non-immigration visa type b - business vs work?

[Pkl]

The Thai Embassy of Finland has two web pages for Non-Immigration B Visas:
1) Working: http://www.thaiembassy.org/helsinki/en/customize/28148-Working.html

2) Business: http://www.thaiembassy.org/helsinki/en/customize/28149-Conducting-Business.html

To apply for the Non-Immigration B Visa "Working", one must have either an original letter from the Thai Ministry of Labor, or a Work Permit BEFORE applying for the type B Visa. However, to apply for the Non-Immigration B Visa "Conducting Business", the letter from Ministry of Labor nor the Work Permit are not listed as requirements.

My question is: What is the difference between "working" and "conducting business"? In other words, what counts as "conducting business" in Thailand, that does not mean "working"?

I have applied for a Non-Immigration Visa B but they rejected my application, stating that I would need to apply for a Work Permit BEFORE I could get a B Visa. I have now re-applied with all the documents as listed in the "Conducting Business" page of the Embassy, but I still do not quite understand what is the difference of "working" in Thailand and "conducting business" in Thailand

I am trying to get a B Visa to enter the country and then apply for a Work Permit to live and work in Thailand.

[thaiexpat21]

You cannot obtain a work permit unless you have an employer who is prepared to support the application .

[lopburi3]

That would be for those with business outside Thailand coming here to check for sources of products and meetings with local business leaders and such.

[Pkl]

You cannot obtain a work permit unless you have an employer who is prepared to support the application .

Yes, I know. I have an employer, and he told me to first get the B Visa to enter the country and then he will support me to get the Work Permit.

[Pkl]

That would be for those with business outside Thailand coming here to check for sources of products and meetings with local business leaders and such.

Thank you for your quick answer!

So, as an online business specialist, if they ask, I can say that I am applying for the type B visa "conducting business" to enter Thailand to seek for potential business partners and/or clients for my business that is outside of Thailand and when I am in the country, I can apply for the Work Permit to work with my Thai employer?

[ubonjoe]

You could try to get it that way or get a tourist visa and apply for a work permit here. Then go to a nearby embassy or consulate to get the B visa.

[digitalchromakey]

You cannot obtain a work permit unless you have an employer who is prepared to support the application .

Yes, I know. I have an employer, and he told me to first get the B Visa to enter the country and then he will support me to get the Work Permit.

You don't need any specific visa or even to be in Thailand for your new employer to apply on your behalf for a work permit using form WP3. When the application is successfully filed your employer will get a WP 3 Receipt or an Acceptance Letter from Labour with this you can then apply for a non immigrant category 'B' visa at a Thai Consular facility along with the other required papers; WP application form attached below along with a link to the Thai MFA list of required documents to apply for a non immigrant 'B' visa:

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

Form_tt3.pdf

Enter Thailand on the non 'B' Visa, show the 90 day stamp and visa to Labour to collect your WP.

[Pkl]

You could try to get it that way or get a tourist visa and apply for a work permit here. Then go to a nearby embassy or consulate to get the B visa.

Do you mean I can be in Thailand with a tourist visa and apply for a work permit? Here http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/work-permit-rules.php it says that one must first have a non-immigrant or resident visa before one can apply for work permit?

[ubonjoe]

That is not not correct. You can apply with a tourist visa but you will need the B visa for it to be issued. That is not an official website. Commercial websites cannot be trusted to give you correct info.

[digitalchromakey]

You could try to get it that way or get a tourist visa and apply for a work permit here. Then go to a nearby embassy or consulate to get the B visa.

Do you mean I can be in Thailand with a tourist visa and apply for a work permit? Here http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/work-permit-rules.php it says that one must first have a non-immigrant or resident visa before one can apply for work permit?

The link you give is to a commercial (selling services) web site, the information on it is misleading in that your/your employer can actually apply for a Work Permit independant of your current visa status, this can even be done even before you enter Thailand.

However the Work Permit iteself is normally only issued once you can show that you have entered Thailand with a valid non immigrant category 'b' visa/90 day stamp.