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May 02, 2008
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VISAS & PERMITS
REQUIRE PROFESSIONALISM
Getting It Right
The First Time Is Important
If you are lucky enough to meet an expat
who has lived in Thailand for many decades, take the time to get to know
them, as there is much to be learned from listening to their advice. I
was fortunate, when I chose to reside in a guest house with such a
gentleman when I first arrived in the Kingdom many years ago, and the
advice that he gave me on day-to-day living saved me many a headache. |
I well remember that his first advice was to
throw your old rule book away and start learning all over again, as things are
different here in Thailand and Asia in general. He stated that when he first
arrived in 1970, things were pretty free & easy, especially in relation to
visas, work permits, and other official documentation which was required. He
went on to say that every year he has seen things become a little more
difficult. This growing situation led him to re-locate to Cambodia a few years
ago, where they are looking for foreign investment plus overseas expertise in
all forms. Within a two months or so he had a one year residency visa and a few
other business related documents for a cost of around US$300, which allowed him
to come and go from Cambodia at no extra cost. This is certainly a long way
cheaper and more flexible than other countries such as Thailand, but having
stated the obvious it must be pointed out that Cambodia does not possess the
same modern infrastructure or advanced technology, once you get outside of Phnom
Penh, so it is a choice of personal preference as to where you wish to reside in
S.E. Asia.
Thailand
Still No.1 Choice
The Thai kingdom
still looks to be S.E. Asia’s favorite country of residence for a long time to
come, as far as expats are concerned, but foreign nationals have to realize that
the principles of Thai law are not exactly the same as western law.
Regulations are made, but often a decision on a particular case is up the
discretion of the government officer concerned, and some regulations vary in
different provinces, so you certainly need the help of good locally-based
advisors. Regulations that in some cases have been about for years are
now being strictly enforced, so I would not attempt to obtain a long-stay visa,
work permit, or any other important business documents without the help of
people who deal with such matters on a daily basis.
Why Use
Advisors & Agents?
The fees that
these professional advisors charge are not as bad as being refused an
application for submitting incorrect documentation, and possibly finding
yourself in the embarrassing position of having to leave the Kingdom. While the
actual costs for a lot of such documentation are not high, the time and
specialized knowledge required to have the applications presented in Thai in a
faultless manner takes time & experience. If you try to do-it-yourself, and
there is a mistake, the refusal of an application usually results in a
time-based crisis that can cost you plenty in terms of money and inconvenience.
A good agent can make your life much easier by using a few legal short-cuts,
which they have learned from years of experience, and this especially applies to
work permit applications, which are getting much more difficult to obtain, (and
therefore require more care and attention).
If you are a
long term vacationer who has decided to stay on longer than your original visa
permits, do not leave it until the last week, but seek professional advice as to
the best solution to this problem. Thailand & Philippines are two countries
where you generally have to depart the country for three months if you have
already had a 3-month stay; however there can be variables to this situation, so
get good advice sooner rather than later.
Where To
Seek Assistance
To check around
all of the local advisors and find the best one could take an awfully long time,
not to mention the cost, so this is where an
experienced
company such as “Evans Marketing & Legal Advisors” can be of
great
assistance. Not only can they give you sound advice from their years of
experience, they can put you in contact with their highly experienced and
trustworthy lawyers and accountants, who specialize in the requirements of visa
and other business registration matters.
Partners Charles
R. Evans, M.D., and Atchara P. Evans, G.M. together with their team of
multi-lingual consultants are there to assist you in “Making the Right
Moves in Thailand.” By calling in advance for an
appointment, an initial 15-minute ‘Company or personal health check’
consultation is free, so bring your documents in soon.
As
well as business
advisory offices in Bangkok and Jomtien-Pattaya, Evans Marketing also
specializes in
real estate services and business and property investment, so are
well placed to give you the
latest news on what is happening
on these fronts, which is in a ‘state of flux’ at the moment, due to proposed
legislative changes that are being put forward by the government.
Call Atchara P.
Evans (66 (0) 81-864-7751) or Charles R. Evans (66 (0) 81-864-7731 for an
advance appointment to meet with them or one of their
team of marketing and business advisors,
who are always willing to assist you with complete confidentiality.
They can also be contacted by phone on (038) 301.090(-2) or by visiting their
websites; also
www.Evans-Marketing.com,
www.PattayaInvestments.com
and
www.PattayaPropertyFinder.com.
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