BritTim

While semantically it could mean almost anything, previous experience seems to suggest it only comes into play when it involves Thai clients. I am aware of no case where it has been applied just because of overseas income.

The tax id number is definitely not a concern. There are many kinds of income you can legally have in Thailand without any need for a work permit. The tax authorities are, anyway, completely separate from the Labour Department and disinterested in each other's affairs.

For long stay tourists, there is a good chance of being refused a tourist visa both in Vientiane and Savannakhet. However (assuming you can get an appointment) your chances will be better in Vientiane.

I feel that everything of value people had to say on this subject has already been posted, and the thread has degenerated into pointless arguments. The thread is now CLOSED

I think when making this statement, you should advise the OP on which visa he should get (assuming he does not qualify for the LTR WTP, Long Term Resident Work from Thailand Professional, visa). The authorities have decided to completely tolerate remote workers without the "correct" visa and work permit because (i) they appreciate that there is no "correct" visa; and (ii) it is felt that people living in Thailand and bringing in money from abroad is a positive development that they do not want to deter.

The general consensus is that, if you are in Thailand for more than 180 days during the year, you are liable for tax on your worldwide income, but only if the income is transferred to Thailand in the year that it is earned. In practice, since cash is fungible, it is next to impossible to prove whether money transferred to Thailand is income earned in the current year. The tax authorities rarely, if ever, try. That aside, depending on your nationality, there may be double taxation treaties between your country and Thailand that prevent you being taxed twice on the same income.

Which border crossing did he use please?

One might ask why itt should be harder for a foreign man married to a Thai woman than for a foreign woman married to a Thai man. The answer is simple: preconceived notions about gender roles. At some point, these kinds of prejudices may well disappear, but it will likely take time. When my daughter was born, a child born in Thailand to a Thai mother and foreign man was not entitled to Thai nationality. This later changed, but many second and third generation refugees in Thailand still cannot claim their legal rights because of the attitudes and prejudices of officials.

Of course, you mean the TM8 form. I know this is a simple typo, but worth correcting to avoid confusing the less well informed.

It seems likely that your friend was applying for a one-year extension of an existing Non Immigrant permission to stay, not applying for a Non O visa at immigration. The former is signed off at the local immigration office. The latter is taken under consideration, and approved at Division headquarters.

They are already well aware of the rules. They simply choose not to follow them as it is too much trouble.

When there is a documented procedure for receiving a Non O visa at immigration from a visa exempt entry, accusing someone of being "lazy" because they plan to use that procedure strikes me as victim blaming. In reality, the person being "lazy" is the immigration official who does not want to break into his mobile phone play time by doing his job. Processing the visa application is a significant amount of work for which the official only receives his regular salary. I can understand why some officials (if their superiors permit it) would shirk doing part of their job. What is next? Refusing to do 30-day extensions of entries on tourist visas on the basis that the applicant can go to Laos for a fresh tourist visa instead?

To bring you up to speed ... He wanted to apply for a Non O visa at Immigration. This is possible on a visa exempt entry if you have enough time left on your current permission to stay. By doing a border run, he was able to receive the visa exempt entry that was a necessary prerequisite for the Non O visa application. Clear now?

You will not be fined, and usually the one day overstay will not be considered significant in your immigration history. However, an overstay when under an order to leave (even if only by one day) will be considered a more serious infraction. In my view, if you intend spending time in Thailand in the future, it would be better avoided.

As long as you request a (denied) extension before your current permission to stay ends, it is 100% normal to be given the seven days to leave the country. Note that this is not a regular extension. It is an order to leave that, short of a critical medical issue, must be complied with.

If it happens at all, it is extremely rare. It would only happen if there was some uncorrectable defect in the application. What I have heard of is that region headquarters wanted a document not included in the original application, and a call from the local immigration office asking you to provide it before the application can proceed.

Sort of true. They cannot use form TM86. If they entered visa exempt, they must use form TM87.

Savannakhet has not done them based on Thai child for a long time. The last consulate in the region known to do them was Penang. Financial proof was needed. Reports suggest you can no longer get them there. Some nationalities might be able to get them in home country, or through the e-visa system.

I have not heard of Thai immigration restricting foreign minors from travelling. They only start asking questions if one of the parents is Thai. It is prudent to have a consent letter from the mother (with contact details) but I doubt it will be needed.

I think they are still good guys. The problem is that they were completely swamped by visa run groups taking long stay tourists for tourist visas. They were unable to cope, and something had to change. They did not go the same route as Penang (which simply refuses to process any more than the first so many people in the queue). Instead, they elected to deter long stay tourists from using the consulate. I do not think they wanted to do this but, short of tripling the number of staff, what else could they do?

The last time I helped a friend open a bank account, using the inducement of buying the bank's accident insurance, it was definitely just for one year. My friend signed nothing that would authorise the bank to renew the insurance in subsequent years.

At the request of the OP, this thread is now CL:OSED

It is perfectly normal that after stamp transfers to the new passport, no further stamp goes in the old passport. Your official acted properly.

As I recall, the last time I did the trip I used the 21:30 Transport Co. Ltd bus and had no complaints.

Most border bounces at Mae Sai are same day. Many do this daily.