Non-imm Type B Question

[mac.wheeler]

Hi folks.

I'm in the UK at the moment and will refresh my visa before I return to LOS in a couple of weeks. This time around I will need to do a little work whilst there, so with this in mind I called the consulate in Hull today to ask about work permits.

After a fairly complicated conversation with a very nice person at the consulate it would appear I do not need a work permit and can get by quite well with a non-imm type B instead.

Let me explain the situation.

I own a company in the UK, that company owns several websites, the company pays me a salary from the revenue of these websites.

The company is going to launch a new website in a month or so, that specifically addresses a certain Thai tourism market (nothing to do with bar girls before somebody chimes in).

I will need to promote this website whilst in Thailand as well as write news/reviews for the site. I will also be looking to set up business relationships with several Thai companies to provide both content for the site and sales revenue to the Thai companies in question.

So I guess my question is what's the difference between 'working' and 'doing business' ? Surely doing business involves working which is strictly prohibited in any form without a valid work permit?

Slightly confused here, interestingly enough the person at the consulate suggested I just ignore the rules and keep my head down whilst working in LOS and hope not to get caught! I replied that this would not be the wisest thing to do as some of the promotional events I will be organizing for the website will be very public facing, thus exposing me to the risk of the boys in brown asking questions.

Any opinions gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

[HOOD Robin]

Hi folks.

I'm in the UK at the moment and will refresh my visa before I return to LOS in a couple of weeks. This time around I will need to do a little work whilst there, so with this in mind I called the consulate in Hull today to ask about work permits.

After a fairly complicated conversation with a very nice person at the consulate it would appear I do not need a work permit and can get by quite well with a non-imm type B instead.

Let me explain the situation.

I own a company in the UK, that company owns several websites, the company pays me a salary from the revenue of these websites.

The company is going to launch a new website in a month or so, that specifically addresses a certain Thai tourism market (nothing to do with bar girls before somebody chimes in).

I will need to promote this website whilst in Thailand as well as write news/reviews for the site. I will also be looking to set up business relationships with several Thai companies to provide both content for the site and sales revenue to the Thai companies in question.

So I guess my question is what's the difference between 'working' and 'doing business' ? Surely doing business involves working which is strictly prohibited in any form without a valid work permit?

Slightly confused here, interestingly enough the person at the consulate suggested I just ignore the rules and keep my head down whilst working in LOS and hope not to get caught! I replied that this would not be the wisest thing to do as some of the promotional events I will be organizing for the website will be very public facing, thus exposing me to the risk of the boys in brown asking questions.

Any opinions gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Hey Buddy,

Very interesting story ; I wouldn't be surprised if they gave you wrong information up there in Hull... Here in Thailand you can expect everything ! But of course i'm not the one who knows all these things for sure as all that stuff about visa and other related things make people like us really confused ! I think people of Sunbelt will know the right answer....

But i really wonder if you can apply for a Multiple None Immigrant B WITHOUT workpermit ?? Just a recommendation letter from a company in Thailand is enough ? Can you say to Immigration or at the Thai consulate:"i'm looking for a job, but i do not have one yet...? "

Can somebody give the right answer to that please ? Thanks in advance !

Pat

[mac.wheeler]

Hi folks.

I'm in the UK at the moment and will refresh my visa before I return to LOS in a couple of weeks. This time around I will need to do a little work whilst there, so with this in mind I called the consulate in Hull today to ask about work permits.

After a fairly complicated conversation with a very nice person at the consulate it would appear I do not need a work permit and can get by quite well with a non-imm type B instead.

Let me explain the situation.

I own a company in the UK, that company owns several websites, the company pays me a salary from the revenue of these websites.

The company is going to launch a new website in a month or so, that specifically addresses a certain Thai tourism market (nothing to do with bar girls before somebody chimes in).

I will need to promote this website whilst in Thailand as well as write news/reviews for the site. I will also be looking to set up business relationships with several Thai companies to provide both content for the site and sales revenue to the Thai companies in question.

So I guess my question is what's the difference between 'working' and 'doing business' ? Surely doing business involves working which is strictly prohibited in any form without a valid work permit?

Slightly confused here, interestingly enough the person at the consulate suggested I just ignore the rules and keep my head down whilst working in LOS and hope not to get caught! I replied that this would not be the wisest thing to do as some of the promotional events I will be organizing for the website will be very public facing, thus exposing me to the risk of the boys in brown asking questions.

Any opinions gratefully received.

Thanks in advance.

Hey Buddy,

Very interesting story ; I wouldn't be surprised if they gave you wrong information up there in Hull... Here in Thailand you can expect everything ! But of course i'm not the one who knows all these things for sure as all that stuff about visa and other related things make people like us really confused ! I think people of Sunbelt will know the right answer....

But i really wonder if you can apply for a Multiple None Immigrant B WITHOUT workpermit ?? Just a recommendation letter from a company in Thailand is enough ? Can you say to Immigration or at the Thai consulate:"i'm looking for a job, but i do not have one yet...? "

Can somebody give the right answer to that please ? Thanks in advance !

Pat

This was taken directly from the downloadable PDF on the consulate site:

Category “B” (business – paid employment) – this category entitles a person:

a- who is employed by a non Thai company to conduct business in Thailand

b- who is employed by a Thai company to work in Thailand

They even supply sample wording for a letter that your UK company has to send I with the visa application.

So as far as I can tell they class doing business as completely different to working, even though they are basically the same thing. Most odd, but a lovely little loophole if it is true.

Edited May 15, 2007 by mac.wheeler

[Maestro]

I will need to promote this website whilst in Thailand as well as write news/reviews for the site. I will also be looking to set up business relationships with several Thai companies to provide both content for the site and sales revenue to the Thai companies in question.

So I guess my question is what's the difference between 'working' and 'doing business' ? Surely doing business involves working which is strictly prohibited in any form without a valid work permit?

Slightly confused here, interestingly enough the person at the consulate suggested I just ignore the rules and keep my head down whilst working in LOS and hope not to get caught! I replied that this would not be the wisest thing to do as some of the promotional events I will be organizing for the website will be very public facing, thus exposing me to the risk of the boys in brown asking questions.

I believe a Thai company would have to apply for your work permit. If you were promoting the business of a Thai company at your public appearances you would obviously need a work permit and could get this easily for a short period of two weeks. However, it is the business of your UK company that you plan to promote. If you use a Thai company to organise the events for you, perhaps this company could apply for a two-week permit for you, the so-called “Necessary and Urgent Work Acknowledgment”. Sunbelt gave details of it in this post. That is if you do indeed need a work permit for this type of activity.

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Maestro