Wp/Visa For Independent Teacher

[tcris52]

I have been teaching at the university level on a WP/Visa from the university for 4 years. I've taught undergrad, graduate and medical students. I've done several assignments for other universities, nursing colleges and medical people (doctors and students). I'm getting tired of the day-to-day grind of the classroom (I'm 65) but still enjoy teaching and there is still a demand for my experience. I am teaching on my university wp, but that will expire, along with the visa, in September. I'm still asked to do some of the special courses for universities and individuals and would like to be able to continue doing them.

I am married and could easily qualify for a marriage visa, but that (as I understand it) will prohibit me from working. I'd like to keep my work legal, especially since I will be working with government institutions. I'm sure I could get letters of support from my clients (universities and individuals), if necessary. I've been told to just go to the Ministry of Labor and they'll give me a work permit. I can't believe it's that easy.

Any enlightenment on this would be appreciated.

Thanks.

Tony

[phl]

i am not expert on the matter, BUT i do not think you can get WP without either

1 Having own company with staff

2. Working for a company, in your case uni or school

[overherebc]

i am not expert on the matter, BUT i do not think you can get WP without either

1 Having own company with staff

2. Working for a company, in your case uni or school

The basic requirement for a WP is non-immigrant visa. It can be a B or an O. Therefore you can get a WP on a married O. The only problem that arises is that some offices wont issue on an O.

It depends on the office in the area you intend to work

Don't ask me why, it's just one of those things.

[phl]

i am not expert on the matter, BUT i do not think you can get WP without either

1 Having own company with staff

2. Working for a company, in your case uni or school

The basic requirement for a WP is non-immigrant visa. It can be a B or an O. Therefore you can get a WP on a married O. The only problem that arises is that some offices wont issue on an O.

It depends on the office in the area you intend to work

Don't ask me why, it's just one of those things.

I do not think OP's problem would be visa, but getting WP without a company or place of work. so he can not be an independent teacher, unless he opens his own company and employs 4 thai staff, along with few other requirements

[arthurwait]

i am not expert on the matter, BUT i do not think you can get WP without either

1 Having own company with staff

2. Working for a company, in your case uni or school

The basic requirement for a WP is non-immigrant visa. It can be a B or an O. Therefore you can get a WP on a married O. The only problem that arises is that some offices wont issue on an O.

It depends on the office in the area you intend to work

Don't ask me why, it's just one of those things.

I do not think OP's problem would be visa, but getting WP without a company or place of work. so he can not be an independent teacher, unless he opens his own company and employs 4 thai staff, along with few other requirements

I think this is the case. You can't work as a freelancer here I believe.

There's also more to the process if the business is a school isn't there ?

[phl]

i am not expert on the matter, BUT i do not think you can get WP without either

1 Having own company with staff

2. Working for a company, in your case uni or school

The basic requirement for a WP is non-immigrant visa. It can be a B or an O. Therefore you can get a WP on a married O. The only problem that arises is that some offices wont issue on an O.

It depends on the office in the area you intend to work

Don't ask me why, it's just one of those things.

I do not think OP's problem would be visa, but getting WP without a company or place of work. so he can not be an independent teacher, unless he opens his own company and employs 4 thai staff, along with few other requirements

I think this is the case. You can't work as a freelancer here I believe.

There's also more to the process if the business is a school isn't there ?

i think will also need some some sort of certification for the school(if business is a school or training of some kind) but i said i am not an expert, one of the mods is though, i think Mario or Lopburi

[NHJ]

no solution for you but open a company and go through everyone's requirement.

[lopburi3]

Suspect he could have school contract to a Thai company and company hire him without need for him to set up his own company - it that not what the English teaching firms do? As said normally non immigrant O visa/extension for marriage is accepted for work permit issue - the problem is the employment needed for a work permit.

[phl]

Suspect he could have school contract to a Thai company and company hire him without need for him to set up his own company - it that not what the English teaching firms do? As said normally non immigrant O visa/extension for marriage is accepted for work permit issue - the problem is the employment needed for a work permit.

I think though the problem OP is facing is that he wants to be an independent teacher.but he needs to be "tied up" somewhere or somehow to be able to get WP

I can not say i see a way around but perhaps a visit to a law firm with "connections" may have something to offer

[kanderson]

I have never heard of the Thai people kicking a teacher like this out of the country. Too much paranoia possibly. Has this really every happened ?

[ubonjoe]

You should get an extension based upon marriage to a Thai.

Being married to a Thai has the benefit of only needing 2 Thai employees. Also you can get a work permit for a sole proprietor business owned by your wife (she can be one of the employees) or setting up a partnership company with her.

Having an extension based upon marriage allows you do the above because you would not be able to get an extension from immigration for this type of business or company.

[tcris52]

Thanks to all for the suggestions. I'm going to try a couple of options.

1. A colleague was asking me today if I knew of qualified teachers for a company a Thai friend of his is starting. I'm going to propose that I work for him and I will get the clients and just give him a percentage of my fee to be taken on as an employee.

2. I'm also going to talk to the admin who did all our WP/visa processing at the university and see if she would use her contacts within the Ministry of Labor to see if there's a way in the "back door".

Will let you know what happens.