Few Issues, Advice Needed

[TVUserx]

Hi Folks, hoping someone can give me some guidance.

 

I have been staying in thailand on tourist visas for the last couple of years, on/off with a few gaps returning home to the UK. I want to return to Thailand and start a business. I have Thai friends who can help me with setting up a company, which i planned to do last month, but....

 

In December I lost my passport, just before going to extend my visa at immigration. The plan was to extend, do all the stuff opening a company then go get my first Non-B etc... However, no passport, no extension, had to go to bangkok to get an emergency passport, and ended up flying out a week or so later and ended up leaving and paying an overstay fine of 8 days.

 

Last year i had 3x 60day visas back to back with extensions. The previous year 1x60day and 2x VE (at land border crossings, which the IMO did grill me on at bkk on my return, before passing me to his supervisor who just saw my UK issued TV and just stamped me in) all with extensions. 3 month gap between. i'd never been to thailand before then.

 

What are my chances of getting back in on a TV/VE this month with a view to doing as planned...opening a company on my return?

Instead, is it possible to get a lawyer in thailand to start the ball rolling/open company & issue letter so i can get my Non-B here while im still in my home country, with the help of my thai friends? This would save me hassle/delays/stress of flying into bkk on another TV, but is it doable?

 

I now have a new clean passport.

 

Any advice would be appreciated.

[ubonjoe]

I would say it would be best to have a tourist visa when you enter the country.

I don't think you will have a problems entering the country.

I doubt you would be able to get the paperwork needed to get a non-b visa issued. The embassy requires a WP3 or a work permit approval letter to get one. See: http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#2

[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 ????

[RyanWalker]

I am on my 9th tourist visa in a row mate, and now with not many people coming to Thai, no worries

[TVUserx]

Thanks for the replies folks, that puts my mind at rest a bit. Tourist visa it is.  @EbhB pm incoming cheers

[bbi1]

12 hours ago, RyanWalker said:

I am on my 9th tourist visa in a row mate, and now with not many people coming to Thai, no worries

Which airports are you coming through? Any chanace they are BKK or DMK airports?