DailyLunatic
Surin Legend
I wanna write a book, but on advice of counsel, I'm told not to.
As a Visa holder in the Kingdom of Thailand I must abide by the restrictions of that Visa. One of those is that I do not engage in Work without a permit. My Visa, based on marriage, permits me to apply for a permit, but does not in itself grant a permit to work. I've been reading up on various sites for a while and cannot see a way around this.
Definition of Work in Thailand from AI
In other words, I need a 'Work Permit' to write. Period. Writing is not on the prohibited list, so no problem. Right? I'll just get one. However...
I looked into the possibly of classifying my writing as a Hobby, as a loophole. I'm told no dice. There is apparently no pathway set up for expats not working for an established organization or company. They want to know for whom you are working. Can't be yourself unless you have a company established (and that's a whole different kettle of fish,)
Setting myself up as a company would mean even more of a hassle and its own set of regulations. All so I can sit in the dark and type on a computer. So, that is out as an avenue.
The other option is to just keep my head down and not tell them. I mean, I could get by and not self-report when I apply for ISBN through the Kingdom's National Library (Thailand's version of Bowker). After all, who's going to see me in my cubby 'playing' on my computer. ISBNs are not required for e-books or are provided free by Amazon (though many of the other POD companies providing 'free' ISBN require US Residency). Right?
Yeah... no.
We're not talking about a small fine if caught. I'm risking deportation. and that means loss of Wife as she would likely not be permitted to follow immediately (if at all), loss of Home, everything I've built up here and starting over in the US on nothing but my Social Security income. Writing is important to me, but I do have my priorities straight.
So, until further notice, I'm officially and publicly stating that I am not writing. More, I expect to pay my Lawyer exorbitant amounts of money to be told that it will take even more exorbitant amounts to be permitted to write -for a year- or maybe not. Meeting with him for break downs mid-August. Hopefully, there is a non-salary-based permit buried in the law somewhere. But I doubt it.
Does anyone here have any experience applying for this type of work permit? Yeah, I've scheduled with the lawyer, but I'd still like to know what I'm getting into and the kinds of general questions I should be asking before shelling out the bucks.
-sterling
As a Visa holder in the Kingdom of Thailand I must abide by the restrictions of that Visa. One of those is that I do not engage in Work without a permit. My Visa, based on marriage, permits me to apply for a permit, but does not in itself grant a permit to work. I've been reading up on various sites for a while and cannot see a way around this.
Definition of Work in Thailand from AI
In other words, I need a 'Work Permit' to write. Period. Writing is not on the prohibited list, so no problem. Right? I'll just get one. However...
I looked into the possibly of classifying my writing as a Hobby, as a loophole. I'm told no dice. There is apparently no pathway set up for expats not working for an established organization or company. They want to know for whom you are working. Can't be yourself unless you have a company established (and that's a whole different kettle of fish,)
Setting myself up as a company would mean even more of a hassle and its own set of regulations. All so I can sit in the dark and type on a computer. So, that is out as an avenue.
The other option is to just keep my head down and not tell them. I mean, I could get by and not self-report when I apply for ISBN through the Kingdom's National Library (Thailand's version of Bowker). After all, who's going to see me in my cubby 'playing' on my computer. ISBNs are not required for e-books or are provided free by Amazon (though many of the other POD companies providing 'free' ISBN require US Residency). Right?
Yeah... no.
We're not talking about a small fine if caught. I'm risking deportation. and that means loss of Wife as she would likely not be permitted to follow immediately (if at all), loss of Home, everything I've built up here and starting over in the US on nothing but my Social Security income. Writing is important to me, but I do have my priorities straight.
So, until further notice, I'm officially and publicly stating that I am not writing. More, I expect to pay my Lawyer exorbitant amounts of money to be told that it will take even more exorbitant amounts to be permitted to write -for a year- or maybe not. Meeting with him for break downs mid-August. Hopefully, there is a non-salary-based permit buried in the law somewhere. But I doubt it.
Does anyone here have any experience applying for this type of work permit? Yeah, I've scheduled with the lawyer, but I'd still like to know what I'm getting into and the kinds of general questions I should be asking before shelling out the bucks.
-sterling
