I'm Really Really Confused About Visas And Work Permits

[kudroz]

I've been reading a lot on here fore the past months trying to figure out what would be the best thing to do in my situation.

I'm from Canada - and arrived here about 2 months ago on a Tourist Visa. I fell in love with the place, decided to rent a house here. I have now met a nice lady and I don't want to go back home.

My income is from a company in Canada I operate which receives commisions from Internet based website for advertisement revenues. I work a few hours a day on my laptop, reply to emails.

My understanding is that the mind and management of my Canadian company is here in Thailand; therefore I think that I should be paying taxes on my personal and corporate income in Thailand.

This would mean I would need

1.) Non Immigrant ( Type B ) Visa

2.) Work Permit

3.) Register a subsidary of my Canadian company here in Thailand or form a new corporate entity

I read on here that I could apply to have my Tourist Visa changed for a Non. Immigrant Visa - I also found the form on this website http://www.immigration.go.th

But from what I understand, before I could obtain a Non. Immigrant ( Type B ) Visa I need to have a corporation here who sponsors me and can show the following:

- 2,000,000 THB Paid up capital

- Previous 2 years VAT remittance statement

- Previous 2 years coportate income tax paid

Well, these requirements are impossible to meet at the moment. Let's say I form a company today - I wouldn't be able to meet these requirements. I'm very confused on how I could get the proper documentation to support my Non Immigrant ( Type B ) Visa.

And then comes the other confusion I have... a workpermit. I read that I need to have on payroll 4 Thai residents (or citizens?) for each workpermit the sponsoring company wants to issue to a foreigner.

I am really confused with all the requirements and I wonder if this is at all possible for me. Would anyone with experience with this could give me some advise and/or correct me on my assumptions?

*edited because of funky emoticons appeared by mistake

[Sunbelt Asia]

This can be confusing but with a firm like ours, it is all very simple.

Before you arrive you get a non immigrant B visa in Canada. Our company can help you get this by sponsoring you. Our fees are 7,200 Baht plus 504 Baht for Vat. Add 1,000 Baht for the courier to deliver the paperwork to take to your Embassy/Consulate. The Consulate/Embassy will charge you 5,000 Baht for a one year multi entry visa.

And then comes the other confusion I have... a workpermit. I read that I need to have on payroll 4 Thai residents (or citizens?) for each workpermit the sponsoring company wants to issue to a foreigner.

Work permit requires NO Thais to be employed. Let me repeat that... the criteria to obtain a work permit is NO Thais are required to be employed

What you read was the criteria for obtaining an extension of stay based on business for most company objectives UNLESS you are going to have the objective of being an "Consultant" then only 1 Thai employee is required to be employed making at least 5,540 Baht per month. The advantage of having this type of extension of stay permit is you do not need to leave every 90 days.

However, If you cannot meet the criteria, you simply need to do a visa run every 90 days and extend your work permit. How many Thai employees are required? NONE Are you legal? YES Is your company legal? Yes because its the law!

www.lawyer.th.com

[kudroz]

Before you arrive you get a non immigrant B visa in Canada. Our company can help you get this by sponsoring you. Our fees are 7,200 Baht plus 504 Baht for Vat. Add 1,000 Baht for the courier to deliver the paperwork to take to your Embassy/Consulate. The Consulate/Embassy will charge you 5,000 Baht for a one year multi entry visa.

I am already in Thailand at the moment - I could always return to Canada to do this I guess if there are no other ways, maybe I could opt to change my Tourist Visa to a Non Imm. ( Type B ) Visa with the immigration here in Thailand, if you could provide the necessary documents to support my application.

I will send you a PM and I would like to be in touch. Thanks again

[Sunbelt Asia]

Before you arrive you get a non immigrant B visa in Canada. Our company can help you get this by sponsoring you. Our fees are 7,200 Baht plus 504 Baht for Vat. Add 1,000 Baht for the courier to deliver the paperwork to take to your Embassy/Consulate. The Consulate/Embassy will charge you 5,000 Baht for a one year multi entry visa.

I am already in Thailand at the moment - I could always return to Canada to do this I guess if there are no other ways, maybe I could opt to change my Tourist Visa to a Non Imm. ( Type B ) Visa with the immigration here in Thailand, if you could provide the necessary documents to support my application.

I will send you a PM and I would like to be in touch. Thanks again

Thailand is great because of many legal ways to be legal. You will not need to go back to Canada to get the non immigrant visa.

We will call you soon.

www.lawyer.th.com