Hi

A few questions because I was thinking about getting a N.I. B but it seems that N.I. Ed is much easier.

Is there anything you can do with a 1 year N.I. B that you can't with 1 year N.I. ED?

I found two options for sponsor/school:

http://www.thailanguageschools.com/ 18.000 baht for 200 lessons

http://www.thaiwalen.com/index.php 26.000 baht for 180 lessons

Assuming that all other things are equal, the first and second option have a huge price difference.

Are these options legit? anyone have experience with these schools?

I have a Euro Passport

Please some advice!

You should apply for the type of visa that corresponds to the purpose of your trip to Thailand.

The non-B is available for the following purposes:

Conducting business in Thailand as an employee of a non Thai company (ie a business based outside Thailand)

or

Taking up employment in Thailand with a company located in Thailand

or

Undertaking a vocational training course (teaching, diving, boxing, etc)

The non-ED visa is available for the following purposes:

Studying in Thailand

or

Taking part in a work study/observation tour in Thailand

or

Participating in a project or seminar

or

Attending a business conference or trade fair

or

Attending as an official at a recognised event

or

Studying as a Buddhist Monk

Source: visa application pack of the Thai consulate in Hull, UK (http://www.thaiconsul-uk.com/download.aspx?id=20130520183804)

You can get a Work Permit and work legally and still go to school with a NO\on-B, you can not work legally with an ED visa.

Another option for schools is :http://www.tlslanguageschool.com/. I have used them in the past. If you can you should always audit a class for free and undrerstand their teaching methods before signing a contract with them.. Some schools hold you until a new class starts and you remain with them throughout the course. Some schools "throw" you in a class where ever they are, maybe in the middle of the ciriculum on page 100 of the book, ot my idea of proper training.. The school that I posted starts you with a new class. Not cheap, 180 hours, 25000 baght the last time that I checked.

Tnx Wayned: I wouldn't have bothered to ask questions like that assuming I would start at page 1.

Maestro: thanks for posting those differences.

In my case i want to study Thai and also set up a Company in Thailand over the next year. I just bought a condo and have a friend who owns a company. He is willing to help me but they seem to ask for a lot.

(2) Foreigners who wish to conduct business in Thailand must provide the following documents:
- Passport or travel document with a validity of not less than 6 months.
- Completed application form.
- Recent passport-sized photograph (4 x 6 cm) photograph of the applicant taken within the past 6 months.
- Evidence of adequate finance (20,000 Baht per person and 40,000 Baht per family) for the duration of stay in Thailand
- Letter from the applicant’s company indicating the applicant’s position, length of employment, salary and purpose of visit(s) to Thailand.
- Documents showing correspondence with business partners in Thailand.
- Evidence of financial status in the case where the applicant is self-employed.
- Letter of invitation from trading or associated partners/companies in Thailand.
- Corporate documents of associated partners/companies in Thailand such as:
1) business registration and business license
2) list of shareholders
3) company profile
4) details of business operation
5) map indicating location of the company
6) balance sheet, statement of Income Tax and Business Tax (Por
Ngor Dor 50 and Por Ngor Dor 30) of the latest year
7) value-added tax registration (Por Por 20)
(3) Copies of company documents must be signed by the Board of Directors or authorised managing director and affix seal of company.
(4) Additional documents may be requested as and when necessary. In the absence of a required document, applicant must provide a letter explaining the unavailability of such document. Applicant must endorse on each and every page of the submitted copies of documentation. Documents in foreign languages must be translated into Thai and should be notorised by notary organs or by the applicant’s diplomatic or consular mission.
(5) Holder of this type of visa is entitled to stay in Thailand for a maximum period of 90 days. He or she may apply for an extension of stay at the Office of the Immigration Bureau and may be granted such extension for a period of one year from the date of first entry into Thailand.

This all seems pretty excessive. I might be over thinking it but there is not much correspondence with the Thai company. I'm self employed my UK based LTD has only been formed 3 months ago. I'm not paying myself salary but my Thai bank can provide me with statements that my money comes from abroad. Deposits are all 800.000 bt and up.

I just thought that N.I. ED would be an easier preposition. But since I eventually need a work permit. I might better get into contact with a lawyer or agency that can help me set up an application for N.I. B and instruct me and my friend (with the Thai company) how to do this.

So my question now would be: who can suggest trustworthy lawyer or agency?

ps (i don't want to use my friends contacts so there will never be a conflict of interests)

Edited July 5, 201313 yr by bigworld

I have gotten B visas with nothing more than a letter from company at a honorary Thai consulate.