Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing Work Permits for Americans and The Amity Treaty here in Thailand. For those who are unaware, the US-Thai Amity Treaty is a long-standing bilateral Treaty between the United States and Thailand which grants "National Treatment" to Americans doing business in Thailand through corporate structures.

What this means is that Americans can own 100% of a Thai Company so long as it is certified under the Treaty, notwithstanding the provisions of the Foreign Business Act. As you will read in many places throughout the internet or here online, you have to set up some kind of 51/49 Thai to foreign structure in order to operate in Thailand. Well Americans do not have to deal with that. Again there are certain restrictions, even under the Treaty, but Americans can own their companies out right pursuant to the terms of the Treaty.

Now as a result of that, an American could then go ahead and get a Work Permit sponsored by their own Treaty Company. So it is possible to then turn around and get work authorized and get a Business Visa under an Amity Treaty structure and then utilize that to maintain long-term Business Visa and Work Permit status. To my mind, there is no better type of setup that you can find in Thailand especially if you are an American. Now there may be benefits to having ancillary concessions from sort of other bodies - especially tax concessions, things like this - but for an American looking to do business here in Thailand, an Amity Treaty Company really is the optimal method. 

At the same time, as I have discussed in other videos, it also allows for Americans to set up a sort of hub if you will in Thailand to then interact regionally with the other jurisdictions of ASEAN - the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - and as a result of being under the Treaty,  they can own their company out right and then they have conduits through the ASEAN relationship that facilitates if you will more smooth transaction of business within this region. 

So in many ways, for Americans looking to do business both in Thailand as well as greater southeast Asia, Amity Treaty Certification with Business Visa and Work Permit is about the most optimal way of doing business out in this area.