Hi all,

 

Background (if it is relevant): I am in my 30th year in Thailand. 29 of them were spent working here for various Thai and foreign companies, always with correct visa and work permits. Last year I quit my job and moved to a non-O based on marriage as I have a Thai wife and two kids. My extension expires in July.

Last year I registered a company in the UK (50% shareholder). Within the next 12 months or so we plan on setting up a 100% foreign owned Thai entity under BOI as a Thai branch of the same business at which point I would go back to non B and WP.

Although not earning money here currently and just living off savings I would technically be doing remote work for a UK company over the coming months even though it's literally just sitting at home using my laptop for a couple of hours a day - emailing clients, a few calls here and there. However I would like to be on the correct visa for doing this. Would this be a DTV? Or should I just extend my non O for another year and wait to have a company registered here? I am not sure what is best even after reading a lot about it, hence asking the experts here. I guess a non O extension is simpler, but a DTV would be technically the better visa for sitting at home doing emails? And as it's for five years it takes the pressure off setting doing the BOI application so I can do it at my own pace? I have done BOI a couple of times before and know how long it can take.

Thanks for any advice.

1 minute ago, josephbloggs said:

Hi all,

 

Background (if it is relevant): I am in my 30th year in Thailand. 29 of them were spent working here for various Thai and foreign companies, always with correct visa and work permits. Last year I quit my job and moved to a non-O based on marriage as I have a Thai wife and two kids. My extension expires in July.

Last year I registered a company in the UK (50% shareholder). Within the next 12 months or so we plan on setting up a 100% foreign owned Thai entity under BOI as a Thai branch of the same business at which point I would go back to non B and WP.

Although not earning money here currently and just living off savings I would technically be doing remote work for a UK company over the coming months even though it's literally just sitting at home using my laptop for a couple of hours a day - emailing clients, a few calls here and there. However I would like to be on the correct visa for doing this. Would this be a DTV? Or should I just extend my non O for another year and wait to have a company registered here? I am not sure what is best even after reading a lot about it, hence asking the experts here. I guess a non O extension is simpler, but a DTV would be technically the better visa for sitting at home doing emails? And as it's for five years it takes the pressure off setting doing the BOI application so I can do it at my own pace? I have done BOI a couple of times before and know how long it can take.

Thanks for any advice.

Can you work here with the DTV - YES but you cannot work for a Thai company on th DTV- http://https://www.getworkflex.com/post/understanding-the-dtv-vusa-for-thailand-what-employers.need-to-know  if you can meet the obligations, the 10-year LTR might be best for you but it all depends on your income and health coverage.  see this link and you can better understand the DTR requirements limitations.  

If you plan on switching back to work permit in less than a year, don't waste the time and money to apply for the DTV now.  Just work remotely as you are currently doing and switch once you get the BOI company setup.

OP, you have couple of good answers above.

Given that your plans in the future are still being decided on, suggest the idea of sticking with extensions from a Non O based on marriage.

Low financial requirements and funds can be used to live off once extension approved.

With the type of online work you are currently doing you would not have an issue. 

22 hours ago, Presnock said:

Can you work here with the DTV - YES but you cannot work for a Thai company on th DTV- http://https://www.getworkflex.com/post/understanding-the-dtv-vusa-for-thailand-what-employers.need-to-know  if you can meet the obligations, the 10-year LTR might be best for you but it all depends on your income and health coverage.  see this link and you can better understand the DTR requirements limitations.  

Thank you Presnock for the link, very useful.

11 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

If you plan on switching back to work permit in less than a year, don't waste the time and money to apply for the DTV now.  Just work remotely as you are currently doing and switch once you get the BOI company setup.

Thanks Brandon, I think this makes the most sense.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, you have couple of good answers above.

Given that your plans in the future are still being decided on, suggest the idea of sticking with extensions from a Non O based on marriage.

Low financial requirements and funds can be used to live off once extension approved.

With the type of online work you are currently doing you would not have an issue. 

Yes, thanks Jack. It's good to hear opinions saying the same thing, that a non-O extension makes sense and just doing remote emails etc shouldn't be a worry.

It's made my mind up for me, I'll go for another extension. You can close the thread if you like as I have my answers.

Thanks all.

Thread closed at OP request.