Work While On Retirement Visa?

[btvbill]

From what I understand, you cannot get a work permit if you're on a retirement visa? A friend of mine is working and paid cash while on a retirement visa. He doesn't think there's any danger of getting caught, etc. as long as the employer is paying taxes. Trying to convince me to do the same. Bad idea as I suspect it might be?

I have my own American small business and offer services to other companies. If I want to offer my services to Thai businesses. Would it be best best to apply for a Non-immigrant B visa or education visa (I want to learn Thai also)? Can I get a work permit to offer my services for either visa? Any reason for choosing one B or education over the other? Thanks for any help.

[beechguy]

If you want to work, apply for a "B" visa.

[lopburi3]

No visa allows work - only a work permit. And that will not be issued without a job with a Thai company.

Working without may often go un-noticed or un-enforced - but it could also lead to serious trouble.

[Mario2008]

As has been pointed out, you would need to start a Thai company (or branch office) to offer your services in Thailand.

If you want to do that you should go for a non-immigrant B visa, as on an educational visa you won't be able to get a work permit.

[KevinBloodyWilson]

From what I understand, you cannot get a work permit if you're on a retirement visa? A friend of mine is working and paid cash while on a retirement visa. He doesn't think there's any danger of getting caught, etc. as long as the employer is paying taxes. Trying to convince me to do the same. Bad idea as I suspect it might be?

I have my own American small business and offer services to other companies. If I want to offer my services to Thai businesses. Would it be best best to apply for a Non-immigrant B visa or education visa (I want to learn Thai also)? Can I get a work permit to offer my services for either visa? Any reason for choosing one B or education over the other? Thanks for any help.

The Labour Dept has, at various times, issued WP's to retirees having a retirement visa. They are no longer renewing the ones they have issued which has caused me personally a good deal of loss and inconvenience. Not that they give a flying Donald of course.

There are probably others working their way through which will also not be renewed - since I understand the policy of non-renewal started in late July 2009, it may take until late July in 2010 to complete the cycle.

In the meantime, it is a really bad idea to work without a WP. Sure many do, but occasional 'clamp-downs' take place and are either used as a basis for extortion, or a one-way flight out. Personally I would not risk it unless I had no ties in Thailand and the prospect of never coming back didn't worry me. It's all about risk-assessment - assess your risk, but if you are on a retiement visa I suggest the risk would be too high for you, as it was for me. Thailand is still a good place to retire to for the moment - despite all of the contras.