I’ve lived here in Thailand for the past 30 years. Always worked outside of the country. You obviously knew that you needed a work permit, just as anyone else. In fact, being a tour guide, as a foreigner, is a restricted profession and you’re not even allowed to work doing this. Therefore, even if you’d applied for a work permit, after getting a business visa (non immigrant B), they would have turned you down for it. Working here is the same as any country. How do you think a Thai would have faired in the UK wanting to work on a tourist visa? The same thing would have happened to them as it do you. Trying to circumvent the rules of any countries visa regulations is always going to get you sooner or later. If you want to come back and work, get a non immigrant visa “B” and come out and find a firm to employ you. If they are a proper firm, they’ll apply for a work permit for you, then you can start working, except in the tourism industry which is only available to Thais.
Thank you so much for the comment this will help a lot of people. I knew this was the case but the company said if was find to take us out there as a consultant but asked us to carry out work of a rep, going on day trips with them, taking them on bar crawls, we got free meals and drinks at bars for brining people. they since tried to cover there arse and say i went against training and took part in a daytime activity but as far as i know the rules don't change from day and night haha it was all a mess and they know this because no one is working this year. Id love to come back ill just take care of myself this time. Thanks again for your comment
Living 30 years in Thailand yet you completely disregard the blatant corruption of the main institutions here? Please... the immigration police, the RTP and the court system are corrupted to the core especially down south in Phuket. It's a golden parachute for any immigration officer in the country and they all compete to get a position there. Also you'd never get a 5 years sentence for working illegally as a tour guide in European countries, that's just not true. Thousands of illegal workers in Phuket, the employers just know the right people and pay them.
Just come to the USA . Sneak in get caught on purpose and get a 3000 dollar gift card . Free hotel, food card, free health insurance 🎉😂😮. True all true.
We can't imagine what your line of thinking was and that is ok. Thanks for sharing your experience. Respectfully, when people are directing rude comments towards, you don't need to reply. We all have mishaps in life. Glad you are safe. We need to lead with compassion more.
This Has really made my day, thank you so much i have nothing but respect for everyone involved and have attacked anyone. And i just mean good by posting this to help others being sold the dream life. so thank you again for your kind words.
I totally agree. The key takeaway from his story is how close he came to ending up in jail. A Thai jail is way worse than you’d think. If you’re a foreigner, steer clear!
I worked for 2 years for the Tourist Police in Phuket,All of you guys know what visa you're on when you arrive here, Tourist with no work permitted under any circumstances and a quick visit to the immigration website would have confirmed that, Working illegally in Thailand is a serious offence and you were lucky you were not deported for breaking the visa regulations here, Ignorance of foreign laws here is no excuse for breaking them so own it mate and move on.
3 minutes in i thought, sounds illegal. The thai rep is the guide, you can't be a tour guide. I worked many years as a dive instructor in Thailand, but always with work permit. Your employer sure know about this. Even with a work permit , read what you can do , you can't guide turists!
Understood, the Thai's are the guides we take them to Parties, look after them ect.... the police thought i was the guide as no one was wearing a badge. and the company had no correct paper work the say otherwise. so it took a long time to fight was role is what ect... but the job role and the consultant contract is clever from the company but the job role describes a guide. very wrong!
I have had a motorcycle accident. They have kept my passport for nearly a year now. Court session scheduled for October. Potential prison sentence is much higher, but I hope that the case has to be dismissed/dropped. At times I am also very worried. I havent been lucky with my lawyer. I also feel like lacking support even though, or maybe especially as I am have 2 children. Thank you for making this video.
I’m sorry so to hear this! I really hope they decide to no prosecute and you can get the result you need! Remain calm. I’m wishing all the best for you my friend it’s not a nice experience at all 😫
Thanks bro for sharing with us your experience. For sure we start to keep in mind lots of things! Sometimes life sucks! Stay strong and keep travelling! Regards!
While you may have viewed your experience as rather unlucky, all the information that is needed about working legally in Thailand is available online. A quick google search reveals all. So, did you search or just go along for the ride? Something is very wrong about your tale of woe. I'm sure your experience was unpleasant, but it really is easy to find the information. All of this would've been avoided by a bit of quick research.
Hi Matthew, i knew it was all wrong ive been to Thailand many of times before. i was sold a dream and told its all fine when questioned and i went anyway. "Stupidly" i paid for not listening to myself and trusting this company.
A sobering tale, however you were not 'very unlucky' more like naive. I've been going to Thailand since the 90's and like you fell in love with the country and always wished to go live & work there. Over time I became aware of the work permit restrictions, so kind of gave up on the idea of working there. However, I was lucky enough to get a job offer. This involved getting a work permit, which means personally attending an immigration department office (every year) and getting a little blue book, sponsored by your employer. Working without that (and quite likely getting caught) you're going to experience a world of pain & trauma, as you found. Unlike the UK, Thailand is very stringent about restricting jobs for their own nationals. The crystal clear point to be made in your summary should be, Do Not Work in Thailand Without a Work Permit !
@@bofelden8433 Not particularly a good boy. But I sat and listened to Callum's story where he seems to make out he was a victim and unlucky when in fact his own naivety put him in a very risky, bad situation. Many kids may watch this video not realising his pain was self induced, he was mug enough to trust the dodgy 'company' to protect him. Some very simple checking by him would have made clear the risk he was putting himself in (i.e. the worst experience in an ant, mosquito & cockroach infested prison cell) was maybe not worth it. The UK nanny state you're used to, where you likely get off with a slapped wrist, is a very different prospect to the authorities in Thailand. But hey, if that floats your boat go for it 😂
RED FLAGs: - Bent Contract / Tourist Visa / No work Permit / Being Naive / Being Young / Your employer who didn't care / ANSWER: - Never trust anyone / do your own research and get proper advice / Never sign an NDA
I Do mate yes, i actually spoke to family before leaving saying i don't agree with the contract and 7 years it has not happened to anyone in the company yet it did to me i knew it was wrong! i should not of put trust in the company to deal with the visa and i should of just got one for myself. i paid for it big time! Thanks for the comment mate
What if you are a digital nomad with a business in the UK and still have clients to deal with x ? Do they need a work visa even then if its a u.s. company or uk
hey, this is where no one knows where the line is. a lot of governments now offer digital nomad visa's in my case i was working for a uk Company not Thai and i collected content and looked after the uk people not guiding them. so this helped in my case. digital nomads are still working on tourist visa's as you are a tourist but completing remote work not making money of the locals so huge vlogers like Kara and Nate have spoke about this they wasn't allowed to film in a national park. if your spending more than 3 months in one place i would 100% be getting a visa and any longer than that look at tax complication not being in your host country but the system has not caught up with the digital work life and a lot of governments cant really do anything because nothing is in Place for such workers. If you're unsure at any point hire a visa agency to look after you in the country they helped me so much when i was living in Bali
Reputable tour agencies hire Tour group leaders, who represent the non-Thai-based tour company, they aren't supposed to be guides the Thai guides do that. The group leader is an intermediary position, they don't actually act as a guide. This guy didn't understand his job position and was working as a guide, it seems for an illegitimate tour company.
Unfortunately you can’t go back to Thailand anymore. You are banned from Thailand for life. You don’t have work permits. It’s required to get work permit from consulate. You have accepted that.
I can go back to Thaialnd and I am! After the investigation I have court papers to state I am not prosecuted. I’m welcomed to Thailand from all my friends and family that live there. This is no reflection of me it’s has been a reflection of a poorly run company who can no longer have uk staff 🙏🏼 thanks for your concern Scott
Lived here in Thailand for over 30 years, use to work here in the early days. The companies, oil field, always applied for the correct visa and obtained a work permit. As others have stated certain job types are off limits to foreigners, I can understand how you may not have known this, why would you. The company you worked for though would have for sure known all of the legal requirements. They were just taking advantage of your lack of knowledge. There has been a big clamp down recently in the tourism sector due to complaints from the Thai people, mainly aimed at Chinese companies. You just got caught up in it, I would have been very surprised though if you got 5 years. Well done for putting this out there for others to learn from. I hope you can return and enjoy the country.
Thank you for your comment, i really hope it stops people just jumping on a plane and working for anyone. i knew i had to have a permit and all my foreign friends have them who live on Samui i just trusted the wrong company. Thanks again for your comment i do hope to return and enjoy it again.
Very common in Thailand, the employer convinces the employee everything is fine but rhe employee takes the heat at the end of the day. Even when one tries to insist that everything is done above board, you cannot be sure. I am owed a lot of money in unpaid salaries from working in Thailand. Got my work permits but not the pay promised.
i hope everyone read your comment. Calling me Naive and saying i dont know ect.... it does not matter what you know or who you work for if the thai's see it as wrong they you are screwed!
@@al69420 thank you mate 🙏🏼 I worked my arse off for the company and I don’t mean bad to anyone, just got to pay attention to the details 🙏🏼 thanks for your comment
Thai's are hundred percent about paperwork and following the process and laws. It is better for them to have thai workers anyways. Glad it worked out for you.
Thank you, i could say so much more on the company and how this was delt with and the fact no one is going out this year just says how bad it was. I'm glad we had good lawyers.
mmm...Never heard of prison sentences in this tyoe of cases (unless drugs are involved generally)..I've been working here in Thailand for 12 years now (legally, i have a WP). I saw quite a few people getting caught along the way, working illegally, in all kinds of trades (tour guide like you, trainer, teacher etc..etc..). They never got a prison sentence for that but did get thrown out of Thailand (and prohibited from entering the kingdom for quite a few years). . Cheers
Don't know if you listened but i did my home work and new it was wrong, but i put trust in a company who said it was fine under the contract i was fulfilling. I should of done the legal stuff myself 100% i was lazy and stupid i paid for it.
Wouldn't say it was Native as i've lived in Asia a long time and new it wasn't right before i left. Stupidity of putting my trust in a company is more correct haha i do hope this video helps someone and youngster is very kind of you but i guess am younger than yourself.
I am love with videos like this of yt ppl thinking they can be yt ppl in someone else’s country. Only better ending would be you actually getting 5 years
As an aside.....Why on Earth do you feel the need to play "Tinketbell Music" while you are reciting a serious matter ? Or any music for that matter..............
You took a job that you had no qualifications to do. You failed to due diligence on your own behalf. You are not a victim here. Both you and the business that sent you there are in the wrong.
@@callumlakin Ye live and live, barely living. 178 stidges on the body trying to be a dad for 3 children the best i can. Warriors never die before they get killed
@@iloveNilas Bro, I got detention at school once when I was 11. Bro I was locked up in the library for 45 minutes with no TV or PHONE!!! Pretty much solitary confinement at that point. So I feel you man. Its tough being thug life like us.
If it was another location, I think you would not be arrested…still not a good idea to work without a permit. With so many Russians visiting, living and (illegally) working as tour guides in Phuket, the police presence at touristy locations are high. Some bad luck involved.
Yeah i spoke to the police, they said they have a target to catch 3 cases per day. So with the amount of people working was crazy. i worked for a uk based company and was not getting any money from a Thai company so my case was handled differently. Super bad luck to wrong place wrong time the whole day was a mess haha
I must be particularly thick but I found this kind of hard to follow. I mean I assume you were some sort of unofficial holiday rep but how that works, how you were recruited etc would have been nice to know at the start. You kept talking about "we" and " the team" like everyone reading knows who that is. I just think if you're new to the channel and don't happen to know you personally in real life then there's a lot of assumed knowledge, but regardless an interesting video anyway. This year "they've decided not to send anyone out" ..,"they'll only use Thai reps" Who is "they"? Plus you said you were doing this "tour" independently so what do "they" have to do with it? Maybe next time start with a bit about yourself, who you work for and how you came to get the job, what the job is exactly etc would be helpful.
I watched the first twelve minutes of this, so pardon me if you answer my question further on. My question is this: You appear to have known very little about Thailand before you were arrested. How the heck did you get a job as a tour guide? Am I understanding correctly that somebody in Bali hired you to be a guide in Thailand? That wasn't a huge red flag for you? I'm confused.
Hi Steve, my background is not shared on this video or how i got the job. Ive been full time travelling for 3 years and lived in Asia for a long time and have spent a lot of time in Thailand unlike many people in the comments think i knew all about the law's what was needed for work ect.... Maybe i did not explain it well on the video..... The company is uk Based and American owned. The fed flags where 100% there as i said i questioned them about my visa ect... i was assured that they knew the requirements as they have Thai legal teams ect.... i just put my trust in there system and was let down and all my worries and points was proven. It's never happened in 7 years of tour running tours but it happened to me who "knew" it was wrong.
And why shouldn’t he? Thais are racist, yes. So what? Why shouldn’t they be? It’s THEIR country, just as the UK is (or used to be) our country. If only the English looked after themselves and each other, just like the Thais do. Stay strong Thailand, never change. Unlike ‘multi-culti UK.
sounds pretty easy for you and you are entirely at fault here, i did 24 hours crashing my car (avoided a dog), was alright sat with some thai doods eating hotdogs and cake lol... let out the next day like you on bail and they kept my passport. This is entirely your fault for working without a visa unfortunatly pal as in the uk we cant work without work permits, there are next to no companies in thailand who can offer a work visa and its very long drawn out process, pretty much every foreigner here teaching thai in schools is also doing what you did except they did not go out into the busiest part of phuket and flaunt it, you should know you as a uk man cannot work, certinally not in that realm of work (tour guide?), Why did you not clock that before even starting working? its very known fact do not work here without a work visa, that company could never in a million years afford to offer you a work visa. They did not fight your corner at all they simply paid the police to get you out but more so to save themselves from being looked into more, call it a gift to go away. If someone came to the UK and worked illegally theyd also get in trouble. I have been here for 11 years so im not giving you greif mate but just very silly idea, but hey man its all good you have some stories to tell now, i also had to go through the to and through to the police station, you should know you cannot work here and any company saying you can it lieing to you, its on you not the company, i assure you as i haver worked legally for an IT company and it is a bluechip company, even they struggled to get my work visa, you will never ever get a work visa here unless you set a company up yourself which needs atleast 3 thai members of staff and alot of money.. or go to a really legit international school, tourism forget it, most jobs are held for thais and tourism is a no go, this is not spain, but yeah hope yuour good man, your entirely in the wrong though, I know people who got arrested for lifting a glass up to help there wife, the company led you into a lie, but you are wrong by the law entirely and its up to you in futute to check, your extremely lucky you only spend a few hours in, i did 24 hours for far less and i wasnt at fault at all. You can directly ask thai immagration if the company you work for has valid work permits and more so if your ok to work, do this before taking anyone elses work. You really just cant swan in here and think you can work becuase some tour agency said you could, and rightly so. They used you as marketing ploy, end of the day they dont care about you at all, theyll no doubt use several people like you in this situation. There is nothing for you to deal with now, you commited a crime and got off VERY lightly, you are beyond lucky mate, not the agency job to care, your very lucky to now be in prison for years, the travel agency owe you nothing and legally you can do nothing, its YOUR responsbility to check your here on the right visa NOT the company, you are lucky they even bothered to help you in anyway. Anyway glad your out and glad its all over for you. You live and learn mate.
Sorry…. But did you say that you followed the tours during the 5 months of you waiting for a verdict/result in your case? Does that mean you continued to do what you got caught for whilst awaiting your fate? I got a little confused on that part? I’m glad you are out of that mess and are safe and well anyways bud. Count yourself a very lucky man and take it as a lesson learned. I utterly respect how the Thais deal with this sort of thing. They do not piss around when it comes to people entering or working in their country illegally. They are super strict on these matters. And are making more stringent laws all the time to keep their country and citizens safe. They are aware that if they start to relax these laws then every Tom dick and harry will want a piece of Thailand and it will be over run by criminals and no gooders. It will then lose control and it’s charm. This is what makes Thailand the magical kingdom it is. I only wish our “United Kingdom” would of taken a leaf from their book a long time ago. Then we wouldn’t be in the shit we are now. Try getting on a boat full of people and entering Thai waters in order to take advantage of their national health service and social security benefits… and see where that gets you? The uk is on it knees now! 😢
If you walk up Sukhumvit road in Bangkok there are African gangs openly drug dealing right outside the police posts. I’m guessing they’re working without a work permit. I don’t condone this guy working as a tour guide without a visa but it’s not the worst thing people do in Thailand.
A red flag 🚩 would’ve been A Company in Bali a whole different country hiring People to Work In Thailand , knowing how strict Thailands immigration Laws for Visa are. Knowingly just of simple Internet research on what jobs are restricted by Thailands laws for foreigners to occupy wouldnkeep a person in good visa grace. Its a known fact A guide licensed for tours in Thailand is strictly reserved for Thais So are communication jobs , Hair Salon work even if you’re a licensed electrician or Brick layer in your country of origin and You buy a Condo. And repairs are necessary if you’re on a retirement visa you can NOT do any work in Your Condo for home improvements whatsoever They would hold a hearing to revoke your retirement visa Point of fact any company looking to hire workers in Thailand will be investigated to see if compliant . Mechanics same situation your not permitted to service your own vehicle Auto or Motobike .
You got really unlucky mate. There is so many people working in Thailand without a visa. I think it could have been handled a lot better by simply paying the first person that approached you.
Yes, me to i thought that would of been it but my thai tour guide did all the talking and boom i was in a cell 6 hours later with no idea what was going on! Very unlucky but a big lesson for me.
In what world did he "get really unlucky"? You think that because he worked without a work permit, got caught, and wasn't able to just bribe his way out of it that's "unlucky"? Wow He's implicitly blaming the Thai rep in this comment who has nothing to do with it and actually helped get him out posting bail etc. unbelievable.
Hope you're doing okay. Its an awful experience and like you say in the other comment who are we to know when this information isnt shared when we agree to work or help another company. our lives are at risk and some comments on here make me laugh.
People judge yet when ya go out there and this information was never available or no one told you, how are you to know, and dont say its commin sense, you need to have this information for it to be common sense. If no knowledge or wisdom is passed to you then whats your parameters
I’ve lived here in Thailand for the past 30 years. Always worked outside of the country. You obviously knew that you needed a work permit, just as anyone else. In fact, being a tour guide, as a foreigner, is a restricted profession and you’re not even allowed to work doing this. Therefore, even if you’d applied for a work permit, after getting a business visa (non immigrant B), they would have turned you down for it. Working here is the same as any country. How do you think a Thai would have faired in the UK wanting to work on a tourist visa? The same thing would have happened to them as it do you. Trying to circumvent the rules of any countries visa regulations is always going to get you sooner or later. If you want to come back and work, get a non immigrant visa “B” and come out and find a firm to employ you. If they are a proper firm, they’ll apply for a work permit for you, then you can start working, except in the tourism industry which is only available to Thais.
Thank you so much for the comment this will help a lot of people. I knew this was the case but the company said if was find to take us out there as a consultant but asked us to carry out work of a rep, going on day trips with them, taking them on bar crawls, we got free meals and drinks at bars for brining people. they since tried to cover there arse and say i went against training and took part in a daytime activity but as far as i know the rules don't change from day and night haha it was all a mess and they know this because no one is working this year. Id love to come back ill just take care of myself this time. Thanks again for your comment
Living 30 years in Thailand yet you completely disregard the blatant corruption of the main institutions here? Please... the immigration police, the RTP and the court system are corrupted to the core especially down south in Phuket. It's a golden parachute for any immigration officer in the country and they all compete to get a position there. Also you'd never get a 5 years sentence for working illegally as a tour guide in European countries, that's just not true. Thousands of illegal workers in Phuket, the employers just know the right people and pay them.
@@callumlakinreally mature and intelligent response to a quite critical comment
Of course foreign tour guides can work in Thailand if qualified international guides, foreign tour groups come with foreign guides a lot.
Just come to the USA .
Sneak in get caught on purpose and get a 3000 dollar gift card . Free hotel, food card, free health insurance 🎉😂😮. True all true.
We can't imagine what your line of thinking was and that is ok. Thanks for sharing your experience. Respectfully, when people are directing rude comments towards, you don't need to reply. We all have mishaps in life. Glad you are safe. We need to lead with compassion more.
This Has really made my day, thank you so much i have nothing but respect for everyone involved and have attacked anyone. And i just mean good by posting this to help others being sold the dream life. so thank you again for your kind words.
I totally agree. The key takeaway from his story is how close he came to ending up in jail. A Thai jail is way worse than you’d think. If you’re a foreigner, steer clear!
I worked for 2 years for the Tourist Police in Phuket,All of you guys know what visa you're on when you arrive here, Tourist with no work permitted under any circumstances and a quick visit to the immigration website would have confirmed that, Working illegally in Thailand is a serious offence and you were lucky you were not deported for breaking the visa regulations here, Ignorance of foreign laws here is no excuse for breaking them so own it mate and move on.
Captions "5 years in prison", actually 6 hours 😴
LOL
Banged up aboard 😞 Glad you are free, stay strong, take care 🙏
I should get on the tv show right? haha thanks mate was a tough old time but back and all good now! 🙏
5 years in prison? No that's not true.
I don't think you stayed overnight . You people with BS thumbnails.😮
To me, spending 5 hours in a Thai jail feels like spending 5 years in a UK jail.
@@weekdaycyclingNo. That's a huge exaggeration
@@weekdaycyclingyou never been to jail huh…
What a dark time and story, you did so well getting thru, thanks for sharing.
Thank you. It was rough but lessons are learnt and a little Character building.
So title should say 5 months waiting to get my passport back not 5 years in prison lol
SO SORRY! Thank you for sharing!
Best of Luck!!
3 minutes in i thought, sounds illegal. The thai rep is the guide, you can't be a tour guide. I worked many years as a dive instructor in Thailand, but always with work permit. Your employer sure know about this. Even with a work permit , read what you can do , you can't guide turists!
Understood, the Thai's are the guides we take them to Parties, look after them ect.... the police thought i was the guide as no one was wearing a badge. and the company had no correct paper work the say otherwise. so it took a long time to fight was role is what ect... but the job role and the consultant contract is clever from the company but the job role describes a guide. very wrong!
@@callumlakin unfortunately as foreigners here, we can't do anything to do with doing tour's, even if we have a local tour guide or manager with us
I have had a motorcycle accident. They have kept my passport for nearly a year now. Court session scheduled for October. Potential prison sentence is much higher, but I hope that the case has to be dismissed/dropped. At times I am also very worried. I havent been lucky with my lawyer. I also feel like lacking support even though, or maybe especially as I am have 2 children. Thank you for making this video.
I’m sorry so to hear this! I really hope they decide to no prosecute and you can get the result you need! Remain calm. I’m wishing all the best for you my friend it’s not a nice experience at all 😫
In thailand?? Are you good now??
5 years in prison? That title is completely misleading.
Working without permission? What an idiot.
Perhaps it's because he didn't give the police officers a brown envelope.
And the company you worked for was called what?
Just found your channel Callum. Takes a lot of balls to sit and be honest. Fair play mate. Glad you’re ok
Thanks bro for sharing with us your experience. For sure we start to keep in mind lots of things!
Sometimes life sucks! Stay strong and keep travelling!
Regards!
While you may have viewed your experience as rather unlucky, all the information that is needed about working legally in Thailand is available online. A quick google search reveals all. So, did you search or just go along for the ride? Something is very wrong about your tale of woe. I'm sure your experience was unpleasant, but it really is easy to find the information. All of this would've been avoided by a bit of quick research.
Hi Matthew, i knew it was all wrong ive been to Thailand many of times before. i was sold a dream and told its all fine when questioned and i went anyway. "Stupidly" i paid for not listening to myself and trusting this company.
Nice you are free but did you spend whole 5 years in prison or payed fine came out.
A sobering tale, however you were not 'very unlucky' more like naive. I've been going to Thailand since the 90's and like you fell in love with the country and always wished to go live & work there. Over time I became aware of the work permit restrictions, so kind of gave up on the idea of working there. However, I was lucky enough to get a job offer. This involved getting a work permit, which means personally attending an immigration department office (every year) and getting a little blue book, sponsored by your employer.
Working without that (and quite likely getting caught) you're going to experience a world of pain & trauma, as you found.
Unlike the UK, Thailand is very stringent about restricting jobs for their own nationals.
The crystal clear point to be made in your summary should be, Do Not Work in Thailand Without a Work Permit !
Good boy. Always do what daddy state tells you to do.
@@bofelden8433 Not particularly a good boy. But I sat and listened to Callum's story where he seems to make out he was a victim and unlucky when in fact his own naivety put him in a very risky, bad situation. Many kids may watch this video not realising his pain was self induced, he was mug enough to trust the dodgy 'company' to protect him. Some very simple checking by him would have made clear the risk he was putting himself in (i.e. the worst experience in an ant, mosquito & cockroach infested prison cell) was maybe not worth it. The UK nanny state you're used to, where you likely get off with a slapped wrist, is a very different prospect to the authorities in Thailand. But hey, if that floats your boat go for it 😂
RED FLAGs: - Bent Contract / Tourist Visa / No work Permit / Being Naive / Being Young / Your employer who didn't care /
ANSWER: - Never trust anyone / do your own research and get proper advice / Never sign an NDA
So true.
Great video and great useful info. Sounds like you went through hell. The old saying be careful what you letting yourself in for.
thank you, i knew it was worth a share to help people and yes i was sold a dream and also sailed myself down the river haha lesson learnt.
Mate, I’ve never seen one of your videos but surely to god you know about a work visa?
I Do mate yes, i actually spoke to family before leaving saying i don't agree with the contract and 7 years it has not happened to anyone in the company yet it did to me i knew it was wrong! i should not of put trust in the company to deal with the visa and i should of just got one for myself. i paid for it big time! Thanks for the comment mate
In your video, you're just making excuses for your own stupidity. You and only you are to blame. You should have served a prison sentence ......
So happy to have been on that first tour, you were great! 🫶🏼
Thank you so much! it was an amazing time with you guys was for sure the highlight xx
What if you are a digital nomad with a business in the UK and still have clients to deal with x ? Do they need a work visa even then if its a u.s. company or uk
hey, this is where no one knows where the line is. a lot of governments now offer digital nomad visa's in my case i was working for a uk Company not Thai and i collected content and looked after the uk people not guiding them. so this helped in my case. digital nomads are still working on tourist visa's as you are a tourist but completing remote work not making money of the locals so huge vlogers like Kara and Nate have spoke about this they wasn't allowed to film in a national park. if your spending more than 3 months in one place i would 100% be getting a visa and any longer than that look at tax complication not being in your host country but the system has not caught up with the digital work life and a lot of governments cant really do anything because nothing is in Place for such workers. If you're unsure at any point hire a visa agency to look after you in the country they helped me so much when i was living in Bali
They are coming out with a new digital nomad visa in Thailand look into it
This experience for you Before I stay Thailand.... Nice to see you at home
Reputable tour agencies hire Tour group leaders, who represent the non-Thai-based tour company, they aren't supposed to be guides the Thai guides do that. The group leader is an intermediary position, they don't actually act as a guide. This guy didn't understand his job position and was working as a guide, it seems for an illegitimate tour company.
Unfortunately you can’t go back to Thailand anymore. You are banned from Thailand for life. You don’t have work permits. It’s required to get work permit from consulate. You have accepted that.
I can go back to Thaialnd and I am! After the investigation I have court papers to state I am not prosecuted. I’m welcomed to Thailand from all my friends and family that live there. This is no reflection of me it’s has been a reflection of a poorly run company who can no longer have uk staff 🙏🏼 thanks for your concern Scott
You still in thailand?
@@al69420 I’m not mate no but I’ll be back at the start of next year 🙏🏼
Lived here in Thailand for over 30 years, use to work here in the early days. The companies, oil field, always applied for the correct visa and obtained a work permit. As others have stated certain job types are off limits to foreigners, I can understand how you may not have known this, why would you. The company you worked for though would have for sure known all of the legal requirements. They were just taking advantage of your lack of knowledge. There has been a big clamp down recently in the tourism sector due to complaints from the Thai people, mainly aimed at Chinese companies. You just got caught up in it, I would have been very surprised though if you got 5 years.
Well done for putting this out there for others to learn from. I hope you can return and enjoy the country.
Thank you for your comment, i really hope it stops people just jumping on a plane and working for anyone. i knew i had to have a permit and all my foreign friends have them who live on Samui i just trusted the wrong company. Thanks again for your comment i do hope to return and enjoy it again.
Very common in Thailand, the employer convinces the employee everything is fine but rhe employee takes the heat at the end of the day.
Even when one tries to insist that everything is done above board, you cannot be sure. I am owed a lot of money in unpaid salaries from working in Thailand. Got my work permits but not the pay promised.
i hope everyone read your comment. Calling me Naive and saying i dont know ect.... it does not matter what you know or who you work for if the thai's see it as wrong they you are screwed!
@@callumlakinscrew what others say bro. You learned your lesson. Seem like a good dude keep ur head up.
@@al69420 thank you mate 🙏🏼 I worked my arse off for the company and I don’t mean bad to anyone, just got to pay attention to the details 🙏🏼 thanks for your comment
Thailand TH-camrs beware.
That’s why I just film with my iPhone when I’m out there and not big camera equipment.
You keep repeating yourself ….exit
why did u sign an NDA ? and then u could name the company ?
I didn’t sign one 👀
Thai's are hundred percent about paperwork and following the process and laws. It is better for them to have thai workers anyways. Glad it worked out for you.
Thank you, i could say so much more on the company and how this was delt with and the fact no one is going out this year just says how bad it was. I'm glad we had good lawyers.
You said you lived in Bali. Well same thing, you can’t work without a work permit
Very true, maybe I didn’t explain it to well, I knew this and trusted a company to look after this for me turns out they didn’t….
mmm...Never heard of prison sentences in this tyoe of cases (unless drugs are involved generally)..I've been working here in Thailand for 12 years now (legally, i have a WP). I saw quite a few people getting caught along the way, working illegally, in all kinds of trades (tour guide like you, trainer, teacher etc..etc..). They never got a prison sentence for that but did get thrown out of Thailand (and prohibited from entering the kingdom for quite a few years). . Cheers
How long is "a period of time" ? 1 hour ? 1 week ?
In a cell? we missed 2 days of tour but i was in and out and at different stations with no clock.
What's with the sad background music 😂
You need a visa for any work, you should have done your homework.....
Don't know if you listened but i did my home work and new it was wrong, but i put trust in a company who said it was fine under the contract i was fulfilling. I should of done the legal stuff myself 100% i was lazy and stupid i paid for it.
man, the clickbait is annoying. Can't really blame you though because no one would've clicked on the video if the title was honest
Naive would be an understatement.
good you put this vid out, the world is full of people just like you.
Hopefully you may of saved another youngster.
Wouldn't say it was Native as i've lived in Asia a long time and new it wasn't right before i left. Stupidity of putting my trust in a company is more correct haha i do hope this video helps someone and youngster is very kind of you but i guess am younger than yourself.
64
Have a fun day
Goa/uk
I am love with videos like this of yt ppl thinking they can be yt ppl in someone else’s country. Only better ending would be you actually getting 5 years
Says the guy living in someone else's country.
The line of work you were in is kept for Thai nationals only.
There is a long list of jobs farangs can't do.
Surely you knew this.
As an aside.....Why on Earth do you feel the need to play "Tinketbell Music" while you are reciting a serious matter ? Or any music for that matter..............
Am I to stoned.. or is it quiet hard to follow his story here? 😊
You're too stoned
It's you
That is a wa to get arrested that I have a very,,,, strong opinion about...(I'm on ur side) this is what gives SEA a bad name...
You took a job that you had no qualifications to do. You failed to due diligence on your own behalf. You are not a victim here. Both you and the business that sent you there are in the wrong.
what a clickbait. I waisted 15 min waiting for story to get juicy, just to realising there is no story or prison!
5 years in Thai prison you'd forget how to speak English
I survived 9 murder attempts in Prachuap khirikhan prison, all in 18 days.
Those places is hell on earth
Brother 😫 I wish this on no one I’m glad you can type this message today and you’re safe 🙏🏼
@@callumlakin
Ye live and live, barely living.
178 stidges on the body trying to be a dad for 3 children the best i can.
Warriors never die before they get killed
@@iloveNilas Bro, I got detention at school once when I was 11. Bro I was locked up in the library for 45 minutes with no TV or PHONE!!! Pretty much solitary confinement at that point. So I feel you man. Its tough being thug life like us.
@@DonTrump-sv1si At least you had lots of books to read. Like, Escape From Alcatraz.
Wow crazy, 5 years in prison, your big chance to get big on youtube and you hit us with that clickbait. bro
Good. You learn a lesson.
If it was another location, I think you would not be arrested…still not a good idea to work without a permit. With so many Russians visiting, living and (illegally) working as tour guides in Phuket, the police presence at touristy locations are high. Some bad luck involved.
Yeah i spoke to the police, they said they have a target to catch 3 cases per day. So with the amount of people working was crazy. i worked for a uk based company and was not getting any money from a Thai company so my case was handled differently. Super bad luck to wrong place wrong time the whole day was a mess haha
I must be particularly thick but I found this kind of hard to follow. I mean I assume you were some sort of unofficial holiday rep but how that works, how you were recruited etc would have been nice to know at the start. You kept talking about "we" and " the team" like everyone reading knows who that is.
I just think if you're new to the channel and don't happen to know you personally in real life then there's a lot of assumed knowledge, but regardless an interesting video anyway.
This year "they've decided not to send anyone out" ..,"they'll only use Thai reps" Who is "they"? Plus you said you were doing this "tour" independently so what do "they" have to do with it?
Maybe next time start with a bit about yourself, who you work for and how you came to get the job, what the job is exactly etc would be helpful.
It's the company who faces the fine. You won't get 5 years. Look up the law.
Thank you, yes it came at a cost to the company around 25k they said they paid all in
I watched the first twelve minutes of this, so pardon me if you answer my question further on. My question is this: You appear to have known very little about Thailand before you were arrested. How the heck did you get a job as a tour guide? Am I understanding correctly that somebody in Bali hired you to be a guide in Thailand? That wasn't a huge red flag for you? I'm confused.
Hi Steve,
my background is not shared on this video or how i got the job. Ive been full time travelling for 3 years and lived in Asia for a long time and have spent a lot of time in Thailand unlike many people in the comments think i knew all about the law's what was needed for work ect.... Maybe i did not explain it well on the video..... The company is uk Based and American owned. The fed flags where 100% there as i said i questioned them about my visa ect... i was assured that they knew the requirements as they have Thai legal teams ect.... i just put my trust in there system and was let down and all my worries and points was proven. It's never happened in 7 years of tour running tours but it happened to me who "knew" it was wrong.
This guy would be one of the first to rant about foreigners working in UK without permits.
Wrong! That’s not me but thanks for your concern 🙏🏼
And why shouldn’t he? Thais are racist, yes. So what? Why shouldn’t they be? It’s THEIR country, just as the UK is (or used to be) our country. If only the English looked after themselves and each other, just like the Thais do. Stay strong Thailand, never change. Unlike ‘multi-culti UK.
It’s different from the WEF invasion of Western Countries you cvnt
@@simon8413Return all the loot England stole from Asia, Africa and the Americas.
@@simon8413 what rubbish you spew
sounds pretty easy for you and you are entirely at fault here, i did 24 hours crashing my car (avoided a dog), was alright sat with some thai doods eating hotdogs and cake lol... let out the next day like you on bail and they kept my passport.
This is entirely your fault for working without a visa unfortunatly pal as in the uk we cant work without work permits, there are next to no companies in thailand who can offer a work visa and its very long drawn out process, pretty much every foreigner here teaching thai in schools is also doing what you did except they did not go out into the busiest part of phuket and flaunt it, you should know you as a uk man cannot work, certinally not in that realm of work (tour guide?), Why did you not clock that before even starting working? its very known fact do not work here without a work visa, that company could never in a million years afford to offer you a work visa.
They did not fight your corner at all they simply paid the police to get you out but more so to save themselves from being looked into more, call it a gift to go away. If someone came to the UK and worked illegally theyd also get in trouble. I have been here for 11 years so im not giving you greif mate but just very silly idea, but hey man its all good you have some stories to tell now, i also had to go through the to and through to the police station, you should know you cannot work here and any company saying you can it lieing to you, its on you not the company, i assure you as i haver worked legally for an IT company and it is a bluechip company, even they struggled to get my work visa, you will never ever get a work visa here unless you set a company up yourself which needs atleast 3 thai members of staff and alot of money.. or go to a really legit international school, tourism forget it, most jobs are held for thais and tourism is a no go, this is not spain, but yeah hope yuour good man, your entirely in the wrong though, I know people who got arrested for lifting a glass up to help there wife, the company led you into a lie, but you are wrong by the law entirely and its up to you in futute to check, your extremely lucky you only spend a few hours in, i did 24 hours for far less and i wasnt at fault at all.
You can directly ask thai immagration if the company you work for has valid work permits and more so if your ok to work, do this before taking anyone elses work. You really just cant swan in here and think you can work becuase some tour agency said you could, and rightly so. They used you as marketing ploy, end of the day they dont care about you at all, theyll no doubt use several people like you in this situation.
There is nothing for you to deal with now, you commited a crime and got off VERY lightly, you are beyond lucky mate, not the agency job to care, your very lucky to now be in prison for years, the travel agency owe you nothing and legally you can do nothing, its YOUR responsbility to check your here on the right visa NOT the company, you are lucky they even bothered to help you in anyway. Anyway glad your out and glad its all over for you. You live and learn mate.
Boring. Happens every day. Been living there 14 years.
Such a misleading title, you need to be honest about your content.
Its you own fault.
No Sympathy
Should have got a work permit
Sorry…. But did you say that you followed the tours during the 5 months of you waiting for a verdict/result in your case? Does that mean you continued to do what you got caught for whilst awaiting your fate? I got a little confused on that part? I’m glad you are out of that mess and are safe and well anyways bud. Count yourself a very lucky man and take it as a lesson learned. I utterly respect how the Thais deal with this sort of thing. They do not piss around when it comes to people entering or working in their country illegally. They are super strict on these matters. And are making more stringent laws all the time to keep their country and citizens safe. They are aware that if they start to relax these laws then every Tom dick and harry will want a piece of Thailand and it will be over run by criminals and no gooders. It will then lose control and it’s charm. This is what makes Thailand the magical kingdom it is. I only wish our “United Kingdom” would of taken a leaf from their book a long time ago. Then we wouldn’t be in the shit we are now. Try getting on a boat full of people and entering Thai waters in order to take advantage of their national health service and social security benefits… and see where that gets you? The uk is on it knees now! 😢
being shown around thailand by a brit would be awful
So no prison? Couple nights at the police station.
Happy your out!!!!!!!
If you walk up Sukhumvit road in Bangkok there are African gangs openly drug dealing right outside the police posts. I’m guessing they’re working without a work permit. I don’t condone this guy working as a tour guide without a visa but it’s not the worst thing people do in Thailand.
Thumbs up 👍
A red flag 🚩 would’ve been A Company in Bali a whole different country hiring People to Work In Thailand , knowing how strict Thailands immigration Laws for Visa are.
Knowingly just of simple Internet research on what jobs are restricted by Thailands laws for foreigners to occupy wouldnkeep a person in good visa grace. Its a known fact A guide licensed for tours in Thailand is strictly reserved for Thais So are communication jobs , Hair Salon work even if you’re a licensed electrician or Brick layer in your country of origin and You buy a Condo. And repairs are necessary if you’re on a retirement visa you can NOT do any work in Your Condo for home improvements whatsoever They would hold a hearing to revoke your retirement visa
Point of fact any company looking to hire workers in Thailand will be investigated to see if compliant . Mechanics same situation your not permitted to service your own vehicle Auto or Motobike .
You got really unlucky mate. There is so many people working in Thailand without a visa. I think it could have been handled a lot better by simply paying the first person that approached you.
Yes, me to i thought that would of been it but my thai tour guide did all the talking and boom i was in a cell 6 hours later with no idea what was going on! Very unlucky but a big lesson for me.
He threw you under the bus?
In what world did he "get really unlucky"?
You think that because he worked without a work permit, got caught, and wasn't able to just bribe his way out of it that's "unlucky"?
Wow
He's implicitly blaming the Thai rep in this comment who has nothing to do with it and actually helped get him out posting bail etc. unbelievable.
Boring, take care of your life. No one givs a shit
The Tourist Police were on your case because YOU BROKE BASIC THAI IMMIGRATION LAWS!!! End of Story!!
Traveling wakes us up. Lesson learnt champ!!!
Did he know this before he did it?
I was banged up in Phuket and Bangkok IDC, not as long as yourself but was a crazy life experience
Hope you're doing okay. Its an awful experience and like you say in the other comment who are we to know when this information isnt shared when we agree to work or help another company. our lives are at risk and some comments on here make me laugh.
It WAS your fault you got arrested. You sound as if you think you were unlucky.............you were naïve.
Don’t mess with Thai law
Boohoo no blankie
Yawn
Click bait
?
also, it's not a boos, it's a bus!
People judge yet when ya go out there and this information was never available or no one told you, how are you to know, and dont say its commin sense, you need to have this information for it to be common sense. If no knowledge or wisdom is passed to you then whats your parameters
4:38, go get a 'baha o woooheee' dude, it's 'bottle of water'!!! learn some english first
Quiet peasant