Hi everyone,
Since my last posting I have now been married to Ooy for nearly 3 years and have a daughter (Emma) who is nearly 2, how time fly's.
The situation we are in now, is that we would like to go to LOS to live. My situation is that, I am nearly 44 years old (too young for retirment), have been a Butcher all my life and am fed up with the state of this country. We have a house which has about £60-70000 equity in it. We are looking to move to Sakon Nakhon where Ooy's family comes from and land is alot cheaper.
One way that I believe we could do it, is Ooy's parents have started a small business, and I was thinking that I might be able to overcome some hurdles by becoming a partner, can this still be done?
The other thing I will need to sort out, is a Thai passport for my daughter, is this straight forward?
I look forward to hear from you.

Thanks

Gary

I don't know about moving to Thailand but the child's passport just click this link has all the info you need.
http://www.thaiembassyuk.org.uk/birthpp_en.html

hi gary
my friend done his childs passport last month and it is straight forward , go thai embassy link and it gives you all the info you need to do it. it took my friend 3 weeks to do. on the other issue im not to sure . i know as you married to a thai you can get a non imagration o visa and it sounds like you have the funds again you can find out more from the thai embassy and by sending them a email also.. hope this helps a little ...
tiny

quote:

One way that I believe we could do it, is Ooy's parents have started a small business, and I was thinking that I might be able to overcome some hurdles by becoming a partner, can this still be done?

Hi Gary

I have to say, that particular part of your plan sets alarm bells off. I've yet to meet a farang who's entered into a profitable partnership with Thai relatives, but have seen plenty lose a great deal doing so. I'd treat that option as a last resort and would advise you to tread in that direction VERY carefully. With the small amount of equity you have to play with, you can't afford to lose any of it.

Visa wise, your first move would be to obtain a 12 months non-O from a Thai Consulate such as Hull (avoid the Thai Embassy in London). Before your non-O visa runs out, you'll need to apply for a 12 months extension with immigration in Thailand. For this, each year, you'll need to prove a joint monthly income (you and your wife) of 40,000 baht, as well as evidence of your relationship, children, etc. Those criteria satisfied, you'll qualify for a 'Thai Wife' 12 month extension. If you're one third of a three way partnership, that business will need to be generating 120,000 baht clear profit EVERY month for your share to qualify you to stay in the country. Worth bearing in mind.

A Thai passport for your daughter is straight forward. You'll first need to get her a Thai birth certificate unless, of course, you've already got one. Follow the link johnboy provides above and/or call the Thai Embassy for details of what you'll need to take along. The birth certificate (assuming she was born in the UK) can ONLY be obtained from the Thai Embassy in London. You can apply for the passport at the same time. You'll receive the birth certificate straight away, but the passport application will be sent to Bangkok for processing which usually takes a few weeks.

Regards

Hi Gary, Just to add a bit more on maokaangs, post. I think that if you have funds of around £6,ooo/7000 in a thai bank account that is permenantly in it, which you will need to show at time of Visa renewal.Then you wont need to have a monthly income of 40,000 Baht I may be wrong and im sure someone will tell me if i am. Another reason i am saying this is that i know an english couple in the village i stay at( Bangkwai,) who have been staying at a condo for 3 yrs now. They rent a room, and do not have any bussines interests. Many farangs live in Thailand maybe its best to try and track some of them down and ask how they manage it . Best wishes Stevem

Erm forgot to say that you could buy a hse in LOS and rent your hse in uk which would give you enough to satisfy thai immigration on the 40,000 Baht a month if needed.plus will probabely give you more than enough to live on as well.

quote:

rent your hse in uk which would give you enough to satisfy thai immigration on the 40,000 Baht a month if needed.plus will probabely give you more than enough to live on as well.

Blimey! What is the monthly rent in Lowestoft?

Not sure Marcus,I know nothing of the OP hse situation this is advertised at £750 a month
Details Sheet

Furnished 3 Bedroom End Terraced House with Gas Central Heating, UPVC double glazing. Property comprises entrance lobby, front sitting room, cloakroom, kitchen, landing, 3 bedrooms (2 with en-suite), bathroom, garage, garden. Professional Applicants Only, No pets, No smokers.

Available From: 30/06/2007 Furnished

S: 3bed BATHS:1 RECEPTIONS: 1

Gorleston £525pm

Sheet
Add to BasketFurnished house with gas central heating, upvc double glazing to the front, short distance from local shops and amenities, on bus route to Great Yarmouth and Gorleston Seafront. Property comprises of front sitting room, lobby, dining room, kitchen, bathroom, stairs to first floor landing, 3 bedrooms, small front yard area, rear yard with garden to rear. Professional Applicants Only, No pets

Available From: 09/07/2007 Furnished

BEDS: 3 BATHS: 1 RECEPTIONS: 2

quote:

Just to add a bit more on maokaangs, post. I think that if you have funds of around £6,ooo/7000 in a thai bank account that is permenantly in it, which you will need to show at time of Visa renewal.Then you wont need to have a monthly income of 40,000 Baht I may be wrong and im sure someone will tell me if i am.

I'm afraid you are wrong. For all new applications from 1st October 2006, money in the bank is no longer qualifying criteria for a 'Thai Wife' visa extension. A minimum joint income of 40,000 baht a month must be shown, evidenced for at least the last three months up to the time of application.

NB. The above does not apply to 'Retirement' extensions.

'Grandfathering Rules': People who previously had a 'Thai Wife' visa extension granted before 1st October 2006 can, for the time being at least, still qualify under the old '400,000 baht in the bank' rule.

Thanks all for your help with my issue.
I was hoping there would be an easy option so I could sell everything and go tomorrow. Are there any other options?

Thanks

Gary

Why take all your money to a country that you cannot own land or property in????

Wouldnt you be better of keeping it here and testing the water first of all??

Put it this way, could you afford to come back and start from scratch again if things didnt work out????

Couldn't you claim asylum for the reason to return or go to another EU country and get all the benefits, just make sure you keep enough money for the air fare as hijackings are a bit passe at the moment, even though they almost guarantee asylum in the UK

Depending on your particular plans and circumstances the "Thai Wife" visa extension might not be the way to go because as far as I'm aware you will have to pay tax on an income of 40,000 baht. If you plan to come home once a year then it could be cheaper to stick with a 12 month multi entry O visa and renew it every year when you come home. This will of course mean that you have to do a visa run every 3 months but that should be cheaper than paying tax.

Also, don't forget that if you do rent your house out in the UK - you will almost certainly be liable for UK tax on the income from that too. So, unless I'm wrong, you'll pay tax in the UK and tax on the same money in Thailand.

Id love to move to L.O.S. My circumstances are similar to yours too! (older child though). Personally I wouldnt go just yet though. One of the reasons is schooling, If I were to go to Thai, Id like my daughter to go to an international school, and they sure arent cheap in Thailand! Another thing is health insurance, which can get expensive to "have permanently".As other posters have mentioned, getting into business with Thai family may be .lets say tricky or awkward! If I were to go into business with Thai family, Id be prepared for frustrations and Thai logic! Dont get me wrong here though, its just, as you know Thais do things very differently to us! , and for me personlly, I would find it difficult and frustrating to carry on business!
As for the visa side, I have no idea sorry! Most (well O.K. all!) of the reasons Ive stated, have been purely financial! Like you I dont like the way this country is going, and Id love to move to L.O.S. permanently...................but I just cant afford it! If I had the money Id go tomorrow though! Im not trying to put a negative slant on things here, as I say its all financial reasons Im stating.............................although .saying that, plenty of folk have moved from here to Thailand! Anyway, good luck in whatever you choose.

quote:

So, unless I'm wrong, you'll pay tax in the UK and tax on the same money in Thailand.

That should not happen so long as you pay tax to one or the other. The UK and Thailand have had a double tax prevention agreement since 1981:

http://www.thailandlawoffice.com/download/doc051229094432.pdf

Rental income from a house in the UK is specifically described in the agreement as "income from immovable property" and is most likely liable to UK tax.

I tried reading the document you linked to Paul
I think I got the bit about the immovable property, but is it possible to split the remainer of your income to take advantage of your tax free allowance here and the lower tax rate in Thailand?

BigRed

I've no idea. I leave all that stuff for my accountant to sort out.

Life's much simpler that way

Thanks for that info Paul, I read a post somewhere where the writer was saying that there was no taxation agreement in place bewteen UK and Thailand - so I thought it was likely that double taxation could occurr. Mind you, it still could - TIT.

Hi just to give you the latest update i had from Chang Mai immigration back in February 2007.

My initial 3 months were about a month from finishing so i went to ask the question about switching to a one year visa based on marriage. I had been transferring 40,000 baht a month from the UK and had deposited a good chunk out in Thailand to meet all the visa requirements

They were after 400,000 baht in an account which had to have been there for a minimum of 3 months. They did not care about me bringing money over each month.

You can apply for this visa at the end of your first 3 months and then it was just a case of renewing by post every 3 months. I believe they are about to transfer this to an internet option as well.

I spoke to others in Uttaradit who were in the same boat and a few others had just applied and it was accepted just based on the funds in the account. So it looks like immigration were not following there new rules.

To make sure i would deposit the 400,000 baht in a Thai bank account in just your name. Kasikorn Bank were the easiest and will give you a visa electron debit card as well for 300 baht.

Hope this helps Gary

Thanks everyone for your feedback.
What if I was to build a house with a small business out front. Ooy could run it, while I go get supplies. I would get the year visa with visa runs every 90 days, try what Gary Mc has suggested, if not then return home and re-apply for another visa.
This I would have to do for the next six years untill I can retire there. Would anyone else be prepared to do this or am I mad???
Does it show that I am desparate to get out of this country.
What is the best way to get covered for medical issues??

Thanks

Gary

Gary

I am not sure that you would get your full UK state pension, it would be frozen at the time you left the UK - i.e. it won't increase from 2007 rates. Sinking your equity into a house that you cannot own, and running a business from that property that you cannot have a controlling share of soundys a very high risk venture to me. I am 41 and I would not make this move now - far better to build a bigger pot and move out there when you retire? The agian, I do empathise with the 'had enough of the UK' feeling - it could be a great move, if you can make enough to satisfy the income rules (or just fly in and out from the UK every year. and live off your rental income, as has been said). Good luck!!

Paul,

I think the state pension is frozen from the time you draw it, not from the time you leave the UK, unless you leave the UK after you start to draw it of course. As I am 60 soon it will be another 5 years before I qualify but I will get the appropriate rate at that time in 2013 and then it will be frozen as by then I will have been living here for 12 years (God willing)

I use to pay voluntary NI contributions to increase my pension although they knew I was living in Thailand. That turned out to be pointless as they are changing the number of NI years paid needed to qualify for a full pension, and I have long since passed that many years.

I am considering deferring my pension when I qualify in order to get an enhanced pension two or three years later. It's a bet on how long you are going to live really.

No Gary your not mad,

In my circumstances i am trying to get my wife to come here first,and if she is ok living here then maybe she might want to work and help save the pennies,for when we do what you are thinking of doing.

And who knows the Thai law on our situation may or may not change in the time we decide on deffinate plans.

But try what you feel is right for yourselves,if it does not work then try plan B If you have a plan B that is . Best of luck on whatever you do .