OxfordWill

h90, on 2012-04-24 07:24:34, said:

Updated campaign poster :

Clearly more info is urgently needed before more comments apart from offering condolenses can be made.

For around 3000 - 3500 you can pickup an apartment in Maha Sarakham (smallish room, but with aircon / hot water / farang toilet).  For a little more, you can have a bigger room, for a little less you can drop the aircon.  Electricity/aircon use would push it up a bit, particularly if you're working inside your apt all day during the hot season.

In regards to if offering him advice on accommodation is in breach of forum rules, I really don't think so.  Offering him advice on how to best avoid detection by immigration would be, but he didn't ask that question.  Also it's questionable on whether he needs a work permit anyway, as he's working in cyberspace, and so long as he's registered for tax in one country (And qualifies as a resident there, which I think is spending more than 50% of the tax year in the country), he's technically working there (as his office is in cyberspace, regardless of where his home is).  It's very similar, to whether a tourist could potentially be deported for answering a business phone call or sending a business e-mail while on holiday.  But then I'm no specialist in tax/immigration law, just offering my 2c lol.

Anyway, good luck and if you seriously think about coming to Maha Sarakham to stay, msg me on the forums here and I'll give you some advice on suitable apartments.

Beetlejuice, on 2012-03-07 14:23:27, said:

so what about the border police who take back handers and the traffic police who make there own laws to take money from you or the local buisness people who charge you a different price because your a farang... Do they do you any favours?????? Why dont you complain about real corruption in this country?? oh im sorry your voice is not heard is it and you say you live a clean life having never done anything wrong in your life yet you live in 1 of the most corrupt countries in the world... very strange choice

As others have said, there are many apartments that can be rented for 3000 baht per month. But do be aware of what you are getting. These are very, very primitive places. The security is non existent. It is good you plan on staying inside and working 16 hours a day and sleeping the other 8, because you run the risk of having someone break into your room if you don't. As a foreigner, you will stick out in this type of establishment. And even if you don't have any money, the prevailing stereotype in Thailand says that you do. If nothing else, your phone and your computer will be stolen. Make absolutely, 100% sure you have a backup plan if that happens.

Also, the cheapest accommodation balances out with the highest rate for electric and water. You will likely be limited to using an air card for internet service in these ultra low budget establishments, so add that in. Since you'll be inside nearly all the time you'll be using electricity all the time. And you'll likely pay at least 8 baht or more per kWh and 20 baht or so per cubic meter of water for the privilege. That adds up quick and turns your 3000 baht slice of heaven into something more along the lines of 7000 - 8000 baht. Nobody can sit inside a Thai furnace apartment without at least a fan. Even the Thais don't do it. And you'll be running a computer as well.

My advice is very strongly to raise your budget to 10k a month at least and get something you may actually have a chance of staying in. If you are really planning on working 16 hours a day and sleeping the other 8, accommodation is the absolute last place you want to skimp.  This is going to be your life, and living as they do in the jungle isn't as easy or romantic as it might seem to you right now.

Oh...and I hope you enjoy sleeping on a plank of wood. Because that is the kind of mattress you are going to have in the cheapest place. You may like the rent, but I doubt your back will after a few days.  Some of these concerns may sound irrelevant, but believe me they add up over time. 6 months is a long time to be miserable.

So do I understand correctly....

if you sit on your sofa and drink beer Leo, then you are a legal expat.

If you move over to your computer and do something which generates some income without having any effect on Thailand, the Thai economy...

.... then you are an illegal, criminal immigrant who shall be deported and detained.

If the criminal energy of illegal immigrants in our home countries would be just on this level, I think we would be much happier....


.

I'm not going to offer any opinion on how to interpret the Thai laws and regs on the OP's situation.

But it's certainly true that laws always lag behind technological developments and innovation, especially in Thailand.

So this is just my opinion: if someone is contributing to an online business from Thailand where his/her proceeds are principally earned abroad, the product is produced and principally sold abroad, it's hard to fathom how or why a Thai work permit OUGHT to be required in such a situation.