feasible to live in Thailand for 18 months like this?

[Harrisonf123]

I would like to be able to live in Thailand from January 2017 to June 2018 (with some breaks) as my girlfriend is going to be teaching in Thailand until then, I have a job in the UK that will pay me to work remotely, I realise this is technically illegal as I wont be able to get a work permit in Thailand so will have to get by on tourist visa, my questions is can I effectively stay in Thailand on the below schedule?

 

Apply for a SETV in the UK

Arrive in Thailand on the 6th of Jan 2017

Take a week out of Thailand on Holiday in February (With a re-entry Permit)

Get 30 Day Extension - Takes me to the 6th of April

Leave Thailand for holiday on the 5th of April

Come back into Thailand on the 16th of April

30 Day Visa Exempt until the 15th of May

Extend Visa Exempt until the 14th of June

Leave Thailand on the 14th, head back to the UK, travel around other counties for a bit (6 - 7 weeks)

 

Will they let me get an almost back to back SETV to Visa Exemption?

 

I'll be then heading back to Thailand early August, is my best option to?

 

get a METV (I'll be able to satisfy all the requirements by then) to cover the bulk of my time until June

Use multiple SETV's plus Visa Exempt for this 2nd year

Apply for a ED Visa and take thai lessons

 

I realise this is a lot of information so thank you in advance for any advise or help you can give!!

 

 

 

[BuckBee]

Starting off with METV (issued close as possible to travel date) & travel out/in as needed every 60 days, then a day before actual metv visa expiry date do another out/in so get another 60 days then when that final entry close to expire get a 30 day extension .

That covers almost 9 months.

Now do some travelling such as cambodia, vietnam & laos and apply for single entry tourist (60days) & these can be extended 30days at immigration, you would still have visa exempt entries unused and they can be extended 30 days too .

If need travel back uk then second metv would be easy & it nice and flexible once here but I wouldn't go all way back for it & also unsure how easily they issue them in terms of back to back as still quite a new visa thus applicant feedback minimal .

Make sure passport got plenty spare pages or is new . If got previous thai travel visas I would suggest start with new .

Other tip is bring some cash in clean £20 & £50 notes & change when favourable at superrich or x-one as exchange rate far better here then open basic bank account for safe easy access to money via atm, plus once have bank you can also transfer uk funds via online banking (halifax good at this) at reasonable low costs if needed .

[Harrisonf123]

26 minutes ago, BuckBee said:

Starting off with METV (issued close as possible to travel date) & travel out/in as needed every 60 days, then a day before actual metv visa expiry date do another out/in so get another 60 days then when that final entry close to expire get a 30 day extension .

That covers almost 9 months.

Now do some travelling such as cambodia, vietnam & laos and apply for single entry tourist (60days) & these can be extended 30days at immigration, you would still have visa exempt entries unused and they can be extended 30 days too .

If need travel back uk then second metv would be easy & it nice and flexible once here but I wouldn't go all way back for it & also unsure how easily they issue them in terms of back to back as still quite a new visa thus applicant feedback minimal .

Make sure passport got plenty spare pages or is new . If got previous thai travel visas I would suggest start with new .

Other tip is bring some cash in clean £20 & £50 notes & change when favourable at superrich or x-one as exchange rate far better here then open basic bank account for safe easy access to money via atm, plus once have bank you can also transfer uk funds via online banking (halifax good at this) at reasonable low costs if needed .

 

Thanks for the advice, in terms of money my girlfriend will be paid her wages in Thai Bhat so I wont be transferring any money in from the UK if I can avoid it, do you think this will be an issue? 

[BritTim]

I see no issue with the OP's original plan. If pulled aside and questioned about why he is spending so much time in Thailand, he can truthfully state that his girlfriend is here. The gaps, especially his return to the UK in June 2017 (and extended absence then) should reassure immigration. I actually doubt he will even be questioned.

[Harrisonf123]

31 minutes ago, BritTim said:

I see no issue with the OP's original plan. If pulled aside and questioned about why he is spending so much time in Thailand, he can truthfully state that his girlfriend is here. The gaps, especially his return to the UK in June 2017 (and extended absence then) should reassure immigration. I actually doubt he will even be questioned.

 

Thanks for the reassurance Tim, much appreciated, Unfortunately I won't have had the 5K in my account for 6 months before I go to apply for the METV for when I go in Jan, shame they wont accept proof of salary instead!

[BritTim]

3 hours ago, Harrisonf123 said:

 

Thanks for the reassurance Tim, much appreciated, Unfortunately I won't have had the 5K in my account for 6 months before I go to apply for the METV for when I go in Jan, shame they wont accept proof of salary instead!

 

If it is convenient to visit one of the honorary consulates in the UK, get in touch with them and explain the situation asking if they can bend the requirements a bit. Some of the honorary consulates are willing to be flexible.

[DipStick]

After so many years working legally in Thailand but out of the scene since 2009 the hassles as described by the OP were the reasons I decided to go for the Thai Elite five years visa. Yes it costs but if you want the smoothest ride Elite has to be it. I also know it's "horses for courses" but it's about time Thailand clamped down on visas, cheap Charlie's, potential thugs and all who cannot pull their weight in the foreign country you live in. Of course I have sympathy in cases like this but the end product is ?

[Harrisonf123]

22 minutes ago, DipStick said:

After so many years working legally in Thailand but out of the scene since 2009 the hassles as described by the OP were the reasons I decided to go for the Thai Elite five years visa. Yes it costs but if you want the smoothest ride Elite has to be it. I also know it's "horses for courses" but it's about time Thailand clamped down on visas, cheap Charlie's, potential thugs and all who cannot pull their weight in the foreign country you live in. Of course I have sympathy in cases like this but the end product is ?

 

I'd happily spend the money if I was staying for 5 years, if they had a 1 year option I'd be all over it other wise, 11K for 18 months is not a great deal

[AlexRich]

I've pretty much done something similar. I obtain a tourist visa for 60 days, and sometimes extend it to 90 days, then leave Thailand for another country (UK, Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia), obtain another tourist visa in that country, rinse and repeat. I've never had any problems. I don't work in Thailand and don't break any immigration rules.

 

So, yes, it can be done. 

[BuckBee]

If you can't start off with METV get a single tourist visa in UK then extend it 30 days then pick up a new tourist single entry in Laos Cambodia or Vietnam & extend again 30 days,  you could do around a year quite easily locally & even the full 18 months probably possible if clued up & pollite if questioned.

Would be easy pop back & grab a METV in UK too if leave 5K sitting for seasoning ...

METV is easy & popping in out of thailand as you fancy & where you fancy is very convenient .

Handy have options of funds planned in advance as things never to plan in thailand & you will spend more than plan unless got experience & language skills here . Setting up good options for fund transfer in advance even if not needed is good practice & can make most of the transfer which keeps more money in your pocket rather than lost in exchange fees .

 

[gk10002000]

9 hours ago, DipStick said:

After so many years working legally in Thailand but out of the scene since 2009 the hassles as described by the OP were the reasons I decided to go for the Thai Elite five years visa. Yes it costs but if you want the smoothest ride Elite has to be it. I also know it's "horses for courses" but it's about time Thailand clamped down on visas, cheap Charlie's, potential thugs and all who cannot pull their weight in the foreign country you live in. Of course I have sympathy in cases like this but the end product is ?

And they just came up with a new Elite Visa where in addition to the 500k for 5 years, you can now do 800K for 10 years.  That is a decent discount.  80k baht a year at 35 baht per USD only about 2,300 USD.  That is not an unreasonable amount for ease and convenience and hassle free in and out

[1FinickyOne]

Just to raise a question for you... where will you be staying and how does this fit with your visas? I know they are going to greater lengths to have people who rent properties report renters... will this create any issues for your GF? And her landlord? 

 

Enjoy your stay...

[SOTIRIOS]

...sounds good buddy...good for you...

 

...you are not working in Thailand...you are simply receiving money from back home...

 

...lucky we are allowed to breathe.....

[bazza40]

I don't understand why working for a company in the UK would be classed as illegal in Thailand. I believe the criteria include not depriving a Thai of employment, which is clearly not the case here.

 

If I'm retired, and trading Australian shares and options remotely in Thailand, am I working?

[NoshowJones]

3 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

And they just came up with a new Elite Visa where in addition to the 500k for 5 years, you can now do 800K for 10 years.  That is a decent discount.  80k baht a year at 35 baht per USD only about 2,300 USD.  That is not an unreasonable amount for ease and convenience and hassle free in and out

I don't agree, give 800K, and you get nothing back for it despite contributing to the Thai economy all that time.

You also have to do the 90 day reporting.

It may be fine for you, but not for most of the under fifties who want to live here long term, and can afford to do so

but cannot afford to just give away 500K or 800K for very little.

 

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, bazza40 said:

I don't understand why working for a company in the UK would be classed as illegal in Thailand. I believe the criteria include not depriving a Thai of employment, which is clearly not the case here.

 

If I'm retired, and trading Australian shares and options remotely in Thailand, am I working?

" I believe the criteria include not depriving a Thai of employment, which is clearly not the case here."

 

Working for a UK company while in Thailand is not illegal. I don't think any suggested it was. Working without a work permit is illegal.

 

 Simply claiming that the work you do is not depriving a Thai of employment does not exempt you from the requirement that you need a work permit. Undoubtedly in many cases people who do obtain work permits are doing something that could be done by a Thai, but their work is legal as long as they were issued a work permit.

 

Working at home on a computer and not telling everyone what you are doing is unlikely to draw the attention of the authorities and I'm sure many people manage it without difficulty but, at least in theory, it could be regarded as illegal.

 

Managing your personal finances and investments at home on a computer would probably not qualify as working any more than would using an ATM or paying bills or washing your dishes after a meal. In previous discussions of what constitutes employment, common domestic chores were (more or less) officially declared exempt.

[Autonuaq]

1 hour ago, bazza40 said:

I don't understand why working for a company in the UK would be classed as illegal in Thailand. I believe the criteria include not depriving a Thai of employment, which is clearly not the case here.

 

If I'm retired, and trading Australian shares and options remotely in Thailand, am I working?

 

To what you refer too is on the edge of allowed and if labor office investigates they can make it that you really are violating. You state yourself that you are trading. Most people have retirement visa meaning not allowed work.

 

regarding the gentleman with his work is the UK. it is also on the edge and can cause him problems. As have seen with a friend who did exactly the same.. 

 

[gk10002000]

3 hours ago, possum1931 said:

I don't agree, give 800K, and you get nothing back for it despite contributing to the Thai economy all that time.

You also have to do the 90 day reporting.

It may be fine for you, but not for most of the under fifties who want to live here long term, and can afford to do so

but cannot afford to just give away 500K or 800K for very little.

 

you do not necessarily have to do the 90 day reporting.  If in bangkok or two other places based on what I read in other posts they will do the 90 day report for you.  And since you can go in and out of country as often as you want, it is quite easy to hop over the border out of country and avoid some 90 day reports for as long as you want to.  Not too hard to schedule trips you might want to make around the 88 day pooint.  Saying you get nothing back for it is ridiculous.  You are not just giving money away.  you get an easy very low hassle visa that allows you to stay in the country.  No income continual certification, or no dead 800 K baht in the bank if you go the cash balance method.  And some people would prefer not to maintain 800 k dead in a thai bank and also now have to file FBAR stuff with the USA if an american.  Paying an average of 80 k baht or 2300 US a year to be able to stay in a country is a very good deal compared to many other countries

[bark]

16 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

you do not necessarily have to do the 90 day reporting.  If in bangkok or two other places based on what I read in other posts they will do the 90 day report for you.  And since you can go in and out of country as often as you want, it is quite easy to hop over the border out of country and avoid some 90 day reports for as long as you want to.  Not too hard to schedule trips you might want to make around the 88 day pooint.  Saying you get nothing back for it is ridiculous.  You are not just giving money away.  you get an easy very low hassle visa that allows you to stay in the country.  No income continual certification, or no dead 800 K baht in the bank if you go the cash balance method.  And some people would prefer not to maintain 800 k dead in a thai bank and also now have to file FBAR stuff with the USA if an american.  Paying an average of 80 k baht or 2300 US a year to be able to stay in a country is a very good deal compared to many other countries

Yes I agree. Interest from Thai banks is nothing.

[Harrisonf123]

5 hours ago, kenk24 said:

Just to raise a question for you... where will you be staying and how does this fit with your visas? I know they are going to greater lengths to have people who rent properties report renters... will this create any issues for your GF? And her landlord? 

 

Enjoy your stay...

 

That's a good point, I Will be staying with her in her rented flat / condo, everything will be in her name and she will pay the rent with her Thai wages, do you think this will be an issue?

[ubonjoe]

14 minutes ago, Harrisonf123 said:

 

That's a good point, I Will be staying with her in her rented flat / condo, everything will be in her name and she will pay the rent with her Thai wages, do you think this will be an issue?

I cannot imagine there being a problem.

One report by the owner or landlord with both names on it (room for many on the form).