I've been getting 2 month tourist visas in Malaysia, which I then extend by one month in Bangkok at immigration. So every 3 months I have to leave the country and stay in another for at least 2 days to apply for a new visa.

Having married I will soon be applying for a 3 month Category O visa which I can then extend by 2 months at immigration. Clearly this is better and less expensive than what I was doing before.

However, I just spoke to my friend and he knows someone who can get us work permits through her company which would give me a 1 year visa which could then be renewed for peanuts every year. The only problem is, we won't be working for her so it's not totally on the up and up.

I really do things on a shoestring right now and tourist visas, extensions and whatnot cost me about $120 a month when you average it out.

I imagine the Category O option would end up costing me about $80 a month.

The work permit would cost me 1 payment of $900 and then could be renewed each year for around $10 or so. In the first year I'd save only maybe $60 but in the years after that nearly $1000 a year.

So my question is, is it worth it? It's not a massive risk by Thailand standards, but as I said, it's not 100% legit since we wouldn't really be working for the company. I'd do it through my friend's school, but for the teaching profession a degree is required for a work permit. He'll get a work permit through his school eventually (he's listed as a teacher, while the business is in his wife's name), but will be doing things this way for the first year instead. Should I join him?

It would mean no more visa runs out of the country. No trips to immigration except once a year. She'll arrange everything once I have the category O visa plus appropriate documents and will even come to pick them up from me. She has a contact in immigration so it's unlikely there will be any problems, but still it's not totally legal.

Your thoughts?

I know it's a long ass thread.

What's the penalty if they'd caught you?

PANDURITO said:

That was my thought

Does visa dodging come into the same category as drug smuggling and paedophilia?

I would say go for it but set your self up with an alibi (to plead ignorance in case you get caught – which sounds unlikely)

Do a couple of voluntary teaching sessions, teaching assistant, teacher training, supervising day trips, guest speaker. Basically anything that gives you an official record of something to do with teaching. If you know people in the business that shouldn’t be too hard.

The only other concern is that sometimes work permits can, in the long term, limit your access to the country where as tourist visas can keep getting renewed. I don’t know the situation where you are.

PANDURITO said:

I'd probably be deported and barred from entering the country.

To be brutally honest, and I know this sounds bad, for Thailand doing this the risk is extremely small. I wouldn't even entertain it otherwise. However, there is still a very small risk and the penalty would be awful for Mon and I. So it would either mean I could stay here much more easily or not at all. The latter is extremely unlikely, but still a remote possibility.

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[Edited 6/14/07 2:18am]

Fauxie said:

it's worth doing, if you plan on staying in Thailand for at least a few more years

arent you planning to return to the UK at all ?

Fauxie said:

That'd be enough to keep me from doing it. But I'm a 'play it safe' kinda girl.

eraclito said:

I'm leaning towards doing it. The risk is really very minimal. I mean, I already use an agent to get my current visas so I don't actually have to go to the consulate to apply for the visa, and that's for tourist or Cat. O visas. All the documents would be fine, but I just wouldn't be working for the company.

We were thinking 2 more years here and go to the UK, but now we're unsure about it. I was always concerned about our future childrens' education but there are plenty of very good international schools here now. I'm sure we'll be here for the next 2 years at least so financially it will save me just over $1000 at least.

Fauxie said:

do it, it is worth the risk, you could have some fun with a thousand bucks..

just dont put it all on red...

eraclito said:

I'll put it on a short holiday with Mon and the rest in the bank. I may be poor every day but I'm not stupid.

You mean what to do with your rewards points?

We used to have a Cabella's one, but we switched it over to one for our mortgage.

Fauxie said:

you are rich with love Nick, that means u are blessed..

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[Edited 6/14/07 21:25pm]

Why don't you just seek employment and get work visa? You'd have the visa you need, and not have to fret over the 900 bucks in the end.



lazy farangs

Fauxie said:

that's one fucking expensive hooker

lol

Wow.

You's are all so interesting.

I could sit and talk about this for hours.

I'm so glad I logged on.

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[Edited 6/14/07 21:25pm]

Imago said:

Because I'm pretty much limited to teaching, which requires a degree, fucknut.

How are you, boo? From your tone it sounds like you haven't ejaculated recently.

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[Edited 6/14/07 21:24pm]