Thai Visas - Where To Go Next?

[TonyF]

Hello all, I'm a newbie poster in this forum so be gentle

Here's my story and any advice anyone could give would be much appreciated:

Three and a half years ago I decided to quit my mundain life in the UK and decided to head to Thailand as a medium/long term volunteer with an organisation called Greenway. I successfully secured my first non immigrant O multiple entry visa which entitle me to stay as a volunteer for up to a year, provided I was stamped out and back in every 90 days.

Off I went to a tiny little village in Ubon and all was great! First time around stayed for 8 months and really got involved with the village community and life, helping out in the local primary schools, community forest generation with the local Bam-maai (forest rangers), community development projects with the UNDP and this was the first time I met the local Tambon Gamnan.

Following my first trip I returned to the UK and was determined I wanted to go back to the Thailand but this time didnt want to pay Greenway the large fees I did first time around (as they didnt really do a lot) so I got in touch with gamnan, and he, and the neighbouring village Puu-Yai-Baan both provided document copies of their Thai ID cards & tabian baan books so I could return as a volunteer under their sponsorship. The Thai embassy in the UK then provided me with another year visa to return as a volunteer.

This time when I returned I was shocked to find that the previous organisation had relocated and left the village "high and dry"

With my new found friendship with the Tambon Gamnan I was invited to stay at his house, and the idea was created that between us we would try to create a new organisation together to bring new volunteers back to his district, with the main difference being that this time any voluntary fees paid would actually reach the local communities and be distributed to aid community development.

Unfortunately, dew to a family bereavement I had to cut this visit short, return to the UK, get that visa cancelled, and then obtain a new visa. This time when I returned, I kept volunteering within the community and due to my association with Gamnan, my social network quickly grew to the point of knowing quite well the tambon head of police, the obbotour na-yok, all tambon Puuyai Baan, and their Puu-Chuay, many monks including district head monk, ampur officials and Nai ampur - basically quite well connected throughout the region. Together we also succesfully managed to bring other volunteers into the region assisting with daily tasks.

To date I've been doing this for 3 1/2 years but now everything has kind of changed.....

My long term girlfriend has now fallen pregnant and its news that we are both really excited about. We are not yet married The news of a new baby has somewhat changed things. Having briefly read the baby forum provided some good advice about not letting the hospital register the birth as I could lose paternal rights, but that just one point, obviously now have 101 questions buzzing round my head.

The rural village community have been great and very understanding that a new baby would mean their needs would have to take priority over volunteering and providing for him/her would have to come top of my list.

Having volunteered for the last 3 years I've had no income in Thailand, and have been welcome to stay with Gamnan and his family. I dont have any considrable savings to speak of. Each time I return to the UK, Ive relied on my previous skills (18 years) as a graphic/web designer. Previously I've worked for 1 or 2 months creating websites in a niche marketplace, whilst awaiting a new visa to return to Thailand. The work I did online back home provided enough income for return flights to Thailand, visa expenses, and minimimal costs of rural living ( previously making 100k baht / month for 2 months in the UK - then returning to Thailand and living the year of this 200k baht as a volunteer)

So........ where to go from here?

After the arrival of the new baby my partner and I would like to relocate away from Ubon and back to her hometown of Phuket to be with her family and raise our new child together. Ideally I'd like to start doing my web design work on a full time basis, and combine this income with my partners income (villa manager) as a means of raising our child.

I certainly dont want to be living fear of visits from any officials if I were to start work that could jeopardise my relationship with my new child. Ideally I dont want to be returning to the UK every 6 months, applying for a triple entry tourist visa, stamping in out every 60 days and repeating the process every 6 months - it would just be money wasted that would be better spent on the up-bringing of our new child.

Ideally I also love the idea of being able to work for myself, doing online work which wouldnt be taking anything away from any Thais, give me the time and freedom to be a father, and also provide a reasonable living for us all.

So what next? any advice about how I could live here more long-term, perhaps register a business ( in mine or her name) and then legally work and stay.

Bringing a new child into this world is a huge committment, I dont want to live in fear, rather live with stability and legally, I'm sure character reference within Thailand would be forthcoming but how do I go about securing the rest to please the relevant authorities?

Many thanks in advance to anyone that has read this thread and can provide any much needed advice

Kind Regards - Tony

[Kf6vci]

Hi Tony,

no answers here, just a few suggestions. You could try some private business, without a license, shipping things to the UK.

Thailand changed the back-toback 30 days VISA runs rules. You could buy 4 consecutive 90 days VISAs.

But your real issue is to work here permanently.

Who's stopping you from continuing your work online over here?

You got a good internet connection?

Officially, you need to support a Thai family with 40,000 Baht a month,

so this won't fly.

would all 3 of you consider living in the UK for some years to build up reserves?

Good luck!

Chris

[pjclark1]

you need to get your hands on 400kbht (£8000) not an impossible task.

Put it in YOUR Thai bank account, then get a married persons Visa.

As long as you don't touch that money you can live here forever with your wife and kid.

Web design should be no problem over the internet, or take a TEFL course (40kbht) and teach English (20kbht a month).

or alternative

Whalen school in Pattaya will provide documents for a 1yr Educational Visa (25kbht for the course), 2000bht every 3 months for immigration.

or

Most of the universities will get you a volunteer visa (but want about 15kbht placement fee)

or

Ask your Monk friends to provide a letter while you are coming to study Buddhism (1 year ed visa)

It's very easy to get a visa, you just have to play the game and maybe splash some cash.

[Moonrakers]

NO proof of funds is required whatsoever when applying for a Non-O visa when married. That visa will give 5 months (90 days plus 60 days extension.

[lopburi3]

The 60 day extension is to visit family and has nothing to do with the O visa. You can get the same extension from any entry.