Mittens79

That's standard procedure, is it? To return the blue book? 

Thanks for the reply.

Hello Law gods of Thailand,

I'm writing to you as I'm in a sticky situation.

I took a 1 year exclusive contract at a Thai English School.

They paid the VISA application and work permit associated costs.

The school have always kept hold of the blue book (I have seen it) which I was fine with as any authority could contact the school in the event of a police check and I could be guaranteed not to misplace it. 

I have recently completed (3 days ago) the contract with the school and I have taken a new contract with a school in China.

In order to apply for the Chinese VISA at the Chinese embassy in Bangkok, I need to prove I have been residing in Thailand completely legally, thus I am required to present my work permit in the form of its blue book.

My old school, even though I completed the contract in good faith and been nothing but a star teacher in the school, have refused to provide me with the work permit saying the paid for it.

Apart from being incredibly short sighted on their part is there any law that says the must hand over Work Permit to me for purposes like this or am I out on my ear?

Any proper legal insight would be greatly appreciated. I don't have the time or the space to make mistakes with legal conjecture. 

Thanks for your time,

T

So I'm an English teacher, and like so many others, a musician/DJ. 

I have a school sponsored permit to work and VISA.

I've read up on the legalities of being a DJ or musician, which is basically legally impossible in Thailand. However, I realised that as I have qualified for, and have a work permit, I can add further occupations and places of work.

I want to DJ in different bars around Thailand. Previously it has been said that if a person makes sure they pay tax, and can show the invoice/'official' paperwork for tax, that most authroities are happy.

This was then officially debunked saying that the permit to work is the key legal hurdle here.

My question then.

If I approach an entrainment company of any kind and ask to work for them, and therefore invoice bars/clubs through them as a subcontractor and pay my taxes would I now have all bases covered?

I would clearly need to give them a cut (for the sake of hassle of invoicing and tax). It's really a 'fun' thing for me than a serious money spinner (every baht counts though) so I'm not looking for big money,  just to make sure I'm legal and I the Thai company I pay for are ok with the paperwork?

So, at the work permit office, on my school teacher work permit (not licensed but differed at the moment), I pay to add a line stating that I also work as an entertainer with the Thai media/entertainment company, with their address as the legal address. 

I pay the entertainment company to invoice for my work, and I pay my taxes after they take their cut.

Hey presto I'm Dj'ing or playing in a band, have a permit to do so, and pay tax on the income.

What do you legal gurus think to this one?

Thanks,

Tim

Another one from Pattaya beach . . . fantastic clouds that day.