Business outside Thailand finding clients inside Thailand - Visa?

[johnswagger]

Hi,

I'm struggling to find any useful information on this issue.

I own a business outside of Thailand, but I'm interested in visiting Thailand to find potential clients. To do that I'd need to be speaking with business owners directly.

From what I've read online, it seems it wouldn't be possible to get a work permit, but would I be legally allowed to do this if I entered on a business visa?

Really, I could just do this on phone from outside of Thailand, but I love Asia and it would be much easier to do in person - and you know... any excuse to visit!

Any help would be greatly appreciated as I've just got no idea.

Many thanks in advance to anyone helps!

John.

[Soutpeel]

A Non-imm B should fulfill what your trying to do as the intent of this visa is to explore business possbilities in Thailand.

however if you are concerned about the work permit side of things, one of the sponsoring companies in Thailand your coming to see, could possibly arrange a temporary WP for you...good for 14 days, you will still need to Non-imm B to get this WP anyway

[Gsxrnz]

A client of one of my businesses at home regularly visits Thailand to conduct "business". He exports product out of Thailand.

He visits suppliers and agents all the time and I assist him.

Neither of us have work permits or B visas.

Regardless of the rules, the chances of either of us getting done are exponentially less than the odds of winning the Thai Lottery Jackpot.

If you have a calculator that goes to 30 decimal places you could probably calculate those odds.

[impulse]

A client of one of my businesses at home regularly visits Thailand to conduct "business". He exports product out of Thailand.

He visits suppliers and agents all the time and I assist him.

Neither of us have work permits.

Regardless of the rules, the chances of either of us getting done are exponentially less than the odds of winning the Thai Lottery Jackpot.

If you have a calculator that goes to 30 decimal places you could probably calculate those odds.

Probably true until one of your prospects calls his preferred Thai vendor about you. And that (well connected) Thai vendor rats you out for competing with him illegally.

If you're not competing with a Thai, and you don't hack any of them off, you're probably safe. But the subtheme in just about every story of WP raids that I've read is a pissed off Thai competitor who drops a dime.

[Soutpeel]

A client of one of my businesses at home regularly visits Thailand to conduct "business". He exports product out of Thailand.

He visits suppliers and agents all the time and I assist him.

Neither of us have work permits or B visas.

Regardless of the rules, the chances of either of us getting done are exponentially less than the odds of winning the Thai Lottery Jackpot.

If you have a calculator that goes to 30 decimal places you could probably calculate those odds.

The OP has asked for what proper options are availible, and you have basically said break the law...its not problem...

The chances of getting caught for drinking and driving in Thailand are pretty low as well, so are we saying this is ok as well to do ?

You have no idea which business' the OP intends to visit and i know for a fact some companies will not let "visitors" from overseas in the door of their offices unless they have both a Non-imm B and a temporary WP (which the company themselves have sponsored in the case of the WP) if they are their to talk business..

[johnswagger]

Thanks for the replies guys, I appreciate it.

It seems to be a pretty complicated issue with no clear guidelines. I've read through all the visa info on the official Thai website, plus a few other visa agencies, and theres no specific rule for my situation and I'd guess that they'd box me into the standard B visa requiring a work permit to actually conduct business legally.

It's difficult because while I personally won't be earning money in Thailand, my business would, and depending on the circumstances I may have to accept money on behalf of the business. What I'll probably do is visit or talk to the Thai embassy before I travel and see what's what, and take it from there.

May even be easier to try and 'hire' a Thai on a self-employed commission basis for 6 months and just have them be my middle man (or woman), and not do anything directly in-person in Thailand.

Anyway, thanks again!

John

[ubonjoe]

If all you plan on doing is meeting with potential customers and current customers a non immigrant B visa should be enough.

There is info here about the requirements to get one for business purposes. http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

[impulse]

I'd suggest contacting a Thai based attorney, especially if you'll be accepting payments in country. That's more complicated than just making sales calls, and also leaves you the issue of getting the money out of the country.

The word lawyer, or attorney here should trigger a bunch of pop-up ads for legal folks that sponsor the site.

Or, you can post your question in the new "Ask a Lawyer" forum here on TV.