Partnerships And Workpermits

[wishfulthinking]

even after reading plenty of information here I'm still confused.

Having helped a Thai starting up a small THAI business (just registered at the amhoe) and now looking into actually forming up a company to legally own some of it but NOT work there...

And why not work? because it's simple business that Thais can well do and it's more convenient to hire somebody for you and sit on your lazy ass

Plus the salary is much better in the home country.

What exactly are you allowed to DO if you're a farang partner in a small business that is ran by Thais?

Heard horror stories (allegedly true) about being taken for investigation by immigration office for sitting and eating at the restaurant (your restaurant), blamed for supervising the staff (which you naturally do sometimes...).

Does that mean you're not to go anywhere close to your business to avoid being blamed for working there?

Somebody said if you're a legal partner, you can for example go to the offices to clear tax, renew a rental contract, renew the TAT license etc, What is it that you're allowed to do and what not?

How about possible income? Are you allowed to profit if you're not holding the work permission?

How about tax?

Mighty greatful if someone has time to answer or show some related links

[ThaiPauly]

Old Hands and experts please correct me if I am wrong.

If you are BRITISH, no you cannot do a job that Thais can do otherwise it looks like you are stealing a job from a Thai.

I heard a story about a guy who ran a restaurant and the Police went into the back and found him preparing food, he was immediatley arrested.

However I have seen farangs openly doing the same without a problem. maybee it depends on how FREINDLY the boys in brown are in that particular area , this type of thing can be viwed differently frm Province to Province. I am unsure about the situation if you are American, they seem to be able to get away with more and legally at that!

If for example you bought a 7-11 there is NO WAY you could set foot in that shop other than to count the takings and do the banking, fill the shelves and you are in BIG trouble.

I thinkk for further information you should post this topic on the Visa section where vastly more experienced hands will be able to give you clarrified info.

Good Luck

TP

TP

[EVO]

You are not allowed to do ANYTHING, unless you have a work permit. That includes banking etc etc.

Yes, you can go to the premises, but Thai law states that 'work' can be anything that is beneficial to a business/person so its wide ranging and not easy to pinpoint.

Bottom line is, even volunteer workers here need a work permit.

[wishfulthinking]

"Yes, you can go to the premises, but Thai law states that 'work' can be anything that is beneficial to a business/person so its wide ranging and not easy to pinpoint."

Exactly... so is it difficult to the immigration officers to prove you're working or for you to prove you're not ?

Now, I wasn't talking about ACTUAL manual work, as I said the Thai staff does that all. Was asking about the likes of going to pay the telephone bill of the business. or the girls asking to bring them something from a store. Actually, I can't really see how on earth could they nail you for that whether it was or wasn't legal.

In the wildest of the stories a farang bar owner was blamed for working when he was drinking beer in his bar. The other one happened to be standing in front, just on his way home talking to a friend. He was allegedly blamed for 'hunting for customers to his bar'.

That surely sounds scary, you can't even go close to your place, being scared they can 'pinpoint' any sort of work you might be doing.

if you think real far, they could blame you for that whatever you were doing anywhere in the Kingdom?

I surely hope there was a guideline of sorts