Hi, we just finished seting up business in Bangkok, now my husband is applying for the Non Immigrants B visa and WP. Do we need to extend both the visa aft he get or only the WP to extend it? Pls help as we are very confuse and for extension the law firn is asking a big amount and we dont want to spend any more. Pls advice how it work and how to extend it? 

First, you apply for a work permit, and get confirmation (usually in the form of a WP3) that a work permit will be given once you have the appropriate visa. Using this, you apply for a Non B visa. The Non B visa your husband will get is only valid for the first 90 days. With the WP issued (which happens after the Non B, and is typically for one year) you should be able to apply for a one-year extension of stay on the basis of working.

 

While it is possible to get the Non B issued in Thailand by a process of "conversion", the paperwork requirements are a lot simpler if willing to travel to a consulate outside Thailand to get it there.

 

Dealing with the Thai Labor Department (for the work permit) and Thai immigration (visa and extension of stay) yourselves without the assistance of a lawyer is feasible, if the lawyer's assistance is too expensive. Some Labor Department offices can actually be quite helpful to people trying to get it done themselves.

If it's a new business it's very hard to get extension of stay without company balance sheet for two years. 

You will also need tax documents  for four Thai employees. 

 

Normally when starting up a company you go to a consulate abroad for multiple entry non-B for two years. 

Yes, two years of border hops every 90 days. 

 

The fee the lawyer wants is for grease someone in immigration.