Gman1992

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

It's 100% legit. Your stamps are all in order.

Ignore the usual suspects that will be along to state otherwise. 

Just one recommendation. Always deal with an established agent. Some have many reviews along with established offices. 

Your last entry into Thailand was tourist visa, visa exempt,.....?

I'm currently on a normal tourist visa and on extension of it. Does it matter?

1 hour ago, jackdd said:

Depends on what exactly you refer to. The stamps are legit (assuming the agent doesn't scam you), issued by Thai immigration and the correct data is in their system, but that's about everything that's legit.

I don't know for certain what paper trail it causes, but I assume the agent is providing fake documents (that show that you are volunteering somewhere, because you can only get a volunteer extension if you are actually volunteering), and the IO doesn't care about it.

Imho this is about on the same level as people who pay an agent to get a retirement extension without having the financials.

The chance that you will have problems with it is close to zero. But a crackdown could theoretically happen.

 

 

I see. So it's most likely legit and the "gray area" is with regards to the paperwork that handles and shows if I've actually done the volunteering that I should have?

How common is this practice? Are they more or less strict during Covid?

59 minutes ago, tonray said:

????

It's funny because you believe there is no such thing or because you think it's stupid I'm believing in it?

2 minutes ago, ctxa said:

Well, if I were in your situation, I'd very much rather be with a Non-Immigrant VISA than with a tourist VISA. 

Mainly because, I am unsure of whether legally you can take part in a business as a shareholder while holding a tourist VISA, but by definition a tourist VISA is not really meant for business is it? 

You then have different options: 

 - Non-Immigrant based on volunteer work (many VISA agents offer this one for a fee). 

 - Non-Immigrant based on marriage. 

 - Non-Immigrant based on retirement.

Etc...

 

 

Thank you very much for the information! And you are right it might be harder with the tourist VISA.

I'm not old enough for retirement (not even close to 50 haha) and I don't have anyone to marry as of now.
So I guess the volunteer work one is best option for me.

Can you or anyone here recommend a good agent that can help me with getting this VISA?

9 hours ago, ctxa said:

The thing here is that 2,000,000 THB (~60,000 USD) is barely enough money to open a single restaurant! I don’t think you can open a restaurant in Bangkok with 2M. 
 

So there is a chance that your business here may be something online, or something else which clearly doesn’t require even 2M Baht. So you’ll probably be fine just by being a shareholder, and in the meantime staying in Thailand with whatever other visa you are currently holding. In the future if it gets big and you reach the 2M you can then convert the visa and get the work permit.

Thanks for your input (and the others as well). It looks like being a shareholder from the start is the easiest option starting out.

But then the issue of the Visa comes up. Is there a good VISA  to stay here (currently on tourist visa) while building the business as a shareholder?

This might be the wrong part of the forum for this question and if so I apologize.

Hello!

I want to start a small business with a thai partner.
From my understanding, in order to grant me a work permit and business visa there is a requirement of 2,000,000 THB in capital for the business. 

As I don't have this kind of money at the moment and the business is just something small we would like to try out together and see how it grows, what is the best option for setting up such a business as of now?

I would of course like it be as legal as possible, but the requirement for the 2 million baht is a steep on at the moment.

Any and all input and help is greatly appreciated in this!