I can’t give direct advice since I don’t know but here is what I would do in your place. And hopefully this helps.

1. Contact the Thai embassy/consultant near you in the US. Doesn’t sound like you lost citizenship so should just be about getting a new passport.

1b. Likely will need to get other official stuff once in Thailand. I personally would plan to stay in BKK for a few months to a year to get everything settled. Also likely the best place to study Thai.

2. Find Thai expat groups in the US/UK/AUS. You are likely to find others who have been in your exact situation. And since you speak English natively these will be the best countries to find Thais who do as well.

Even if the embassy can help you completely with the passport thing I believe groups like this can help you over all.

2b. See if you can find groups for returning Thais.

2c. Maybe reach out to vloggers and such that have similar situations. Off the top of my head I think Flora and Note since Note is Thai but lived in Canada for a while. His situation is not the same as yours but he may be able to connect you with other returning Thais. If they don’t reply to an IG DM let me know and I can see if Paddy Doyle (who occasionally talk to there) can help connect you to them.

3. Check with Thailand on the rules for bringing your dog. But otherwise most seem to just take them on flights. I wouldn’t pay $7k for that. It should be a lot less.

4. Unless I had to I would not enter Thailand on a non-Thai passport. Again I am assuming you should be able to get a new one while still in the US.

5. If you are a U.S. green card holder or citizen remember they tax world wide income and you have to formally give either up. If you don’t plan to return to the US really consider do this asap once you leave.

6. Tools from the US will often have issues over voltage and shipping costs often make it really not worth it. Personally I’d buy tools in Thailand.

7. If you end up documenting this journey (imo you should) I would love to follow along. So please let me know your YT, IG, and etc where you will share it if you do.

Good luck on your return home and embracing your culture and heritage.

@John *********

are you taking any other classes or just learning Thai?

How much is that costing you?

Given your profile pic I’m honestly surprised.

Has she gotten visas for other major nations besides France/EU?

Normally once you get a few of those getting into the US isn’t hard.

Also what were the answers to those questions they ask?

Any red flags in her past including visible on social media?

While the interview is the final say of course some prefiltering happens. To me the shortness of the interview suggest something flagged before the interview.

And the questions were just to confirm.

Like if you or her owned bars in Pattaya for example. Which would suggest sex work.

And even visa free nationals get esta denials over sex work. Including a recent case an OnlyFans model had.

Not saying or suggesting you or her are into the bar scene. Just giving it as an example.

Digital nomad work might flag too since it suggests she would be working while in the US. And the US is not grey at all when it comes to digital nomads.

Housesitting also flags them and gets denials since under US law that is work.

@Andrew ********

seem far too many people waste loads more chasing it.

By all means do due diligence but that is normally best done up front. Once you have to get lawyers involved in recovery it’s math vs your ego. And often the only winners are the lawyers.

Once the money is “invested” it is what it is. Either you will see a return or you kiss it good bye.

@Andrew ********

I’m not Peter but common sense.

Even in the US or UK a story like this (what we know at least) has very little chance of recovering money.

Why would I expect more chance in Thailand where we have all seen versions of this time after time.

To have any chance of recovery depends on exactly how the deal (you’d be surprised how many around the world have nothing on paper) was structured.

Then winning a civil lawsuit.

Then actually enforcing a collection.

Even in the best of situations that’s unlikely. And like I said I am talking even in the US or UK.

Investing in a business is high risk even when structured well. And no you can’t just ask for money back and get it.

A business partner may agree to buy you out, pay you back, and etc. but unless it is on paper they don’t have to.

I have a saying

Never waste good chasing bad

Be that money or times.

By all means consult a lawyer. But don’t spend a load of money if you have little chance of recovering it.

And your chance to recover depends on many things.

I personally would not expect my money back based on what little you shared.

@John *********

nor did I say it was legal. These is no law that says it is nor is there case law saying said interpretation is the correct legal interpretation.

What I am saying is it is a grey area. And you are saying it isn’t and then turning around and describing it as one.

Though I feel it is light grey where clearly you think it is dark grey.

But if you were in digital nomad communities you would know how big a deal the raids were and how fast officials “corrected” course and told them they were not breaking the law and it was allowed.

Considering it was low level officials and police who did these raids I think it is safe to assume the call for release and etc came from higher up.

So yes I think it is clear the current interpretation of Thai law is that it is allowed. Again that doesn’t mean it is legal. But it means a bit more than your statement that they are simply not pursuing it.

Because they have “arrested” people for it on multiple occasions and they have been let go. Why? They were told because they were not breaking the law and/or it was allowed.

We wouldn’t see people caught in such raids being let go if it was merely about not pursuing it. No they wanted to make it clear that it was allowed.

Thailand and many other countries are well aware that many tourists and especially the most desirable (Aka rich) tourists do various levels of work while on vacation.

It’s why nearly every country has a bit of grey or spelled out exceptions for what work is allowed. Even the US does. You can see what kind of “work” is allowed on a B2 visa for example.

In Thailand currently they allow it. And when that changes it will be all over digital nomad groups. Word spreads pretty fast any time anyone is seemingly arrested, deported or etc for remote work.

But considering they are making special long term visas for high paid remote workers I doubt that will happen.

They will continue to keep out the ones they don’t want using enforcement of immigration laws. Like the current crack down on the fake volunteer visas. And how they are handling those who took advantage of (and maybe abused) the covid extensions.

@John *********

there have literally been raids and “arrests” on co-working spaces over the years. The digital nomads were released and as I said some low level officials have made statements about it being allowed.

In most countries it is grey because of how they define work based on the interpretation of the laws.

Thailand is the only one I know of personally that has had even low level officials say it is allowed.

It is still grey because at any time the official interpretation of the law could change.

Side note: you should not bring up the “working” part to officials as even if technically it is allowed most wouldn’t know or understand that.

No reason to cause issues for yourself.

You are in Thailand as a tourist, retiree, or etc. keep it simple. That is the stuff they care about.

This is a digital nomad issue.

Current interpretation of Thai law is that working online for companies and businesses outside of Thailand is not “work” as defined by Thailand for needing a work permit and even taxation.

Low level officials over the years have said as much. Such as public statements made after the arrest and release of digital nomads at co working locations.

All digital nomading is grey areas. Thailand just happens to be really light grey.

Basically if you don’t talk about it you seemingly will be fine.