Answered2 years ago
What are the implications of Thailand's immigration and labor laws for expats?
Thought this article was a good point of discussion.
[members only]
So many people make it seem like Thailand's labor and immigration laws are crazy or out of the ordinary, when it couldn't be further from the truth.
"As long as you don't get paid, there's no law being broken"
"They won't care, everyone does it"
"I signed up through an organization who said it was okay"
The woman in the article signed up with "Workaway" to live with a family in the US and help around the house. In return she was fed and had a place to sleep. She then was going to do the same thing in Canada but was stopped when they found out what her plan was and denied entry, as that is considered work in Canada. When she was sent back to the US they took her into custody for working in the US, and now she is being held pending deportation.
Thailand's laws are not unusual in any way. Work is work, whether you are paid for it or not. If you are on a visa that is work restricted, you CANNOT work, you CANNOT volunteer, you CANNOT do anything that could be considered work in any way. You risk being arrested, banned and deported otherwise.
[members only]
So many people make it seem like Thailand's labor and immigration laws are crazy or out of the ordinary, when it couldn't be further from the truth.
"As long as you don't get paid, there's no law being broken"
"They won't care, everyone does it"
"I signed up through an organization who said it was okay"
The woman in the article signed up with "Workaway" to live with a family in the US and help around the house. In return she was fed and had a place to sleep. She then was going to do the same thing in Canada but was stopped when they found out what her plan was and denied entry, as that is considered work in Canada. When she was sent back to the US they took her into custody for working in the US, and now she is being held pending deportation.
Thailand's laws are not unusual in any way. Work is work, whether you are paid for it or not. If you are on a visa that is work restricted, you CANNOT work, you CANNOT volunteer, you CANNOT do anything that could be considered work in any way. You risk being arrested, banned and deported otherwise.
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around perceptions of Thailand's immigration and labor laws, particularly in relation to unpaid work or volunteering. A shared article highlights the experience of a woman who faced deportation for working without the correct visa in the US, drawing parallels with Thailand. Many comments emphasize the importance of understanding and adhering to Thai visa regulations, warning against misconceptions that volunteering or unpaid work is exempt from legal scrutiny.
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Ian *****
What does this have to do with Thailand
Brandon ************
OP@Ian ****
What I wrote about in the post, if you bothered to read itIan *****
@Brandon ***********
I read the whole article. What happens in US and Thailand is not comparableBrandon ************
OP@Ian ****
I didn't say read the article. I said my post. Many people say Thailand has unreasonable immigration laws regarding working and I showed that's not the case. It's the same in many places. Work is work whether you're paid or notDaniel *****
It's not volunteering if you work for food and shelter...
Richard ******
Only one towel. 😅😅😅
Aung *******
fine and deport. That's not a problem.
Detaining is crazy. It's not a violent crime.
Detaining is crazy. It's not a violent crime.
Katrin *******
The term is “no effort” whatsoever on a tourist visa. Tourist visa means leisure.
Ilia *********
That's the same all over the world. Doesn't make these senseless laws right though. A person has zero say where he was born, where he wants to live and work. No one can choose. All that those immigration officers around the world tells you is "go home!" What if I don't have home and doesn't feel belong.
Charlie *********
All of this to say “know the law.” Not knowing it is taking a chance. Knowing the law and breaking it is also taking a chance. No shade to anyone who takes their chances; we all do it. Just don’t be surprised at the consequences.
Jennifer ******
There are a lot of travelling pet sitters who do this here.
Bent *************
Thailands laws and rules and habits are- crazy! But this is Thailand. Like it or leave it!
Damo ******
@Bent ************
Read the article before you comment. This did not happen in Thailand. 🤣 Couldn't wait could you ? 😆😆
Ralph *******
@Bent ************
It’s not so crazy. Most countries restrict work for foreigners. Some have reciprocal agreements for working holidays, usually limited to certain age groups, but it usually requires the appropriate visa.Andrew *******
What a ridiculous scenario. All the immigration officials involved who chose to read the law that narrowly should be taken to the hospital to surgically remove the sticks from their asses. Unbelievable.
Brandon ************
OP@Andrew ******
How do you not consider what she did work? She did WORK for these families and got something in return. That's the most basic definition of work. It's obvious that these types of websites flout immigration law and just hope no one gets caught and they stay out of the media. And it was immigration officers from 2 separate countries that both agreed.Andrew *******
@Brandon ***********
How far do we take this line of reasoning? If you help a Thai person pick up a motorcycle that fell over and they give you 20 baht, is that now work? If you visit a friend and help them clean their apartment in exchange for them buying dinner, is that work? I simply don't consider volunteering to qualify as work, and I don't think immigration officials should be in the business of trying to screw well-meaning people over. It's far better to be kind.
Lynnette *******
@Andrew ******
nothing to do with helping a friend. She booked a "workation". That's work done in exchange for "payment in kind". Similar to an employer paying money so she can pay for her accomodation and meals. She wasn't just helping a friend out.Andrew *******
@Brandon ***********
Ah, in that case I'm sure that every law-abiding US citizen fills out a separate I-9 every time they go help their family do some yard work, as that's working under the table... I mean, come on. At a certain point it just becomes a bit silly.Brandon ************
OP@Andrew ******
it's about jobs. This family now doesn't need to hire a housekeeper because they have free labor instead. Same in Thailand, cleaning an apartment in return for compensation (a meal) takes that job from a housekeeper.
Carlos *********
Thailand has a " work" visa.
Thailand has a "volunteer " visa.
They just want you to have the proper visa for what you plan to do.
Thailand has a "volunteer " visa.
They just want you to have the proper visa for what you plan to do.
Peter ********
Just another 'entitled' who thinks 'the rules' don't apply to them or doesn't even bother to check the rules.
Michael ********
Oh i did my apprenticeship where she is from
Ernesto ********
That will learn ya
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