ZOVOX

Also, it was mean't slightly tongue-in-cheek.

You are correct that the unofficial dictionary definition of 'farang' is a white skinned foreigner, but being married to a thai wife, i get called a farang by the in-laws and her Thai friends all the time. And it is their language and country, so i go along with their interpretation.

People stare because most people automatically assume she's an escort girl. I was once on a train and was with an older white gentleman in the opposite seat, and got some really funny looks and sniggers - i think they thought i was male escort.

If the first extension is easier to get, is it possible to get visa, then extension, and then get another visa and extension and then continue with visa and extension. Will this be regarded as the same as continually getting extensions back to back ?

I am a uk citizen of chinese descent, and was wondering if there are any fellow western asians in Thailand ?

Are there any advantages of looking Thai when it comes to customs, immigration, permanent residency, thai citizenship, or just in general ?

Do you have people speaking to you in Thai everyday and not understanding a thing ?

concerning leaving 400k in the bank without using it. surely it is easy to shift money around internally and externally in thailand to give the appearance that the account is used and that a new 400k is transferred to the account from overseas. I doubt that the immigration people will try to trace every trnsaction on you bank book.

The only thing is you will have to pay the bank transfer fees, but that's not too bad. you won't lose that much interest in thailand because it's so LOW !!

Has anybody be doing this and getting there extension renewed ?

also, if you go at about 2.30pm, you can speak to the visa man himself. he personally picks-up and delivers the passports in his briefcase. he works for the embassy, so i don't think it is illegal - he's just saving you a trip to the embassy !!

but do avoid agents in thailand who say you can get visa without leaving the country !!!!

Penang - good place to shop: most people speak english and it's cheap - the dvds are only about 60 baht, whereas they charge 200 in bangkok !!

Recommend the waldorf hotel as a good mid-price hotel

and the visa agents are not fly-by-nights - they've been there for years. and the visas are from the thai embassy: I once went there during a public holiday and had to wait 4 days for the embassy to open again. also, the agents ask for original certificates etc - i don't think forgers would do so !!

Thanks Sumitr man - you've been very helpful !

I'll contact that lawyer you refered me to later: like i said before, the housing company are taking care of the legal stuff. I'll buy the house in my wifes name for now - we've only been married a month, so i'm pretty sure she won't divorce me quite yet !

I just got married a month ago and i haven't heard of an agent that registers your marriage. I think you must be reffering to the translation bureaus that merely translate the documents for the registration process, but they carry no authority at all.

Anyway, you will get all the info you need from your embassies website. The u.k embassy site gave a step by step guide. In brief, you need to get a marriage affirmation from your embassy, declaring that you are not already legally married. you then get this translated at translation bureau into thai. then you get the translation certified at the ministry of foreign affairs. then you go to the amphur office to get your marriage certificate - simple !!

also, the thai budhist wedding ceremony carries no legal status and you will not recieve any documentation saying the ceremony took place, but it is important to the thai people. consequently, it makes no difference where you get registered - i got married in khon kaen and registered in bangkok.

i hope this answers you question - good luck !!

Do i need to translate my Thai marriage certificate into english to get my marriage visa from penang ? I would expect that they have thai speakers working at all thai embassies around the world

I think i'm going to consult a good lawyer - it alls seems very complicated ! I've decided to buy a new house from a housing company in the north of bangkok, and they are paying all standard legal fees and stamp duty, so i'll save the 5 percent to the land dept at least.

After entering Thailand on single entry non 'O' visa, when during the 90-days can ,or should, you start applying for one year extension ?

Another good place to go to find thai girls is the business distict near sathorn rd. Most are fairly rich, well-educated and speak English.

Do you know how much the stamp duty is in Thailand ?

Thanks for all the advice ! I think i'll probably subscribe to the legal UBC. But any company that eliminates 99.9 percent of the population due to the extreme costs, does not deserve my custom. but what choice do i have when thai tv is so awful - my wife loves it though !

i'm paying cash

from the reply i got from the lawyer, it suggested that you cannot split the sales contract if the house is already built and the house and land is registered in the same name. it suggested that the only way, i can split it is to buy the land first in my wifes name, and then build the house after in my name.

Thanks for the advice ! I contacted a lawyer, and it seems your solution is only valid if you buy the land first and then build a house on it. I think i will have to go down the leasing option. The only other way is to form company and buy property in the company name, but i think this to messy for me.

I understand that most thais cannot afford the subscription to UBC tv, and instead get a pirate version. Does anyone have it ? Is it any good ? Where do i get it ? How much does it cost ?

If all you farang insist on meeting girls in bars, you going to get a certain type of girl, who takes all you money and leave you broken hearted when it's all gone. But there are nice girls out there - if you truly love her, then marry her, but don't be held to ransom !!

And no you do not get a work permit by marrying her.

Is it equally as difficult if you have Hong Kong citizenship ?

If i purchese the house in my name and the land in my wifes name, is it compulsory for me to lease the land from my wife ?

I AM A UK CITIZEN MARRIED TO THAI WIFE. I UNDERSTAND THAT I CANNOT BUY A HOUSE BECAUSE IT COMES WITH LAND. HOWEVER, IF I BUY THE HOUSE IN MY WIFES NAME, CAN SHE THEN LEASE THE PROPERTY TO ME FOR 100 YEARS AT SAY ONE BAHT, SO EFFECTIVELY I HAVE A LEASEHOLD ON THE HOUSE ?

HAS ANYONE DONE THIS ALREADY ? IF SO, HOW GOOD IS THE LEASE AGREEMENT FROM A LEGAL POINT OF VIEW, IN CASE WE GET DIVORCED LATER ?

I AM A UK CITIZEN MARRIED TO THAI WIFE AND LOOKING TO BUY SMALL BUSINESS IN THAILAND FOR MY WIFE TO MANAGE E.G INTERNET CAFE OR MINIMART. IS IT CHEAPER TO BUY THE BUSINESS IN MY WIFES NAME, BECAUSE SHE WOULD NOT NEED TO REGISTER 2M BAHT, OR REGISTER A COMPANY, OR GET A WORK PERMIT ?

ALSO, WOULD IT BE CHEAPER FROM A TAX POINT OF VIEW ?