"working" In Thailand On A Non-o Visa

[maikee]

A section in the Non-O visa section stipulates that:

In case of being in working age (not reached the age of 50), evidence of the employment mjust be submitted:

In case of working abroad, you must submit evidence of your employment and

your financial sources. this evidence has to be certified by your Embassy.

In my case, I am working for a project manager in the U.S. and performing some consulting work within the Asia region.

The work for my manager in the U.S. would be done at my place of residence in Thailand, then uploaded to the U.S. site. Same thing I do now.

So technically, I am "working abroad"

Stictly speaking, is this legal to do in Thailand?

Cheers,

Mike

[dr_Pat_Pong]

A section in the Non-O visa section stipulates that:

In case of being in working age (not reached the age of 50), evidence of the employment mjust be submitted:

    In case of working abroad, you must submit evidence of your employment and

    your financial sources. this evidence has to be certified by your Embassy.

In my case, I am working for a project manager in the U.S. and performing some consulting work within the Asia region.

The work for my manager in the U.S. would be done at my place of residence in Thailand, then uploaded to the U.S. site. Same thing I do now.

So technically, I am "working abroad"

Stictly speaking, is this legal to do in Thailand?

Cheers,

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What were the grounds for issue of your Non Immigrant O visa ?

[Sunbelt Asia]

Doc...It has to be based on marriage. That is one of the requirements of being married to a Thai and having an "O" visa.

My understanding and have been advised...."You are legal in the governments eyes. "

www.sunbeltasia.com

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Doc...It has to be based on marriage. That is one of the requirements of being married to a Thai and having an "O" visa.

My understanding and have been advised...."You are legal in the governments eyes. "

www.sunbeltasia.com

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Not always Steve. An O is also for retirement, family reunions and a plethora of other reasons from the liberal Thai offices. He didn't say what his grounds were, so I asked.

[Sunbelt Asia]

Not always Steve.

Ahhh that would be Steve with Indo. Were the other guys :-)

An O is also for retirement, family reunions and a plethora of other reasons from the liberal Thai offices. He didn't say what his grounds were, so I asked. 

True but the key was this... He stated

In case of being in working age (not reached the age of 50), evidence of the employment mjust be submitted:

In case of working abroad, you must submit evidence of your employment and

your financial sources. this evidence has to be certified by your Embassy.

No such requirement exist for retirement.

Even if it was simply an 'O" for "other" given from an Consulate outside Thailand, he still would NOT have the requirement of

In case of being in working age (not reached the age of 50), evidence of the employment mjust be submitted:

In case of working abroad, you must submit evidence of your employment and

your financial sources. this evidence has to be certified by your Embassy.

This has to be support of a Thai spouse or even a family member.

Happy Loy Kratong Doctor. By the way, did you float your boat last night? Always has been my favorite Thai festival.

www.sunbeltasia.com

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Not always Steve.

Ahhh that would be Steve with Indo. Were the other guys :-)

An O is also for retirement, family reunions and a plethora of other reasons from the liberal Thai offices. He didn't say what his grounds were, so I asked. 

True but the key was this... He stated

In case of being in working age (not reached the age of 50), evidence of the employment mjust be submitted:

In case of working abroad, you must submit evidence of your employment and

your financial sources. this evidence has to be certified by your Embassy.

No such requirement exist for retirement.

Even if it was simply an 'O" for "other" given from an Consulate outside Thailand, he still would NOT have the requirement of

In case of being in working age (not reached the age of 50), evidence of the employment mjust be submitted:

In case of working abroad, you must submit evidence of your employment and

your financial sources. this evidence has to be certified by your Embassy.

This has to be support of a Thai spouse or even a family member.

Happy Loy Kratong Doctor. By the way, did you float your boat last night? Always has been my favorite Thai festival.

www.sunbeltasia.com

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

My sins were duly floated away on the River of Kings along with the aspirations of zillions of like minded souls. I hope you enjoyed the night too. ( I'm a bit slow this morning)

[maikee]

Sorry guys... just got out for a couple hours since posting.

Yes, the "O" visa would be for marriage (Mid January of next year). And, I am 40 years old.

Sunbelt, you said "My understanding and have been advised...."You are legal in the governments eyes. "

My company is working with me to make this move, unfortunately, I need to provide something a little more concrete. Do you have any sources or references that at least allude to what your are saying?

Thanks much.

Mike

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Sorry guys... just got out for a couple hours since posting.

Yes, the "O" visa would be for marriage (Mid January of next year). And, I am 40 years old.

Sunbelt, you said  "My understanding and have been advised...."You are legal in the governments eyes. "

My company is working with me to make this move, unfortunately, I need to provide something a little more concrete.  Do you have any sources or references that at least allude to what your are saying?

Thanks much.

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Presuming you are marrying a Thai, post marriage you can apply for the O visa.

[Khutan]

Presuming you are marrying a Thai, post marriage you can apply for the O visa.

Exactly, If you think you can get a visa before you are married - dream. Even been told that by a very nice consulate.

[lopburi3]

Presuming you are marrying a Thai, post marriage you can apply for the O visa.

Exactly, If you think you can get a visa before you are married - dream. Even been told that by a very nice consulate.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

It would depend on where he applies. He did not say where he is; and he may even have the visa now. Many honorary Consulates will issue an O visa.

[maikee]

All, I appreciate all the answers, but you are getting way to "wrapped around the axle" with regards to the marriage-visa thing.

I'm getting married in Mid-January, then will apply for a Non-O Visa shortly thereafter.

My question was about my upcoming work setup (See the thread title and my initial post). I was just looking for some information regarding any legality issues regarding my situation. Looks like technically, it is not legal, however the government generally leaves you alone if you are not doing anything blatant.

Mike

[lopburi3]

All, I appreciate all the answers, but you are getting way to "wrapped around the axle" with regards to the marriage-visa thing.

I'm getting married in Mid-January, then will apply for a Non-O Visa shortly thereafter.

My question was about my upcoming work setup (See the thread title and my initial post). I was just looking for some information regarding any legality issues regarding my situation. Looks like technically, it is not legal, however the government generally leaves you alone if you are not doing anything blatant.

Mike

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Believe you share in the blame here as your post specifically asks about working on a non-immigrant O visa - not about your work setup. That set us up.

I would say you are right and that it is probably more of not being covered rather than not legal. And if you were asking about immigration extending stay do not believe you will have a problem there as long as money source is outside Thailand.

[Baaksida]

All, I appreciate all the answers, but you are getting way to "wrapped around the axle" with regards to the marriage-visa thing.

As I understand it, he was asking about the legality to work and/or possibility to get a work permit with a Non "O". Does he have to convert his Non "O" to a Non "B" at the Immigration office in order to work in Thailand, or can he work with a Non "O" as well? (Szenario: a foreigner gets married, supports his wife while living in Thailand, but eventually runs out of funds, so he finds and takes up employment as a specialist in his field...)

[maikee]

lopburi3,

Apologize, I thought I was being at least somewhat clear and concise with my original posting. At any rate, I do appreciate the help!

I would say you are right and that it is probably more of not being covered rather than not legal.  And if you were asking about immigration extending stay do not believe you will have a problem there as long as money source is outside Thailand.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I just called and had a conversation with Greg from Sunbelt. He elaborated on what he initially said in this thread and confirmed almost exactly what you wrote above.

Thanks again.

Mike

[astral]

As I understand it, he was asking about the legality to work and/or possibility to get a work permit with a Non "O". Does he have to convert his Non "O" to a Non "B" at the Immigration office in order to work in Thailand, or can he work with a Non "O" as well? (Szenario: a foreigner gets married, supports his wife while living in Thailand, but eventually runs out of funds, so he finds and takes up employment as a specialist in his field...)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Working on a Non Imm O issued for marriage is OK, subject to a suitable Work Permit.

[autonomous_unit]

Maikee: I think you will go around and around this question with no better answers than what have been given. Others have worn the path smooth before you...

If your overseas prospective employer is conservative and wants a legal opinion, the opinion will probably fall into the not covered/not legal category. This is because a conservative immigration/labor lawyer will probably say it is not legal unless there are specific provisions on the books that apply, or they have experience with many clients doing this. It's a bit of a catch-22 for conservative lawyers to have experience with clients doing this sort of thing.

The only way to please a conservative employer like this and have full legitimacy is to incorporate in Thailand so your business can apply for a work permit on your behalf. Then, you would contract with your "real" overseas employer to perform services. The easiest would be to have your wife own over 50% so that it is a Thai company. You would need legal help to know if your line of work has any extra licensing issues, etc., in Thailand. You have to search your own soul to know if this is the kind of financial situation you wish to be in, being a minority shareholder in your wife's company that handles your employment contract and having all your compensation flow into Thailand!

Btw, despite what others may tell you, the above type of company does NOT require 2M baht capital to apply for your work permit if you are here on an O spouse support visa. It still may require a couple of Thai staff and possibly knowledge-transfer depending on how your application is reviewed. The 2M capital requirement is for companies that wish to sponsor a foreign employee's B visa as well as work permit.