Applying for non-IB visa as i will be working with Thai company. Started the e-visa application through Malaysia embassy but have now been advised that i need to have an entry stamp to even start the application (new information to the company who is helping with the application and said i could apply first and then when approved, just fly in/out and get my visa stamp).

The other options were Laos or Vietnam. Does anyone have a recent experience for this visa type with these embassies that can advise if you can submit the application remotely?

I currently live in Phuket on an ED visa that expires in a couple of months

Planning on getting an ED visa from KL in a few weeks. Does anyone have any reports on how smooth/quick the process is there and if there is usually long queues at the embassy. Im also interested in how strictly the requirements are enforced, particularly the "Certified criminal record in the applicant’s country of origin", and whether such a criminal record certificate has to come from my country of origin, the UK, as opposed to my country of residence, Thailand? Getting one in Thailand will naturally be significantly easier than the UK, but not having to get one at all will be easier still.