Working Visas, what's the go?

BTW mods, it's visas, not visa's.

So I think we have established I am not a troll, and most probably not an immigration officer.

I have a fair idea about Thailand visas and I have read many threads on many forums and indeed I have had a look on this one, but I can't find what I want to know.

How the hell does one get a visa to work in Thailand as a business owner? I understand if a Thai cannot do the job then a farang can, but I have also read horror stories of for example farangs sitting with customers in a bar being locked up by immigration because he was deemed to be drumming up trade.

Any secrets you guys want to give away?

Thailand is a decent enough place to come retire.
I would not live here if I had to work.

Texpat wrote:Thailand is a decent enough place to come retire.
I would not live here if I had to work.

Yes, but you are an old fart.

Here's a start for you petemcc

http://www.mfa.go.th/web/2482.php?id=2492

Not sure about your statement "if a Thai cannot do the job then a farang can" there's always a Thai somewhere who can do the job.
Google around, there is a list of jobs a falang cannot do somewhere out there in cyberspace..

Here's another website and a previous thread

http://115.31.137.7/workpermit/index.html
http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/prohibited-work-by-foreigners-in-thailand-t3372.html

petemcc wrote:Yes, but you are an old fart.

I'm 46. Is that an old fart?

Maybe to a 20-year old.

Chriss wrote:Here's another website and a previous thread

http://115.31.137.7/workpermit/index.html
http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/prohibited-work-by-foreigners-in-thailand-t3372.html

Yes, already read that page, I use Google, that is why I am asking how people get around it!

Hey Texpat,

How did you manage to retire so early...if you don't mind me asking..

***Mod Note - please ask/answer by PM, or at least on a separate thread Thanks ***

petemcc wrote:

Chriss wrote:Here's another website and a previous thread

http://115.31.137.7/workpermit/index.html
http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/prohibited-work-by-foreigners-in-thailand-t3372.html

Yes, already read that page, I use Google, that is why I am asking how people get around it!

Was only trying to help........You asked 'how to get a visa for work as a business owner', maybe you should have made it more clear in the OP what you were after.

Chriss wrote:

petemcc wrote:

Chriss wrote:Here's another website and a previous thread

http://115.31.137.7/workpermit/index.html
http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/prohibited-work-by-foreigners-in-thailand-t3372.html

Yes, already read that page, I use Google, that is why I am asking how people get around it!

Was only trying to help........You asked 'how to get a visa for work as a business owner', maybe you should have made it more clear in the OP what you were after.

My apologies. I do my research and exhaust that before I ask for help, but I suppose you can't be a mind reader

Plenty of people here have businesses and could answer, but it looks like it is a big secret. Never mind, I'll find out.

I'm still not sure what you're after, maybe others are not sure either. Are you asking how people are running businesses, bars/restuarants etc, are in the spotlight so to speak but don't have work permits?.

Personally I owned and ran a Thai Ltd Co. for some years and did it all above board, VAT registered, business visa, work permit etc etc but I did and do know some who run businesses and are, lets say, very friendly with the local BiB representative to help eleviate the technicalities.....these persons are not going to give this type of information on a chat forum....

Chriss wrote:I'm still not sure what you're after, maybe others are not sure either. Are you asking how people are running businesses, bars/restuarants etc, are in the spotlight so to speak but don't have work permits?.

Personally I owned and ran a Thai Ltd Co. for some years and did it all above board, VAT registered, business visa, work permit etc etc but I did and do know some who run businesses and are, lets say, very friendly with the local BiB representative to help eleviate the technicalities.....these persons are not going to give this type of information on a chat forum....

I know Thailand lives on dodgy and tea money, and call me an idiot if you want, but I would rather know about the legit way to do things.

One of the conveniences of this type forum is that you can save alot of time and energy if you ask for help before doing all your research!You can get tips to research sites,plus pracical ''on the ground'' experience shared!
Correcting poster English typing mistakes and unthanful curt replies will not endesr you to many posters.Calling us ''old farts'' without a more personal relationship,doesn't help either!

There are many falangs that ''get around'' legal requirements in Thailand,at least for some period of time!The problem is ,if you try to circumvent the law regarding falangs,you put yourself in a vunerable position to be extorted continiously,jeapordize your investment and possibly your freedom or right to stay here.If you are not legal and you make a Thai,especially a competitor of sorts,mad,you will have problems some which might be major.

I lived in Bangkok for 5+ years before moving up to Nong Khai!While I lived there I came to realize that most Thais there possibly resented falangs that they perceived were doing something that a Thai could make money from if he was doing it.It was apparent that even if you were not illegal,the work law was applied to extort ,stop and deny some falangs I knew from doing things like painting their own wall(legal),writing the English menu for a resturant or anything outside of their WP description of specialty cook or owner.The hassle ,fines,intimidation and inconvenient police store and court appearances were to much for most .

I met a guy from NZ that told me about NK.I asked what he did there and he said he stayed busy remodeling a property that he had bought,doing it by himself with no hassles.Told me about falang friendly situations with the NK police and the diversity of the community where falangs were shown some respect ,at least no major lack of respect as long as you as you did not flount your arrogance andother unfavorable personality traits and attitudes!

I spent a month at a local hotel investigating his statements,made the decision to move here for that and several other ''good'' reasons and 7 years later it is true.Without going into the incidents,I have only seen or heard of 2 situations ,where the falang had a problem,both were because of their actions and attitudes that were directly disrespectful,noncompliant to a direct request(don't serve alcohol today,for one and drunken stupid direct remarks and argumentation by the other)from the local BiB!

Every community in Thailand has its own personality in relationship to falangs!

I came to Koh Chang a year before moving here,immediately saw competitive opportunity because of my perception of Thai work habits and ''customer service''.Immediately I looked at ''Paradise'' and decided that I would open a bar/resturant on the beach after some ''comeback investigative time''!Two falangs ,I had previously met,doing ''good business'' there during my initial visit were ''outed'' upon my return!Both lost their investment ,one was deported after being fined and incarcerated(working outside the bounds of his WP! he was hosting,seating,taking orders,directing staff,etc.etc,:shock: )!

The bottomline,IMO,is that although you are called a ''guest'',generally speaking.Thailand is for Thais to make a living,they want you to spend not earn,but if you do ,don't expect to make to big a living!

nkstan wrote:One of the conveniences of this type forum is that you can save alot of time and energy if you ask for help before doing all your research!You can get tips to research sites,plus pracical ''on the ground'' experience shared!
Correcting poster English typing mistakes and unthanful curt replies will not endesr you to many posters.Calling us ''old farts'' without a more personal relationship,doesn't help either!

There are many falangs that ''get around'' legal requirements in Thailand,at least for some period of time!The problem is ,if you try to circumvent the law regarding falangs,you put yourself in a vunerable position to be extorted continiously,jeapordize your investment and possibly your freedom or right to stay here.If you are not legal and you make a Thai,especially a competitor of sorts,mad,you will have problems some which might be major.

I lived in Bangkok for 5+ years before moving up to Nong Khai!While I lived there I came to realize that most Thais there possibly resented falangs that they perceived were doing something that a Thai could make money from if he was doing it.It was apparent that even if you were not illegal,the work law was applied to extort ,stop and deny some falangs I knew from doing things like painting their own wall(legal),writing the English menu for a resturant or anything outside of their WP description of specialty cook or owner.The hassle ,fines,intimidation and inconvenient police store and court appearances were to much for most .

I met a guy from NZ that told me about NK.I asked what he did there and he said he stayed busy remodeling a property that he had bought,doing it by himself with no hassles.Told me about falang friendly situations with the NK police and the diversity of the community where falangs were shown some respect ,at least no major lack of respect as long as you as you did not flount your arrogance andother unfavorable personality traits and attitudes!

I spent a month at a local hotel investigating his statements,made the decision to move here for that and several other ''good'' reasons and 7 years later it is true.Without going into the incidents,I have only seen or heard of 2 situations ,where the falang had a problem,both were because of their actions and attitudes that were directly disrespectful,noncompliant to a direct request(don't serve alcohol today,for one and drunken stupid direct remarks and argumentation by the other)from the local BiB!

Every community in Thailand has its own personality in relationship to falangs!

I came to Koh Chang a year before moving here,immediately saw competitive opportunity because of my perception of Thai work habits and ''customer service''.Immediately I looked at ''Paradise'' and decided that I would open a bar/resturant on the beach after some ''comeback investigative time''!Two falangs ,I had previously met,doing ''good business'' there during my initial visit were ''outed'' upon my return!Both lost their investment ,one was deported after being fined and incarcerated(working outside the bounds of his WP! he was hosting,seating,taking orders,directing staff,etc.etc,:shock: )!

The bottomline,IMO,is that although you are called a ''guest'',generally speaking.Thailand is for Thais to make a living,they want you to spend not earn,but if you do ,don't expect to make to big a living!

Thanks for your very long and obviously well considered reply. I do appreciate it It is not hard to see the underlying message, and I know what you are saying, I do.

I am sorry I correct obvious English mistakes, but I ignore many others. I believe everyone can learn something during their lifetime, and if nobody has ever picked up on an incorrect usage before, perhaps the person will be thankful for learning a wee bit...maybe not.

It seems from what you are saying that it is not in fact possible to legally carry on many businesses in Thailand, though I note that when certain businesses have been for sale they have come with a licence to work.

I have to be brutally honest here. If I had my way I would never live in Thailand, for so many reasons, although there are many things about Thailand that I really love-my hierarchy of needs is food, beer, sex, and Thailand fulfills those needs, however my lifestyle is not compatible with being treated like a second class person. That having been said, if I stay with my GF, I will have no option but to see out my final years in Thailand. People dis me for having been a copper, and a screw, but where I came from they never took bribes etc, and it irks me so much that I should have to pay someone corrupt to just carry on living. In my way of thinking nothing good can ever come from paying a corrupt person to keep you 'legal', but then again some may call me naive to the ways of the world.

As for old farts, well like I said before I am a realist, and if you are an old fart it doesn't matter if you are a stranger, or my best friend, you are still an old fart.

I have to be brutally honest here. If I had my way I would never live in Thailand, for so many reasons, although there are many things about Thailand that I really love-my hierarchy of needs is food, beer, sex, and Thailand fulfills those needs, however my lifestyle is not compatible with being treated like a second class person. That having been said, if I stay with my GF, I will have no option but to see out my final years in Thailand

petemcc, from your previous posts...you sound like a fairly young man? Correct me if I'm wrong.
If you still have x-amount of working years left...?
Why don't you legally marry your GF, get her a visa to Australia or wherever you are from, and finish out your working years, making Western wages with all their benefits and pensions, and then retire here, like the majority of us have done?
I don't understand why all you young guys are so eager to move to, live, and work, in Thailand, during the best years (IMO) of your life?
Of course, all of this is only my opinion. However, my opinion is based on 11 years of living in Thailand.