Has anyone set up a working visa without the use of a lawyer?

[KrissKross]

Hello, I wold like to know if anyone out there have experience from setting up a working visa for themselves or anyone else without the use of a lawyer. It doesnt seem impossible, but there is a few issues that someone with experience from this better could answer. But first question is if there is actually anyone that has done this or know it can be done without lawyer?

//Grateful for any answers: Kriss

[mjnaus]

There is no such thing as a "working visa". There are several types of visas available which allow you to apply for a work permit, such as Non Immigrant types O and B. The "O" type is often based on marriage, or other dependants, and the "B" type is a business visa. Non of these visas will require using lawyer, you simply gather the required documents and apply for the visa.

[KrissKross]

There is no such thing as a "working visa". There are several types of visas available which allow you to apply for a work permit, such as Non Immigrant types O and B. The "O" type is often based on marriage, or other dependants, and the "B" type is a business visa. Non of these visas will require using lawyer, you simply gather the required documents and apply for the visa.

Yes of course, I meant Non immigrant B visa. Provided that I have a regsitered company (newly started) would I be able to obtain non immigrant visa b and there after work permit by myself, or do you believe I would benefit more from letting a thai lawyer set it up for me?

The reason for the question is that I want to save money, but Iäm afraid of doing wrong in the application and getting the authority against me..

Thanks for answer!

[ubonjoe]

First step is the company registration.

Second step apply for a work permit and get a letter of approval for it.

Third step go out for a non-b visa.

Forth step get work permit issued.

Fifth step go to Penang and multiple entry non-b visa and make border runs every 90 days for the first year because you will not have one year of company tax records to apply for a one year extension of stay.

For company registration you will probably need a lawyer to help with some of the legalities of doing it. The remainder you could do yourself.

[EnglishJohn]

Don't forget that if you are setting up a company, you need a minimum capital (2 million I think but I've seen other figures) plus you must have income to pay yourself 50,000/month from the company and also employ at least 4 Thai nationals including salary and tax. You will also need to rent an office to sit them in for inspection.

Then you need to earn enough money in Thailand to cover it all.

[Gulfsailor]

Although work permit and extension of stay based on employment require a wheelbarrow of documents, it can be done without using a lawyer. The company I work for never uses a lawyer. But you would need a good accountant to supply you with the necessary documents and statements.

[Eaglekott]

First step is the company registration.

Second step apply for a work permit and get a letter of approval for it.

Third step go out for a non-b visa.

Forth step get work permit issued.

Fifth step go to Penang and multiple entry non-b visa and make border runs every 90 days for the first year because you will not have one year of company tax records to apply for a one year extension of stay.

For company registration you will probably need a lawyer to help with some of the legalities of doing it. The remainder you could do yourself.

Hi You do not have to go out for a non-b VISA, you can have a 7 day exempt and get the WorkPermit during those 7 days, but this demands all papers to be correct when filing them at Labour. One error and you loose a day and you face overstay.

Also you do NOT need to do visaruns every 90 days if you have a new company, you can write a letter describing that the company is new and you do not have company tax records for the whole year yet.

You do however need 4 thai employed from the registration day of your company, or 3 months back in time.

I have just done this with help of a lawyer,

[phuketrichard]

dont need a lawyer but it would help to have a good accontant

thats how we did it for my gf,

Her wp took about 2 weeks to be issued after we filed all the papers.

[innerspace]

I did it all myself 4 years ago with some thai help in identifying the right documents.

Took me countless visits and over 3 months which meant I needed another laos visa run but managed without a lawyer and without backhanders.

But you need patience while being sent on a regular runaround by immigration. Not sure if was cheaper for me or not after the extra visa run.

[Suradit69]

Don't forget that if you are setting up a company, you need a minimum capital (2 million I think but I've seen other figures) plus you must have income to pay yourself 50,000/month from the company and also employ at least 4 Thai nationals including salary and tax. You will also need to rent an office to sit them in for inspection.

Then you need to earn enough money in Thailand to cover it all.

"Don't forget that if you are setting up a company, you need a minimum capital (2 million I think but I've seen other figures) ..."

Is that just "nominal" or "authorized" capital rather than anything to do with cash requirements?

[weedywhaoo]

Hello Kiss,

I have a 2 million baht company with 4 employees and a work permit that I will sell. It has a perfect record with all taxes paid for 5 years. PM me if you are interested.

[wolfmanjack]

Don't forget that if you are setting up a company, you need a minimum capital (2 million I think but I've seen other figures) plus you must have income to pay yourself 50,000/month from the company and also employ at least 4 Thai nationals including salary and tax. You will also need to rent an office to sit them in for inspection.

Then you need to earn enough money in Thailand to cover it all.

you just need tax receipts showing you paid taxes on the 50k per month

[wolfmanjack]

Don't forget that if you are setting up a company, you need a minimum capital (2 million I think but I've seen other figures) plus you must have income to pay yourself 50,000/month from the company and also employ at least 4 Thai nationals including salary and tax. You will also need to rent an office to sit them in for inspection.

Then you need to earn enough money in Thailand to cover it all.

"Don't forget that if you are setting up a company, you need a minimum capital (2 million I think but I've seen other figures) ..."

Is that just "nominal" or "authorized" capital rather than anything to do with cash requirements?

it has been quite a few years since i set mine up but at the time I did not have to show 2 million baht. Only pay the fees to set up a 2 million baht company.

[digitalchromakey]

Don't forget that if you are setting up a company, you need a minimum capital (2 million I think but I've seen other figures) plus you must have income to pay yourself 50,000/month from the company and also employ at least 4 Thai nationals including salary and tax. You will also need to rent an office to sit them in for inspection.

Then you need to earn enough money in Thailand to cover it all.

"Don't forget that if you are setting up a company, you need a minimum capital (2 million I think but I've seen other figures) ..."

Is that just "nominal" or "authorized" capital rather than anything to do with cash requirements?

It's Registered Capital, you don't need a satang in the bank, you pay a fee per 100,000 THB to register the capital with The Commerce Department.

After this you have to annually account for this registered capital as a capital asset, which can include loans to directors, patents and other forms of intellectual property.

[digitalchromakey]

Hello Kiss,

I have a 2 million baht company with 4 employees and a work permit that I will sell. It has a perfect record with all taxes paid for 5 years. PM me if you are interested.

WP is for and belongs to the named foreign employee and is thus not part of the company per se.