Boatfreak

 

 

 

UK driving licence has a photo, surely this can be used as photo ID?

 
It could, but question does your UK Driving License have your passport number on it ? I think that Immigration wants that so they can check your Immigration Status.

 

Does aThai driving licence have your passport number on it?

 

 
Yes, but it doesn't give your visa status or indicate whether you are in Thailand legally.

 

yes but with the number of stamps, ninety days, re-entry permits, etc (all a full page)......there is no way your passport last as long as your driving licence. 

why can Immigration not just be friend with us on Facebook, that way they will know where we live, where we drink, what we like, who our friends are....oh wait...

the CIA has been doing this for year, a certain Snowden pretend that governements know everything about us so why do we still need to inform them?

They are going to be a lot more when the leaving farangs wil not hire 4 Thai for one farang anymore....even if they were just paying their social contribution.

So you do not qualify on what you can do for the country intellectually or financially but with whom you share the bed with. When I mentionned Special Skills permit I did not mean those types of skills

Dear Samran,

Please share with us how your American webdesigner friend did set up his company, may I remind you the conditions 2 million baht capital (not bad for a webdesigner) and employing 4 Thais and do not tell me he is just paying their social security because that is of course illegal and we are all agains that aren't we?

The title is "Opinion" and as someone who was transferred here by my employer, and I would prefer many other places. I find that even before the crack down and this was several years ago. From the start, showing up at the Thai embassy with a checklist from my Thai employer, then being told the stack of paper was not enough, getting more paper and then told my wife also needs to be present, to get the visa. Then still not enough paper. It gave a sour taste of things to come once I moved here. But, since then, our HR people do most everything for us and there is no real hassle except for the expected city traffic, pollution and much of the same other unpleasent 3rd world things about. But my opinion, place is not so bad if you make it work for you.

The end of the long over staying back packer or ferral vagrant? I don't think I will notice, nor will any of my Thai neighbours. It will put a cottage industry of sorts out of business that has been running these "unwanted" back and forth for years. And they will just settle in a more friendly nation, the Bht200-300/night hostel style or just cheap end of tourism will go out of business, but that is of no concern I suppose.

I expect the thinning crowds in what was once bustling Khao San Road and Soi Buakaow will likley improve the traffic, so I will not have to worry about running over another old falang in a Chang singlet. Hate it when my wing mirror gets damaged by those barefoot old drunks!

With the new heavy hand, will it really lose that charm that is the reason so many actually do come here?

Test of Bernoulli's theorem is in the works and my slightly educated guess is that there will still be at least 50% below the standard they are hoping to attract. Anyone care to wager?

Yeah, me.

I reckon the impact will be minimal from an economic perspective.

Backpackers - they are here generally on their way through to somewhere else's. Poms and other assorted euros to Australia and New Zealand on working holiday visas. Antipodeans the other way, to do the same thing. The occasional Aussie who desired to work in Thailand can get a working holiday visa. No impact.

Retirees - no impact, a good enough visa exists for them.

Transferees - same as above

Cyber nomads. If they want to stay here they'll have to go legal. It isn't impossible. A web designer guy I use, American, has a proper set up here. If he can do it, so can others. Impact - legit businesses established. Company and income tax actually paid in Thailand. No bad thing.

English teachers - ditto. Schools are going to learn quite quickly that they'll lose a teacher every 30 days unless they set them up with the right papers. Which includes needing to pay them a proper salary. Can only be a positive. Fees might have to go up for students though. Again, no bad thing.

Offshore workers - they aren't out and in the same day. No impact.

I retired young - Sorry fellas. Thailand wants you to contribute. If you aren't willing to, there isn't much room for you unless you sign up to the elite card and put you money where your cyber mouths are.

So they are my thoughts.

If the guy is married to a Thai the requirmeents are halved, therefore he could employ his wife and a maid and its only cost him THB 1.0 million to set up the company

Dear Samran,

Please share with us how your American webdesigner friend did set up his company, may I remind you the conditions 2 million baht capital (not bad for a webdesigner) and employing 4 Thais and do not tell me he is just paying their social security because that is of course illegal and we are all agains that aren't we?

The title is "Opinion" and as someone who was transferred here by my employer, and I would prefer many other places. I find that even before the crack down and this was several years ago. From the start, showing up at the Thai embassy with a checklist from my Thai employer, then being told the stack of paper was not enough, getting more paper and then told my wife also needs to be present, to get the visa. Then still not enough paper. It gave a sour taste of things to come once I moved here. But, since then, our HR people do most everything for us and there is no real hassle except for the expected city traffic, pollution and much of the same other unpleasent 3rd world things about. But my opinion, place is not so bad if you make it work for you.

The end of the long over staying back packer or ferral vagrant? I don't think I will notice, nor will any of my Thai neighbours. It will put a cottage industry of sorts out of business that has been running these "unwanted" back and forth for years. And they will just settle in a more friendly nation, the Bht200-300/night hostel style or just cheap end of tourism will go out of business, but that is of no concern I suppose.

I expect the thinning crowds in what was once bustling Khao San Road and Soi Buakaow will likley improve the traffic, so I will not have to worry about running over another old falang in a Chang singlet. Hate it when my wing mirror gets damaged by those barefoot old drunks!

With the new heavy hand, will it really lose that charm that is the reason so many actually do come here?

Test of Bernoulli's theorem is in the works and my slightly educated guess is that there will still be at least 50% below the standard they are hoping to attract. Anyone care to wager?

Yeah, me.

I reckon the impact will be minimal from an economic perspective.

Backpackers - they are here generally on their way through to somewhere else's. Poms and other assorted euros to Australia and New Zealand on working holiday visas. Antipodeans the other way, to do the same thing. The occasional Aussie who desired to work in Thailand can get a working holiday visa. No impact.

Retirees - no impact, a good enough visa exists for them.

Transferees - same as above

Cyber nomads. If they want to stay here they'll have to go legal. It isn't impossible. A web designer guy I use, American, has a proper set up here. If he can do it, so can others. Impact - legit businesses established. Company and income tax actually paid in Thailand. No bad thing.

English teachers - ditto. Schools are going to learn quite quickly that they'll lose a teacher every 30 days unless they set them up with the right papers. Which includes needing to pay them a proper salary. Can only be a positive. Fees might have to go up for students though. Again, no bad thing.

Offshore workers - they aren't out and in the same day. No impact.

I retired young - Sorry fellas. Thailand wants you to contribute. If you aren't willing to, there isn't much room for you unless you sign up to the elite card and put you money where your cyber mouths are.

So they are my thoughts.

OK Maybe a wrong example then altough I wonder why they are any welders left here since the rest of the world is looking for them . But OK let's forget the welders then but do not tell me that Thailand has exactly what they need in every profession because that would be the first country in the world to do so then.

Implement, as in many countries, "special skills" permit for what the country really needs. It is easy to say JUST get a work permit, not all companies can comply with the requirements such as 4 Thais per farang etc. Some skills are really needed, I tink about shipbuilding because tha is my branche but I am sure the same applies for welders, nurses, programmers,teachers...as these professions are needed all over the world. Special Skills permit is the answer.

Well actually there are "special skills" permit its called a WP

BTW there are a few shipbuilding yards in Thailand, and the proper Thai welders are some of the best in the world, not talking about what the average TV posters see's sitting on a bar stool watching a Somchai rice farmer burning electrodes with sunglasses on..

Welding is one area where Thailand doesnt need "special skills" anything and in fact Thai welders are sought all over the world, and some of them which would make an "English" teacher very jealous indeed with money they are earning...

Implement, as in many countries, "special skills" permit for what the country really needs. It is easy to say JUST get a work permit, not all companies can comply with the requirements such as 4 Thais per farang etc. Some skills are really needed, I think about shipbuilding because that is my branche but I am sure the same applies for welders, nurses, programmers,teachers...as these professions are needed all over the world. Special Skills permit is the answer.

Asian english teacher: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wF7qw6TSP8g yes I know she is not Thai but it gives an idea. If I would learn Thai in the UK I would like it to be given by a Thai native speaker not by a Britton.

I am a freelance inspector appointed by the European commission to deliver EC-type certificates. I do not employ 4 people as I have no use of them. Thus cannot get a workpermit my only alternative is to sell everything I have here. Go back to Europe and have the industry to pay my flight and my travel expenses every time they need me. And still even for two days in the country I will be working illegally. I understand that they want to get rid of people costing money to the state but they are going to loose more than what they are going to win.

Believe there are temporary Work Permits available for business representatives, service engineers and the like (delivery of EC certificates) have read about either in this Forum or from some law firms offering Work Permit services nothing changed for those working legally, so worth checking

As you said they are temporary while the industry needs me on a permanent base and I honestly do not feel to keep a second residence in an airplane.

I am a freelance inspector appointed by the European commission to deliver EC-type certificates. I do not employ 4 people as I have no use of them. Thus cannot get a workpermit my only alternative is to sell everything I have here. Go back to Europe and have the industry to pay my flight and my travel expenses every time they need me. And still even for two days in the country I will be working illegally. I understand that they want to get rid of people costing money to the state but they are going to loose more than what they are going to win.

Believe there are temporary Work Permits available for business representatives, service engineers and the like (delivery of EC certificates) have read about either in this Forum or from some law firms offering Work Permit services nothing changed for those working legally, so worth checking

As you said they are temporary while the industry needs me on a permanent base and I honestly do not feel to keep a second residence in an airplane.

I am a freelance inspector appointed by the European commission to deliver EC-type certificates. I do not employ 4 people as I have no use of them. Thus cannot get a workpermit my only alternative is to sell everything I have here. Go back to Europe and have the industry to pay my flight and my travel expenses every time they need me. And still even for two days in the country I will be working illegally. I understand that they want to get rid of people costing money to the state but they are going to loose more than what they are going to win.

Believe there are temporary Work Permits available for business representatives, service engineers and the like (delivery of EC certificates) have read about either in this Forum or from some law firms offering Work Permit services nothing changed for those working legally, so worth checking

Let me guess, like many others you want to have an income without paying tax. Actually, you would be much better off in Malaysia. They have a much more tolerant

regime when it comes to remitting offshore income back to Malaysia. However, setting up a company which includes a work permit for one expat, requires more than 4 million baht in paid up capital.

As already said why are people carrying around so much in cash. It's really quite naive to be honest.

Because everywhere you have to pay cash, no restaurant or bar will accept credit cards nor any shops except the big supermarket.

Did anybody go for a driving licence renewal since the application of the new rule today? How was it? What was required?

I do sporadically inspection work in Thailand for the European Community, I was told that if I put one single signature I would need a work permit. So I guess no farangs can sign a contract with a Thai company.

This is probably the least racist country I have been to, but there are Thais who do group us farangs with the other camp.

Then you should probably travel a bit more see http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/files/2013/08/racial-tolerance-map-hk-fix.jpg

Even with this political mess and martial law, they're not relenting on this visa run crackdown.

As I've said previously I have sympathy with some visa runners but you wouldn't be able to go in and out of say the UK, USA, or Aus without a proper visa, so it is understandable why Thailand, or any other country for that matter, would want to get rid of people who stay in the country without the correct documentation.

When you loose your job or decide to change job you get 7 days, even if you have a new job ready, the paper work for the new job can never be ready in such a quick period. So it is easy to say for all people with a retirement visa but a bit more complicated for the working class heroes.

I need cargo ferry, better night ferry

The ferry stopped some time ago, reason I got was unpredictable high seas.

As you asked about ferry I am assuming your cargo would be accompanied. That being the case the train may be the best bet. There is one train a day from Bangkok to Pattaya but I think it goes about 6 in the morning, depends how to manage the changeover at the railway station in BKK.

what high seas? This is not the Atlantic or the North sea. The real reason is that people would not pay the price of such a mode of transport and prefer to take the cheap and dangerous bus on the unpredictable roads. I would love to see it restarted but then more as a mini-cruise with a one night stopover.

I am a freelance CE inspector accredited by the European Commission. My approvals and CE certificates allow the producer to export their product to the European Economic Area. I travel very much around the world to deliver these certificates and since O had quite a lot of customers in Asia decided to have a base in Thailand. In my previous country all I had to do is have the figures of how many million dollars of export had been generated by my clients in exports to Europe and that resulted in a special skills Visa. Here the immigration had absolutely no interest in my added value for the country and the economy. Do I take a job away from a Thai? No but a lot will lose theirs if they can't export.

Nah he's Swedish (like me) and I can tell you that we do not troll, ever, and paying taxes is considered a pleasure in our country.

In fact it's so popular that not paying them can carry a more severe prison sentence than assault.

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The irony of it is that (as we both know) the Thai tax rate he would pay is lower than in Sweden.

Except it's not legal here in Thailand for him to work that way without a work permit.

If the Thais made it legal for him to work here in Thailand as a "self-employed foreigner with income from outside of Thailand" then:

• He would benefit from a lower tax rate on his income
• Thailand would benefit from the tax revenue they would get
• And if he lived here and paid rent and such for his living expenses here in Thailand, then the Thai economy would benefit directly from what he spent here.
• So it would be a win-win situation..... with both him and the Thai government benefiting from "winning"

But no, it won't happen because of the "rules".

"Amazing" Thailand.

does your home country allow just anyone to come and live there full time and work as a freelancer?

What country are you from?

Dependent upon which country you are from there many countries in the region that do not require a visa for entry.

I don't think China requires you have residency here to get a tourist visa but it could also depend upon where you are from.

I am Belgian this is what they mention on their website:

3) Proof of legal stay or residence status (applicable to those not applying for the visa in their country of citizenship)

If you are not applying for the visa in the country of your citizenship, you must provide the original and photocopy of your valid certificates or visa of stay, residence, employment or student status, or other valid certificates of legal staying provided by the relevant authorities of the country where you are currently staying

of course they do not pick-up the phone nor reply to any e-mail.

I am in between two work permit and thus on a tourist visa in Thailand (not working at the moment). I need to urgently go to China but I do not yet have a new non-B visa. Can I get a visa for China or any other country just on a tourist visa?