Thailand Expats - Web designer moving to phuket September 2006! Got any advice dudes?

focus360 · #1 14-07-2006, 06:33

Hi there

Im moving to Phuket in September 2006. Im intending to earn a living on internet based companies, as well as my proffesion website design. The idea is to work for companies outside of thailand, who will be paying a company I have registered outside thailand..

Am I going to have any problems in thailand with out a work permit, obviously as far as I am concerned I will be a tourist. However I will have to rent a house (im hoping for about 12000 baht). As Im a farang am I going to have any problems getting a super hot internet connection? Im on 8mb broadband at the moment! I will obviously be doing a visa run each month untlil I register a thai company and get a permit.

Im going and Im pretty strapped, and not wanting to cane my savings. Can I get by in Phuket with 30000 baht per month? if business is not good!!

Coolhand · #2 14-07-2006, 06:38

Don't think you will get broadband or a telephone line on a tourist visa, though I may be wrong! Three consecutive tourist visas is the maximum allowed, IIRC.

stevem · #3 14-07-2006, 06:54

First off have a browse through the expat forum and read previous posts about the internet on the island. Although it does seem to be on the improve of late, but really does depend on where you are on the island. Phone lines are also another issue, as they are not readily available in some parts of the island.

And as CH stated you will have problems getting most things on a TV. There are also other discussions about basic living costs on the island, dont forget about insurance and transport.

Others are doing it, so it is possible, but you must have an income source to fall back on.

focus360 · #4 14-07-2006, 06:55

Is this right? I know I can apply for a 4 entry tourist visa from the start. Costs me 7000 baht. Then I assumed it will just be a case of getting a tourist visa each time I go on my visa run to malaysia.

Ive done my research and didnt think I would have a problem as long as I leave the country every month?

I should be able to put the internet in my thai girlfriends name then.

stevem · #5 14-07-2006, 06:59

This was another one of those pea brain ideas that they came up with, but fortunately they didnt really follow through with it, although it is on the books so it could be enforced without notice.

focus360 · #6 14-07-2006, 07:09

I thought I had heard of this.

So as it stands I can do the visa runs for as long as I want.

Surely they wont enforce the 3 month idea without first changing the company and work permit laws...

Im guessing I should just do my move to thailand and worry about the 3 month thing if it happens. As it clearly wont be just be that it shafts!

stevem · #7 14-07-2006, 07:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by focus360

Surely they wont enforce the 3 month idea without first changing the company and work permit laws...

You dont really know or understand Thailand do you!!! Seriously though, things can and do change without notice, and lots of changes dont seem to make a lot of sense. You must be prepared to just go with the flow and have sufficients available to cover anything unforseen.

focus360 · #8 14-07-2006, 07:45

Granted there is a lot I need to learn about thailand. I'll turn up in September on my tourist visa and assess the situation then.

Whats your opinion on keeping my kick ass camera equipment and Macbook pro in my phuket accomodation? - Break in's arent common are they?

stevem · #9 14-07-2006, 08:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by focus360

Whats your opinion on keeping my kick ass camera equipment and Macbook pro in my phuket accomodation? - Break in's arent common are they?

Petty crime and break ins are very common. In regards to your equipment, you should give some thought about bringing it in through customs. Depending on how much and the type of equipment you have, they may give you some looking over if your coming in on a TV.

You really should be reading through everything on this board and also have a look at www.thaivisa.com. You need to have a greater understanding of the way things work.

hgl · #10 14-07-2006, 12:34

Focus,

I think Visa and cost of living is the least of your problems in LOS. I just posted a similar reply on the tread "Visa run".
However, my own experience is that reliability is another matter entirely. Hell, I cant even get 8 BM ADSL in the UK let alone in Phuket or Pattaya for that matter. Some people on Phuket can't even get telephone but there is always the option of Satelite of course. My own experience with that is, not in LOS mind, that in bad weather the reliability can be ropey to say the least!
And yes, have enough funds to fall back on it if needed. Being farang and penniless is not a good mixture in LOS!
just my humple opinion!

LivinLOS · #11 14-07-2006, 13:01

Internet here is pretty sucky.. ADSL went down 3 days ago for me and still no engineer (promised each day).. Dial up is giving me 24kbps connections !!!

To see 1mbps is a major major coup !! But as stated its not just speed.. Bad lines mean when it rains net drops.. Its just not reliable.

Visa.. You dont say where you are from but you should look at sorting out a triple tourist visa (I know of know consul or embassy that gives a 4x tourist.. It was available but I dont think they issue them anywhere) or better a non imm..

Insomniac · #12 14-07-2006, 16:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Coolhand

Don't think you will get broadband or a telephone line on a tourist visa, though I may be wrong! Three consecutive tourist visas is the maximum allowed, IIRC.

This can't be true.... I still don't have my work permit so i've been going in and out for about a year now... Never had any problems with immigration...

Please explain...

urtheman · #13 14-07-2006, 16:18

I had a friend who did internet security and he had to move to Bangkok as he wasn't able to conduct his business properly in Phuket due to speed,reliability and availablity.

I don't know that much about it but sometimes it moves really slow here.

Cheers!

focus360 · #14 14-07-2006, 18:06

So could anyone reccomend where internet connection is most reliable in Phuket? I know its not going to be as reliable as my 8mb here in the UK. But connection on Koh Samui wasn't to bad. I was assuming Phuket would be better.

syeatman · #15 14-07-2006, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by focus360

So could anyone reccomend where internet connection is most reliable in Phuket? I know its not going to be as reliable as my 8mb here in the UK. But connection on Koh Samui wasn't to bad. I was assuming Phuket would be better.

Pot luck! you could move somewhere that has been recommended as decent and get a dud line that goes down all the time.

I've been lucky where I am, and even though was a slow connection it is very stable. The only issue I do have is when the bad weather rolls in and the power keeps cycling so losing the net connection. Also another reason I only use a laptop and not a desktop (even though a UPS should take care of it).

Izzy · #16 14-07-2006, 18:51

Do the dial up connections have as much problems as the ADSL? For me as long as I can get even a couple of kbs dial up in the worst weather would be good.

LivinLOS · #17 14-07-2006, 18:59

Keeping a few different dial up cards around is usually a good standby..

focus360 · #18 14-07-2006, 19:31

I'll get a reasonable spec and see what happens. Get the the dial up cards just in case (arrrrghhhh!!!).

I was in another expat forum and all I got was abuse telling me to write a business plan, stop dreaming, my thai girls after my money, im going to be conned blah blah blah! So cheers everyone... people in this forum actually help.

But if you want to give me some abuse i'm moving to Phuket and have never actually been there (well ive been to Phuket town for 1 night!). May sound stupid I might not even like the place! But fcuk it - im looking forward to it!

LivinLOS · #19 15-07-2006, 09:26

Get and establish as many client relations as you can now.. Keeping UK value clients will be the key to having a real income.

LivinLOS · #20 15-07-2006, 09:27

BTW I have a project for a php programmer and graphic artist.. Long term profit share acceptable as it will be a large job.

Nicke · #21 15-07-2006, 16:29

Yes but dont be surprised when and if they start to enforce it, it may be when all imigration points is connected to the new computer system.

I think the reason behind it was to make it harder for people who work here illegally on tourist visas, as long term visitors should have real visas.

I have one year visa and work permit myself, make things easier anyway.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Insomniac

This can't be true.... I still don't have my work permit so i've been going in and out for about a year now... Never had any problems with immigration...

Please explain...

Insomniac · #22 19-07-2006, 09:37

Oh i see... Oh well, i will be getting mine soon anyway. Then i won't have to keep going to singapore.... God that place is getting more and more expensive every year...

LivinLOS · #23 19-07-2006, 09:50

But dont you still do visa runs unless you earn min wage (50 - 60k depending on nationality per month) and pay all your taxes on it, as well as employing legally 4 Thais though.

So unless your happy to spend lots of money to clear it you still do visa runs.

focus360 · #24 08-08-2006, 02:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

BTW I have a project for a php programmer and graphic artist.. Long term profit share acceptable as it will be a large job.

Im not an advanced php programmer (yet!). However, amongst otherthings I have php experiance in: eccomerce, cms, community sites, recruitment sites, dating sites etc. Graphic skills are excellent. Arrive in phuket at the end of September, so if your interested let me know.

Anyway I just read LivingLOS''s windscreen thread... ouch!!!

Nicke · #25 08-08-2006, 05:09

I may have work for you, I have many ideas I want to develop but I dont have time myself. So see you when you live here.

Quote:

Originally Posted by focus360

Im not an advanced php programmer (yet!). However, amongst otherthings I have php experiance in: eccomerce, cms, community sites, recruitment sites, dating sites etc. Graphic skills are excellent. Arrive in phuket at the end of September, so if your interested let me know.

Anyway I just read LivingLOS''s windscreen thread... ouch!!!