7,000 is NOT a lot of money considering you get 1 year instead of the "1year with extensions every 3 months."

It also means you pay your lawyer/accountant only once a year instead of every 3 months, in addition to the only once-yearly (but higher) gov't fee... and the less hassle, and less risk that your extension may be rejected after every 3 months.

Worth it!!!

What about the claim that a small 1-2 person company w/ 2 work permits MUST pay the Social fund each month for 4 Thai people regardless of the fact that the company LEGALLY can function w/out any Thai workers?

Thanks,

7,000 is NOT a lot of money considering you get 1 year instead of the "1year with extensions every 3 months."

It also means you pay your lawyer/accountant only once a year instead of every 3 months, in addition to the only once-yearly (but higher) gov't fee... and the less hassle, and less risk that your extension may be rejected after every 3 months.

Worth it!!!

? We are talking about work permits, not extensions of stays.

Yup, I'm not talking about the "immigration extension of stays" either.

With a small company like mine, I had a "1 year period work permit" which had to be "extended" every 90 days (tied to my visa, which is a multiple entry B, no need for extension, but had to exit every 90 days) and then same work permit was "renewed" every 1 year (weird I know).

But now, I have a full 1 year work permit which doesn't need to be extended every 90days, and isn't tied to my visa..

But

What about the claim that a small 1-2 person company w/ 2 work permits MUST pay the Social fund each month for 4 Thai people regardless of the fact that the company LEGALLY can function w/out any Thai workers?

Thanks,

It is possible to get a work permit without the 4 employees. But you will never get an extension of stay from immigration. They are the ones that enforce that rule.

Yup, I'm not talking about the "immigration extension of stays" either.

With a small company like mine, I had a "1 year period work permit" which had to be "extended" every 90 days (tied to my visa, which is a multiple entry B, no need for extension, but had to exit every 90 days) and then same work permit was "renewed" every 1 year (weird I know).

But now, I have a full 1 year work permit which doesn't need to be extended every 90days, and isn't tied to my visa..

But

Thank you. Now I understand your comment.

What about the claim that a small 1-2 person company w/ 2 work permits MUST pay the Social fund each month for 4 Thai people regardless of the fact that the company LEGALLY can function w/out any Thai workers?

Thanks,

It is possible to get a work permit without the 4 employees. But you will never get an extension of stay from immigration. They are the ones that enforce that rule.

According to Sunbelt, even the Labor Ministry enforces the 4-employee-socialfund rule now (since this year 2009), but the older companies which had less or no Thai employees were "grandfathered" under the old rule... therefore, only the older companies with existing work permits need not comply with the 4-Thai-employee rule; but the newer ones must strictly comply.

Correct me if I'm wrong though... maybe the Labor Ministry reverted back to the old rule again?

Work permit rules are hard to define bycause they can vary from one provincial office to another. Also by who acts as the middle man when doing the appication and any special fees paid.

There has been a move to reduce or eliminate companies that have been set up just to get a visa or extension. That has made it harder for a person that honestly wants to start a company and do business here.