EbhB

I've seen some lawyers (I think) claiming that one should definitely have a non-B visa when setting up a company, but that might of course be because they are not too keen on converting a visa...

Could you get a letter of invitation for exploratory work and/or meetings from another company?

This is what happened in my case, I started the whole WP-process with a BOI that turned out to be pure chaos, so I then pulled the trigger for real & set up my own company while on that visa.

I would also think you could use a lawyer for an invitation letter, with a stated intent from a thai partner to form a company - although I would guess that could backfire too...

Also, be aware of the (relatively new?) requirements when it comes to turnover the first months, to get a 1-year WP and thus visa. Should be in the ballpark area of 200-300k baht for the month before applying for the WP.

Would be happy to help, also with things that are better suited on PM or a chat ????

Yeah, should be totally OK... But always prefer to check any (new) details when passing immigration!

Finally being on non-B multi-entry feels GREAT ????

...and I even enjoy paying taxes in Thailand these days, its just a totally different reality altogether

End story: we both got 1 year ????

Not really, a low one if at all... But that might change during the flight.

Guess I'll take Ibuprofen right before passing immigration ????

Will also use & bring some medication for allergies, and try to explain & stick to the story if any problem...

So... Due to a flooded basement, I've got an allergic reaction that gives me some symptoms that are not a good thing these days... Might be a cold, but anyway I'll arrive Bangkok this Wednesday!

What I do know for sure is that its NOT corona-virus, been alone in the woods here for as long as the incubation periode is ????

Got a 1 year non-B & carrying the work-permit, flying business so I'll use the fast lane.

Guess it will not be a problem, but if so what could happen? How should I avoid some very unfortunate consequences if I get worse during the flight?

I'll arrive from Norway, no cases there yet, but then logical thinking is not always what bureaucrats are famous for...

I do know most airports have doctors on call, anyone know if they are checking actively these days?

You must have a thai partner? Could you solve the problem with an invitation letter stating that you need a 90 day visa to set up the company, signed by the thai partner?

At least that was enough for me in my homecountry, signed by my other non-thai partner as a director. We did really work on the wording, and used an agent that the embassy is familiar with for the actual filing. Copy of company seal and the letter was all I needed to provide.

Also beware of the requirements for getting the final, 1 year work permit. The first month before applying should show a turnover of 200-300k baht, if under this they will now give out 6 month work permits, or even for the duration of an underlying 90 day visa...

17 hours ago, tom in bangkok said:

Good question. I got my B-visa in HK last year (without a WP) after a recommendation from my lawyer and I was granted it, but I got a stern talking to and a bonus love-letter in my passport (below), so I'm not surprised to hear they're cracking down.

It all changed very abruptly, yes... 

Since I've got an active WP it then seems I could do it there? But Penang is probably both easier & cheaper...

Definitely real ????

Part of the turnover will be outsourcing, workers already started - but of course it takes time to get it all rolling!

Thanks IvorLott, but this is a newly minted, tiny company... 

I will consider taking that route, but as I also have a load of accounting to do for my other company in the EU combining that work with a few days in Penang might turn out more effective - and even cheaper! ????

Great, thanks!

All of the stuff that I've not got will easily be provided by my lawyer, guess its Penang then...

When we started the process HK was the clearly best option, but read that it changed to giving visas ONLY to people with WP-3.

Anyone know about the status in HK?

Finally made it! Got a 1-year work permit, actually its closer to 13 months.

However, I need to renew the underlying visa, and would really like to avoid only getting 90 days now...

Penang did this for a contact of mine having the same setup, but what other decent options are there in the region?

Will bringing the WP-3 work permit booklet be enough, or do some stations require financials, invitation letters or anything else?

This is with my own company where I am one of two directors.

I'm all set up now, company registered, extending a provisional work permit to a 1 year one next week ????

Did do some checking around, had 2 good candidates, went with the one that seemed to know the ropes the best - in a thai way.

The total is still under 100k, the other that I seriously considered using started above 100k.

Be aware of the somewhat new rule on having a turnover of minium 1M baht for ANY year to keep concurrent 1 year work visas! This also extends to having a solid turnover for the first month, 2-300k...

Yes, in order to have a work permit on your own company here you have to do quite some sales/deals, effectively having NO work permit while doing so!

Most people end up injecting (a lot of) their own money in the early phase, but then again investments will be necessary anyway...

Do send me a PM if you want to know more, especially things that cannot be discussed openly... TiT ????

On 12/6/2019 at 1:09 AM, SteveB2 said:

Your work permit is specific to your declared location of work in your work permit. 

 

Normally this is a precise, specific, street address.

 

Thus, even if you work in the building next door, then if that address is not in your work permit, then you are in breech of your work permit rules and could easily find yourself arrested on the spot.

 

What to do so as to allow you to work in other locations:-

1. Have another location entered into the work permit.
2. Have a generalised location, for example 'Teaching in University classrooms' added to your work permit.
3. Teaching diving in hotel swimming pools.
4. Teaching watersports in the Gulf of Siam.
5. Teaching student pilots at airports in Thailand.

 

Get a good lawyer who deals with the work permit office to help create the correct wording that permits you to do what you need to do and which keeps the labor office happy.

 

I have even seen illegal professions such as 'Tour Guide' worded in this manner by describing what a tour guide does but not calling the work a 'tour guide' - ( yes, even alternative duties can be added )

 

Don't try to be too clevers and add many work locations or duties at the same time - you will confuse the poor overworked officials who staff government offices.

 

Hope this information helps.

 

 

Thanks a lot for this one, SteveB2!

I think I've got a good lawyers, several as they divide the work - and next week I'll have my provisional 1 month work permit converted to 1 year.

My current workplace is Bangkok, need to talk to them to see if they can change that to all of Thailand, or an address + Thailand ????

Will not really have to deal with running into problems doing real work up in some jungle or on a beach, which could have happened if I did not see your post...

On 11/20/2019 at 10:52 AM, tgeezer said:

Wait for Immigration to raise the subject, they probably won’t.  If they do tell them that you tried but can’t get insured because of your age. Leave it there, do not try to convince them of anything. If you do not get an extension you could ask what you should do, you are in their hands. I can not see that after fourteen years and money in the bank that any one will push the issue because there is no practical reason to prevent you extending your visa. I expect that you have always found that if you don’t upset them or allow them to paint themselves into a corner, Thai people can be very accommodating and understanding and the older you are the better. 

Second this, especially if you speak good thai & is well liked by immigration ????

Age still gains respect here, and especially if behaving in a very calm & polite way. Maybe you even know someone local that can back you up if need be?

Some consulates & embassies only need to see an invitation letter & copy of company registration to issue a 90 day non-B, I've one that twice in a row - once with a BOI company that turned out to be completely nonreliable, and now with my own, newly established company.

Not sure if the same is possible with a school, some additional documents might be necessary. However, if the wording in the invitation letter implies that there will be a series of meetings to discuss a position with them, then the criteria should be fulfilled.

You would then have 30 days to get the work permit processed, or could even just spend the 90 days on the visa if it does NOT come through. I did that on my first business visa, don't think there is anything wrong with that, as I was invited to do an actual trial/discussions on employement, and then it did not work out.

Penang seems to be liberal these days, Hong Kong just changed to only giving out business visas to people on an active work permit I read somewhere here...

Not an expert on these things at all, but this is what eventually led to me getting the first work permit here ????

Short update: he wanted to apply for 90 days, but was recommended to try for 1 year... ????

Of course, you are right about that..

The issue might be that my arrangement will need a fresh 90 day non-B to get a 1 year work permit, not sure about those details but will try to check!

It all comes down to getting this company up & running with a natural turnover for the first year AND get a 1 year extension at the same time ????

So far so good, everything has happened as planned - and I guess the chances of me not getting a 90 day non-B are very low, will have an active WP after all...

I'm owner & director yes ????

Its not completely necessary to get a 1 year visa I guess, can extend once I return, but would be great to get it!

Could anything back up or replace a work permit longer than then one I got now?

Does anyone have recent experience or knowledge from how Penang handles applications for 1 year non-B these days?

I will apply there in 2-3 weeks, on an existing 1 month work permit. Will I need a WP-3 for the coming year, or is the still valid 1 month work permit enough? (When it comes to the work permit itself I will get a period of 1 year when I renew, we are just trying to get a 1 year non-B visa before then)

Is there any chance that I will only get 90 days? Or is there anything I could do to avoid that?

A contact of mine is there right now, following the same setup, will come back with news when I get any ????

Thanks a lot! Tried to find a thread on this that was already here, but to no avail - so I posted this & kinda expected you'd reply!

You are really doing a LOT here, and for me personally stuff feels much safer & less confusing when you reply ????

Is it possible to add a multiple entry, or even single re-entry when I soon will be in Thailand on my second 90 non-B?

Will file for work permit & 1 year extension as soon as possible, also registering marriage, but might have to do a quick detour during the whole process...

You sound like a polite and likeable person, so you should definitely be welcome in Thailand! ????

Hope you find some ways of getting a "boost" or lift that clears up these things, there are a lot of things to learn from thais when it comes to dealing with mental problems - the people stuck in the West are the insane ones in MY opinion at least!

It all worked out! ????

When picking up the passport I discussed the letter and its wording with the visa guy, and he agreed that its form and wording quite likely could have tilted the decision the right way...

One of the concluding sentences contained a phrase saying the company "invites me after careful consideration", and we also got my minority partner who'll remain here in Norway to sign the letter - signing myself as the lawyer initially suggested would not have been a good option!

Next is work permit & an extension, hard work & building the business ????

Just now, truemove said:

To start a business in thailand how much capital must i show or invest upfront for a WP? It always says 2mil + but in reality how much is it? ????

0, zero that is...

That requires registering with a loan from the company, which has no limit for when it should be paid back.

I've started with 2 million registered as we have not been able to register with an amphur yet, but want to pull that down to 1 million after we are legally married - there is a cost to that, but I prefer to get it done.

There should be no downside to registering with a loan construction, but if I was dealing with connected or powerful customers with a risk of getting sued or pushed to bankrupcy of course I'd be wary of doing this with a loan construction...

But then again, even getting involved with customers like that is something I want to avoid if at all possible!

Also, I think this is an area where a lawyer is kinda necessary to get it all through, the registration itself came through in less than a week - including the company seal & subsequent visa ????

Its all tied to money, they've got this mega-plan, setting up a tourist, high-tech enclave by the coast of the Red Sea.

Bet its a planned, timed campaign of good news, leading up to the real launch of it all.

...and deep down the real panic is about oil, what will feed & keep the citizens in place once that astronomical income starts fading?