Hamid Koskesh 100% agree with you on the tax residency side be it that most remote workers ignore that. Also agree with you - actually I agree with you on most of what you're saying except there's zero evidence that he didn't a valid visa at time. Should he have know better - absolutely. Personally - I pay may taxes, have a work permit, have social security etc.

@Kool ******

believe it or not we're actually on the same side nearly here. Yes - you have to work the volunteer job, zero question and prove that and everything is clear up to the 90 days. The last part of the text has me beat, though. Not working for the company you're sponsored for as well and tax? I'm not clear. Apol. What's the law that says that "there is a law related to that requirement, or are not working for the company that sponsored you, and paying your yearly taxes, then it is all illegal"??? Is that something related to the volunteer law versus work permit?

@koolbreez still waiting. I know a few people on the volunteer visa with work permit here - including one who actually teaches in CM one day a week for pay but primarily works online and it's all completely legal. The legal side is complying with the volunteer part and there are some scam ones out there, no argument on that - at a minimum, a legit volunteer program requires two days a month of actual volunteering and provable volunteering, not dissimilar to the requirement of turning up to class on an ED.

The BOI side - Iglu only got into trouble because at one point it became their only business model. They've seriously shifted that since then - I'm not with them but spoken to a guy there who speaks for the company a few times as well as knowing people who have their completely legal B BOI and work permit with them. I have a BOI and work permit with another company that doesn't focus on providing that service - they're a legit outsourcing firm with mostly Thai employees - I've been audited with them by Immigration and deemed completely legal. I pay Thai taxes, have social security (free hospital for the the win) and no one, including Immigration has an issue with it.

@Kool ******

Still waiting. See - the thing is, they're not "technically illegal." Work permit law changed in 2018. You can work in any job you want in addition to the one listed on your work permit as long as it's not a Thai only job.

/tax-news-flash-issue-44.html

@Kool ******

how is a volunteer visa and work permit illegal let alone a BOI company doing the same thing? Please explain - I'm all ears.

Hamid Koskesh where does it say he overstayed? it actually says that he was told that it was ok for him to teach online implying that he had some sort of visa at the time he was arrested.

@Kool ******

that's not entirely true. What you describe is one way to do it but not the only way. If I was starting from scratch I would recommend a volunteer visa with matching work permit for anyone looking to stay a year or longer. There are BOI companies that also offer to hire you on the books and give you a Non Imm B (BOI) + work permit as well. It costs but it is an option.

@Garrett **********

no where does that say he was overstaying his visa.

And here's an Australian guy arrested for teaching online. The turning a blind eye to it is only for when they do but they can decide not to as well.

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@Garrett **********

if you're working in Thailand, even if it's strictly online for an overseas company you legally require an appropriate visa and work permit - full stop. That they turn a blind eye to those who don't is a different consideration. You don't have to believe me, here's the Chiang Mai Labor Office explaining it