Anonymous participant They actually had their own Ltd companies. They just showed company documents and wrote as Directors to themselves as Employees saying they could work remotely in Thailand, the work they woukd do and thst no business in Thailand. They got these in first months DTV started at UK Embassy.
Anonymous participant My pals did it due to hassle of being here for renewal and pics & visits to house. As they are in and out the DTV was easier. One has moved to a Retirement visa now though.
If you want to be strictly legal move to a DTV. I have pals who moved to a DTV and used their Ltd in the UK to do so. It was less hassle for them to use the DTV - here about half the year.
I really do not think the MFA will be checking dates of invoices that closely. There would have been hundreds of applications rejected already if they had from Tourist and Ed visa holders. It is not their department.
As others hiy mentioned you have to be in the UK when applying there and stay while visa is processed. One guy posted here he applied then entered Thailamd on Visa Exempt. He had to return to UK and prove it before DTV issued
TM30 is irrelevant in any DTV application. It would not be "Live" at tome of your application. You do not have time stay in Hanoi. You can travel in Vietnam. Good luck.