Your work permit just allows you to work in the country and has nothing to do with the visa required for you to enter or re-enter the country. In order to work, you must possess both a work permit and a Non-B visa. You normally are not asked to show a work permit when you come into the country. They just want to see the visa in your passport. This is because you can have a Non-B visa without having a work permit so one doesn't necessite the other.
Yes, I've gotten a yearlong multi-entry Non-B there every year since 2014 including the last time when it was issued early May of last year. I am the company director and shareholder.
Oh wow, I wasn't aware of that. I will certainly look into that. But would there be a reason to go for the investment visa otherwise, if I meet the financial requirements? It doesn't seem like there's much first hand experience with this visa from anyone.
That's what seems unclear, since the BOI website keeps talking about promoting various industries. I wasn't sure if it is limited to certain industries even if you meet the financial requirements.
Yeah but doesn't that require I get a re-entry permit every time I leave the country? That would be impractical for me as, like many foreign business owners, I come in and out of Thailand frequently to monitor my business so often stay only a couple of week at a time, so my passport will fill up from reentry permits very quickly. If I already have the 10MB in a fixed deposit for years now in Thailand and have no intention of using it soon, I was just thinking I could avoid the hassle of getting that Non-B every year if I would already qualify for the investment visa but I wasn't sure if there are other considerations for one versus the other.
It's not about how many you can get in a year as you asked, but rather that you appear to be using them back-to-back for non-stop stays in the country, which is not the intention of the visa. It is always possible you will be questioned or denied because they feel you are using it to stay in the country for months at a time. From what you said, you will have stayed in the country for 6 months on 2 back-to-back SETVs with extensions on each, so you are trying to get a 3rd one allowing you to stay for a total of 8 or 9 months continuously.
I appreciate how much you have helped others and know a post like that must unnecessarily cause panic. It's too bad you can't share what the real story is behind what happened but I understand it was a private conversation between you and him.
