One Year Extension: Work Or Marriage?

[HarryHerb]

Slightly complicated this one, so please bear with me.

I have been living and working in Thailand for the last 4 or so years, but have been getting year-long multiple-entry-B visas as a) I am single and we don't have enough staff in our company (3 total - myself and 2 Thai people) to allow me to get the one-year extension for business reasons.

Border runs are getting increasingly tedious so I am looking for a solution to this regular dilemma: I need a way to get the one-year extension.

As I understand it, I have 2 options. 1) to 'fake' the employees (risky?) or 2) to get married. I do have a long-term Thai partner, so it wouldn't be someone random (although of course this does have risks of its own... )

If I fake the employees (backed by my local lawyer out here in the sticks), I understand there is a risk of being caught out on a visit from Immigration, but will there be any other less obvious things to think about (e.g. cost of paying fake employees' income tax and social security for x months of the year [how many?]?)

The marriage path seems to be easier in some ways, but I imagine it would not be possible for me to extend my current Non-Imm-B for reasons of marriage. If this is true, then does this mean then that I will have to get a new visa type 'O', then wait another year and try to extend that one? Can you extend a 3-month Non-Imm-O? Can I even get a Non-Imm-O if I have only been married for less than 2 months?

Also, does anyone know if a change in visa type will cause problems with the Labour Dept, who have issued my work permit with a Non-Imm-B visa?

[lopburi3]

A single entry O is fine and can be obtained immediately after marriage and is normally extended after 60 days. Believe there is a slight change in paperwork for the work permit. But as long as you have the 40k per month income it sounds like a good plan (depending of course in the spouse).

[HarryHerb]

Lop3, thanks for your reply - useful info there... So assuming the future spouse is ok (which I do, I do!), you would recommend this route rather than the business option?

Although I lose my valued independence (never thought I was the 'marrying kind'), I suppose financially it makes more sense: I've been looking at the boards here and apparently as a woman, I don't even need the minimum wage / money in the bank, do I? Whereas the business route would entail a minimum wage, plus tax / social security for my fictitious employees...

[lopburi3]

As a woman the man is expected to be the one doing the support so as long as he appears to the means to do that your income should not matter. That also means you can stay even if the business fails so offers more security that way.

[HarryHerb]

I think that should be fine - he has land, rental income, and his own business...

My business has been ticking along for a while so (touch wood) nothing should happen to it, but I may want to stop work to have kids etc. in the future - I hadn't thought of the implications this might have for my visa so this is very sound advice. Thanks again Thai Visa! Now time to start shopping for a dress