Hello Thaivisa,

I just applied for my 1 year Non-Imm O extension, and was told by the immigration officials that they will visit our home to make sure our relationship is genuine. And this makes me very uneasy.

I have a large desk in my home with 4 monitors, a laptop, a desktop computer, scanner, printer, a 100k Baht desk, filing cabinet and 2 visitor chairs; It looks like an office at home. They will certainly ask me questions about what I do, and frankly I'm not certain how to go about this.

I work everyday on my blogs, I get paid every month by Google for advertising revenues on my blogs. I'm being paid in an account back in the UK and transfer money in my SCB account once in a while.

I do not have a work permit, I do not pay taxes here. What should I tell them?

you still have time... leave the large desk and remove the other 3 monitors. Don't forget to buy some PC games in Panthip.

Perhaps I should add that Sunbelt (Jeremy I think it was?) advised me that I didn't need a work permit for work over the internet that doesn't involve customers in Thailand. But something doesn't feel right...

what you are doing is obviously more than mowing your lawn or painting your house on which case you can be arrested. but you said you have a work permit so I think you shouldn't be worried... goodluck!

Don't worry about a thing mate! I went through the same thing just a week ago! I'm building a home of my own here and i love the Thais. I've hardly got anything going here at all. We're living in the basement now, waiting for the first floor of the place to be finished (And at the rate these Burmese are moving that won't be til NEXT Father's Day!!!). Anyhoo, the officials came by just last week... I was concerned cause the wife left PILES of dirty towels all over the place! And i mean DIRTY!! But i gave the officials a couple nice glasses of 'cha yen' and spoke a little prasart Thai, that seemed to be especially effective. I thought they might ask me what i'm doing here but there was none of that, they seemed to be genuinely concerned that we're in love with each other and plan to stay that way. And, boy, are we and do we! I wouldn't worry about your computers, they're not gonna touch 'em mate. You're good as gold. Just get that Cha Yen ready!

It is your hobby, isn't it? General rules for dealing with officials:

Don't answer all the questions.

Don't answer anything they didn't ask in the first place.

Keep smiling.

Don't tell them everything, but don't start lying.

Play dumb, like you don't know.

Whiskey, chocolate, etc. - you're just sharing with nice people.

"Oh, all these computers, officer? I love computers. I am a nerd."

Hello Thaivisa,

I just applied for my 1 year Non-Imm O extension, and was told by the immigration officials that they will visit our home to make sure our relationship is genuine. And this makes me very uneasy.

I have a large desk in my home with 4 monitors, a laptop, a desktop computer, scanner, printer, a 100k Baht desk, filing cabinet and 2 visitor chairs; It looks like an office at home. They will certainly ask me questions about what I do, and frankly I'm not certain how to go about this.

I work everyday on my blogs, I get paid every month by Google for advertising revenues on my blogs. I'm being paid in an account back in the UK and transfer money in my SCB account once in a while.

I do not have a work permit, I do not pay taxes here. What should I tell them?

uhh you could put a few of the monitors away in a box or closet. You could move the visitors chairs. You could put a cloth over the fancy desk. After the visit then you can move things back.

They are there to see if your marriage is a sham and will talk with a neighbor or 2, building security etc..

Show them your lease and that's about it.

you still have time... leave the large desk and remove the other 3 monitors. Don't forget to buy some PC games in Panthip.

Joystick and a Gamepads also don't forget...

BTW they did't come in the house in my case (okay I've a desk with 6 chairs outside the house where they was sitting). They want to speak maybe with some neighbours - maybe.

Don't worry about a thing mate!

Roger Dodger, would you be any relation to Dr. Pat Pong's old buddy, Soap Dodger?

My wife keep telling me to jai yen yen and that I "kit mak". Thanks for all the swift replies thaivisa!

Don't worry about a thing mate!

Roger Dodger, would you be any relation to Dr. Pat Pong's old buddy, Soap Dodger?

Can't say I know the Soap Dodger... But i sure do know that Pat Pong!

That's a big ten-four, good buddy!

BTW, did i say CHA yen? I meant JAI YEN! Hehehehehehe

they told me they would visit ...that was 9 months ago. nobody ever came.

Don't worry about a thing mate!

Roger Dodger, would you be any relation to Dr. Pat Pong's old buddy, Soap Dodger?

Can't say I know the Soap Dodger... But i sure do know that Pat Pong!

That's a big ten-four, good buddy!

And for those not familiar with American expressions for "yes/affirmative" the "roger dodger" is even older than "10-4" of the 1960's CB era. But most people probably only know it as a recent movie if Google is to be believed.

Perhaps I should add that Sunbelt (Jeremy I think it was?) advised me that I didn't need a work permit for work over the internet that doesn't involve customers in Thailand. But something doesn't feel right...

We have no Jeremy that works with us. However I myself asked the question to five top senior officials from the Labor Dept, sitting at a conference table. The dialogue went something like this...

We get asked by several clients from time to time" I work on the Internet from home and have no clients in Thailand. The question they ask, do they need a work permit?

The answer was " This is a gray area. If the foreigner is working at his computer. We knock on the door and he clicks away from the homepage. How could we ever catch him in the act? "

Another officer then added "the foreigner could get a work permit with his wife sponsoring him. Just put the Internet business in the wife name. "

With another case, a client ask us to write a letter for a exemption from the labor dept. as he was a architect and going to be servicing his clients in NY. They wrote back asking for a long list of documents... marriage certificate, business licence in NY, address in NY, proposed address in BKk, wife ID card., etc. This all had to be notarized. This was recent and not aware that we have gotten the official answer back from the Labor Dept.

www.sunbeltasiagroup.com

Don't worry about a thing mate!

Roger Dodger, would you be any relation to Dr. Pat Pong's old buddy, Soap Dodger?

Can't say I know the Soap Dodger... But i sure do know that Pat Pong!

That's a big ten-four, good buddy!

And for those not familiar with American expressions for "yes/affirmative" the "roger dodger" is even older than "10-4" of the 1960's CB era. But most people probably only know it as a recent movie if Google is to be believed.

Thank for the clarification there, Lopburi3! I'd darn near forgot how old i am!!! Hehehehehe

Don't worry about a thing mate!

Roger Dodger, would you be any relation to Dr. Pat Pong's old buddy, Soap Dodger?

Ole SD is back in Blackpool