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longer stay in Thailand

For the visa itself? When you're a simple employee?! Wow.


1 year multiple entries Non-Immigrant Visa Category “B” (Business Visa) costs 5,000 THB.

However it can be difficult to get it from Thai embassies/consulates. They will usually issue a single entry 90 days Non-B Visa that can be extended in Thailand.

So, from a Thai embassy or consulate abroad (conditions/requirements may vary), you can apply for a single entry 90 days Non-B Visa. Then, once in Thailand you will apply for 1 year extension of stay based on Business just before the 90 days expiration (1,900 THB). On top of that you need to buy a one time re-entry permit (1,000 THB) or a multiple re-entry permit (3,800 THB), both valid for the total visa/extension duration, if you plan to go abroad during the visa/extension validity period (without re-entry permit visa/extension will be cancelled). Extension can be renewed yearly as long as conditions are met.

Alternatively, you can convert within Thailand your current visa or visa exemption at the immigration department into a single entry 90 days Non-B Visa (2,000 THB) then later apply for extension as described above.

More info on visa extension:

More info on visa conversion:

Besides, need to add work permit fees that vary depending on work contract length (about 3,000 THB for 1 year).
 
For the visa itself? When you're a simple employee?! Wow.
Maybe the Elite Visa is a better option then after all?
Its mostly for the shell company fees that willing to put you on their payroll gets you this shady visa & WP. Depends on the company type, the company might also need to hire 4 thai people for each foreign worker.

Alternative you can also start your own company in thailand, there is lot of agents that set up the company cheaply.
 
OP, if you haven't been in Thailand before, border runs are easy to do. Just try to be in the other country for a week or so, instead of one day.

It's at the third or fourth border run that officials may start giving you a hard time, but it's usually just a show. Also, most immigration officers are women nowadays, and the hotter they are the higher in hierarchy they are (Thailand can be a shallow country sometimes). This means that for each subsequent border run that you do, since your case gets more complicated, the officer that will personally come to talk you to review your case will get progressively hotter. It will make you wonder for how long should you keep doing this. At some point she may even lead you to an office to talk in private with her. That's your punishment for being a bad boy. Yes, welcome to Thailand.

After 15 minutes of this show, they'll let you go through.

Of course, try not to abuse this system, but it's not an issue when staying in Thailand for less than a year. After a year, move to a new country for a year or two, then go back to Thailand, or just get a more permanent solution (Thailand Elite is your best friend if you have a family, although that may change in October, as all Thai Elite visa programs will be rebranded).
 
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Why shady?

Its abusing the system as you are not really working for the company. Same thing to education visas that does not require studying. Might cause problems later.

Why would I want to do that?

To get the business visa for longer stay in Thailand.

At some point she may even lead you to an office to talk in private with her. That's your punishment for being a bad boy. Yes, welcome to Thailand.

After 15 minutes of this show, they'll let you go through.
Thats not correct, they might actually refuse your entry, and send you back where you come from. Landborders are easier and safer, as you can just walk back.
To make denied entry little bit unlikely, you should have "3 proofs" with you - Hotel booking, 20k thb cash and flight out from thailand
 
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I would be paying tax though? Seems vastly different to doing border runs or being on an "education" visa without any education?
These companies are happy to launder your money for some percentage as well. Even if you pay some tax it doesn't make it more legal.

 
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These companies are happy to launder your money for some percentage as well. Even if you pay some tax it doesn't make it more legal.

Seems a bit expensive
 
What exactly wouldn't be legal?
Hiring you with shell company for doing work that doesn't exist, and helping you turn your illegal money (e.g shady cryptos) into "real taxed income"?

Seems a bit expensive
Yeah, Thailand Elite -visa is much better option. Nothing shady that might cause problems later (like education, and volunteer visas did). You can get TIN with elite anyways. If the elite is too expensive for you, business visa with establishing own company would still be better than work permit with these shell companies.
 
Hiring you with shell company for doing work that doesn't exist, and helping you turn your illegal money (e.g shady cryptos) into "real taxed income"?


Yeah, Thailand Elite -visa is much better option. Nothing shady that might cause problems later (like education, and volunteer visas did). You can get TIN with elite anyways. If the elite is too expensive for you, business visa with establishing own company would still be better than work permit with these shell companies.
It's going up soon.

Reference is made through our Member Contact Center that you would like to get more information on membership upgrade, please be clarified that our company will launch the new membership programs in the beginning of October 2023. Consequently, the existing membership packages and the membership upgrade process for the existing Elite Easy Access membership holder will be no longer available soon. In addition, please be advised that you can upgrade the existing 5-year membership to Elite Superiority Extension membership for an additional 15-year membership with the upgrade fee paid to our company at THB 500,000, but please be noted that there are no limousine transfer services for the upgraded Elite Superiority Extension membership package and the limousine transfer services for your existing 5-year membership will be terminated once the membership upgrade is completed.

Prefer Bali, but never stayed more than a month, despised vietnam, and resided in Phuket over the years.

Wouldn't like pattaya (did a month there a decade ago), chainmai was nice but boring, bangkok great but filthy air quality.
I just prefer Thailand over Indonesia and Vietnam.
 
If the elite is too expensive for you, business visa with establishing own company would still be better than work permit with these shell companies.

Establishing your own company in order to get a visa is way more expensive than the Thai Elite visa. 2,000,000 THB paid-up capital requirement, 4 Thai employees, legal fees, etc. You can get Thai Elite visas for at least 100 years instead.

Even marrying a Thai girl is probably easier, cheaper and will give you less headaches than the business visa.

So unless you really want to set up a business in Thailand, it makes no sense to do it for the visa.

All of the other stuff you said before, especially about the shady shell companies, is totally on point by the way.
 
Establishing your own company in order to get a visa is way more expensive than the Thai Elite visa. 2,000,000 THB paid-up capital requirement, 4 Thai employees, legal fees, etc. You can get Thai Elite visas for at least 100 years instead.

Even marrying a Thai girl is probably easier, cheaper and will give you less headaches than the business visa.

So unless you really want to set up a business in Thailand, it makes no sense to do it for the visa.

All of the other stuff you said before, especially about the shady shell companies, is totally on point by the way.
So here is the deal, if you are ready to go shady way, you can use agent to set up the company for you. In that case you don't need to pay the share capital. 4 Thai employees is only required for obtaining work permit, but as business owner you can get business visa to stay in Thailand. (but not work for the company).

Should be possible to set up the company & b-visa with agent less than $2 000.
 
So here is the deal, if you are ready to go shady way, you can use agent to set up the company for you. In that case you don't need to pay the share capital. 4 Thai employees is only required for obtaining work permit, but as business owner you can get business visa to stay in Thailand. (but not work for the company).

Should be possible to set up the company & b-visa with agent less than $2 000.

I am talking about doing things in a non-shady way, that's why I defended your position regarding the shell companies.

The risks are significant with those business set-ups done by agents.
 

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