'residency' In Thailand; Advice Needed Please

[BoonToong]

Hi folks,

Despite my age and working on the fringes of O&G for some years, I have only recently been offered a long-term employment contract with a large, European, company and this will be my first 'proper' O&G job of working on rotation.

I am British (but have not lived in the UK for 4 years) and do not have a visa for Thailand (because my old job had me coming and going a lot so I always stayed under the 30 days).

The problem is, my future employer is now saying that I have to declare my residency. I have said that I want this to be Thailand for tax and rotation travel purposes (I rent here, have Thai bank account and a Thai wife). The company say that they want to see something 'official' but haven't exactly said what they mean by that (I'm still waiting for an answer back from HR). I suspect the problem is also to do with obtaining visas for the various waters that I will be working in (I will be travelling from installation to installation worldwide conducting training and checks).

I have explained that I am aware that many O&G guys come and go in Thailand but never have a visa.

Am I missing a trick here? Anyone else had a similar problem?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated guys.

[TommoPhysicist]

So get yourself a married person extension of stay (1,900bht) and pay the extra for multiple re-entry permit (3,000bht).

[BoonToong]

So get yourself a married person extension of stay (1,900bht) and pay the extra for multiple re-entry permit (3,000bht).

Thanks Tommo, but I don't have any form of visa. I would surely have to go to, say, KL, get a 'non-imm O' (hopefully multi-entry) then come back to TL and ask for extension based on marriage? If that's what you mean, I think that would take some weeks and the Company want me to start in next 5 days (aint gonna happen methinks).

[rgs2001uk]

If it were me, I would go to the Brit Embassay, register with them, basically just tell them your address in Thailand, then ask for a letter of residence, if they ask what for just say its for car purchase or opening a bank account.

Go in the morning, and go back next day to collect, costs about 2,000 baht.

[britgent]

In the same position minus wife so watching avidly.

[LivinginKata]

This question will get more response in the visa section. Moving there ....leaving link in Offshore Forum.

[BoonToong]

I have just heard from HR that it is to do with PCC checks. I have a bank account in the UK and the address associated with that bank account is the one I used to get the PCC from Disclosure Scotland.

Now HR are asking me if I can obtain a police check in Thailand?

Anyone ever done that please?

[Mario2008]

Information about a police check in Thailand here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/588951-obtaining-a-thai-police-check-criminal-records-check-for-job-in-uk/?p=5724592#entry5724592

[BoonToong]

Thanks for all the good info so far guys; it's like running through treacle trying to get this job started!

[54321]

I am surprised that a "large, European, company" employs people illegally and does not obtain the correct visas or offer the correct advise for their employees

[Dork]

I am surprised that a "large, European, company" employs people illegally and does not obtain the correct visas or offer the correct advise for their employees

Illegally? Did you read the post properly before commenting?

[BoonToong]

I am surprised that a "large, European, company" employs people illegally and does not obtain the correct visas or offer the correct advise for their employees

Er, that's the whole point of my posting; they WILL NOT accept anything other than the correct methods. As Dork said, read the OP.

UPDATE: The issue was obtaining the necessary visas through the various foreign embassies in the UK but rotating to and from Thailand. So, tomorrow I head for the police HQ to try and get the ball rolling to obtain Thai criminal checks. I don't have a Visa (always came and went under 30 days) but if I understand the guidance correctly, that isn't absolutely necessary.

Heading for the British Embassy first to obtain a letter of residency.

Thanks for all the useful info and links; very much appreciated

I'll keep everyone updated on here in case it helps anyone else in the future

[wayned]

If you are going to be traveling in and out of Thailand often, you might want to get a multiple entry Non-O visa, to "visit your Thai wife". You will get 90 days on each entry, the number of entries is unlimited. Savannaket seems to be the best place to get one at this time.

[jonnyscot]

Apologies,,, a bit heavy handed with the touchscreen,,,,,, this is the completed version ,,

Is it an insistence from your employer that the travel visas be obtained in UK? I apply for most of my visas from Bangkok, additionally maybe a good idea to apply for a second passport if you don't already have, as this would certainly help if your employer insist the application is made in uk, just secure post the second pp there rather than travel in person,, as mentioned by a poster earlier,, I would have thought the confirmation of your address in the form of a letter from the uk embassy in bkk would have been ok

[BoonToong]

UPDATE:

I went to the British Embassy first and obtained a letter of residency (2,640 THB). Took only 30 minutes in total

Then went to the Police Headquarters and spoke to the guy at the reception there. He gave me a colourful leaflet which contains the same information as contained in all of the useful links provided by other posters above. Shown below for ease:

http://www.pcscenter.sb.police.go.th/

http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/root/pdfs/thaipoliceapr09.pdf

http://pcscenter.sb.police.go.th/filedownload/Prepare-document-for-post.pdf

Because the Company that I hope to work for want to make concurrent multi-work visa applications (so that I can tour the fleet), I told the guy that I wanted to apply for 3 Police Clearance Certificates at the same time (when you fill in the application form, you have to say which country you will be applying to for a visa) and he said that in Thailand you can only apply for 1 PCC at any one time. If I wanted more, I would have to wait 3 months between each application!!!!!!

When I told the agency this they said that this would be a show-stopper and my offer of employment would be retracted (it was always offered subject to obtaining the relevant work visas). So I have had to make a decision; I have declared the UK as my place of residence (getting the PCC's there is a doddle because I have a UK address). The big downside is that I will have to pay for my own flights to/from TL or my wife will have to fly to Europe or UK so we can be together during leave breaks. Big bummer but worth it overall.

Also be aware that when you apply for the Thai PCC in connection with work, if you reside in Thailand you are required to provide:

1. Hire contract or work permit
2. 'Letter Guarantee from the employer company' - my wife and I tried to extract from the receptionist what this actually meant and we are still not sure what this is. We think you have to receive a letter from your hiring company saying that they guarantee that they want to send you to work in country X and that they will be applying for a relevant country visa for you.

Busy day overall with a couple of minor heart-sinks but a good result in the end.

Thank you again everyone for the useful advice.

[BoonToong]

If you are going to be traveling in and out of Thailand often, you might want to get a multiple entry Non-O visa, to "visit your Thai wife". You will get 90 days on each entry, the number of entries is unlimited. Savannaket seems to be the best place to get one at this time.

Thanks Wayned but I figure that when I get on rotation, I won't need any visa at all (as long as I rotate within 30 days)

[ubonjoe]

Why couldn't you get one police certificate and then have certified copies done at embassy. It seems to me that should be acceptable.

[BoonToong]

Why couldn't you get one police certificate and then have certified copies done at embassy. It seems to me that should be acceptable.

See post above #15 above:

".......(when you fill in the application form, you have to say which country you will be applying to for a visa)......"

[Anon999]

You'll probably pay less tax if you declare the UK as your country of residence. Income tax here can be quite high particularly for high income earners.

[BoonToong]

You'll probably pay less tax if you declare the UK as your country of residence. Income tax here can be quite high particularly for high income earners.

When working offshore and salary going into an offshore account? Not relevant, surely?

[jonnyscot]

I think you'll most likely to be ok on the tax issue with regard to thailand, as you mentioned firstly by money being earned outside Los going to an offshore acc ,, also I think Thailand also adopts the 181 day rule (or however many days it is) and as you're probably working outside more time than you're in the country including travel days you should be covered there too

[BoonToong]

I think you'll most likely to be ok on the tax issue with regard to thailand, as you mentioned firstly by money being earned outside Los going to an offshore acc ,, also I think Thailand also adopts the 181 day rule (or however many days it is) and as you're probably working outside more time than you're in the country including travel days you should be covered there too

Because of PCC problems, I had to declare my residency as being the UK.

[NanLaew]

jonnyscot, on 20 Mar 2013 - 18:55, said:

Apologies,,, a bit heavy handed with the touchscreen,,,,,, this is the completed version ,,

Is it an insistence from your employer that the travel visas be obtained in UK? I apply for most of my visas from Bangkok, additionally maybe a good idea to apply for a second passport if you don't already have, as this would certainly help if your employer insist the application is made in uk, just secure post the second pp there rather than travel in person,, as mentioned by a poster earlier,, I would have thought the confirmation of your address in the form of a letter from the uk embassy in bkk would have been ok

Not all countries will issue a visa, particularly a visa that permits working, to an applicant who is not in his country of nationality. For example, as a UK passport holder, I have obtained Nigerian working visas in Bangkok although I was not Thai resident or domiciled at the time. On the other hand, I had to apply for a Brazil working visa in London despite the fact that I was not a UK resident or domiciled at the time.

The OP probably will have an easier life bureaucratically and paper-shuffling wise by being declared as UK DOMICILED which is NOT the same as UK RESIDENT. Make sure he tracks his taxable days actually in the UK and bank the money offshore.

Oh yes, get a letter from your employer to support the application for a second UK passport. They seem to be quite happy to make their life easier by having your UK 'residency' linked to their policy of where they will fly you from/to so get them to give a little back with the passport letter. It will ultimately benefit both parties.

[Soutpeel]

You'll probably pay less tax if you declare the UK as your country of residence. Income tax here can be quite high particularly for high income earners.

When working offshore and salary going into an offshore account? Not relevant, surely?

It could be if the company is a UK based/registered company and you are on the books with them in the UK, ie being paid out the UK company, they may want to take UK tax off you irrsepctive of were your working and then the onus is on you to prove to the tax man that you are infact non-resident, It does happen as I know a few guys this has happened to and to get around it they had to "transfer" their contracts to branch offices of the company outside the UK/EU and the branch offices paid them into their offshore accounts

Best thing to do is check this aspect with company concerned and see what postion they have or any loopholes

just because you work offshore, doesnt always mean tax free money...

[BoonToong]

Tax - Good news on that front, it is a European company and I am administered out of another European office (not UK).

Company policy is that they will pay any local tax due for whatever country I am working in (I am fleet wide) and they leave it to the employee to deal with their personal tax. :-)