Hi TVA, Looking for some advice on Business visas.
I've got 6 weeks left on my tourist visa (including 1 extension), is there enough time to register a business and convert it to a work permit?
Or is it wiser to get a Education visa at somewhere like Chiang Mai University and have a year to sort it out.
Just to clarify, I will NOT be working in the business (restaurant), i'm just an investor with a 51% Thai business partner.
Thanks :)
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on whether it is feasible to register a business and convert their tourist visa into a business visa within 6 weeks, or if they should instead pursue an education visa at a university in Thailand. The user also clarifies their role as an investor in a Thai restaurant business with a local partner.
Okay, it seems you're just grasping for a long term visa here and this group is NOT for straw grasping :O
Whether you have enough time to register a business and get the required documents comes down to how fast who ever is doing it for you can get it done. SO those are the people you need to be talking to.
AND
the same goes for what ever school you enroll in up in Chiang Mai. Whether they can get the paperwork from the Ministry of Education in the amount of time you have left on your current entry so you can leave the country and get an ED visa is between you and them.
What's your nationality? If you're American, it might be worth it to look into contacting the US State Department about opening up the business completely under your name as a treaty of amity business. You'll get full ownership rights (NOT the 49% like most people), and I think it takes about 2 or 3 weeks, or thereabouts.
Just something to keep in mind if you qualify for it.
To many questions and all not visa related to find the answer. If the restaurant is for example owned by your Thais spouse and she has the sole proprietorship she can apply for a work permit for you. If it is not your Thai spouse, you have to sort out another business plan, best is to get a lawyer to advice you to set up the correct business type continue from there. I could be done in 6 weeks but it is quick, you can always go for another border bounce as a new year starts in a few weeks
Thanks Robert. Its my partner, but not yet spouse. I'll talk to a Lawyer this week. That's a good idea about the border bounce, would give me another 8 weeks on top and save me 35k on the Ed visa.
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