Online freelancer, long stay in Thailand

[AYJAYDEE]

Why would a digital nomad, i.e. someone who tends to be young, free, single, independent and loves to travel and live in different places want to stump up 500,000B upfront for a card in a politically unstable country that they may not want to live in 1 year down the line let alone 5.

 

Digital NOMAD.

 

Unlike a lot of the retirees who are stuck in Thailand and have little option to go elsewhere due to a dwindling amount of cash and no possibility to earn more these people tend to have options, regular funds coming in, and a desire to explore. 

 

And where did this idea that they are all claiming to be rich hot shots come from? Some people make a lot of money online and some do not but none are claiming to be a hot shot.

 

Just guys and girls doing their thing online and making their own way in the world without having to rely on others to tell them what to do and pay them a wage.

and enjoying the benefits of public institutions and infrastructure that they did nothing to contribute toward! making their own way?? what a load of nonsense!

[TheSpade]

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Why would a digital nomad, i.e. someone who tends to be young, free, single, independent and loves to travel and live in different places want to stump up 500,000B upfront for a card in a politically unstable country that they may not want to live in 1 year down the line let alone 5.

 

Digital NOMAD.

 

Unlike a lot of the retirees who are stuck in Thailand and have little option to go elsewhere due to a dwindling amount of cash and no possibility to earn more these people tend to have options, regular funds coming in, and a desire to explore. 

 

And where did this idea that they are all claiming to be rich hot shots come from? Some people make a lot of money online and some do not but none are claiming to be a hot shot.

 

Just guys and girls doing their thing online and making their own way in the world without having to rely on others to tell them what to do and pay them a wage.

 

Unless you are paying tax somewhere you are guilty of tax evasion which is a serious crime. Just because everything is digital is no excuse. Thailand may have the occasional political blip but politicians do not run a government, Civil Servants do. In this respect Thailand's rule of law is as stable as just about any country in the World.

 

You may not agree but thousands of multi-national corporations do.
 

 

 

Because they are traveling or temporarily living abroad doesn't mean they aren't paying tax in their home country.

 

You don't pay tax in countries you visit or pass through so they can hardly be expected to pay tax in Thailand seeing as they don't have residence there or work there or get any benefit from the country but instead are a benefit to the country as they put money in.

 

and enjoying the benefits of public institutions and infrastructure that they did nothing to contribute toward! making their own way?? what a load of nonsense!

 

 

So tourists shouldn't be allowed to use public transport as they don't contribute to their upkeep through taxes?

 

Yes, making their own way in the world.

 

Instead of looking for someone else to tell them what to do and when to do it in return for a wage at the end of the month they've went out there and made their own income stream.

 

Or even worse sitting at home moaning about "how there's no jobs...the immigrants stole them all" like so many seem to do today. 

 

[AYJAYDEE]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

 

 

Why would a digital nomad, i.e. someone who tends to be young, free, single, independent and loves to travel and live in different places want to stump up 500,000B upfront for a card in a politically unstable country that they may not want to live in 1 year down the line let alone 5.

 

Digital NOMAD.

 

Unlike a lot of the retirees who are stuck in Thailand and have little option to go elsewhere due to a dwindling amount of cash and no possibility to earn more these people tend to have options, regular funds coming in, and a desire to explore. 

 

And where did this idea that they are all claiming to be rich hot shots come from? Some people make a lot of money online and some do not but none are claiming to be a hot shot.

 

Just guys and girls doing their thing online and making their own way in the world without having to rely on others to tell them what to do and pay them a wage.

 

Unless you are paying tax somewhere you are guilty of tax evasion which is a serious crime. Just because everything is digital is no excuse. Thailand may have the occasional political blip but politicians do not run a government, Civil Servants do. In this respect Thailand's rule of law is as stable as just about any country in the World.

 

You may not agree but thousands of multi-national corporations do.
 

 

 

Because they are traveling or temporarily living abroad doesn't mean they aren't paying tax in their home country.

 

You don't pay tax in countries you visit or pass through so they can hardly be expected to pay tax in Thailand seeing as they don't have residence there or work there or get any benefit from the country but instead are a benefit to the country as they put money in.

 

and enjoying the benefits of public institutions and infrastructure that they did nothing to contribute toward! making their own way?? what a load of nonsense!

 

 

So tourists shouldn't be allowed to use public transport as they don't contribute to their upkeep through taxes?

 

Yes, making their own way in the world.

 

Instead of looking for someone else to tell them what to do and when to do it in return for a wage at the end of the month they've went out there and made their own income stream.

 

Or even worse sitting at home moaning about "how there's no jobs...the immigrants stole them all" like so many seem to do today. 

 

tourists are short term inhabitants. and guess what , the customer tells these so called nomads  what to do and when to do it. a contract worker and an employee both answer to a boss.

[TheSpade]

 

Ok, so seeing as there is all this money being spent, why is the no provision for on liners then, TV finest keep tellig Thai are greedy for money, thats all that matters... so by extension, they should be welcoming them with open arms 

 

fact is Cambodians and Burmese find it easier to be legal in Thailand than an onliner, speaks volumes to me

 

Burmese/Cambodians - employed in the construction industry, building roads/condo's and other infra structure and spending far less money in Thailand, than the people you refer to in your post, but yet they are "welcomed"/wanted, but the so called "big spenders" 40k/m...  are not ? 

 

Thailands priority at the moment is building roads, schools, "hard" infrasructure, what are the typical on liners doing ?.... flogging sh*t on ebay to make next months rent, will not , can not afford to set up companies and dont want to employ Thai nationals... one can kinda see their point ?

 

(my apologies to the IT guys, who have legimate companies in Thailand, my remarks are not directed at you)

 

So welcome that over 120,000 of them fled Thailand in the past couple of months.....

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-27864809

 

Yeah they seem to feel really welcome.

 

 

Let's be honest if it weren't for the Cambodians the streets wouldn't be swept, the condos wouldn't be built, the garbage not collected, the public gardens and green spaces not attended to.

 

Thailand needs them to do the jobs that Thai's are too proud / lazy to do.

 

It doesn't need online workers in the same way but at the same time the online guys aren't stealing jobs from locals and have considerably more money to spend than a Cambodia on less than minimum wage who has to spend half his salary home every month.

 

Soutpeel you seem to have a real thing for people who work online. Jealous? Bitter? Wish you were able to do it but can't?

[TheSpade]

 

 

tourists are short term inhabitants. and guess what , the customer tells these so called nomads  what to do and when to do it. a contract worker and an employee both answer to a boss.

 

Not necessarily.

 

If you're offering a service then yes you will have customer / clients who will tell you what to do and when.

 

Many guys working online aren't offering a service or even selling anything directly so have no customer to speak of.  

[AYJAYDEE]

 

 

 

tourists are short term inhabitants. and guess what , the customer tells these so called nomads  what to do and when to do it. a contract worker and an employee both answer to a boss.

 

Not necessarily.

 

If you're offering a service then yes you will have customer / clients who will tell you what to do and when.

 

Many guys working online aren't offering a service or even selling anything directly so have no customer to speak of.  

 

nonsense. if u have no product or no service, you have no paychecque. nobody gives you money for nothing in return

[songhklasid]

G'Day, just reading the above, I;m not interested in the work/ visa  concerns, but as a late 50's considering semi retirement, more time in our house in C.Mai  (thai wife married 26 yrs) where do I found out about this thai elite card ? the benifits, conditions etc.

regards songhklasid.

[TheSpade]

Many guys have passive income streams that don't require any work on their part or any direct contact with "customers".

 

For example if someone has a website that generates income through advertisements then there's no dealing with customers so certainly they aren't being told "what to do or when to do it".

 

Or someone has a website that makes money through affiliate marketing the customer would take any problems they have with the product up with the retailer or product vendor. The guy who has the website certainly wouldn't be told "what to do or when to do it".

 

Even guys selling psychical  products through Amazon these days can use their "Fulfilled by Amazon" service. You get your supplier to ship your product direct to Amazon without the seller even needing to life a box. Amazon deal with all orders, payments, refunds and customer support for a cut of the sales and simply send the seller a cheque every month. No being told "what to do or when to do it".

 

The wonderful world of the internet eh?

 

[AYJAYDEE]

Many guys have passive income streams that don't require any work on their part or any direct contact with "customers".

 

For example if someone has a website that generates income through advertisements then there's no dealing with customers so certainly they aren't being told "what to do or when to do it".

 

Or someone has a website that makes money through affiliate marketing the customer would take any problems they have with the product up with the retailer or product vendor. The guy who has the website certainly wouldn't be told "what to do or when to do it".

 

Even guys selling psychical  products through Amazon these days can use their "Fulfilled by Amazon" service. You get your supplier to ship your product direct to Amazon without the seller even needing to life a box. Amazon deal with all orders, payments, refunds and customer support for a cut of the sales and simply send the seller a cheque every month. No being told "what to do or when to do it".

 

The wonderful world of the internet eh?

 

HE Has to convince the advertiser to use his website. he is selling a service.

[ATF]

Many guys have passive income streams that don't require any work on their part or any direct contact with "customers".

 

For example if someone has a website that generates income through advertisements then there's no dealing with customers so certainly they aren't being told "what to do or when to do it".

 

Or someone has a website that makes money through affiliate marketing the customer would take any problems they have with the product up with the retailer or product vendor. The guy who has the website certainly wouldn't be told "what to do or when to do it".

 

Even guys selling psychical  products through Amazon these days can use their "Fulfilled by Amazon" service. You get your supplier to ship your product direct to Amazon without the seller even needing to life a box. Amazon deal with all orders, payments, refunds and customer support for a cut of the sales and simply send the seller a cheque every month. No being told "what to do or when to do it".

 

The wonderful world of the internet eh?

 

 

You really think we are a bunch of retards. Directing people to Amazon and Ebay products you get a cut. Drop shipping. Bitcoins whatever. Your labor has produced moneya nd it's taxable. Now an Elite card could be offset as a tax expense but you know nothing of business. Robots will be doing your biz soon so get another act.
 

[JLCrab]

All that is described of someone using AdSense or affiliate marketing may be true. The topic is here is: Why should or should not Thailand offer such persons a long-term visa/extension to remain in Thailand when such persons repeatedly state that they do nothing that directly benefits Thailand in the manner that Thailand has repeatedly stated are its economic priorities?

[jpinx]

There is a golden opportunity for a Thai company to be set up legally and offer all these online workers the chance to do their thing legally in Thailand for a small fee.  If there are as many as people say and the crackdown continues, it'd be a nice little earner.  I'll take a small fee for the copyright of the idea :)

[overherebc]

 

 

What makes retirees different from online workers, other than their age?

Guaranteed income.

 

In DreamLand, maybe...
In real word many people have very few incomes and absolutely no guaranty of one...

 

 

A strange thing to say.  In the company I keep all of us have guranteed incomes until we pop our clogs having paid taxes etc for most of our working lives and all the incomes are well in excess of 40,000 baht, government and private pensions, not investments that can fall etc, many will be paid to our wives after we've gone.

I do know a few who spent working years 'on the lump' as it was known in UK, meaning cash in hand and no tax paid etc and now have very little to live on in later years.

You reap what you sow kid.     

[Pattaya46]

You don't pay tax in countries you visit or pass through so they can hardly be expected to pay tax in Thailand seeing as they don't have residence there or work there or get any benefit from the country but instead are a benefit to the country as they put money in.

It has been discussed many times already, but for guys of many countries they should pay tax in Thailand if they stay there more than 182 days per year. From the fiscal point of view they are Thailand residents.

[AYJAYDEE]

All that is described of someone using AdSense or affiliate marketing may be true. The topic is here is: Why should or should not Thailand offer such persons a long-term visa/extension to remain in Thailand when such persons repeatedly state that they do nothing that directly benefits Thailand in the manner that Thailand has repeatedly stated are its economic priorities?

You obviously have little experience with the ME generation! Thailand should do it because the little prima donnas want it and no one has ever told them no in their pampered lives.

[JLCrab]

There is a golden opportunity for a Thai company to be set up legally and offer all these online workers the chance to do their thing legally in Thailand for a small fee.  If there are as many as people say and the crackdown continues, it'd be a nice little earner.  I'll take a small fee for the copyright of the idea

A. You cannot copyright an idea.

 

B. I have suggested way back that someone should work with a hotel which already has hundreds of Thai employees on the payroll to set-up this kind of operation given the 4:1 requirement Thai:farang employees is the constraining factor.

Edited August 11, 2014 by JLCrab

[HooHaa]

it would seem that similar to the thai government many on this board cannot grasp non-traditional work models.

 

 

[JLCrab]

it would seem that similar to the thai government many on this board cannot grasp non-traditional work models.

 

 

It might also be that -- aside from anyone on this board -- the government DOES have a good grasp of non-traditional work modes of the under 50 crowd and that is why it has chosen to not readily accommodate them with visas/extensions.

[AYJAYDEE]

it would seem that similar to the thai government many on this board cannot grasp non-traditional work models.

 

 

we grasp them very well and understand why the thai government has decided it doesnt want these people living in thailand indefinitely. rather it seems these non -traditional crybabies cannot understand that the world doesnt necessarily think they are as valuable as they think themselves.

[squarethecircle]

"we grasp them very well and understand why the thai government has decided it doesnt want these people living in thailand indefinitely. rather it seems these non -traditional crybabies cannot understand that the world doesnt necessarily think they are as valuable as they think themselves."

Well I fail to understand why, say, a "crybaby" 30-year-old making a residual income online and spending, say, 40,000 baht a month in the country, is not just as valuable as, say, a "grumpy old" 65-year-old on his pension spending 40,000 baht a month. Seems like they did not take this into account and weren't purposely kicking these guys out but don't have a visa category for it. Now will they make one or should these guys plan on heading into surrounding countries?

[JLCrab]

"we grasp them very well and understand why the thai government has decided it doesnt want these people living in thailand indefinitely. rather it seems these non -traditional crybabies cannot understand that the world doesnt necessarily think they are as valuable as they think themselves."

Well I fail to understand why, say, a "crybaby" 30-year-old making a residual income online and spending, say, 40,000 baht a month in the country, is not just as valuable as, say, a "grumpy old" 65-year-old on his pension spending 40,000 baht a month. Seems like they did not take this into account and weren't purposely kicking these guys out but don't have a visa category for it. Now will they make one or should these guys plan on heading into surrounding countries?

Well I fail to understand why ...  I guess Thai officialdom in making their decisions doesn't feel it's necessary that you understand why they choose to act as they do.

[AYJAYDEE]

"we grasp them very well and understand why the thai government has decided it doesnt want these people living in thailand indefinitely. rather it seems these non -traditional crybabies cannot understand that the world doesnt necessarily think they are as valuable as they think themselves."

Well I fail to understand why, say, a "crybaby" 30-year-old making a residual income online and spending, say, 40,000 baht a month in the country, is not just as valuable as, say, a "grumpy old" 65-year-old on his pension spending 40,000 baht a month. Seems like they did not take this into account and weren't purposely kicking these guys out but don't have a visa category for it. Now will they make one or should these guys plan on heading into surrounding countries?

"oh, that's a shame": Jerry Seinfeld

[anon676545345]

 

"we grasp them very well and understand why the thai government has decided it doesnt want these people living in thailand indefinitely. rather it seems these non -traditional crybabies cannot understand that the world doesnt necessarily think they are as valuable as they think themselves."

Well I fail to understand why, say, a "crybaby" 30-year-old making a residual income online and spending, say, 40,000 baht a month in the country, is not just as valuable as, say, a "grumpy old" 65-year-old on his pension spending 40,000 baht a month. Seems like they did not take this into account and weren't purposely kicking these guys out but don't have a visa category for it. Now will they make one or should these guys plan on heading into surrounding countries?

Well I fail to understand why ...  I guess Thai officialdom in making their decisions doesn't feel it's necessary that you understand why they choose to act as they do.

 

 

You still banging on about this? Your no more of an expert on Thai officialdom than anyone else on here, this subject has no relevance to your personal circumstances your just a sad old man with far to much time on your hands that enjoys arguing on message boards. At least find a subject you've got at least a modicum of knowledge on before droning on for page after page.

 

[JLCrab]

Thank you. I have absolutely no idea why Thai officialdom acts the way they do and -- for the most part -- I don't really care or have to care so I don't fail to understand anything.

 

There used to be a poster on ThaiVisa who would routinely say that the reason you disagree with me is that you're too stupid to understand what I'm saying. Convenient, huh?

Edited August 11, 2014 by JLCrab

[theonetrueaussie]

 

it would seem that similar to the thai government many on this board cannot grasp non-traditional work models.

 

 

we grasp them very well and understand why the thai government has decided it doesnt want these people living in thailand indefinitely. rather it seems these non -traditional crybabies cannot understand that the world doesnt necessarily think they are as valuable as they think themselves.

 

 

HAHA people like you make me laugh, Why would a country want freelancers that spend a lot of money (90k+ month), pay for all their own healthcare and are NO financial burden on the country at all....When they can have people who work in the country, earn 30k baht a month and get free healthcare and possibly other Thai benefits.... If I ran a country I know who I would want coming in.

It is not about complaining about the situation it is asking a valid question. Yes there is the elite card but many people including myself do not want to stay 5 years, we only want to stay 1 or 2 so $15k for 1-2 years is just ludicrous. Most freelancers will just move to other places like Saigon which means in the end that the Thai people and government lose out on A LOT of money that would otherwise have been spent in Thailand.
 

[tookwan cottage]

Thank you. I have absolutely no idea why Thai officialdom acts the way they do and -- for the most part -- I don't really care or have to care so I don't fail to understand anything.

 

There used to be a poster on ThaiVisa who would routinely say that the reason you disagree with me is that you're too stupid to understand what I'm saying. Convenient, huh?

 

He is right though JLCrab—you do have way too much time on your hands and you need to find a more meaningful life. Anyone who spends that much time on here in the way that you have is sadly in need of significant personal change.

Edited August 11, 2014 by tookwan cottage

[AYJAYDEE]

 

 

it would seem that similar to the thai government many on this board cannot grasp non-traditional work models.

 

 

we grasp them very well and understand why the thai government has decided it doesnt want these people living in thailand indefinitely. rather it seems these non -traditional crybabies cannot understand that the world doesnt necessarily think they are as valuable as they think themselves.

 

 

HAHA people like you make me laugh, Why would a country want freelancers that spend a lot of money (90k+ month), pay for all their own healthcare and are NO financial burden on the country at all....When they can have people who work in the country, earn 30k baht a month and get free healthcare and possibly other Thai benefits.... If I ran a country I know who I would want coming in.

It is not about complaining about the situation it is asking a valid question. Yes there is the elite card but many people including myself do not want to stay 5 years, we only want to stay 1 or 2 so $15k for 1-2 years is just ludicrous. Most freelancers will just move to other places like Saigon which means in the end that the Thai people and government lose out on A LOT of money that would otherwise have been spent in Thailand.
 

 

please close the door when you leave

[JLCrab]

 

Thank you. I have absolutely no idea why Thai officialdom acts the way they do and -- for the most part -- I don't really care or have to care so I don't fail to understand anything.

 

There used to be a poster on ThaiVisa who would routinely say that the reason you disagree with me is that you're too stupid to understand what I'm saying. Convenient, huh?

 

He is right though JLCrab—you do have way too much time on your hands and you need to find a more meaningful life. Anyone who spends that much time on here in the way that you have is sadly in need of significant personal change.

 

What I do a good part of the day is spend time on the computer on & off-line reading stuff like this -- which is a US Supreme Court case where the principal appellant was a Thai citizen in the USA -- in conjunction with my USA-based NGO. http://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/12pdf/11-697_4g15.pdf

 

Reading and posting on ThaiVisa is sometimes useful as a distraction comic or otherwise.

[pokerspiv]

 

Why would a digital nomad, i.e. someone who tends to be young, free, single, independent and loves to travel and live in different places want to stump up 500,000B upfront for a card in a politically unstable country that they may not want to live in 1 year down the line let alone 5.

 

Digital NOMAD.

 

Unlike a lot of the retirees who are stuck in Thailand and have little option to go elsewhere due to a dwindling amount of cash and no possibility to earn more these people tend to have options, regular funds coming in, and a desire to explore. 

 

And where did this idea that they are all claiming to be rich hot shots come from? Some people make a lot of money online and some do not but none are claiming to be a hot shot.

 

Just guys and girls doing their thing online and making their own way in the world without having to rely on others to tell them what to do and pay them a wage.

 

Unless you are paying tax somewhere you are guilty of tax evasion which is a serious crime.

 

 

 

 

You have no idea what you are talking about. Yet another Thaivisa "expert" on nothing.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Perpetual_traveler

 

Where did you get your degree on tax law from buddy?

Edited August 11, 2014 by pokerspiv

[pokerspiv]

All that is described of someone using AdSense or affiliate marketing may be true. The topic is here is: Why should or should not Thailand offer such persons a long-term visa/extension to remain in Thailand when such persons repeatedly state that they do nothing that directly benefits Thailand in the manner that Thailand has repeatedly stated are its economic priorities?

 

 

What do retirees do to benefit Thailand? Why should Thailand offer such persons a long term visa/extension?