Converting A Retirement Visa To A Work Visa

[AjRet]

I'd like some advice please on converting a retirement visa to a non immigrant B visa to work for a private company.

The company that wants to employ me has never employed a foreign worker before, but is a bona fide tax paying Thai company that meets the requirements in terms of registered capital, equity and the number of Thai employees etc.

They want to hire me as an international liaison officer and English language advisor. I have operated my own business in Thailand in the past, and I am a fully qualified and accredited teacher with a Master's degree in Education and TEFL qualifications who has also worked in Thailand as a teacher.

As I have an independent income from abroad, salary is not important to me, but from reading Immigration Department documents and a number of threads on this forum I understand that my salary would need to be 50,000 baht per month to be eligible for a 12 month visa extension.

I have some questions in relation to this:

1. If I applied abroad (say in Sydney) for a new 12 month multiple entry non-immigrant B visa (with 90 day border runs and re-entries) would there be any minimum salary requirement imposed by Immigration? Would the employment offer from the company need to include salary?
   
2. Would the Department of Employment accept a salary of say 15,000 or 20,000 baht for the issue of a work permit?
   
3. If, in the future, I wished to apply for permanent residency in Thailand, would I be ineligible for not holding successive twelve month visa extensions?
   

I'd greatly appreciate any suggestions. Thanks.

[Sunbelt Asia]

I applied abroad (say in Sydney) for a new 12 month multiple entry non-immigrant B visa (with 90 day border runs and re-entries) would there be any minimum salary requirement imposed by Immigration?

No at Sydney. Yes if you apply for the extension of stay inside Thailand.

Would the employment offer from the company need to include salary?

Not in the offer that is provided to the Embassy.

Would the Department of Employment accept a salary of say 15,000 or 20,000 baht for the issue of a work permit?

Depends. They may if you are just an 'employee"

If, in the future, I wished to apply for permanent residency in Thailand, would I be ineligible for not holding successive twelve month visa extensions?

yes

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

[oooooo]

sorry cant answer ur question, that would be illegal. but take the job anyways

[AjRet]

Thanks Sunbelt Asia. I appreciate your prompt reply.