Transcript of the above video:

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Business Visa sponsorship by a Company here in Thailand. For those who are unaware, Business Visas in a way it in the past it was possible to get kind of a standalone Business Visa. This was actually a pretty frequent thing. I even remember 7, 8 years ago and before, I would assist in people obtaining what were called one year multiple entry Business Visas and they basically were predicated upon somebody just looking at possibly doing business in Thailand. 

Since then, the Immigration System has tightened up substantially and in virtually every situation I see these days with some exceptions I will admit, but the exceptions tend to be very finite and discrete, in the broad number of cases I see involving Business Visas, you have got to have a corporate sponsor. What we mean by this is somebody, let's say you are abroad, you are looking to come into Thailand, set up a Company or work for a Company. In the case of working for a Company generally speaking that Company is going to act as a sponsor. Oftentimes they have to get what's called a WP3 issued; that is a work pre-authorization document and only then will you be able to come into Thailand with a Business Visa. There are different protocols associated with a BOI, the Board of Investment here in Thailand. So companies that are operating under a Board of Investment concession, they may deal with a different procedure but there is still a procedure associated with getting that Business Visa before that person comes into Thailand. 

When you get into the idea of setting up a Company in order to sponsor a Business Visa, so basically to be self-employed here in Thailand which many Americans opt to do pursuant to the provisions of the US-Thai Treaty of Amity which allows American citizens to own their companies 100%. Many other foreign nationals do even under the standard Foreign Business Act where they may set up with a 51% Thai partner, they just want to do business here in Thailand and they have made the appropriate arrangements for their business to go ahead and operate in that way. Under those circumstances, yes it may be possible to in a sense kind of self-sponsor insofar as the Company one is setting up becomes the sponsor of the Visa. Now that said, you get into kind of a catch-22 feedback loop because there are prerequisite documentation associated with getting the Business Visa and in a sense you have to have the Company already set up before you can even get to that point. For this reason, especially for those who are looking to possibly be self-employed here in Thailand, it is probably a good idea to contact a legal professional, gain some insight guidance into how best to proceed.