employer.

[Label89]

The new company told me that Ministry of labour not approve wp3 form. So for it approval I had to move out from Thailand and waiting for 10days abroad. After new company will get approval of wp3 form they will send it to me to Lao and I can apply for new non-b visa. Is it a correct procedure?

[perthperson]

58 minutes ago, Label89 said:

The new company told me that Ministry of labour not approve wp3 form. So for it approval I had to move out from Thailand and waiting for 10days abroad. After new company will get approval of wp3 form they will send it to me to Lao and I can apply for new non-b visa. Is it a correct procedure?

Ubon J (post number 2) has outlined the correct procedure. 

[Label89]

So, I have to wait in Lao for wait wp3 form during 10 days??

[ubonjoe]

8 hours ago, Label89 said:

So, I have to wait in Lao for wait wp3 form during 10 days??

You should not have to wait outside the country.

The company should be able to do a standard WP1 work permit application and obtain a work permit application approval letter that you can use to apply for your visa. It is done all the time.

[VocalNeal]

^ What he said but you will have to leave the country and apply for another visa. 

 

[Label89]

11 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You should not have to wait outside the country.

The company should be able to do a standard WP1 work permit application and obtain a work permit application approval letter that you can use to apply for your visa. It is done all the time.

Do I need to resign from previous job to get WP1 from new company? Because after resign I have to move out from Thailand. So if WP1 can get only after resign from old company, I have to move out and wait when new company will make wp1 for apply a new visa. 

[perthperson]

On 7/15/2017 at 8:07 AM, ubonjoe said:

If you are on an extension of stay based upon working for a company issued by immigration it is possible to change employers. Both have to cooperate to do it. 

You new employer has to apply for your new work permit and obtain a application approval letter for it. Then you would need a termination letter stating your last day of work to cancel your current extension so that you could apply for a new one using the approval letter and supporting documents from your new employe

You seem not to have read this from post #2.....................

 

 

"You cannot get a new non-b visa without leaving the country. If you had a valid multiple entry non-b visa issued by a embassy or consulate you could easily change employers.

If you are on an extension of stay based upon working for a company issued by immigration it is possible to change employers. Both have to cooperate to do it. 

You new employer has to apply for your new work permit and obtain a application approval letter for it. Then you would need a termination letter stating your last day of work to cancel your current extension so that you could apply for a new one using the approval letter and supporting documents from your new employer."

 

 

[Label89]

9 hours ago, perthperson said:

You seem not to have read this from post #2.....................

 

You new employer has to apply for your new work permit and obtain a application approval letter for it. Then you would need a termination letter stating your last day of work to cancel your current extension so that you could apply for a new one using the approval letter and supporting documents from your new employer."

 

 

My new employer told me, that Ministry of labour did not approve wp3 form, coz I am working in Thailand. So for approval of wp3 form I need to resign from previous job. So how can I get application approval letter for new company without resign and canceling of my existing visa?

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, Label89 said:

My new employer told me, that Ministry of labour did not approve wp3 form, coz I am working in Thailand. So for approval of wp3 form I need to resign from previous job. So how can I get application approval letter for new company without resign and canceling of my existing visa?

A WP3 cannot be used to apply for a work permit unless you are not in the country. Title states this "W.P.3 TNE APPLICANT HAS NOT YET ENTERED THAILAND. THE EMPLOYER IS RESONSIBLE FOR APPLYING FOR A WORK PERMIT ON HIS OR HER BEHALF"

The new employer should use a WP1 to apply for your work permit to get a work permit approval letter. The new work permit will not be issued until your current one is canceled.

[heretostay]

My two cents:  I have done it (changed companies)!  And switched provinces in the process. I did not leave the country.

It's complicated.  There are many steps.  And fees.  But it IS doable - without an agent.  The main support must be provided by the new employer.

Good luck to you and hope it works out!

[Label89]

32 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A WP3 cannot be used to apply for a work permit unless you are not in the country. Title states this "W.P.3 TNE APPLICANT HAS NOT YET ENTERED THAILAND. THE EMPLOYER IS RESONSIBLE FOR APPLYING FOR A WORK PERMIT ON HIS OR HER BEHALF"

The new employer should use a WP1 to apply for your work permit to get a work permit approval letter. The new work permit will not be issued until your current one is canceled.

So what documents do I need to get from new employer for apply a new visa at Lao? And can I get all necessary documents for new non-b visa before resign from old company and canceling existing visa?

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, heretostay said:

My two cents:  I have done it (changed companies)!  And switched provinces in the process. I did not leave the country.

It's complicated.  There are many steps.  And fees.  But it IS doable - without an agent.  The main support must be provided by the new employer.

Good luck to you and hope it works out!

was the old employer involved ? if someone resigns, there may be hard feelings from the old employer and they may refuse to cooperate in any way (especially if the new employer is a competitor); 

[heretostay]

3 hours ago, YetAnother said:

was the old employer involved ? if someone resigns, there may be hard feelings from the old employer and they may refuse to cooperate in any way (especially if the new employer is a competitor); 

No, the old employer simply provides the confirmation letter that employment has ended.  They may or may not return the WP to the Labor Ministry.

Most of the work is on the new employer, with multiple visits to Immigration and Labor.

 

 

[perthperson]

5 hours ago, Label89 said:

So what documents do I need to get from new employer for apply a new visa at Lao? And can I get all necessary documents for new non-b visa before resign from old company and canceling existing visa?

IF you have a valid visa it will not be cancelled.

Are you making 90 day reports to immigration or leaving the country every 90 days? 

[Label89]

3 hours ago, perthperson said:

IF you have a valid visa it will not be cancelled.

Are you making 90 day reports to immigration or leaving the country every 90 days? 

I just go to immigration for 90 days notification. Did not leave a country.

If I resign from company and they will cancel my WP. My visa will be cancelled immediately in the same day

[heretostay]

Yes, your visa runs out as soon as your WP runs out, which happens on your last day of work at the current company.

On that day, you need to go to immigration and get a seven-day extension and make sure your new employer is ready to run the race that will follow.

Soooo....

Please go to your the new employer and ensure that they know how to get a new WP for you.  If they failed the first time with WP3, they should try again with WP1, as someone mentioned earlier.  If they do not show their willingness to go through these hoops, then I think you need to forget this new job.  The new employer is the key to getting through the immigration/labor process.  

 

1. Last day of employment (letter of termination of employment), go to immigration for 7-day extension

2. Labor ministry for WP extension, which will probably be issued with three-month validity; must be issued within the 7 days of the visa extension 

3. Immigration to get visa extension to end of validity of WP

4. Labor ministry to get new WP extension, for full year

5. Immigration to extend permit to stay for full validity of WP

 

This was my experience.

 

Good luck.

[Label89]

heretostay, for example, if the last working day is 1st August, so can I get visa extension on 25 July until 7 August? Or I have to go to Immigration for visa extension on 1st August?

[heretostay]

6 hours ago, Label89 said:

heretostay, for example, if the last working day is 1st August, so can I get visa extension on 25 July until 7 August? Or I have to go to Immigration for visa extension on 1st August?

I'm no expert, but it seems to me that you cannot do any of it in advance, which is part of the challenge.  But why not give it a try?  In the worst case, on 25 July they will deny you the 7-day extension and have you come back on 1 August.  Let us know how you fare!

[Label89]

heretostay, sorry, I don't have much  time for experimenting, haha. Did you make all steps to change your company without leaving Thailand by yourself? Did you use any visa agency? Can you give me them contacts, please;) PM, please;)

[travelbucho]

While several members in this forum and my personal experience confirm that a 1yr ME Non-B visa (obtained abroad) remains valid when you cancel your WP,  I’m wondering if anyone has a link or document with official government information that really confirms this?

I’m asking because I will be changing jobs like the OP but my new employer doesn’t have experience with my type of visa and would like me to get that verified, just in case.  

 

Also in reference to having to show a WP when doing a border run with that visa. While the visa might remain valid after cancelling your WP, it doesn’t seem to guarantee that you can re-enter anymore for example.  Is there anything else one could do when doing a border run but doesn’t have the WP anymore?  E.g. proof of application for the new WP?  Or would it be best to first re-enter the country with Visa & old WP so you have 90 days, during which you then cancel the old WP and obtain the new one?

 

Finally, I’ve noted that some of my previous 1yr Non-B visas had the name of the company written on them under 'Remarks'. (On my current one it is left  blank though).  If your visa has a specific company written on it, would that visa also still be valid when you cancel the WP?
The point has been made in other forum points that extensions of stay do get cancelled with the WP because the reason for which they are granted ends … e.g employment. So I’m wondering if that can be applicable to a visa as well since it’s essentially granted specifically for that reason too?  

 

Thanks.

[heretostay]

No idea on the 1-year ME Non-B.  When I did it, the Non-B was only issued for three months, during which time I got a WP and extension of stay for a full year.

 

To be sure about it, have your employer call Immigration or, surest way, go there and ask.  They may be able to give you some sort of document with the rules.  I have had luck doing it that way in the past.  Time-consuming but, in the end, more efficient.