Long Term Stay, Work Online For Non Thai Company

[mrireland]

Hi,

I've tried to search the forums for the answers but im unsure if some of the information is outdated and i couldn't find anything that exactly fits my criteria.

Im thinking of moving to Thailand for a couple of months but hopefully 1+ years with my girlfriend. Were both Irish and work for a software company, money is paid into our Irish accounts monthly. I will basically be doing all my work through Skype/Internet.

I dont have access to a large amount of funds but i have a guaranteed monthly wage, more than enough to live comfortably in Thailand, ive been there a couple of times on holidays so i know the costs involved.

So my understanding is that although working without a permit is not allowed, unless directly reported this type of thing where you work online isn't clamped down on that much and is more likely to result in a fine or deportation rather than anything serious like a prison sentence. I know technically it is against the law and my assumption may be wrong but this is what i gather from what ive read.

I am interested in Thai culture and i love the place so i'm not just over to act the maggot and party for a few months, cost of living in Ireland is so expensive these days this gives me an opportunity to spend a couple of years putting some savings together as obviously my costs will be significantly lower but my monthly wage will remain the same so its essentially a big wage increase by moving.

I had planned on doing some private thai lessons for both of us as its something im interested in, i read about an Ed Visa that allows you to get a yearly visa if your learning Thai, must these be full time courses? I could easily do 4 hours a day Mon-Friday but with work commitments i couldnt really do a full time course. Are these visa's hard to get, how much time if i start making the applications now would it take approx. Is it a year visa and can you get an extension if you want?

To be honest i'd rather not do the Ed Visa if possible, although i could manage 4 hours per day i do long days as it is so it would lengthen my days, i would just rather have a private tutor visit for 1-2 hours every 2nd day as a hobby more than a commitment. Anyway if i dont go the ed Visa route then what are my options?

From what i read you can get a 60 day visa (needs to be applied for in advance) and this can be extended another 30 days giving you a 3 month visa, you can get this as a double entry extending as far as 6months in total. What happens then, can you do a visa run every 3 months after that or do you have to leave? Is there another option which allows you to keep doing visa runs and are these visa runs legal? Do the thai's not question why your still here after 6 months and where your getting money from?

As i said i dont have enough funds to do a business visa, retirement visa is many years away and my girlfriend may not appreciate me marrying a thai girl so all those options are out. Really appreciate any advice and also would going to someone like sunbelt legal save me a lot of hassle and get me up to date information on exactly what i need to do to stay here longer than 6 months? What does that service typically cost?

Cheers

[Lite Beer]

According to The Thai Consulate in Dublin you can get a Triple Entry Tourist Visa.

This would give almost 9 months with extensions and two border runs.

STEP 5. VISA FEES

Visa fees are payable by cash or postal order made payable to THE ROYAL THAI CONSULATE. Please note that CHEQUES ARE NOT ACCEPTED. Following are the applicable fees as of July 2007.

Tourist Visa: €40.00 per entry

Double Entry Tourist Visa: €80.00

Triple Entry Tourist Visa: €120.00

This is one Language School. Have a look at their site for details.

http://www.thaiwalen.com/index.php

[mrireland]

Thanks for that info, very helpful. Couple of followup questions:

Whats involved in triple entry?

60 days initially, then i get an extension (is there usually any issues with extension?)

Then i do a border run and use the 2nd entry, if i do a border run can i re-enter the same day?

Repeat for the 3rd visa entry?

Also after the 9 months do i have to leave or are there any other extension options and if i have to leave when is the earliest i can return? Maybe i can do 9months thailand/3 months ireland every year if its possible, i could live with that.

Finally can i do the triple entry initially and then go for the ed visa option after a couple of months before it expires?

Anyway really appreciate the help so far.

[PoorSucker]

60 days initially, then i get an extension (is there usually any issues with extension?)

Yes

Then i do a border run and use the 2nd entry, if i do a border run can i re-enter the same day?

Yes

Repeat for the 3rd visa entry?

Yes

Finally can i do the triple entry initially and then go for the ed visa option after a couple of months before it expires?

Yes

[TerryLH]

"60 days initially, then i get an extension (is there usually any issues with extension?)"

"Yes"

It looks like a 2 part question. I'd answer; Yes (No).

[Monokuro]

And if all else fails, you can just do what I did and go to Taiwan every 60 or 30 days (depending on whether I had got a visa, or just doing an entry permit stamp).

Did this for 1 and a half years - never questioned - and like you, just worked from home the whole time

[mrireland]

Super stuff, this is a great forum, hours searching the net and i was just bamboozled with all the info, couple of posts here and i know exactly what i need.

One last question, for any of these Visa be it triple entry or ed visa do they look for proof you can sustain yourself during that period, don't have much saving's just a steady monthly income however i cant tell them this because i'm not supposed to be working while in the Kingdom. Do they usually ask for bank statements etc?

[CharlieH]

One last question, for any of these Visa be it triple entry or ed visa do they look for proof you can sustain yourself during that period, don't have much saving's just a steady monthly income however i cant tell them this because i'm not supposed to be working while in the Kingdom. Do they usually ask for bank statements etc?

Simple answer is NO.

and by the way, the ED visa generally requires 4 hours PER WEEK, (just incase you thought of it for back up or as an option later).

[mrireland]

Hi, me again. So im applying for my visa and just hoped someone could clarify something as im going in just under a month so i dont want to get something wrong and delay things:

On the visa application what should i put for:

Duration of proposed stay:

I plan to stay for the longest i can on the triple entry visa and then possibly extend it via the education visa but im not sure if ill come home for a month in between so my plans aint set in stone. I dont want to put down too long in case they question how i can support myself and that could open a can of worms, does it really matter what i put, 3-5 months sounds fine to me, if i said 5 month i presume that they dont put the expiry at 5 months.

Proposed Address:

I'll stay in Bangkok overnight and head to chiang mai, i'm going to spend the weekend looking at apartments so i havent a permanent address, should i just book a hotel in bangkok for the 1st night and then use this as the address?

Purpose of stay:

I presume i just put leisure?

Number of entries desired:

3 is the plan, any reason to put anything else

[mrireland]

Polite Bump, hopefully someone can shed some light, probably anal questions but im nervous ill put the wrong thing and cause hassle at immigration