General Advice Appreciated

[dvdlock]

Hello,

First post here, seems to be a friendly forum with plenty of advice opinions available. Thanks in advance.

I am from UK and have been married to my Thai wife for 15-years. We have a 9-year old Daughter, born in the UK. I previously lived in Malaysia and have been in and out of Thailand more times than I remember over the years, the point being, I'm not new to the Country. However, visits have always been on a tourist visa on arrival. My last visit was about 2-years ago.

Having been a shop keeper for the last 9-years here in the UK and with the economy in a terrible state and no future that I can see with my business, it's time for a new start. We have decided to close the business, sell the house and move to Thailand.

I have been doing lots of research regarding setting up a small business in Thailand in exporting goods to UK (I know, here's another one) and possibly run a small shop with imported products. I have a few questions though which I am finding hard to get an answer.

Firstly, I would like to get my daughter a Thai passport but have no idea if this is even possible. My wife seems to think it's no problem but I'm not so sure. I would greatly appreciate any advice on this or hearing of someone's personal experience of this. As mentioned, English father, Thai mother, born in UK with British passport.

If this is possible it would halve the headache i'll have with visa's.

Secondly, from what I understand I can enter Thailand and set up a business quite quickly. Then, going back to the UK can use the company letterhead/stamp etc. to support my B-visa application. Then go back to Thailand to apply for the work permit.

Can anyone tell me if there is a more efficient way to go through this process without having to return to the UK?

Any other advice/comments appreciated.

Regards

Dave.

[Brunus]

Your daughter can get a Thai passport

[Brunus]

You can apply for a visa in an embassy in a neighboring country (Laos, Malaysia etc.). You don't need to get back to the UK

[beechguy]

Seems to me he should apply for a Non-Immigrant "O" before departing the UK, he's already married to a Thai citizen, and the Hull consulate has a reputation for being helpful. No need to return to the UK or go to another country to obtain a visa. Correct? And, I don't know how quickly he could qualify for a one year "Extension of Stay", so may want to apply for a one year multi-entry.

Agreed, he should be able to get a Thai Passport for his daughter.

[TerryLH]

Take your daughters birth certificate to a Thai embassy / consulate in the country she was born in.

They'll issue you a Thai birth certificate that you then use to get her Thai passport with. Very easy.

[Maestro]

Welcome to ThaiVisa, dvdlock.

Thai passport for daughter

As you said your daughter was born in the UK and you and your family are in the UK now. If you have not yet registered the birth of your daughter with the consular section of the Thai embassy in London, do so now and at the same time apply for a Thai passport for your daughter. It may take three to five weeks to get the passport.

Visa for travel to Thailand

Once you move your family to Thailand you should get a non-immigrant visa type O (non-O visa for short) from a Thai consulate for the flight. If you think that you can be ready for an application for a one-year extension within maximum 150 days from arrival a single-entry non-O visa will do, otherwise get a multiple-entry non-O. Purpose of visit: "visit family"

Extension of stay in Thailand

You apply for a 365-extension of stay at your local immigration office. Reason for application: "live with my Thai wife". See paragraph 2.18, clause (6) of Police Order 777/2551. The Thai text is here if your wife is interested in it.

No doubt more questions will crop up along the way and you are welcome to come back to this forum at any time to ask them.

--

Maestro

[dvdlock]

Hello again,

Many thanks for your responses, very helpful indeed. I can't tell you how much reassurance you have all given me here. Many thanks.

Thanks Maestro for the link to the Police Order.

One useful thing is that the Thai Consulate in Hull is quite close to me. It will certainly be easier than dealing with the Thai Embassy in London

Couple more questions if you don't mind:

Once I obtain a non-O visa and follow it up with a 365-day extension, if I then want to start a business and obtain a work permit, would I need to get the visa convetred to a non-B?

Again, could all this be done without having to leave the Kingdom?

Once again, many thanks for all your help, it is appreciated

Regards

Dave.

[Lite Beer]

If you have a 12 month extension of stay based on having a Thai Wife there is no need to change.

You can obtain a Work Permit on your extension.

It is a better option as you do not lose your stay if you lose your job.

[dvdlock]

If you have a 12 month extension of stay based on having a Thai Wife there is no need to change.

You can obtain a Work Permit on your extension.

It is a better option as you do not lose your stay if you lose your job.

Thank you Lite beer, that is great news.

Seem like all the pieces are falling into place as far as my understanding of the process goes. Many thanks again for everyone's advice.

Regards

Dave.

[Guest]

You need to research setting up a business and working here. Work permits are not easy to obtain, and there are lots of requirements for both that and running a business. One thing you are unlikely to be able to do is work in a shop.

[lopburi3]

1. Expect you will have to visit Embassy to take care of obtaining Thai birth certificate and passport.

2. Business set up and operation to enable a work permit to be issued is likley to be a bit more complex than you are accustomed to. Would suggest you read and ask questions in the job/business section.

3. If you can immediately put 400k into a Thai bank account I would only get a single entry non immigrant O visa and extend that entry for one year. Money has to be in account for two months prior to application.

[dvdlock]

You need to research setting up a business and working here. Work permits are not easy to obtain, and there are lots of requirements for both that and running a business. One thing you are unlikely to be able to do is work in a shop.

Thanks Pauln,

Appreciate your advice. As mentioned earlier I want to set up business exporting which is my main focus. The shop idea is in addition to this.

I wasn't thinking of working 'in' a shop so much as owning one as part of my business/company with a Thai national as the 'worker' if that makes any sense. However, I guess this still may not be possible.

I don't know how the work permit system works as yet and am still researching this along with setting up a business. I noticed there are lists of business types which are prohibited, one of which I found in the Work Permit section here on ThaiVisa which has been helpful.

Thanks

Dave.

[Guest]

You need to research setting up a business and working here. Work permits are not easy to obtain, and there are lots of requirements for both that and running a business. One thing you are unlikely to be able to do is work in a shop.

Thanks Pauln,

Appreciate your advice. As mentioned earlier I want to set up business exporting which is my main focus. The shop idea is in addition to this.

I wasn't thinking of working 'in' a shop so much as owning one as part of my business/company with a Thai national as the 'worker' if that makes any sense. However, I guess this still may not be possible.

I don't know how the work permit system works as yet and am still researching this along with setting up a business. I noticed there are lists of business types which are prohibited, one of which I found in the Work Permit section here on ThaiVisa which has been helpful.

Thanks

Dave.

I don't know all the rules, bu I understand that a minimum number of Thai employees is required before a foreigner can get a work permit. No doubt someone with the right knowledge will enlighten us both

[dvdlock]

1. Expect you will have to visit Embassy to take care of obtaining Thai birth certificate and passport.

2. Business set up and operation to enable a work permit to be issued is likley to be a bit more complex than you are accustomed to. Would suggest you read and ask questions in the job/business section.

3. If you can immediately put 400k into a Thai bank account I would only get a single entry non immigrant O visa and extend that entry for one year. Money has to be in account for two months prior to application.

Thanks lopbur3,

We had a joint bank account with Bangkok bank but haven't used it in a number of years. It had virtually nothing in it so I guess the Bank have closed it now. My wife still has an active account though.

I'll have a look through the job/business section as suggested.

Many thanks

Dave.

[monty]

I don't know all the rules, bu I understand that a minimum number of Thai employees is required before a foreigner can get a work permit. No doubt someone with the right knowledge will enlighten us both

In general 4 employees are needed, however Labor department can give a little bit leeway for upstart companies. Depends on which office and the mood of the staff. The company needs to be capitalized to the tune of 2 million Baht per work permit.

However, as you are married to a Thai national, the above requirements are reduced to 2 employees and 1 million register capital for your work permit.

Do note, if your wife is registered as a shareholder in your company, then she does not count towards the employee quota (none of the shareholders do, even if they actually work in the company).

Registering the company is not that hard, nor should it be overly expensive (fees with one of our sponsors).

Work permit should always be possible based on being the managing director of your company. Which is what it says, you can manage your company and staff, the actual work will have to be done by your staff.

[dvdlock]

Thanks for all your responses once again.

Just wanted to give you an update....

We realised the my wife's Passport had expired. She had to make an appointment at the Thai Embassy in London for it's renewal. Couldn't get an appointment until mid February. Then of coarse it takes a few weeks to get it back.

They confirmed there was no problem to get my daughter a Thai passport. However, this requires both parents to be present with passports in hand. So it looks like it's going to be a couple of months or so now before we get that sorted.

In the meantime we'll have to put up with this horrible manky weather we are having at the moment, with more snow forecast in the coming week. It's been a real drag this year.

Thanks again.

Dave.

[happylarry]

If its any help...I dont believe that you need 2/4 Thai employees to get a single work permit....I think its for a second work permit (and any further ones) that you have to have that amount of employees.

Correct me if I'm wrong.

HL

[thaiphoon]

The numbers of Thai's needing to be employed are 4 per work permit (2 in married set-up), but labour offices may be flexible on the number with new business start ups - if they can be provided with business plans showing the business will reach the required minimum number of employees in the near term.