Can I apply for a Thai DTV while in Laos just before the deadline?

@Reed *********

ah I see you are American……..the world doesn’t revolve around the US mate 🙄

@Reed *********

I am from the UK and I know lots of people that work remotely. Not one of them has a US business. It’s madness to think they would, or people from the EU?? Why on earth would they want to set a US business up to work remotely if they are not American? 🤯🤯🤣🤣🤣

@Nick ******

I was referring to people from western countries applying how many lao people hold a dtv. For someone from EU or UK most the remote nomads do have a US business set up. Everything is online anyway in most cases. So maybe they are going to really start checking tax returns hards now for workcation otherwise change of venue for approved processing places just seems not that needed. Does the thai government trust their US and EU offices more?

@Nick ******

Im fully remote and have the DTV. At the application stage I was working hybrid.

@Andi **********

with the greatest of it doesn’t sound like you are remote working at all if you have to ‘take time off’ to go home!! Surely you can just get on a plane and keep working whilst at home!

@Reed *********

right because they are not applying in their home country are they! It’s exactly my point, they will now have to go home to apply where the embassy will better understand their business. A Laos national applying in Laos will not have a US company. A US person will. 🤷‍♂️

@Nick ******

Reed is highlighting the difficulty for those working overseas, in going back to their home country to apply. I would not be able to take 3-4 weeks off to go back to the UK, if I had to get my DTV that way. Applying in your home country is a great idea but there are 1000s who don't live in their home country and reside elsewhere. This is problematic for them.

honestly not ruined though might be easier to get approval now if less people are applying

@Nick ******

Everyone I have met doing remote work in Asia has a US LLC so it must be pretty common.....it is pretty easy to look online and figure out why this is common before commenting that it is false.

@Reed *********

why would a Laos or Vietnam or uk national have a US business that is real? They wouldn’t would they. Weird way to make a point. And I’m sorry no one, literally no one, cares what makes you comfortable. If you don’t want to make the effort to get a DTV then don’t. It’s a simple choice

@Nick ******

you said " How can someone from Laos assess the validity of a business based in UK" everyone I have met here that is not from the US has a USA business formation. How would the UK vet that business any easier than Vietnam could. Now for the banking documents, tax documents yes I agree and I bet that is why it has abruptly changed. I would think these documents must be exponentially easier to verify in a country you have ties to. However if they had a better system from the start they wouldn't have been approving massive batches of agency submitted applications. Many of those agents were promising no need to have the 500k. They could have required the police clearance from day one they could have required notarized documents from day one. The Thai government knew exactly what these agencies were doing for 2 years, the same way they know that agencies are taking payment for guaranteed entry where they pick you up at the gate and bring you to a special immigration officer. This is just damage control and it hurts the people who want to apply legitimately but does nothing to make sure the previous approvals were legitimate. I would feel more comfortable if all current DTV holders have to produce a police clearance as well.

@Reed *********

I don’t understand your point really. If you are a UK citizen applying as a remote worker it is much easier for the UK embassy to assess your application and its validity. I think they are doing the right thing.

@Nick ******

I do agree with this however how is anyone determining the validity of a US LLC if they're from New Zealand what's any different than checking out an Ltd from England for someone from Australia or someone in Vietnam. I think the real thing is is that the neighboring countries have corrupt embassies and their easiest way to fix this was to just prevent anyone from applying at those places anymore. Most the smart remote people do a USA LLC but aren't citizens or PR for USA

@Reed *********

as Luit says it is perfectly normal to operate that way. Thailand is just doing what other countries do. I have always thought it ridiculous that you could apply in any country. How can someone from Laos assess the validity of a business based in UK for instance

@Andi **********

Bangkok middle-class Thais don't usually take any notice of things like that. It's not usually on their radar. Not involved in the tourist economy. No real interest in it.

@Greg *******

Yes, it's widely reported.