Definition Of "work" In Connection With (tr) Visas?

[khokai]

Hi all,

I've been reading this forum for a few months and found it many times very informative. I'm planning to visit Thailand again soon and finally found a reason to post some questions of my own here.

I'm sure this sounds like splitting hairs, but does anyone have any insight to what the embassies, immigration, etc consider "work" in connection with (tourist) visas?

I'm planning on staying in the LOS for about half a year, working remotely for my employer in Europe. Obviously, in the common sense, this means I'm working in Thailand. However, the company doesn't operate in the country; it's products are not used there, nor is it present on the Thai labour market. Since a Non-immigrant B visa requires an invitation from a _Thai_ company, it'd be impossible to get one. Except for a bit of internet traffic, the fact that I'm tapping on a keyboard in Thailand as opposed to somewhere else shouldn't make a difference in the country's economy... OTOH, I'll be consuming the same services as a long-term tourist would.

It seems the only _possible_ way to stay in Thailand would be to stay on tourist visas, and IMO from the country's perspective, my temporary stay wouldn't be in any way different from a tourist's (less intoxicated, perhaps).

The reason I'm curious about this is that at least one embassy is making noises about Thailand cracking down on "illegal workers" that extend their stay with the visa run - see www.thaiembassy.fi/forms/Annoucement_tourist%20visa_eng.pdf

Any thoughts, recent experiences?

[Time Traveller]

One person emailing from their holiday apartment for a company with no dealings whatsoever with thailand is not going to concern any government department. The only way you would be at risk of being discovered working illegally is if you advertised the fact that you're working in Thailand AND someone decided to inform on you. Even then it's unlikely the Labor dept would bother to follow up on a single person cyber commuting for european company. Stuff like that doesn't earn any public servants a promotion.

[Maestro]

It is true that in an effort to flush out illegal workers, immigration has started to keep an eye on foreigners who stay for a long time in Thailand with many visa-exempt entries.

Try to get a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa type “O” (non-O visa) for the purpose of visiting friends. If you can’t get it in your home country (Finland?), send your passport off for it to an honorary consulate in another country, eg. Germany or UK.

Then, when you are in Thailand don’t “work”, don’t say you are working, don’t ask about working. Sit at your computer the whole day, if you like, browse the web, read your incoming mail, send emails and letters to family and friends and anybody else in the world, update your blogs and websites, do anything you like but don’t call it “work” and you should be OK.

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Maestro

[khokai]

Thanks for the replies. This is how I mostly had understood the situation as well.

Try to get a multiple-entry non-immigrant visa type "O" (non-O visa) for the purpose of visiting friends. If you can't get it in your home country (Finland?), send your passport off for it to an honorary consulate in another country, eg. Germany or UK.

They do issue Non-Os here, and since I'm traveling to see my girlfriend, that would actually make sense

However, I'm probably on too tight a schedule (leaving between sept/oct) to get an invitation letter from my girl or other paperwork here by snail mail, if they're needed. Do you know if they issue Non-O visas in the embassies close to Thailand, e.g. Vientiane? If so, I could just fly to LOS using the 30-day visa exemption rule and get a longer visa there before the 30 days run out. The only Non-imm. visa type explicitly mentioned on Vientiane's web site is "B".

I looked at the requirements for a Non-O visa on the Embassy and MoFA websites, but I was left a bit confused. Apparently an invitation letter is only required if you're married (along with a marriage certificate). There's no mention of any proof being required if I just intend to visit friends. Would they really take anyone's word who can enter a Thai person's name in the application, or did I miss something?

[Lite Beer]

As Maestro said. Try the consulates in Hull UK. Stuttgart Germany. Amsterdam Holland.

They will not need any letters of proof. Apply by post. Hull Give them a ring first and check.

[mca]

Then, when you are in Thailand don't "work", don't say you are working, don't ask about working. Sit at your computer the whole day, if you like, browse the web, read your incoming mail, send emails and letters to family and friends and anybody else in the world, update your blogs and websites, do anything you like but don't call it "work" and you should be OK.

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Maestro

Maestro sums it up. I'm on a non-B through marriage and do a bit of occasional work through the internet for wife's company.

There are basically 2 ways for me to get caught. Either tell all and sundry what I'm doing or walk into the labour department and tell them "I'm working without a W/P"

Now I'd have to be some sort of moron to choose either option.

If I may offer some advice. Tell absolutely nobody here what you're doing. Nobody. New friends, potential girlfriends, the nice chap you met down the pub, your next door neighbour. As far as they're concerned you're just here for a 6 month chill out. The only true secret is the one you keep to yourself.

[lopburi3]

No Consulate in the area of Thailand will issue a non immigrant visa to visit friends.