Suitable Visa

[Johnson81]

Hi, 

 

Just need some advice on a suitable visa for my situation going forward.

 

My background is in finance from the UK.

 

I have been on a career break in Thailand. While here using mainly TR and visa exemptions

 

Soon I will start work for a UK company that will fly me around SE Asia (HK, SG, etc) to meet clients.

 

My plan is to stay based in Thailand, and from what I can gather about the potential role will mean I'll be flying around Asia 15 days, while back in Thailand for the remaining 15 days per month on average.

 

Regards,

 

 

[ubonjoe]

If the company you will be working for has customers in Thailand you could possibley get a multiple entry non-b visa that would allow unlimited 90 day entries to the country for a year from the date of issue.

See: http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#2

If not then a multiple entry tourist visa (METV) that allows 60 day entries for 6 months from the date of issue would be a good option.

[Johnson81]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

If the company you will be working for has customers in Thailand you could possibley get a multiple entry non-b visa that would allow unlimited 90 day entries to the country for a year from the date of issue.

See: http://www.thaiembassy.org/london/en/services/7742/84508-Non-Immigrant-visas.html#2

If not then a multiple entry tourist visa (METV) that allows 60 day entries for 6 months from the date of issue would be a good option.

It wouldn't be visiting clients in Thailand, but rather visiting clients in SE Asia (mainly HK, SG). Company would pay a UK salary into my UK bank account.

 

My plan is to stay based in Thailand...would the visa options you describe work if I'm making many regular trips in and out if Thailand?

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, Johnson81 said:

My plan is to stay based in Thailand...would the visa options you describe work if I'm making many regular trips in and out if Thailand?

Yes they would allow you to come and go as much as you want to.

You could ask your employer to check with the embassy about the non-b visa. If the company has business contacts here you should be able to get the visa.

[Johnson81]

Ok great, I have a conference in SG next week for 2 days, I'm not going to have time to get a TR, so I'm going to fly back into Phuket visa exempt.

 

If questioned next week, I have flights out of Thailand to KL and then onto SG again in June. Can also show them the conference invite as the reason for going SG for 2 days (I.e not doing a visa run).

 

Fyi my current visa doesn't expire until the 28th May, but I'm not sure that matters once you leave.

 

[BritTim]

1 hour ago, Johnson81 said:

Ok great, I have a conference in SG next week for 2 days, I'm not going to have time to get a TR, so I'm going to fly back into Phuket visa exempt.

 

If questioned next week, I have flights out of Thailand to KL and then onto SG again in June. Can also show them the conference invite as the reason for going SG for 2 days (I.e not doing a visa run).

 

Fyi my current visa doesn't expire until the 28th May, but I'm not sure that matters once you leave.

Visa exempt entries are very convenient. Several years ago, using them to spend significant time in Thailand would have been the obvious way to go. Given your time already in Thailand, be prepared for a possible denied entry when flying in and asking for a visa exempt entry. Some officials will consider you "not a genuine tourist", and they even have discretion, officially, to deny entry to those using visa exempt entries to stay longer in Thailand "than is necessary for tourism purposes". This was granted them in 2014, although they were told to apply their discretion flexibly.