B-visa/work Pemit Vs. Investment Visa.

[kasi]

I'm here now on a 90 day single entry B-visa. I've got a thai company and have my work permit application in process.

Questions:

Once I have my work permit do I have to leave the country and go to a royal Thai embassy again to get the one year multiple entry B-visa?

Once issued how long are the work permits valid for. Do they really need to be renewed every 90 days along with the visa run.

Last year in KL I was denied an investment visa even though my condo's are valued in excess of 6M and are in my name.

I'd sure like to figure a way around the 90 visa run thing.

If the 3 year visa is real that would be nice. Probably wont be happening by Jan 18th when my current visa expires.

Also it's been over 6 weeks since I've applied for a work permit. Does it normally take so long?

Can't I just go to the local(phuket) immigration with my work permit in hand and get the one year visa.

An elderly( in her late 70's) lady friend went to local immigration with her retirement requirements to get her retirement visa. She requested a 12 month visa and was given a 23 month visa.

It seems they have a double standard for men in their 40's

[lopburi3]

Am not sure if you expect a retirement visa at age 40 or what but nobody gets "a 23 month visa" from immigration so I suspect something has been lost somewhere.

No you can not get a one year visa from any immigration office. If you meet the income requirements and have the work permit you can obtain a one year extension of stay from immigration by filling out a TM.7, payment of 1,900 baht and providing the required paperwork. You would then change work permit to that period.

Don't know if six weeks is long or not but it can often take some time for work permits.

If you meet the extension of stay requirements and obtain same you do not have to leave country for a new visa or make visa runs - but you do have to report you address every 90 days.

If you do not qualify for extension of stay you will have to leave country to obtain a multi entry visa and your work permits will only be valid for each entry and have to be renewed each time.

[kasi]

No I'm not expecting a retirement visa, as my business is a real one and requires me to work. (the BIB are keeping an eye on foreigners running businesses that are actually making it work. So I'll have to be a good boy and comply with these draconian rules it seems.

I had my place inspected last week and the inspector was muttering under his breath how was it that foreigners could own businesses like mine?!

The 23 month retirement visa for my elderly lady friend was real, perhaps a mistake as someone mentioned in another thread.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

The 3 year visa looks more and more likely not to come to pass. Certainly not before January 2006

[Sunbelt Asia]

Once I have my work permit do I have to leave the country and go to a royal Thai embassy again to get the one year multiple entry B-visa?

Only if you cannot meet the criteria to extend your extension of stay based on business or you are not prepared to invest 3 million Baht for a investment visa( condo, bonds or fixed deposit) The criteria for the extension of stay based on business is 4 Thai employees ( unless your company has its main objective as a agent, consultant or advisor than its 1 Thai employee)and minimum salary for your nationality... European is 50K.

Otherwise you will need to go to a select Thai Embassy that will issue a non immigrant visa based that you have a work permit ( KL or Penang but not Cambodia or Singapore)top obtain a one year multi entry visa.

Once issued how long are the work permits valid for. Do they really need to be renewed every 90 days along with the visa run.

In most cases they are 1 year. However they are valid for what ever period your visa is. If your visa is 3 months then you need to extend it when you get a new 90 day period based on you have a one year multi entry visa.

Also it's been over 6 weeks since I've applied for a work permit. Does it normally take so long?

In Phuket it can. In Bangkok it takes 10 days. One Stop Center it takes only 1 day.

www.lawyer.th.com

[kasi]

It looks like it's off to KL again and I'll learn to enjoy my "visa run". The drive to Ranong is actually quite pleasant. And I'm told the casino up there is fun place to hang out for a couple of nights.

Thanks for the info gents.

Edited December 11, 2005 by kasi