Can I have issues renewing my ext of stay if I've invested in my wife's business?

[advancebooking]

Last year I invested in the wife’s business by lending her ½ the money to start it up. She signed a loan contract (that I had prepared) witnessed by an attorney. I sent over money from back home for my ½ of the contribution towards the business. (thus I can show evidence of this FET forms etc). I don’t have a WP and have not been working in the day to day operations. Our business is on the ground floor and our residence is above. The only thing they will see is me walking thru the front door of the business so that I can get upstairs- in the middle of the ground floor.

 

The only potential issue is that I recently visited the district office to pay the sign tax last month. I stupidly got a bit angry with them as I believe they over charged our bill. I regret my behaviour but cant turn back the clock. I realise now that it might constitute working if Im paying a bill for our business...

 

A few days after that visit I was coming back from the morning walk with my soi dog and an immigration guy arrives out the front of the building. He said ‘do you recognise me?’. I gave him a wai- a female office was on the back of the bike. He was the same guy that came for the marriage visa visit last year. He was a bit cagie and at first he said 'where’s your daughter?'. I said she’s at summer class (pointing at the direction of the school behind our building). He thought I was talking about having summer classes at our business. I said 'no, at her school' and named the school. It was like he was looking for a problem.

 

Then he said 'hows business?'. I shrugged my shoulders and said I dont know. I then said that I go to the beach everyday. (which is the truth). That was about it and then he rode off. It was definitely a bit of an awkward vibe. Is there a chance that I could be on their radar (watch list) now?

 

They will not have any evidence of me working but they could easily have cctv from the sign tax epsisode.

 

I have my yearly marriage ext coming up. They will see a sizeable credit to my account from my wife paying me back some money. If they question this…. Is it ok to say to immigration that I invested in the wifes business (I lent it to her and that she is paying me back.) Should I show the loan contract?

 

 I read somewhere that banks only have to report transfers exceeding 2million. If Im spreading around the transfer to different bank accounts then one would think all will be ok- its going to be well under this limit.

 

I asked the esteemed mod on this forum a few weeks ago about this matter but thought I would ask a few more members for their opinions as well. The ext of stay based on marriage is coming up very soon. I just want to be prepared as best I can. 

 

thanks for your opinions on this

[TravelerEastWest]

You sound fine.

 

Stay calm don't lose your temper ever in a Thai government office wear a proper shirt and tie when you visit and smile - you will be fine.

[ubonjoe]

I see no problem to tell them it came from an investment in wife's business if the ask about which a I doubt they will do.

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, advancebooking said:

Is there a chance that I could be on their radar (watch list) now?

Definitely.

 

You were ‘working’ for the business when paying that bill, but I don’t see that, on it’s own, being a problem.

 

If you are genuinely not working for the business you could head off any problems with immigration. I have a friend in a similar situation of living above a family business. He got a letter written by a lawyer confirming the residential and business situation, and gave it to immigration. You could do something similar.

 

That said, in order to prosecute you they would have to obtain evidence, so as long as you don’t have any day to day involvement you shouldn’t have a problem.