Visa questions, general questions. Please help.

[chingching3]

I'm currently in Thailand on a tourist visa (60/90day) that I got from Pnom Penh. My passport is a EU passport. I'm renting short term, next I'm going to do a 1-year rental contract. Before then I want to get my visa things order so that I will have no problems staying.

I kindly ask for your help. Please tell me to the best of your knowledge what my best choices are. Thank you.

Someone recently told me they are going to apply some new visa laws and that "visa runs" will become harder. I assume he meant getting back to back tourist visas. I just found out today that some people hop across the border every 15/30 days. They must be criminals? I don't understand it. It's good that people like that are kept out. But will it be harder for decent people as well? I was worried when I heard that. I know China doesn't want you to stay for too long on tourist visas, but even China usually lets you stay at least a year (up to the clerk and office...)

Will it be harder for me to do 90 day visas back to back (4 per year, with the 30-day extensions)?

This is my first time in Thailand and my first visa. I want to live here and work here (but not illegally).

If I understand correctly, it's not possible to get a non-immigrant B visa without a job and a work permit?

I saw a company offering B visa sponsoring/documents for 2800 baht (I think). That means that you can apply for the visa and list their company as employing you, and their company will verify it.

This cannot be legal/real, can it? If I understand correctly, a company needs to pay 5 million baht tax and employ 50 Thai people for every foreigner they employ. For a service like this to work, for 100 foreigner visas they would need to employ 5000 Thai people and pay 500 million baht in taxes per tax year. Am I misunderstanding something, or am I correct? Is it a scam?

I am currently riding a rented motorcycle. I assumed getting a driver's license would be quicker, but now I'm a little worried that it doesn't seem to be as straightforward as I thought. I don't like riding it illegally but I need to get around and public transportation isn't always an answer. Taking a taxi isn't always an answer either unless you want to waste your money. If you judge me for riding a bike without a license, please know that I would rather not do it without a license. I will try to get a license as soon as possible. First I need a certificate of residence? Can I get it with a tourist visa? I will find out for myself soon but it should be possible?

I don't speak a lot of Thai yet so I will need a Thai person to come with me when I take the tests? This will be no problem.

I have never had a license in any country before. I learned to ride a bike in Asia. I have no problem with Thai traffic, including the freeways. But I'm Asian, maybe that's why?

Currently my options are:

1. another tourist visa, 60/90 day (is this the best possible visa I can get without a work permit/job?)

2. another visa (multiple entry/1-year: is this possible without a job?)

3. another visa (the company mentioned above/a bribe? is this possible?)

4. ED visa, 1-year (i have considered this, the education program is not expensive and I need to learn the language because I live here. is this my best option? if they crack down on consequtive tourist visas, maybe this is my best option?)

For my driver's license, I will need:

1. my passport

2. photos

3. certificate of residence

4. take the tests and complete the application and pay the fees

Is that correct?

One more question. I read that a "self-employed" category for non-immigrant B visa exists.

Is it possible for me to get this? I am a freelance photographer but I don't have a company.

I thought I could go to the immigration with my professional camera gear and proof of having "enough" money (like hundred thousand baht) and ask the immigration officer to change my tourist visa into a B visa. Do you think this is possible?

I am thankful for all replies.

Edited June 12, 2014 by chingching3

[chingching3]

I will add one more question: I would be happy working for a photostudio for a normal wage too. I'm not overly ambitious at this point, I only want to have a good life and support myself (I only have so much savings. I'm young (under 30) if that matters.) Is it possible for me to get such a job? How many thai employees does a company have to have before they can hire me (and get me a work visa)? Is it 5 or 50? I'm confused on what the law says. I will look into this when I speak more Thai (it doesn't make sense otherwise). It's not on the list of professions forbidden to foreign nationals.

Edited June 12, 2014 by chingching3

[ubonjoe]

The changes you mentioned are primarily for back to back visa exempt entries (15 or 30 day).

You should not have a problem with staying on tourist visas but it would be best to get a 2 entry visas in Laos or go a bit farther away to Bali and get a 3 entry visa (you need tickets out of each entry 90 days apart).

Attending a Thai language course would be a good option. That way you would not need to make border runs every 90 days like you do with tourist visas.

Getting the multiple entry non-b you mentioned is up to you but it is not something I would do. You would have to make a trip to Australia or back to your home country to get it and there is no guarantee it would be issued after you get there.

No visa allows you to work only a work permit does that.

For your drivers license you should look at this topic. Applying For 1 & 5 Year Thai Driving Licences

Edited June 13, 2014 by Crossy
fixed typo

[chingching3]

The changes you mentioned are primarily for back to back visa exempt entries (158 or 30 day).

You should not have a problem with staying on tourist visas but it would be best to get a 2 entry visas in Laos or go a bit farther away to Bali and get a 3 entry visa (you need tickets out of each entry 90 days apart).

Attending a Thai language course would be a good option. That way you would not need to make border runs every 90 days like you do with tourist visas.

Getting the multiple entry non-b you mentioned is up to you but it is not something I would do. You would have to make a trip to Australia or back to your home country to get it and there is no guarantee it would be issued after you get there.

No visa allows you to work only a work permit does that.

For your drivers license you should look at this topic. Applying For 1 & 5 Year Thai Driving Licences

Thank you for replying so quickly. I am happy that there is no issue with back to back visas. Thank you also for your advice on not getting the multiple entry non-B. Eventually I will want to (and have to) work in Thailand. But for now, being able to stay and learning the language are more important. I will look into the ED visa and the language programs. My only worry is that I don't speak Thai beyond asking for directions and prices some very simple things like that and the courses seem to start in January. I wonder if it's a problem for me to start now? Will the courses be too advanced for me? Should I get tourist visas for now and start next January? But that doesn't seem like a great option either, I would like to learn the language as soon as possible. I don't live in a tourist area (one isn't far away but I don't live there). Nobody I've met here speaks more than 5 words of English ("turn right" = lieuw saai... I have to correct them it's "left") except one person who cannot help me with learning Thai. Learning the language is the most important thing to me right now. I have a book and a CD but it doesn't seem like I will be able to learn on my own. I feel like the book is for memorizing phrases, not for learning a language. I have met someone who speaks more than 5 words of English and who has taught me Thai but I don't know if we will be seeing each other often. I feel like a school would be the best option.

Bali sounds like an interesting place to visit but it's probably expensive?

Edited June 13, 2014 by chingching3

[ubonjoe]

Classes start all the time. No just in January. Have you looked on this forum for info. Language school courses

Not sure how easy it would be for you to find work in Photography. If you did find work you would need to be paid 50k baht a month in order to get an extension of stay plus the company would have to meet the requirements and have 4 Thai employees (same as what is needed for a work permit). You would have to get a multiple entry non-b visa and make border runs every 90 days if your salary and the company did not meet the requirements.

[chingching3]

Classes start all the time. No just in January. Have you looked on this forum for info. Language school courses

Not sure how easy it would be for you to find work in Photography. If you did find work you would need to be paid 50k baht a month in order to get an extension of stay plus the company would have to meet the requirements and have 4 Thai employees (same as what is needed for a work permit). You would have to get a multiple entry non-b visa and make border runs every 90 days if your salary and the company did not meet the requirements.

I already said I don't want to work illegally, so only a work permit will do. So I will have to find a thai company with 4 thai employees and get paid 50k baht a month? That seems like a high salary but I don't know how a job like that pays here. I will have to find out. Thank you.

[ubonjoe]

You could get work permit and then get a multiple entry non-b visa showing it to obtain the visa. It would be legal that way. The 50k baht salary is only required for extensions of stay at immigration. There are many people doing this because their salary is not high enough and/or the company does not meet immigration's requirements.

[chingching3]

You could get work permit and then get a multiple entry non-b visa showing it to obtain the visa. It would be legal that way. The 50k baht salary is only required for extensions of stay at immigration. There are many people doing this because their salary is not high enough and/or the company does not meet immigration's requirements.

Oh, I see. Is it possible to get a work permit on any visa? I know it's separate from your visa but I thought only certain kind of visas (non-tourist visas) qualify. I'm a little confused. Could you please explain more about the work permit application? Thank you.

Edited June 13, 2014 by chingching3

[ubonjoe]

You can apply for the work permit with a tourist visa. The company must have a minimum registered capital of 2 million baht and 4 Thai employees. After the application is approved and a letter is given by the Labor Ministry stating that you can then go out and obtain a single entry non-b visa. Once the you have the visa the work permit will then be issued. You could then go to Penang to get a multiple entry B visa with the work permit and other required documents from the company.

[chingching3]

You can apply for the work permit with a tourist visa. The company must have a minimum registered capital of 2 million baht and 4 Thai employees. After the application is approved and a letter is given by the Labor Ministry stating that you can then go out and obtain a single entry non-b visa. Once the you have the visa the work permit will then be issued. You could then go to Penang to get a multiple entry B visa with the work permit and other required documents from the company.

Thank you for your help.