intrigueme

Sunbelt,

One more question regarding option #1 you mention above:

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1. If the kids will be attending school. Your wife( only one parent allowed to get this type of visa)will obtain a extension based on "a parent to support a child who is studying"

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Just so I'm clear, once we arrive in Thailand and the kids are in school my wife would go to the immigration office to apply for this extension? Is it good for one year then?

So we would BOTH still need to make visa runs each 90 days under this scenario? What about the kids as they were all issued non-O single entry visas good for 90-days - do they get an extension as well and do they need to do visa runs as well?

Sorry for the barrage of questions - just trying to get this all straight - thanks!

Sunbelt - do you have an office in Phuket? If so, I might just stop in and see you when we get there so I can go through our options with you at that time.

I likely have the ability to get my wife a non-B multiple entry visa as well before we get to Thailand - so we would both have them upon entry and our kids would have the non-O single entry visas. Would that be preferable to the non-O my wife has been issued already?

Thanks for the replies, please allow me to further clarify our situation. We are Canadian citizens and I will be coming into Thailand on a non-B multiple entry to do some consulting work for a company outside of Thailand, for possible investment purposes. I'm not sure the "required income per month" would really apply in this case simply because as I said above I'm being paid from a company outside of Thailand?

My non-B is good for a year so I believe all I need to do is exit/re-enter every 90 days, at least that's what the consulate told me. My main question is with my spouse and children (all under the age of 6). They were issued non-O, single entry visas good for 90 days. The consulate told me the procedure once we're in Thailand is to simply go to the local immigration office when their non-O visas are close to their 90-day expiry and we can get them extended no problem, likely to a multiple-entry 1-year non-O --- is this correct?

And if this is correct, do they need to make visa runs like I do? Thanks for your feedback.

intrigueme, you should do a search in here for 'working'. You might base as well on the Alien Employment Act B.E. 2521

All aliens engaged in any kind of work in Thailand must hold a valid work permit, issued principally by the Department of Employment of the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare pursuant to the Alien Employment Act B.E. 2521 (A.D. 1978).

The term "work" is defined very broadly, covering both physical and mental activities, whether or not for wages or other remuneration. Working without a valid work permit even for a day is a criminal offense.

Where else I do get my inofrmation? Once from police-officers visiting my office to arrest me. Luckily, at that time I was not in the office, resp. had left 1 hour earlier abroad to get a new visa.

Have a look in here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/391.0.html

http://www.thaivisa.com/288.0.html

or perhaps here:

http://www.lawyer.th.com/QR-thai-work-perm...equirements.asp

The criteria you mention, not being paid, resp. not being paid in Thailand, is actually irrelevant. In practise it is enough if you are found at a work place without having a WP.

...to do research work for a foreign company not established in Thailand. All of my salary as well as expenses in Thailand will be paid by that foreign company.

Perhaps a low profile and no enemies would let slip you through the system, I would, however, not advise this.

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Thanks Axel for your insight - I will certainly take this into consideration before we ship anything over. Your help is appreciated!

I will be entering Thailand on a non-B multiple-entry visa good for one year. My understanding is that I will need to make a visa run each 90 days and then get a new visa each year.

My spouse and children have been granted non-O single entry visas good for 90 days -- my question is what do they need to do once we arrive in Thailand? Can their non-O visas be extended to 1-year multiple entry once inside Thailand and will they still need to do visa runs with me? Once they expire, same procedure as mine?

Thanks for any help in advance!

Axel / Pat Pong,

Thanks for the helpful information and posts. Axel, I'm curious as to where you are getting your info regarding work permits? From my dealings with the embassies and consulates abroad there is a definite distinction between performing work for a Thai-based company (ie - incorporated or established in Thailand) and a foreign company (with no establishment in Thailand).

My non-B visa was granted on the premise that I have been contracted to do research work for a foreign company not established in Thailand. All of my salary as well as expenses in Thailand will be paid by that foreign company. The embassies and consulates I spoke with made it very clear that I do not require a work permit as I am not gainfully employed by a Thai company. It is not possible to secure a Thai work permit other than through a Thai based company.

Now, in the example you gave of tsunami relief I don't doubt your premise, all of those relief workers would likely be associated with some Thai organization or possibly a foreign organization with a Thai subsidiary (like a Red Cross, etc.) - they would surely need to get a Thai work permit.

Maybe you could clarify where you are getting your information on the work permits from as your info would definitely contradict what the embassies/consulates have told me. Also, how would you propose getting a work permit from a foreign company that does not have a Thai-based subsidiary?

Thanks for your response in advance!

The customs for sure wants to see your work permit as well.

Here a link to the official site:

http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/House...e=HouseHold#top

Important is that you are required to have owned, possessed, and used the household effects before. If owned and possessed the goods without using them, the goods would be subject to regular taxes and duties.

A customs inspector will certainly not accept a new item in original factory packing as used household effect. It might help, however, if you open and re-pac the carton(s), seal with tape. A clear sign, you sued it and packed for transport in the original packaging. Whatwever it is, make sure it looks not un-used.

This BTW is not only in Thailand. Customs officers around the world do look for unused items, probably bought in the last moment...

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Axel,

Thanks for the info- this is great.  After reading the site it seems fairly straightforward however I wonder about the "work permit" part.

With my own situation I don't require a work permit because I'm not paid by a Thai company - I'm paid by a foreign company so Thai gov't doesn't require a work permit.  I'm assuming my visa and letter from immigration will suffic?

Thanks again!

intrigueme, you may want to read these up from phuketgazette.com:

Importing personal posessions

Retirees importing personal belongings

Hope they'll help. Good luck!

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Thanks for the reply - I checked out the two articles but they are conflicting, the first says duty must be paid and the second says no duty must be paid? I'm coming in on a non-B visa so I understand I have six months to bring my personal effects in duty-free - is this your understanding? Thanks in advance!

What is your situation regarding a Thailand visa ?

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I will be entering Thailand on a non-B visa and then once inside Thailand have it certified by immigration for a 12 month time period, renewable once per year.

My understanding is that with the year visa we can bring in our personal effects duty-free, however there is a lot of conflicting reports on USED vs. NEW items if they are personal effects.

Can anyone tell me any more particulars about moving personal effects into Phuket from abroad? From what I've gathered I have 6 months from time of entry and I can bring a shipment of personal items in duty-free.

But does it matter if the personal items are new or used? I've heard conflicting reports about this but it would appear the regulations state that it doesn't matter as long as they are personal effects.

Any feedback from residents who have gone through this process would be a big help!

Thanks very much for the quick feedback - much appreciated. Glad to hear mainly petty theft and stuff like that - am I correct to assume then that any violent crimes are few and far between?

Hmmm...surely some of you longtime residents must have some comments on the crime situation -- or should I assume Phuket is entirely crime-free and a complete Shangri-La

Any areas (besides Patong) that are more noted for break-ins, petty theft, etc.?

Coming into Phuket for a couple days on business - does anyone have any recommendations for a good business hotel with high-speed Internet (cable or wireless)?

This is my first post so take it easy on me

I'm looking for some feedback on crime in Phuket - have travelled extensively through Thailand but never to Phuket and am considering a move with my family in the near future. Have always felt very safe travelling through Thailand but I'd like to get some feedback from residents living in Phuket. Not really one to worry about crime but just want to get an overall sense of what's happening out there.

Are there any particular areas that seem to be worse overall? We're considering the beach areas of Kamala and all things north of there - any comments on those areas would be appreciated. We're more quiet folks I'd say, not really into the Patong scene and have three small children - thanks in advance for your answers.