richguess

US passport, started business in Phuket in '07, paid enough salary tax to qualify for 1 yr extension, now business is bad so reduced my stated salary, visa extension expires 9 May. Looking at either Singapore or KL for visa run and would appreciate any advice on necessary documents and cost. Thanks...

P.S. Probably leaving Thailand around Aug/Sep for a few years, so if there is a better way for me to stay here until then please advise. I figured since I was on the 1 yr extension and have a 1 yr work permit that would be the easiet route.

I have a friend who is employed in Thailand, 1 yr non-B and 1 yr work permit. He has his wife and two children here on tourist visas. Can he just take her to an Immigration Office with his proof of employment and apply for a non-O for her and the children...or do they need to go to KL to apply?

I thought I was asking a relevant question...really appreciate all the feedback...guess I need to rely on Thai Immigration...

I have a friend who is employed in Thailand, 1 yr non-B and 1 yr work permit. He has his wife and two children here on tourist visas. Can he just take her to an Immigration Office with his proof of employment and apply for a non-O for her and the children...or do they need to go to KL to apply?

Have a friend (Thai) who wants to go to Monaco for two weeks vacation. She doesn't have a sponsor, but she has the money in her bank (longer than 3 months) to cover all necessary expenses (calculated 4000 Bt/day + hotel). She doesn't have a job so no employer letter. Does anyone know if the French Immigration requires proof of employment? How hard are they in general for tourist visas? She does have a house and a car in her name.

Ok, just when I thought I had it figured out on the requirements for the non "O" visa for a falang married to a Thai I find out that I really don't have a clue.

From reading other posts on TV I was under the impression that if you are married to a Thai you can receive a non "O" by going to Immigration with your wife, showing your marriage certificate, her ID card, and passing their interrogation of your relationship. I thought you could then apply for a one year extension based on a combined income of 40,000 Bt/month...no money required in the bank.

My friend asked the Phuket Town Immigration about this and he was told...

1. Married to Thai

2. Marriage certificate

3. Her ID card

4. Interrogation of realtionship (my wording)

5. 40,000 Bt/month income into Thailand (cannot be going into an offshore account)

6. 400,000 Bt in a Thai bank

Am I missing something?

A friend of mine (American) wants to take his Thai gf on a trip (90 days)to Europe. They don't have a particular country they want to visit so he was wondering which Schnegen country has the easiest visa requirements?

Can anyone who has visited there recently confirm the address of the Spanish Embassy Bangkok (Visa section). I have found three conflicting addresses on the internet.

Also do thy insist on the visa applicant handing in the application papers in person? Thank you.

This is the new address:

Embassy of Spain in Bangkok, Thailand send edits

Lake Rajada Office Complex

23rd Floor,Suites No.98-99,

193, Ratchadapisek Road, Klongtoey,

Bangkok 10110

Thailand

City: Bangkok

Phone: 02 661 8284-6

Fax: 02 661 9220

Email: [email protected]

Office Hours: 08.30 -15.30 (Monday - Thursday) 08.30 - 13.30 (Friday) Visa Section: 09.00-12.00 (Monday - Friday)

My client just received her visa yesterday. Yes, they want the applicant to apply in person. This way they can ask any questions on the spot. Took her one hour at the consulate, had her visa in nine days.

I posted a while back asking for the requirements to get an extension of my Non B visa. I received several responses from some senior posters...unfortunately, some of this information was incorrect...that is why I am psting the actual process I used to extend my visa.

Background: I am American, purchased a small visa/accounting service located in Phuket before I moved to Thailand, arrived in Thailand 9 Feb 07 and effectively took control of my company on 18 Feb. My company is set up as a Limited Company, I own 98% and 2% are with my 6 Thai "investors". I had received a single Non B 90 day from the Thai consulate in Honolulu before my departure from the U.S.

Upon arriving in Thailand I started the process of registering my company and the obtaining my work permit. I have 2M Bt in registered capitol, 4 Thai employees, and I pay taxes on 50,000 Bt/mo salary. On 3 May 07 I went to the Immigration office in Phuket Town with my accountant and all the necessary company paperwork and a request to extend my visa. The Immigration officer looked over the papers, asked me several questions concerning my employees and my business then gave me a 30 day extension (to 8 Jun, based on my arrival date of 9 Feb). I went straight from Immigration to the Labor office and renewed my work permit. Cost was 1,900 Bt for visa extension and 100 Bt for work permit extension.

Before 8 Jun I will return to Immigration and should receive a 90 day extension, then to Labor to extend my work permit. I anticipate after 3 or 4 times I will receive a 1 year B visa.

Oh yeah, my accountant told me after we left the Immigration office that the officer said it would have gone easier for me (no questions about my employeees or the business) if I had added a few Baht with my application...maybe next time.

Hope this helps anyone in the same situation.

2 questions below, but first some background:

i have a newish, private limited company protected under the treaty of amity, and it has yet to start conducting business.

in the meantime, my accountant does all the necessary monthly accounting work as required by law; i have the audits for 05 and 06, balance sheets, vat declarations etc. - everything is 100% legal, correct and aboveboard.

i have a 3-month, non-immigrant b visa, which expires in june, so i need to start the work permit application asap. my accountant has already begun the doc prepping, but i apparently have to have 4 thais on the payroll and 2 million baht in PAID UP capital. my registered capital is 2.1 million baht, though.

Q1: do i actually have to have the 2 million baht in paid up capital and the 4 thais on the payroll to get a work permit?

Q2: Until the money comes in to the company's account to raise it to the supposed 2 million baht level (whether funds come from abroad or here in Thailand apparently doesn't matter), can I get an extension on my visa so that I don't have to do another visa run?

regards/joe

Joe,

I am in a similiar position...American, bought a small business in Phuket, non-B single 90 days. You already have the 2M in registered capitol, you don't need to actually have that money in the bank. You do need to have 4 Thais on your payroll...and be paying social secuity. You also need to show you are paying salary tax on your salary...should be at least 50,000 Bt/mo income. Get your work permit. It will be valid until your visa expires. Before your visa expires go to your local Immigration Office with all your business paperwork and a request for extension. They will give you a 30 day extension. Go back to the Labor Office and they will extend your work permit. At the end of your extension it's back to Immigration where they will probably give you 90 days...then renew your work permit. Repeat this process until Immigration is satisfied you are paying your taxes..then they will give you a year.

Hope this isn't too confusing. Oh yeah, a little money to the Thai Immigration officer always helps...I didn't say that...

Personally I found KL to be the most boring place I've ever been in my life. Once you've seen the petroleum towers and tried some Muslim food (which was actually very good). There is not a lot else to do. Fun by western standards is illegal.

Getting back the original post.

It all seems pretty clear to me. Everything is as before except instead of being 3 entries within a 6 month period. It is calculated on days.

Quote

The number of consecutive visa exemptions allowed is no longer limited to three

Unquote

What does disturb me:

Quote

It is up to the discretion of the Immigration officer on duty how many days to grant the new arrival.

It would be nice to plan ones trip and not be worried about meeting (as I have on many occasions a nasty little Hitler. Always female and at the new airport). I would not like to plan any aspect of my life at the discretion of a Thai official.

There no sense at all in making people do all these visa runs. Other than Thai officials have there hands in travel agencies arranging these pointless trips. The UK for example give Thai nationals 6 months on Arrival NO LESS. So why do they make us run around like idiots.

Mini bus tours to the border…

Did you ever see a Chinese person on a Visa Run? Funny that isn't it. Some of them are foreign surely.

Sorry, I digress.

Bottom line is still; get a visa in your own country as I have for the last 4 years.

I am new to Thailand and own a small visa/accounting business in Phuket. I have seen numerous qutes from people saying they worry because Thai immigration offcials have the power to decide how long you can stay in Thailand, they don't have to give you 30 days, or 90 days, or whatever. Maybe these people should read the immigration rules from almost all countries...the immigration official at the point of entry has the final determination on length of stay. Even if a consulate/embassy grants you a visa it is still up to the officer at the point of entry. If I am wrong on this please correct me...

Address for Spanish Embassy is now:

Lake Rajada Office Complex

23rd Floor, Suites No. 98-99

193, Ratchadapisek Road, Klongtoey

Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Is it still on Wireless Road?

Yes, from another thread on this forum

SPANISH EMBASSY IN BANGKOK

Seventh floor (701-702)

Diethelm Towers A,

93/1 Wireless Road

Bangkok 10330.

P.O.B.: 449 Bangkok 10501

And how much is it please?

Depends how long you are applying for and whether it's single or multiple.

If she is your wife and you are a UK citizen it will be free.

Have a friend (Finnish) that wants to apply for a 1 yr visa based on the fact he is married to a Thai national and has a child with her. He is listed as the father on the birth certificate. He currently has a multiple non-imm O, but has to leave the country for a stamp every 90 days. Will the spouse visa allow him to forego the visa run and allow him to just register his address every 90 days? Does he need a certain amount of money in the bank, and for how long? Can he get a multiple non-imm spouse visa? Thanks,

Richard

hey LivinLos and Crossy,

thanks for the advice and info. so . . . anyone have advice on friendly consulates in the US? if so, let me know. i may try and give the consulate in houston a call on monday. thanks.

I have onlt dealt with the consulate in Honolulu. They only gave me a single entry B after I showed them all the paperwork on my new Thai business. I would not recommend going through them.

Ok. Is it paying 50,000 Bt/yr in tax, or paying tax on a salary of 50,000 Bt/mo? I am an American, own a small business (1 month), and want to do everything legally. I was hoping to not make the visa run every 90 days. I'm here on a single entry B visa.

Depends... When you say, you own the business is it... you own the majority shares with a Limited Company, Limited Partnership or you own it as a sole proprietor?

If you are looking to get the extension of stay based on business and its a Thai Limited Company or Partnership. The earliest you can get the extension of stay is in January 2008. One of the criteria for the extension of stay is paying tax on a 50K Baht monthly salary.

If you are a sole proprietor, you will never qualify for the extension of stay based on business. However you will need to have a work permit next year so you should either hire 4 Thais, have gross sales of 700,000 Baht in 2007 or pay tax of 50,000 Baht in 2007. The easiest criteria in 2007 would be 700K in sales.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Thanks for the help. It's a Limited Partnership company. So after I get my work permit (good until my visa expires on 7 May 07) I will need to extend my visa and work permit at the Immigration and revenue Office? I have heard they will only give me a few months extension at a time until they are sure I am paying my taxes.

Sorry but you will not be able to extend your visa based on business till Jan 2008 at the earliest.

Every three months you will be revalidating your work permit after you have gotten a fresh 90 days.

If you are married to a Thai, then this would be the solution by showing the PND #1 and getting a one year extension of stay based on marriage.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

So when my non B expires on 7 May and I am not married to a Thai what are my choices?

American man wants to take his Thai gf on a year long, multiple country vacation. They currently reside in Phuket. They want to visit the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South Africa, India, Egypt, Germany, and possibly other destinations. They will stay for a max of 60 days in each country (depending on visa rules) and are willing to alter their intinerary accordingly. He wants to know if it will be easier for her to travel as his gf (he would prefer not to get married for numerous reasons) or as his wife? What is the most practical way for them to go about obtaining the necessary visas for their trip? Thanks for the help...

Ok. Is it paying 50,000 Bt/yr in tax, or paying tax on a salary of 50,000 Bt/mo? I am an American, own a small business (1 month), and want to do everything legally. I was hoping to not make the visa run every 90 days. I'm here on a single entry B visa.

Depends... When you say, you own the business is it... you own the majority shares with a Limited Company, Limited Partnership or you own it as a sole proprietor?

If you are looking to get the extension of stay based on business and its a Thai Limited Company or Partnership. The earliest you can get the extension of stay is in January 2008. One of the criteria for the extension of stay is paying tax on a 50K Baht monthly salary.

If you are a sole proprietor, you will never qualify for the extension of stay based on business. However you will need to have a work permit next year so you should either hire 4 Thais, have gross sales of 700,000 Baht in 2007 or pay tax of 50,000 Baht in 2007. The easiest criteria in 2007 would be 700K in sales.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Thanks for the help. It's a Limited Partnership company. So after I get my work permit (good until my visa expires on 7 May 07) I will need to extend my visa and work permit at the Immigration and revenue Office? I have heard they will only give me a few months extension at a time until they are sure I am paying my taxes.

Ok. Is it paying 50,000 Bt/yr in tax, or paying tax on a salary of 50,000 Bt/mo? I am an American, own a small business (1 month), and want to do everything legally. I was hoping to not make the visa run every 90 days. I'm here on a single entry B visa.

Thai woman (living in Phuket) with German fiance (living in Stuttgart). He is coming to BKK in June to marry her, but she wants to already have a German visa whens he arrives so they can go to Germany soon after the wedding. Should she apply for a tourist visa (only good for 90 days) and they apply for resident visa after she gets to Germany, or should she apply for resident visa initially (before she is married)? She is also 7 months pregnant...will her baby automatically be included under her passport/visa or is there a separate document needed? Can she apply by courier to the German consulate in BKK or must she apply in person?

Thanks

I have a friend living in Phuket on a Non Imm O visa (retirement). He is also married to a Thai. He was wondering if he could switch his visa to a spouse visa, and what amount of monthly income would preclude him from making 90 day visa runs?

Separate subject. I have heard that on a B visa with a monthly income of Bt 50,000 you don't need to make visa runs? Any help is greatly appreciated.

Richard