seeker108

More questions about non-profits.

Do they have a seperate legal existence in Thailand

Can they be set up under the Amity treaty?

Do they receive any special considerations?

Thanks all for any help on this new twist.

I am now looking at setting up in Thailand, what we would call in USA, a non-profit organization. Is there such a distinction here in LOS and does anyone know if there are any tax breaks and/or other special considerations given to them?

Thanks for any info.

seeker

I see no problem getting either the non imm O or non imm B from any of several of the Honorary consulates in the USA. I have talked to 4 of them and they all made it clear that it was a rubber stamp process as long as you meet the simple requirements.

However, as TF1 points out, I don't think there is any way for you to get the 1 year extension for an O visa other than investment, since you do not have a Thai family and are too young for the O A retirement.

However if you have any interest in doing any kind of business in or from Thailand then maybe getting a non imm B is a good way for you to go and then you can avoid the visa runs. And if you make at least enough to offset the expense of having the business then well worth it. And additionally it may entertain you and/or make you rich.

See my recent thread that really covers this option as I am looking now at going this route:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=50759

seeker

Somehow I had previously had the wrong impression that getting a B visa was quite a bit more difficult. This is not the case. I just spoke with 3 different honorary consulates in the states. You can go through them and it is the same cost ($50 single entry; $125 multiole entry), time (1 day processing) and requirements except that you also need a letter (which, according to one honorary consul, you can write yourself) stating that you are going to Thailand to look at the possibility of starting up a business).

So now I plan on coming in with the non B and therefor no need to worry about any possible complication of switching visa status in LOS. I will also pay the extra $75 and get the multiple entry so that I am not rushed in setting up the 'big' company, hiring 4 employees, paying more taxes, etc and can do 1 or more 90 day visa runs while everything is coming together if need be. Probably will be setup well before 90 days, but the $75 will have bought peace of mind. This, I believe, now ends all of my visa and extension questions.

Still there is the question of where the 2 million baht must reside. Does it need to come into Thailand or can I show these funds in a foreign bank? I have looked a bit more at www.lawyer.th.com and see that there will be all sorts of interesting things that will need to be explored.

seeker

I just realized that I have not touched on the non-profit aspect of things. Are there any special requirements for setting up a non-profit company and can one get the B visa having set up a non-profit (assuming still the 4 Thai employees at 5,250 and self at 60K)?

Again, great replies, Sunbelt. By the way, please email or PM me so we can be in contact with regard to setting up the company.

And thank you also Mattnich for your input.

Now a couple of more questions. What are the requirements with the 2 million baht capitalization? Where does the money need to be and how often is it looked for?

Next, I read in one post that it was a nightmare to switch from one visa status to another. Is this true? What is involved?

If I come in on the non-imm O, toward the end of the first 90 days when I go in to immigration to apply for the 1 year extension, can the extension be granted just on the basis of still looking around and considering my options or do I need to commit one way or the other to either retirement or business?

If I can't get a "look at options" 1 year extension and I plan on setting up the ‘big’ Thai limited company within say the next 180 days then which option (90 day run or retirement status) would it be easier to switch from (to the B visa based on business). If the switching process is about equal then I would opt for getting the retirement status at the end of that first 90 days (even if it costs a few more baht, and assuming I do not yet need to engage in anything resembling work) as visa runs are not high on my pleasure list.

I look forward to the next installment from sunbelt or any of our other resident visa gurus.

Thanks Sunbelt for the quick and clear responses. This now brings up a couple of other questions. Also I woud like to clarify two points that seem contradictory to my untrained eyes which I will highlight in Red

The advantage of a "B” is if you apply for the extension of stay based on business you will not need to change from another class of visa to "B" to do the extension of stay.  If you plan on doing visa runs every 90 days then the class of visa is meaningless.  .....

The first stage before you set up the company is to obtain the visa. If you decide to go with the "B" you need a Thai company to sponsor you which we can do.

Your company is formed and then you apply for the work permit. At that point you need to know if you will employ 4 Thais with at least a minimum salary of 5,250 per month and you yourself will get a minimum salary of 60,000 Baht per month. If the answer is "yes" then you can apply for the extension of stay based on business. Every year you would renew your work permit and visa. You do not need to leave Thailand ever with this type of visa.

If the answer is "no" on employing 4 Thais and your minimum salary, you simply do a visa run every 90 days and extend your work permit. You do not need any Thai employees or a minimum salary of 60,000 Baht with this method. Every year you simply obtain a multi entry non B with your company being the sponsor. The work permit would also be renewed on an annual basis.

We look forward to helping you.

www.lawyer.th.com

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Re help, you already greatly have. And since we are doing this in the context of the forum, hopefully it is helping many others as well.

From the first comment in red I inferred that I could come in with the O and continue with that if I were to take the 90 day visa run option. In the second comment in red you seem to specify that it must be the non B. Is that the case or could one obtain a renewel of any of the appropriate non imm visas and here you were just using the non B as one example?

On to other questions that your replies have prompted:

What are the different legal/governmental expenses (both initial and annual) involved in setting up the two different types of companies that you mention? (let's call them 'small' and 'big' for simplicity).

Most likely within the first year, if all goes even half well, I will have no choice but to chose the 'big' company option (if I have not done so, right from the beginning), but let's look at the small option first as that seems less straight forward and may be of more interest to others reading this in any case.

Let's see if I have this straight and let's assume that I decide to come in with the non O and therefor the visa step is alredy accomplished.

Ok, then the next step is to legally set up the 'small' company and apply for my work permit on this basis (all needing to be done within the first 90 days). Now comes a tricky part. If I have a 1 year non O (or B for that matter) visa and I have an established business and a work permit, why am I now needing to make a visa run?

I am not doubting you, but just wondering why. If I am in on the non O and I am still wanting to look at my options for either doing business or retiring then I would normally be stamped as in process and then granted a 1 year renewal within some short time after the interview and this could go on every year like this, never needing to leave the country (or have I got this wrong and this is only possible if you have chosen the retirement option?).

Hmm, getting late here and I need to hit the sack. The rest of the questions will need to wait.

thanks again.

seeker

Well, months ago I thought I had it all figured out and really researched here and elsewhere about O visa and retirement. Result of research - come back into Thailand with non-imm O and then probably get the retirement status after I am in LOS (or maybe get B visa). Well, my thinking has changed regarding my plans in Thailand and it is getting to be time to apply for the visa and I am now wondering if I should get a B visa right from the start.

I just did some searching for more info about B visa - requirements basic premise, etc. and came up with hundreds of results but not much useful information so far. Hence I am throwing myself at the mercy of our wonderful group here and seeking some direction for finding what I need. Either direct posting here or referring me to some other thread(s) where I can find the info I need will be extremely welcome.

Here are the basic facts. I am American, no Thai wife or children. I have lived in LOS off and on over the past several years, doing the visa run routine.

I am thinking more and more that I would like to start up a business or a non-profit organization for the purpose of providing gainful employment to as many Thais as possible and to try to accomplish something good in the world in general. Hopefully accomplishing something good in other parts of the globe will accomplish supporting the endeavor in Thailand. I would personally not need to take income in Thailand from this and probably would not, but would obviously need to be earning money, at least for a business or non-profit overseas, which would then channel the needed funds to Thailand. I already know that even if no income came to us in Thailand, just the fact that I am engaged in anything resembling work means that I will need a work permit. I do want everything about this to be 100% above board.

I believe that I can get a work permit whether I am in Thailand with an O or B visa. O visas are very easy to obtain from the USA. I don't know about the B visa. Actually I know almost nothing about B visas.

So here are the questions: Do I need a B visa to be running either a non-profit or a company or can it be done on an O visa with a work permit (without having a Thai family to support). I suspect that the former will be true, at least eventually.

Is there any advantage to getting the B visa before coming or just wait to see if this whole thing realy flies. Or maybe, even if it is better to come in with the O, perhaps I need to get the B and/or a work permit before I engage in even looking for local people who want to work with this?

Finally, I know what I need for the O visa, but what is required for the B visa on an annual basis? Money in Bank or in company? Sponsoring company until I get the new entity set up? Minimum number of employees? Sunbelt - feel free to post or contact me. A brief look at your site showed a very reasonable fee for setting up a company, which I am sure I will need help with.

Thanks all for any help with this. Again, feel free to refer me to other threads or other web sites to find what I need to know.

seeker

Hi all

Seen this thread for other places so its CM's turn.

I absolutley love Indian curry in fact my fav is a Chicken Makharni nice and almondy!

So where can I find the best Indian curry house in CM.

Thanks

Ash

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It has been covered here as well. Just do a search on curry or Indian. Here is one recent thread where a couple of places were mentioned.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=41497

I tried many places 2 years back and never found one that really satisfied me (except cooked by me at home). Maybe the ones mentioned in the above thread are good but I had not found them or they did not yet exist when I was last there. Hopefully we will hear about other good Indian curry restaurants in this thread.

Chiang Mai is definitely not like BKK in this regard. At least in BKK you could find a few really good places for Indian curry (some reasonably priced and some elegant and expensive).

If memory serves me that location is not far from the 700 year stadium and still about 5 km short of Mae Rim market. I see all of the phone numbers at the bottom of the brochure. Does anyone know which one I call to reach some head honcho? Not that it will do any good, but I would like to suggest that they stretch that route.

Thanks.

seeker

I have to admit I was proven wrong - and in a good way.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

We definitely have a great group here. Friendliest and most helpful forum on Thaivisa and probably in all the world (well, all that I have seen so far).

Thanks Ajarn for Steve's #. I had a nice chat with him earlier.

It seems that most of the Japanese folks tend to cluster in the various condo complexes and unless you live in them, you might not see them much. They tend to cloister themselves somewhat and stay close to home as the vast majority speak neither Thai nor English. Apparently there will soon be some new condo complexes east of the Ping geared mainly toward the needs of the growing retired Japanese community.

Thanks p1p. I will contact you when this gets closer to happening.

Thanks again to all for the so typically helpful posts from the CM forum!

Thanks all for your helpful replies thus far.

I hope to find out what areas or moo baans there are where retired Japanese tend to cluster. Especially outside of the downtown area where it might be a bit more quiet and not so pricey.

My friend will also do some Japanese searches.

Thanks again.

seeker

Chiang Mai Tourist Police: Tel.(053) 248130, 248974, 699

I am not sure, but those last 3 digits may be for local use (like 911 in the states?)

Good luck Daniel. Maybe they can help you to find where she is staying and you can talk to her. Be patient and polite when dealing with the police. They probably have rules about how much they can tell you. Maybe they could track her down and ask her to call you. Or maybe they can tell you of any hostels owned by Japanese.

Hopefully your friend is fine, but just feeling a but low.

seeker

Two more thoughts. If anyone is willing to call around a bit to hostels, etc., then also PM danielr for the needed info. Also maybe someone can post here contact info for the tourist police.

Daniel, as soon as someone does PM you and says they are willing to contact the tourist police for you, then please post here so that multiple calls are not going out to the TP.

seeker

Ok, now we are getting somewhere. If this is urgent, then by depressed, I guess you fear she is feeling suicidal.

When did you get this last message from her? Has she said anything else that would give a clue as to what part of town she is in?

I am currently not in Chiang Mai, but maybe one of the other gents here could PM you and get the name and some description from you and would then be willing to contact the tourist police to enlist their aid.

Anyone else have any other thought?

Daniel,

Slow down and take a breath. This is all quite abrupt and vague. Who is the "she" you are looking for and who are you and why are you concerned and looking for her? What is the connection with the half Japanese owner of a backpacker hostel? If you are a bit more clear and forthcoming with information then perhaps someone can better help you. If there is something urgent then maybe even someone would be willing to make some calls for you.

seeker

Come on guys and gals. Does no one here know anything about the Japanese communities or moo bahns in the CNX area?

Admitedly I knew nothing about it when I was there, except to know there was a consulate. It is a bigger community than I thought. Here is a bit from a search that I just did.

"The Japanese Community is amongst the largest foreign communities in the north with over 1,800 Japanese residents."

http://www.chiangmai-mail.com/083/features.shtml

Does anyone know if there is a community of Japanese in Chiang Mai that would be good for an older retired Japanese couple? Just looking for a quiet place to retire. Or any other part of Thailand with a quiet Japanese community? (not BKK or Pataya or Phuket)

Thanks for any info

Thanks again stateman. I am curious as to what map you are looking at to see this detail of where the army base is. Please post a link if it is online.

Logically I agree with you and would have thought so myself, but TIT.

I will certainly try to go that far when I get back in town, but we will see. Wow! Real aircon bus rides around Chiang Mai! I may hardly ever drive.

BTW, you are correct about the location of the market and probably the base as well, and that is why I would love to see the map you are looking at. Hard to find a map with that much detail so far out of Chiang Mai.

seeker

I suppose free tranfer passes from one bus to another are not an option if you need 2 bus lines to get where you are going (ex. 6 (gold) and 2(blue))?  Just pay two 10 baht fares?

Speaking of #2, does anyone know if that goes as far as Mae Rim market?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

1. based on local's posting i read, there is no free trasnfer coupon.

2. route 2, to 7th AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) Battalion, which is in Amphur MaeRim, according to google. relative to the mae rim mkt, i don't know.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks stateman. If it is the place that I am thinking of then it is still a good few km before MR market. Hopefully they will some day extend it as far as the market.

I suppose free tranfer passes from one bus to another are not an option if you need 2 bus lines to get where you are going (ex. 6 (gold) and 2(blue))? Just pay two 10 baht fares?

Speaking of #2, does anyone know if that goes as far as Mae Rim market?

Thanks to all for the responses, especially to "Seeker 108" for making me search again. I don't know what I did wrong on my first search. I'm a "newbie" here, but not to message boards in general. I re-did the search and, of course, this thread came up on top and then all the other threads on dentists. Lots of useful info. Thanks again.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My pleasure

As you probably saw, my vote went to Grace, though I have not yet checked out Dentaland, which also comes highly recommended by some members, especially by P1P.

BTW,

Sorry for a question that has probably been asked several times before but I did a search and couldn't come up with anything.

Based on what my dentist told me in New York two weeks ago, I probably need a root canal. I'd like to take care of it as soon as possible. (Well not really, but you know what I mean.) I had some minor dental work done at Funsabai Dental Clinic (just outside Thapae Gate) last February and I wasn't thrilled with their work. I'd like to try someone else but don't know where to start, what with 100 dental officies in CM. Do any of you have any suggestions. And, under the assumption that there are plenty of competent dentists here, a recommendation of one located just north or northwest of the city center would be even better.

thanks in advance.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

El Jefe,

Did you do your search in the CM forum? "dentist" pulls up evey thread in this regard. Even "root canal" pulls up most. I suggest you try that search again as there are several good dentists recommended and there is other valuable info in them.

(their web site had a sample of the Bangkok map, but their link to the Chiang Mai map was broken!).

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Change the last digit in the URL from a 3 to a 2 and you will see the CM maps.