Local Personalities

Paul King

by Dr. Iain Corness

The senior immigration consultant for Paul King’s Easy Visa Company is the man himself, an Englishman called Paul King. He is someone who considered retiring, “but the thought of doing nothing petrifies me!” He is certainly an interesting person, appearing as a cross between a legal eagle, a doctor, a social worker and a priest. But above all, he is a dedicated ‘people’ person.
Paul lived in Cheshire in the UK and was the baby in a family of 12 children. “I got all the hand-me-downs,” said Paul with a laugh. However, he also said that growing up with his elder brothers and sisters left him with the most wonderful memories that a person could have.
His favorite academic pursuit at school was playing football (and he still is a dyed in the wool soccer fanatic), but recognizes that he got to university after being pushed by his parents and his elder siblings.
At university he studied politics and economics, whilst at the same time holding down three jobs to make ends meet. He emerged from the cloistered halls after seven years, with his BA and his majors in law and economics.
The only place he could use this was in a law firm, and he joined at the lowest rung in the ladder as a clerk, making sandwiches and tea! As he progressed within the law company he became interested in immigration law, and could see that it was often unfair and unbalanced.
He followed that line of interest, and after some years was working as the personal assistant to immigration lawyers in some of the largest law firms dealing with that specialty. Offered a job in Hong Kong with another law firm, he took it, but then came the turning point in his life. He was sent to Bangkok from Hong Kong on secondment. “It sounds really corny,” said Paul, “but I fell in love with the place. I couldn’t eat or sleep thinking about having to go back to Hong Kong.” This soon became a quest, “How am I going to make a living in Bangkok?” Leaving his secure job in Hong Kong was a bold decision, but the attraction of Thailand (and Bangkok) was too strong.
The next direction in his life was given to him by the Prince of Wales. Not the heir to the British throne, but a pub in Soi 22 Sukhumvit in Bangkok. He overheard a young lady (called Pia, he has never forgotten her) telling the bartender about her problems in trying to get a UK visa. With his knowledge of immigration law, he advised her and helped her get her visa.
Word of mouth can be very quick, and soon Paul was getting calls at the Prince of Wales with more people wanting assistance with their visas. “There’s a living in this,” thought Paul and it went on from there. He rented some office space close to the British Embassy and began to assist in the processing of visas to the UK, and to Japan.
The business just grew from there, and Paul’s company is still in Bangkok. One staff member starts each day doing the rounds of the embassies to find the latest take on their immigration requirements. Other facilities offered by the company include translation services, marriage arrangements and divorce applications!
By 2002, Paul had begun to notice a change in the demographics of the applicants and after doing his market research worked out that he needed to open an office in Pattaya, which he did. Again there was a rapid response. “People use me because they know I can do what I say I can do,” said Paul emphatically. And what he does primarily is to assist couples to get an immigrant visa for their partner to other countries. His proud boast is “no visa, no money” but “conditions do apply!”
It is in this aspect of his work that Paul approaches the social worker/priest role. To be able to confidently predict the success or otherwise of a visa application does mean that he has to know the family circumstances. However, this is where he can prepare the couple in how to present the application. Sometimes this may take three months while the applicants make their own relationship look more secure. Paul is happy to advise.
The successful applicants are also happy to express their delight at the outcome, with his office notice boards a sea of happy faces in photographs, and every week there will be somebody sending flowers to the office. Some even bring their babies in as well, as they feel that “Doctor” Paul has been instrumental in bringing this child into the world. Fortunately “Father” Paul is not needed for baptisms.
Children, or rather, a child, does feature highly in Paul’s life. He and his wife Lek now have a two year old son called Harry. Paul admits to rushing home in the afternoons so that he can play with this new baby. Being able to have a full-time nanny certainly shows one of the advantages of life as an expat in Thailand.
The other way Paul winds down after a hard day at the office (and some days he says he gets home quite drained) is watching English soccer, and he is a passionate supporter of Liverpool. His other spare time pursuit is that of swimming, which he does most days. A pleasant way to remain fit, and Paul does look in peak condition.
One other feature of personal development that Paul is proud of, is his self-taught ‘jai yen yen’. He was previously an impatient man, but as he has got older, and as the Thai way of life has settled in on him, he has realized that there is nothing to be gained by venting frustration. “I have had to teach myself to be patient,” said Paul.
If you would like to discuss your visa situation, Paul King’s Easy Visa can be contacted on 038 414 475, or [email protected]