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How can I legally be set up to work for a small overseas company?

Shoeboat
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Shoeboat Advanced Member

Shoeboat

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Posted

I've been offered a job by an international school in Denmark that would like me to promote them in the Asia region as it is more cost effective than them flying over for education fairs and agent visits.

I have so far been told that I can not get a work permit as it is not a Thai affiliated company and has no office here but that a 1 year business visa may be an option.

I would welcome any clarification on this.

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seancbk Gold Member

seancbk

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Last year they changed the rules and said they would only issue 90 day Non Imm B visas, unless you have a work permit.

So getting a one year non imm B is probably out of the question.

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seancbk Gold Member

seancbk

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Last year they changed the rules and said they would only issue 90 day Non Imm B visas, unless you have a work permit.

So getting a one year non imm B is probably out of the question.

There has been no such rule change. See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

Hi Ubonjoe,

I will defer to your better knowledge but my experience was as follows....

I used to mail my passport to Hull every year to get a new multi entry non B.

I did it again last year (the visa was issued 8th Aug) but was contacted by Hull who told me all applications had to be sent to London and were being approved there. They then told me that without a Work Permit they could now only issue a 90 day single entry Non imm B.

So something changed whether it was a long term change or just something they were doing briefly.

Incidentally this was a new passport so completely devoid of any other visas or stamps.

If they are back to issuing 1 year Non B's then I'd switch back to one of those.

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ubonjoe Legendary Member

ubonjoe

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Posted

Last year they changed the rules and said they would only issue 90 day Non Imm B visas, unless you have a work permit.

So getting a one year non imm B is probably out of the question.

There has been no such rule change. See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

Hi Ubonjoe,

I will defer to your better knowledge but my experience was as follows....

I used to mail my passport to Hull every year to get a new multi entry non B.

I did it again last year (the visa was issued 8th Aug) but was contacted by Hull who told me all applications had to be sent to London and were being approved there. They then told me that without a Work Permit they could now only issue a 90 day single entry Non imm B.

So something changed whether it was a long term change or just something they were doing briefly.

Incidentally this was a new passport so completely devoid of any other visas or stamps.

If they are back to issuing 1 year Non B's then I'd switch back to one of those.

That is just a local policy not a world wide change. I suspect that it is still possible at the embassy in London with all the correct documents from a company in the UK.

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seancbk Gold Member

seancbk

Posted
Posted

Last year they changed the rules and said they would only issue 90 day Non Imm B visas, unless you have a work permit.

So getting a one year non imm B is probably out of the question.

There has been no such rule change. See: http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

Hi Ubonjoe,

I will defer to your better knowledge but my experience was as follows....

I used to mail my passport to Hull every year to get a new multi entry non B.

I did it again last year (the visa was issued 8th Aug) but was contacted by Hull who told me all applications had to be sent to London and were being approved there. They then told me that without a Work Permit they could now only issue a 90 day single entry Non imm B.

So something changed whether it was a long term change or just something they were doing briefly.

Incidentally this was a new passport so completely devoid of any other visas or stamps.

If they are back to issuing 1 year Non B's then I'd switch back to one of those.

That is just a local policy not a world wide change. I suspect that it is still possible at the embassy in London with all the correct documents from a company in the UK.

Ah... well that is annoying seeing as I get documents from a Thai company and a Hong Kong company.

The Thai consulate in HK is really picky about issuing them and wants tons of paperwork, whereas Hull always did it with just a letter from each company (they did then start asking for more paperwork but never as onerous as HK.

I mention HK as I'm a permanent citizen and go there or Macau without requiring my passport :-)

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Shoeboat Advanced Member

Shoeboat

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Posted (edited)

Okay, I've since found out that Sunbelt Asia could sponsor me and this could all be done for 10,700 thb.

However, I would need to go to Melbourne to obtain the visa and wait there for ten days, all of which is going to cost about another 40,000 thb.

May I assume that this is simply an easy and expensive option for anyone wishing to stay in Thailand for whatever reason and that the cheapest way of going about this would be to call the embassy in Copenhagen?

I will be going there visa the UK in a couple of weeks so I need to know asap what I would need my boss to provide.

The Sunbelt link posted earlier gives this list:



  • Brief description of the objectives or details of the business and steps of work. Brochure or profile of the business is required as well.

Okay.

  • Office address in Thailand and map thereof. You must show evidence of your right to use the office space of the representative office (lease, landlord consent, household registration, etc from the Landlord.)

NO OFFICE is needed in Thailand. Bangkok will just be a base and any work I do here would be simply viewing or replying to emails.

  • Reasons why the representative office is necessary

DON'T NEED AN OFFICE, I have a laptop and a desk in my small apartment in Ekkamai.

  • Positive and negative impacts on the Thai economy and society.

No negative ones. Positives? I'll be here spending money and opening a new education market to Thai students.

  • Last three year’s annual financial report of the head office. ( Must be translated into Thai by a licensed Thai translator)

BRAND NEW COMPANY so this is not possible.

  • Details of technology transfer to Thai staff.

What??

  • Number and name of staff together with their salaries.

There are about 40 staff, almost all of whom are in Copenhagen. Why the hell would they need all that info?

  • Well known projects/ clients/ products. (case by case)

It's a school.

  • Business forecast plan and amount of expenses for the next three years.

It's not really like that is it. They just want a representative in Asia.

  • Type, value and number of machinery/office equipment used in the business.

That is absolutely ridiculous.

I'd appreciate anything that any of you have to add but it looks as though i'll either have to contact the Thai embassy over there and ask them what to do or do it the easy and expensive way.

Edited by Shoeboat
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samran Star Member

samran

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Posted

I'd stop answering the questions like you are thinking you are doing Thailand a favour and ask seriously do you qualify. Not every one does.

A rep office doesn't have to be huge. There are plenty of virtual offices about. Business plans, well they are sensible and why should the government issue visas with no plans at all?

No three year track record? See if there is a way around.

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Shoeboat Advanced Member

Shoeboat

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Thankyou, I was wondering HOW to see if there is a way around, other than the very helpful Sunbelt Asia. What they charge is reasonable but like I said, a trip to Australia would be cripplingly expensive in comparison.

Perhaps contact the Thai embassy in Copenhagen.

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JLCrab Ruby Member

JLCrab

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Posted (edited)

From Post #1: ... as it is more cost effective than them flying over for education fairs and agent visits.

The problem in doing a 3-year plan as in Post # 16 is that it may prove that basing someone in Thailand, and conforming to the Thai rep office regulations given the number of Thai students that might realistically enroll at the school in Denmark, that it may prove more cost effective to continue doing as they are doing now.

Edited by JLCrab
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LivinLOS Star Member

LivinLOS

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Posted

You seem to be confusing the list of things you need to do to qualify with a list of things you wish to do.

Opening a legal representative office requires you perform some steps, if you don't wish to do them, you can't legally work here.

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