Temporary Work Vist Visa Questions?

[uncletom]

Have a friend who is going to come to Thailand.

This will be for business and for two months. Even though the guy has a Thai registered company, it has a Thai director on paper and Thai shareholders, but it is only his on paper and name and him running not legally running it.

He does not have a work permit and will come here to conduct business meetings etc, but the problem is that he has a few people who do not like him and would love to hear he is here and what he is doing. If they do hear this then what can happen?What is the legality for him coming and for him to openly admit to the wrong person that this trip is for business purposes without a work permit. If he goes to get a visa in the US what Visa should it be?

[Colabamumbai]

In life you pay your money and you take your chances. Tourist visa would be the easiest to obtain.

[uncletom]

Thank you Colabamumbai fro your input,

The question(s) run(s) further than that. I seem to have read somewhere quite some time ago that there is a temporary visit visit visa permitting work in Thailand that can be obtained. The question is, is it still in existence, and if so, how long does it allow for, and if not, what are the penalties for perhaps recodred as for saying or caught in the midst of business meetings..

I did not phrase it like that in the original asking, but there are knowlwdgeable posters and admins that can read between the lines and give thorough information.

[thaiphoon]

Working in Thailand without a work permit is a serious offense, and the penalties if caught can be severe. It carries a jail term of up to 5 years under labour law, but sentence is more often reduced to a fine and deportation. Deportation will also prohibit future entry into the Kingdom. It is possible for the Thai company to apply for/obtain temporary work permit from local labour office to enable him to attend business meetings, which can be issued for a period of up to 15 days, as detailed under Section 9 of the Alien Working Act 2551 (2008). Not sure if it is possible to extend thereafter. He would need to hold a qualifying Non-Immigrant visa, ie, Non-B or Non-O.

[uncletom]

So, the person needs to take his or her non immigrant visa to the local labour office to get the temporary work permit.

Who out there knows if it is able to be extended?, and is this how musicians do it?. There are jazz musicians who get visa'a

For some reason, the visa I am thinking of allows a person to come to Thailand and do businees for a short period of time.

Say like an automotive expert to the factory or a Visa or Mastercard gregional exec visiting issuing bankS to hold meetings.

It seems strange to me if some person just holding short term scattered meetings with an affiliated business will need to go through hoops. So, is it for sure there is no pregranted visa to come do business in Thailand. The person is not paid by the Thai company, so he is only coming to do business here on inviter by the company's registered Thai director..

[thaiphoon]

The company would need to apply for the temporary work permit and provide appropriate company paperwork.

There are different immigration rules applying to performers, as detailed in Police Order 777/2551.

There is no 'short term business visa'.

The definition of 'work' under the Alien Working Act is extremely wide:

to engage in work by exerting energy or using knowledge whether or not in consideration of wages or other benefit.

Your friend will require a work permit to operate here legally, and suggest he/his Thai company gives local labour office a call to enquire about possibility of extending. Note work permit requirements can vary from office to office, so suspect you will not get a definitive answer about extending here.

[Mario2008]

The general consensus is I believe that people don't need a work permit if they are here for bussness bewteen Thailand and another country and don't engage in activities between Thai companies.

In your case he works for a Thai company, which makes a lot of difference.

[Soutpeel]

It is possible for the Thai company to apply for/obtain temporary work permit from local labour office to enable him to attend business meetings, which can be issued for a period of up to 15 days, as detailed under Section 9 of the Alien Working Act 2551 (2008). Not sure if it is possible to extend thereafter. He would need to hold a qualifying Non-Immigrant visa, ie, Non-B or Non-O.

Correct, this process is used to bring guys in on short term jobs for O&G, As regards extensions on the "emergency" work permit, it all depends on who is asking for the extension and for what reason..

As far as I understand a person is generally only allowed 1 X 15 day WP per year, and if you ask for any more they generally go and tell you to do a a full WP.

For 15 day WP, believe person concerned needs a Non-imm B, dont think they can done on an "O"

[Soutpeel]

It seems strange to me if some person just holding short term scattered meetings with an affiliated business will need to go through hoops. So, is it for sure there is no pregranted visa to come do business in Thailand. The person is not paid by the Thai company, so he is only coming to do business here on inviter by the company's registered Thai director..

You may be correct, but lets look at the facts as stated, he intends to come to Thailand for "two months" to conduct business meetings... ...Immigration and Labour are thought not to be the sharpest knives in box...but they are not that stupid..