ajarngreg

17 hours ago, stevenl said:

You mean that website where one year licenses are mentioned?

 

But even there, if you read they only mention non immigrant as a requirement for a 5 year license, which is correct. One year licenses can and are regularly issued on visa exempt entries and tourist visas, the possible hickup being the ability to get a certificate of residence. But that can nearly always be done also.

It's not true and you can check plenty of other websites, for example here:

          http://driving.information.in.th/driving-licence.html

        A Non-Immigrant visa is needed for the first- a 1 year, and again for the 5 year license. Some departments are even asking for a work permit.

On 4/20/2017 at 2:16 PM, dentonian said:

 

According to the DLT website a Non Imm Visa is required even  for the first temporary 2 year licence.

https://www.dlt.go.th/en/one-year-license/

 

However the only thing consistent in Thailand is the inconsistency, so it really depends whether your local DLT centre enforces the rules or not.

Where did you read that about a 2 year license, please? It usually starts with a one year permit, then you can apply for a five year DL.

       I've got my licenses for a long time and met a lot of people who all had to show a Non Immigrant visa. Except those who found a way to pay some money under the table.

        Regarding bank accounts, there's a Bangkok bank in Krung Thep where anybody can open up a bank account. But that isn't the norm here.

         Thailand has changed many laws and regulations for foreigners and even when you only send a letter abroad from LOS you'll need your passport, the post office makes copies and keeps them. ( Just happened to a friend of mine today)

         If you pay enough money to an employee at the Land Transport Department, nobody will check on your visa status, of course.

          They even fill out the questions for you. Money rules, but not only here. 

6 minutes ago, dentonian said:

 

According to the DLT website a Non Imm Visa is required even  for the first temporary 2 year licence.

https://www.dlt.go.th/en/one-year-license/

 

However the only thing consistent in Thailand is the inconsistency, so it really depends whether your local DLT centre enforces the rules or not.

What rules? Lol

3 hours ago, seancbk said:

 

You can open a bank account and get a Thai driving licence on a tourist visa, so you'll have no problem on a spousal visa.

Those are the easy part.   The harder part will be the setup of the business and getting yourself a work permit.

My advice would be to never mention the UK based business you plan to manage remotely.   They don't need to know about that. 

The only business you need to mention is the resort and the work you do related to that.   Online work you just keep quiet about.

None of it is as hard as some people will make out, especially as you are young.   The older chaps seem to get very upset when they run into Thai Bureaucracy, for no apparent reason except perhaps they have high blood pressure.

Best of luck.

You can't open a bank account and get a Thai driving licence on a tourist visa, but you'll have no problem on a (Non-O) spousal visa. 

  It's fascinating to see how you pulled out the OP's online work? 

16 minutes ago, Nakrob said:

 

Really? I enquired in KTB recently and they said not a chance on a tourist visa. I also heard driving license is not possible on TV also.

 

  Most, if not all banks in LOS want to see a Non Immigrant visa to open up a bank account and also the the Land Transport offices are eager to see such a type of visa.

    It's sad that people here post wrong information, 

14 hours ago, ajarngreg said:

You can open a bank account and go for the Thai driver's license on a Multiple Entry Non-O visa, good for one year. You can even stretch it to 15 months when you leave the country shortly before it expires.

 

Apply for an IDP before you come to LOS, it might make all easier and you're allowed to drive here. But you should still go for the Thai license, just in case of an accident.

 

        Try to save as much money as possible, many things have gotten really expensive here. You never know how good your business will run and to make money here, you have to invest a lot money to satisfy customers who have money.

 

     Focus on Thai customers, once you've got many Thais who like your place, you'll have more and more customers. 

 

         There'll be so many expenses you haven't even thought about yet, I'm sure. Take your time and talk it through before you arrive.

 

          Here's the address and phone number of Peppers: <contact by PM for info>

    Cheers- 

 

                

 

          

Sorry, Joe. had no idea that this isn't allowed. 

5 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

No visa will let you work, you need a work permit.

I got mine 9 years ago with extension of non-O visa based on marriage.

Sorry, it was of course meant to be able to apply for a work permit. Have you read the whole text? 

2 hours ago, Toshiba66 said:

Because it costs more and is not necessary. If you come on a non-o you need to leave the country after 90 days and come back. No need to leave doing it the way I suggested. After 90 days you get your marriage visa and never have to leave the country if you don't wish to.

Absolute nonsense. You leave the country at a point of your choice, visit a duty free shop, or just walk in and out.  

You can open a bank account and go for the Thai driver's license on a Multiple Entry Non-O visa, good for one year. You can even stretch it to 15 months when you leave the country shortly before it expires.

Apply for an IDP before you come to LOS, it might make all easier and you're allowed to drive here. But you should still go for the Thai license, just in case of an accident.

        Try to save as much money as possible, many things have gotten really expensive here. You never know how good your business will run and to make money here, you have to invest a lot money to satisfy customers who have money.

     Focus on Thai customers, once you've got many Thais who like your place, you'll have more and more customers. 

         There'll be so many expenses you haven't even thought about yet, I'm sure. Take your time and talk it through before you arrive.

          Here's the address and phone number of Peppers: <contact by PM for info>

You can get a one year Multiple Entry Non-O visa ( based on your marriage to a Thai) from a Thai consulate back home, whatever is closer to you.

Then you have to leave the country every 90 days, but that's easy when you're in Ubon ( to the Laotian border not so far) and from Pattaya to Cambodia ( daily vans)

     That will enable you to stay here with your wife, as she can stay on her Thai passport. The problem you'll have is to be completely legal and running two businesses more than 600 km away from each other.

   Once you're in Ubon, please visit Peppers, the restaurant opposite the military airport. The owner has lived in the States for quite a long time and he's really a good guy who can give you a lot of information how to set up your business.

  To set up a company under your name wouldn't be as easy as it is for your wife. You'll need a certain amount of money and you must have as far as i remember five Thai employees. If your wife's running the businesses it makes all much easier.

       You could eventually be a General manager for her company, but that all depends on the department of labor in Ubon, or eventually in Chonburi.

             The problem you're facing is that you're dealing with two different provinces. But you'll have to start somewhere and it seems to be the best to get your Non-O visa at a Thai consulate back home.

         If you want I can give you the contact information of the owner who's running Peppers, bakery and restaurant.

           Be aware that you'll have to fight with the Immigration and the labor department. What's really important is to be well dressed and of course well  mannered. Never lose your temper, even when your blood is boiling when they tell you to fill out form XY for the 123 rd time.

            Best of luck !

   P.S. The laws were changed about seven years ago and you're now allowed to work on a Non-O visa.

4 hours ago, Took said:

Hi,

 

This is what I did about a half year ago.

 

The Immigration Office where I did a visa extension

told me that I could postdate the visa cancellation 

15 days before the termination date on the letter

from my school.

 

I went back to the office to try to get it cancelled

10 days before the actual termination date, only

to find that my school failed to prepare for a proper

termination letter. They forgot to have the letter

addressed to the office and put a school stamp 

on it as well. They wouldn't accept the letter so

I wasn't able to get it cancelled then. The school

had been closed so I couldn't get a new letter.

 

And I went up to Nong Khai and visited the Immigration

Office to get it cancelled. They asked me for a termination

letter and accepted the one that they wouldn't at the

office where I did the extension. Then I went on to

Vientiane and came back to Thailand again.

 

As for WP cancellation, I got a copy of Power Of Attorney

at the Labour Office, signed my name on it and sent it and

my WP to my school so that they could get it cancelled

for me.

 

Hope that helps.

 

Please see post # 6. The form for the wp cancellation a Letter of Attorney included and ready to download. 

2 hours ago, Biker Boy said:

You caught my eye with the comment on marriage visa. I expect to return to Thailand from Cambodia in the next several months. I am married to a Thai, but she is in the USA. I am curious regarding the requirements for the visa you recommend.

     Did you marry in Thailand? No idea if that's a must. But you'd theoretically get a Non-O Multiple Entry visa based on marriage to a Thai wife.

         You need the original marriage certificate and a copy of her ID card. I guess she's got her Thai address in her ID card, right?

      You do not have to show financial proof  at the Thai consulate in Sawannakhet, near Mukdahan/Thailand. 

         I hope that helps. And you're allowed to work on such a visa. 

    P.S. She doesn't have to be with you when you apply for your visa.

15 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

 

I changed my advice to the OP but the reality is that if he leaves at an airport he would have absolutely no problems. As soon as he exits the visa is automatically cancelled. I've never heard of anyone being denied an exit at the airport. I have heard stories of that at land borders which is why I advise him to fly to Vietnam. He just has to make sure he or his employer fills in that work permit cancellation form before he applies for a new one.

 

 

 

You're right, but please use your imagination. If the employer or headteacher of the school doesn't know much of these laws and regulation, the OP could easily end up in a weird situation. 

Leaving via plane is not a guarantee that they don't want such a cancellation, the letter stating his last day of employment and perhaps his tax clearance.

  It's really not my intention to come up with a story, but I'd make sure that ALL is cleared before leaving the country.

  A lady who worked at my former school and didn't pay tax a couple of years ago and couldn't show the clearance was already in Bangkok to check in when an Immigration officer sent her back to the province where she's working to come back with the receipt.

  She then missed her flight that couldn't get changed and she had to travel more than 1,200 km to get that done. It wasn't possible to do that in Bangkok. 

I'm not saying that it will happen, but I wouldn't bet on it, to be honest. 

P.S. How would the OP know if the wp was canceled by the employer?

14 minutes ago, edwardandtubs said:

You don't need to go to the work permit office or to the immigration office. The employer just has to go to the work permit office and fill in a form. Your visa has nothing to do with them. Find out when they're going to do that and book a flight for Vietnam to get a tourist visa. Easy.

 

 

 

I'd be very careful in such a situation. It seems that the school doesn't really have a good relationship with the OP and if things go wrong he could end up being on an overstay. 

.If the employer decides not to fill out the form to get the wp canceled, it's the employee who's got to do that. If that would be the case, the Immigration can send the OP back to his province to get the wp canceled ( please see attached form), plus they can ask for a letter from his employer stating when his last day of employment was.

It happened to a colleague last year. 

         I'd prefer to be on the safe side.   

wp_cancellation.pdf

1 hour ago, lopburi3 said:

You can apply for extension, that will not be granted, allowing you to stay another 7 days.  Otherwise you should be prepared to immediately leave to obtain new visa/entry of some type.

 

 

 

 

     Are you married to a Thai?        

     I hope for you that you don't have too many tourist visas for Thailand in your passport. All regulations are pretty strict now.

    Being married would allow you to receive a Non -O in Sawannakhet based on your marriage without financial proof. Just saying. Good luck !

1 hour ago, BritTim said:

Although damaged, and no longer valid for travel, I believe you should be able to get an extension of stay in the old damaged passport. Some immigration officials might decide to object, but stamps in a damaged passport are valid, and that ought to apply to new stamps as well as old ones.

 

 

A great post. And considering that they've got all data on their PC, it would be very easy to get eventually lost information back, including a letter from Immigration that all is fine.

    OP, I'm afraid that you'll need a new passport no matter what you're planning to do, Get in touch with the embassy, there's also one in CM. 

46 minutes ago, moe666 said:

A scam would be paying your money and not getting a re-entry permit

 Or perhaps a girl who's telling you that she's pregnant from having "Sanook" with you, but her " brother- husband" had to work hard and made the baby. Lol. 

   On each train is an idiot. An old saying where I'm from.......

34 minutes ago, Bundaberg Baxter said:

Of course you can,  if you paste up pics in Photoshop or similar and get just one print with them on done, usually what I do.

 

 No, sorry. It was about the post of a member who came up with the statement that he went to a photoshop and received 12 photos for 7 baht, instead of paying the horrendous sum of 200 baht.

       I've got my own photoshop at home on my PC and do not need such a service. But should I've forgotten to print a few out, I do not mind to pay a few baht. Life's too short. 

        It's quite understandable that you don't read all the great posts that make your legs feel so heavy..                Have a great Songkran. 

36 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

Because it's better than all the Thai beers and in Laos is extremely cheap.  Nothing better than a bottle of beer Lao by the river while the sun is setting.

 

 

   + 1. The restaurant with a huge penguin in Sawannakhet with great food and always cold beer, a duty-free shop, and some other nice places help you to enjoy the country/city. 

   Annoying are most of the Tuk Tuk drivers who charge ten times more than a New York cab does, including tip.

On 4/11/2017 at 1:32 PM, louse1953 said:

My immi has heaps of different forms available for free.I just take a handful of what i need.

     Just in case if you lose a bunch.:

      http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=download

9 hours ago, Bundaberg Baxter said:

They are lying the photos do not have to be done by them, more evidence of a scam and any photo shop will do your pics for 100 baht

 

Another poster wrote that he got 12 pcs. for 7 baht. Your number comes a little closer....

On 4/5/2017 at 10:33 PM, Donutz said:

A general rule of thumb is that frequent travellers with a positive history get s Schengen visa valid for longer and multiple entries (MEV). Say a 1 year multiple entry visa after the 2nd or 3rd application, 3 years there after and 5 years (the max) after that.

 

Some consulates seem to be as flexible and welcoming as a concrete wall.

 

Solutions:

- make a formal complaint with the Spanish embassy and MGS against the visa type that was issued.

- go to a more welcoming (Schengen) country. The Dutch also recognize durable partnerships, allowing you to get a free visa ASAP with .minimum hassle and paperwork.

- Get married, under EU directive 2004/38 the spouse of an EU national traveling to an other member state gets a free visa ASAP with minimum hassle.

 

- share your experience with EU home affairs at JUST-CITIZENSHIP {at} ec.europa.eu

 

Even after Brexit? 

Just now, louse1953 said:

Well,you mad if you pay that for a beer.

Trans comes with his own beer, didn't you know that? 

27 minutes ago, transam said:

Think we are talking about the price of a small beer at Swampy..The 200bht is not an under the table tea money payment.............

 

 

 

 

 

BTW, the service wasn't available a few years ago. Here are two photos of the place.

OP, are you talking about the same place?

  On their website is nothing about a 200 baht fee and I assume that people who can use a computer are able to download the form themselves.

  http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/en/1001-re-entry-visa

  Is it possible that the fee is for people who don't have such a form?

      Or are there two places where you can get your re-entry? 

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/form_tm8.pdf