Visa For Self Employed

[koan]

Hi,

I have known my girlfriend for more than 5 years, we have been in touch by email, MSN etc and I have visited Thailand more than 4 times just to see her. I am a professional person so I've never been able to escape work for long periods. I can read and write Thai easily but I'm not fluent and don't have an extensive vocabulary.

I would like to live with my girlfriend with a view to getting married, say after 6 months. It could either be in Thailand or the UK. A key problem for this is I am currently trying to start up my own business; I haven't registered it yet but possibly I could register in the UK and run a token office to handle correspondence whilst handling the core business activities online from Thailand.

I'm confused by the different choices for visas. All my assets are lined up towards my business so I am not rich, but I do have a little in savings. I'm pretty certain I do NOT want register my business in Thailand and I do not want to be in the situation of doing a visa run every few months. Is there any option for me to get a visa for say 1 year, expecting to look after myself ?

Alternatively, I can probably find the money to fly my gf to the UK but my finances would be too stressed to support her for more than a few months so I would need her to get a job. She attended a provincial university but she is effectively working class and has no real savings of her own. When I checked the UK immigration website I felt that it could be difficult to prove I could support her as I have no income while I am building my business.

Getting married in order to get a visa is not out of the question but it makes a lot of sense to live together to first to be 100% sure that we can survive each other.

I'm sorry if it sounds like I haven't read the articles on this site; actually I have spent a lot of time reading through the various pages and forum posts but struggle to get a clear picture of what is possible or not. If anyone can point me in the general direction of the information I need then I would be very grateful.

Thanks in advance

[PoorSucker]

Best option for you is to get a 1-year multiple entry non-O from HULL.

You still have to do a border run every 90-days.

1-year stamps are only for married, retired and working people (working for Thai company with WP)

[thaiphoon]

As you are in the UK, would suggest that you apply for a multiple entry Non Immigrant O visa on the basis of visiting friends.

Would recommend you apply at the Royal Thai Consulate in Hull who have a reputation for being efficient and helpful. You will need to complete application form (can download from web) and send in with fee, passport and photo. Post by special delivery and enclose a pre-paid special delivery envelope for return of your passport. You should get this back with a couple of days.

On entering Thailand you will get a 90 day permission to stay. You must leave the country within 90 days and do a border run (no choice, I'm afraid). You can travel out of the country when you want to and each time you will receive a new 90 day permission to stay. There is no limit on the number of times you can travel in/out of the country during the period of your visa. Do a border run just your visa expires and you will get a further 90 days permission to stay, stretching your visa to15 months. Cost £100.

Should you decide to stay in Thailand and get married you can then apply at immigration for a 12 month extension of stay based on marriage during the last 30 days of your permission to stay, if you meet the requirements. Requirements are 400k in Thai bank for 2 months prior to application or 40k/month income. If income is from outside Thailand you will need a letter from your embassy verifying your income; if within Thailand you will need to provide tax receipts.

Regarding your business, it is in fact illegal to do any form of work in Thailand without a work permit. You can apply for a work permit on Non-O visa. You say your business is online, so as long as you tell no one what you are doing you could work under the radar and remain undetected until you have firmer plans.

Hull consulate: http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/

[thaiphoon]

To add further ...

if you are on extension of stay you would not have to do border run every 90 days, but instead you would have to report your address to immigration every 90 days. For most immigration offices that reporting can be done by post.

[koan]

Hi,

Thanks for the detailed and informative answers. Clearly I need to look at the non-O in more detail.

I was hoping there would be a solution without a visa run because even though my business is run over the internet I need a software development set up, i.e. high powered computers/servers in my office. I don't like the idea that I might not get back in the country and then potentially lose all those assets. If I came and did not set up a suitable office I would be handicapping my business.

Regarding your business, it is in fact illegal to do any form of work in Thailand without a work permit.

How do you get a work permit for your own business ?! I suppose you must register a Thai business.

You say your business is online, so as long as you tell no one what you are doing you could work under the radar and remain undetected until you have firmer plans.

I am very cautious about doing anything below the radar. I want to be 100% legitimate. It only takes one annoyed neighbour or relative and I could be in big trouble.

[thaiphoon]

The only way to avoid visa runs is to be on extension of stay, and if you plan to work your only option is an extension of stay based on marriage. To obtain a work permit you would have to set up a Thai company.

[Mario2008]

More information about setting up a business here:

http://www.boi.go.th/english/how/legal_iss...n_investors.asp

Just have a look around on their website. Some information might be helpful.

[monty]

Indeed your only option for a 1 year extension is through marriage.

Your worry on doing a visa run and not being allowed in is unfounded at all if you have a multiple entry non immigrant visa. AFAIK nobody has been refused entry when holding a visa, unless maybe when being blacklisted.

To work entirely legal you would have to register a Thai company, but this is a tad expensive as in running expenses. You'd need to hire Thai workers (4 in general) before labor department will issue you with a work permit.

To top it of, even this will not secure you a 1 year extension based on employment, as for this the company employing you has to have an audited book keeping trail of at least a full tax year showing enough profit proving to immigration that the company can afford to keep you employed for a year...

You would still need to do visa runs!

[thaiphoon]

To top it of, even this will not secure you a 1 year extension based on employment, as for this the company employing you has to have an audited book keeping trail of at least a full tax year showing enough profit proving to immigration that the company can afford to keep you employed for a year...

You would still need to do visa runs!

Yes, your Thai business would have to provide immigration with 2 years audited accounts and tax receipts for you to obtain an extension of stay based on employment. So your best plan is to obtain multi-entry Non-O visa and convert to extension of stay based on marriage (if that's what you decide to do).