What should I do if the Royal Thai Embassy requests additional documents for my DTV application as a digital nomad?

Question

(Anonymous for privacy reasons)
Hi,
I applied for the DTV via the Royal Thai Embassy London. I'm a British citizen, and followed the requirements to the letter (providing for example, my most recent personal bank statement showing the circa £10,000 per month payment from the company I own, with a bank balance that remained comfortably over the published 500k THB thresholds for the entire month, and a fresh (1st December - 1st April) 4 month contract for my US company to provide consulting services to a named end client company, for £40,000).

To my dismay, they have wrote back to me to request "additional documents as follows:
...
• Other request documents: - Please load a copy of your Company House stating your name and position. (please explain if you can not provide this) 
• Other request documents: - A recently letter confirming employment/contract details from an employer / contractor / client or company HR stating your position and work role as remotely worker in Thailand (address to Royal Thai Embassy in London) signed by an authorised person. 
• Other request documents: - Please upload your E-Ticket of your Flight booking showing your name as passenger , departure date, all flights en route from UK/Ireland/UK territories to Thailand"

The first item sounds reasonable, but I've already told them I own a US LLC, not a UK Ltd (via the application process), so there is no 'Company House stating my name and position'. I can (and will, unless you all suggest I take different approach) provide them with the incorporation documents for my US LLC alongside explaining that this is how things work for businesses incorporated in the US, but this doesn't appear to meet the letter of what they are asking for.

The 'recent[sic] letter confirming employment/contract details...' is the one that's most concerning to me, because I've already provided them what I have, which is a valid B2B contract. I'm not a sole trader and my business to business consulting services are just that - while I do provide much of the relevant service personally, the contract(s) I sign aren't 'personal service', they are for my US company to deliver an ongoing consulting service via whatever means and people I see as necessary and so as the company owner, I don't understand how I'm supposed to respond to this request. My end client is a large entity and I'm not on their payroll so their HR isn't an option. I know this is probably just a misunderstanding, but I can't see a way forward that doesn't involve me effectively writing a letter giving myself authorisation to work from Thailand as the owner of my own company, which seems illogical.

Their last request... is unhelpful for a digital nomad (especially as they haven't even granted the visa yet), but I can work around it.

Thanks all, I do appreciate your help.

Kind regards,
Adam

Ask Thailand · Answer

A British citizen applied for a DTV visa through the Royal Thai Embassy in London, providing sufficient financial documentation and a valid contract from their US-based consulting company. However, the embassy requested several additional documents, including Company House registration (which the applicant can't provide as they own a US LLC), an employment confirmation letter, and a flight itinerary. Responses from the community suggest creating a self-authorizing employment letter on company letterhead and potentially resubmitting the B2B contract, while emphasizing that the embassy's requests may stem from standard bureaucratic procedures.

Wes ****** · Answer

RE The 'recent[sic] letter confirming employment/contract details...', upload the same B2B one again if you can't get a new/edited one..;)

Nigel ******* · Answer

Yes as the owner of a Ltd Company I ended up getting a co Director to write a letter of permission!

Obviously illogical but ticks the box

Zain ****** · Answer

Don't be so surprised. They have been asking this stuff from everyone (at least in the US). Tax returns, pay slips, location proof are just some of the things they have been asking for in addition to the required documents. Its a bureaucratic thing, but pretty straightforward:

1. Show them the articles of incorporation for your company. If you dont have one, just tell them you're a sole proprietorship.

2. Just have a letter on your company letterhead stating your position in the company and other details they want and sign it yourself. Everyone has done this.

3. This should be easy to acquire/manage.

Colin ******* · Answer

Your company will have a contract with the client. Does the contract specify you to provide service or can anyone do this from a contractual POV? Does the contract state that the services you provide can be delivered remotely? If both of the above then send a copy of the contract, and state the relevant sections. If not, then you are going to have to be a little creative.

Anonymous ****************** · Answer

Agree with the others on no. 2. Employment Certificate from yourself about yourself. Sounds silly... but I'm similar to you. Consultant, Aus registered business with clients in Europe.

On your company letterhead (I just put my logo and company details in the top corner).

Address to embassy

*Employment Certificate*

I, (your name and position), hereby certify that, (your name) has been employed by (your US LLC) since (date) in the position of (position... e.g. company director) with a monthly salary of $x USD (approx. y THB).

(Your company name) is registered in the USA. The role is fully remote.

Should you require any further employment details, I can be contacted on...

(Sign and Date)

Remember to properly address to the embassy.

Arne ***** · Answer

"I authorize myself to work remotely." Sign it and send it.

Justin ******** · Answer

I’m not 100% sure but the 2nd thing sounds a lot like what I provided so maybe what I did will help. Essentially it was just a short paragraph on official letterhead from a client saying “this is who we are, this is what we have hired justin for in the past, we intent to continue to hire him a a freelancer/remote worker.” Maybe I am misunderstanding your problem but I wonder if they would be happier with you just putting this on your own official letterhead.

That said, I also had a situation where I had to explain to them why I could not provide exactly what they were asking for and they seemed fine with it.

For example telling them your intended travel dates but also letting them know you are waiting for approval before you buy your ticket.

In my experience they were pretty understanding about stuff like that.

Robert ************ · Answer

on 2nd question, they like to see a thing called Certificate of Employment. I'd never heard of such a thing, but Google helped and I wrote one for myself saying I could work remotely etc, wet-signed, dated, company stamp - belt and braces

Willy ****** · Answer

You need to do the letter that gives yourself authorisation as the owner of your own company to work in Thailand. Sounds crazy but it is what they want

What should I do if the Royal Thai Embassy requests additional documents for my DTV application as a digital nomad?

Activity

Related

Resources