sua yai

I searched earlier on and saw that an Honoury Consulate opened there a short while ago.

As I'm now eligible for a "marriage visa", does anyone have reliable information on whether I can get this in Langkawi? I'll be going for either a multi non O or a single entry with extension to follow. Havn't decided which yet.

Thanks.

The fee on the Burmese side is 5 dollars. Your Thai wife shouldn't have to pay. The place to get the day pass for a Thai national is at the pier and it dosn't open until 9.30 am. You can get the dollars from plenty of Thais at the pier, but they'll charge you 300 Baht.

I would reckon waterproofs would be in order at this time of year. You'll be about 99% certain to get drenched.

Following on from a point Tukyleith made about getting a handshake, rather than a wai.

A number of years ago, my parents came over to see me. They are well travelled, but it was their first time in los. My ex g/f was really worried about how to greet them at the airport. Did she wai or offer a handshake? Did she address them by their Christian names or Mr, Mrs?

I mentioned this in an e-mail to them and got the reply I deserved - "she does what she feels is right and is comfortable with".

I've always followed that principle here. It's natural to wai my wife's mother and father and monks etc.

Other than that, if it dosn't feel right to me, I don't do it, but just say hello etc.

On the subject of timing, you can do it in 2 days. I did last month and that included getting up from Hua Hin on two occasions.

A couple of notes :

Download the pdf of the affirmation from The Embassy's website and redo it in exactly the same format. You'll see the instructions on the site. I'd copy it on to disk as I've known a few people who were told to redo it by The Emb as commas etc were missing. They're pernickety.

The signed affirmation will be ready from 9am the following working day - cost 2,625 Baht.

The Emb won't recommend a translation service, but there a few the other side of Ploenchit. Any are fine as long as it's a certified translation. I paid 400 B and it was done in 30 mins.

Jump on the skytrain at ploenchit and get off at the end of the line - Mo Chit. Hop into a taxi and you're at MFA in about 15 mins - 100B.

You can pay 400 for the certification from them and get it back in 3 days, or 800 B and they say it takes 2-3 hours. Mine took 1 hour. Then you've got all your paperwork and it just needs the Amphur registration. They didn't ask me for any money, but I gave 200B.

All in all, the process cost me @5,000 B, including all the travelling.

All except the Amphur can be done on your own.

Hope that helps.

Just caught up with this thread again.

Interesting posts. Are you saying that, as I've been here for 7 years on non resident landlord status, I could sell my property without going back and living in it for some time to claim it as my primary residence?

If so, that's good news for me. I had always thought that I would have to go back.

You sure about that?

As far as the 90 day rule is concerned, it's highly unlikely at the moment that you'll get nicked for transgressing. I think the point is that you must declare on your tax return that you havn't been back for more than that time. In the unlikely event that "they've got it in for you" and prove their case, your in trouble as you've given a false declaration.

Good idea loong,

I did for the first two years here. They didn't charge much, as I've said, because my tax affairs are fairly simple.

Once I thought I could do it myself, I did and The IR have been OK since.

Loong,

Yes, you still get the personal allowance.

As I mentioned, if you use an agent and I would advise that, they'll probably insist you go down the non resident route. Mine does, but only as they manage the place as well. From a cash flow point of view, I'd much prefer to get my rent gross of tax first, rather than claim it back. Much easier.

The amount of tax I pay varies year by year, but that was an avarage. All maintenence costs are deductable and I've claimed back, against tax, four seperate return flights to the UK as I was going back to take care of my property - a legitimate business expense. Maintenence costs can be high. I would expect to invest 15-20% of my rent in that way.

There's no income tax on profit from a sale - it's taxed under capital gains, if applicable.

You'd certainly be best to consult an accountant in the first instance about CGT, but my last post gave my understanding of the situation as it is for me now.

I've been renting my property out in London for the past 7 years and living here. The situation is really very simple - asuming you're employing an agent.

1. If your agent manages the property for you as well - taking care of maintenence issues and daily contact with the tenants - then they almost certainly will insist that you register with the IR as a non resident landlord living abroad. The relevent office used to be in Liverpool, but your agents will know and have the forms. This part is dead easy. You'll pretty much be guaranteed that status.

You're allowed back into the UK for up to 90 days in any one tax year, without losing your status.

Benefits of this are that the agents pay your rent gross of tax and you account for it at the end of the year. Agents don't want to be involved with your tax affairs.

2. Income from property - used to Schedule A Income Tax - is certainly liable for Uk tax, even if you're living abroad. It's income earned in the UK.

However, there's a whole raft of things that you can offset against it - agents fees, personal allowance, any maintenence, 10% wear and tear, accountants fees etc, etc - if you use one, I do it myself now.

To give you an example, I usually pay 250-300 pounds tax a year on income of over 17,000. So, tax liability is negligible if your return is completed correctly.

3. CGT. My understanding of this is that you must demonstrate that the property is your primary residence. I don't think it matters an iota how long you've been out of the country, as long as you satisfy the IR of this.

So, in my situation, if I wanted to sell, I'd need to return to the UK and live in the property for a reasonable amount of time before putting it on the market - I've been advised 6 weeks - 2 months is sufficient. It also helps if you sign on for the electoral register again and pay council tax. That way there is no CGT.

Hope that helps. It was daunting for me for the first couple of years, so I had an accountant. After that, I take care of tax affairs myself and save 300 pounds a year. More beer.

Maybe they're just extracting the Michael?

Thought there were plans afoot to prohibit displays of cigarettes in shops?

If Thailand were really serious about trying to stop it, then they could consider taxing it more heavily

The first time I came over for a holiday here, there was a baby elephant in the hotel grounds that they used to bring around the pool.

This was quite a novelty for me at the time and one evening I went to find it in the grounds. It was tethered to a tree - with barbed wire.

I caused a huge stink at reception, but was just fobbed off with "oh, they've got think skins".

I hope it's not still there.

Probably won't do me any good, but I've been having a running battle with TOT for the past year over my internet connection. OK, it's dial up and painfully slow, but I can just about live with that.

What I can't live with are the constant disconnections. Got my bill this morning - 1,600 Baht. After you deduct line rental and tax, it means that I've been connecting 14 times a day this month. Do I ever sleep?

Anyway, the techies have been round countless times. Told me it's my modem- rubbish, I've had it checked. Too many people using the number - OK, makes it slow, but why does it disconnect? On and on and.... The last gem was that the junction box was on the floor and as it's cool season, that was causing the disconnections.

Senior bloke came around last week and offered me some slight glimmer of hope. IE, he'll give me an ADSL modem for 2 weeks free to see how I get along with it.

Having got my bill 15 mins ago, then reading this thread and just telephoning him, I've threatened writing to HO in BKK. As I said at the start of this rant, I doubt anything will do much good.

Yours in exasperation!!

A number of years ago, I helped out with the on-course scoring at The Thai Golf Open. I asked about a work permit but was told it wasn't necesary as the company I was working for over the 6 days were registered in H kong and my pay was paid from there into my UK account.

As it turned out, I was paid cash. Bearing in mind that I was in control of the leader board at the eighteenth green on the final day, so my ugly mug appeared quite regularly on Thai telly, I reckon I was lucky not to get pulled.

I didn't really worry about it so much back then. I would think twice now, though.

Yeah,

Those dockside bars are a bit unnerving, even with backup and in daytime.

It's been a while since I was on this thread, but have now seen how it's progressed.

We were married 3 weeks ago. The 60 days, stamped on the back of both of our certificates was the time given by the local amphur office for her to change her surname, if she wanted to do so.

I still think that the important document is the tabienbahn. Unless I'm mistaken, this proves the lineage of a Thai person to the Thai authorities. My wife's family's tabienbahn was changed as well. It just looks like a bank book, with another addition/alteration by name. Her family keep this safe - not us. Bit like a family tree, I suppose.

If I'm barking up the wrong tree, tell me not to p*** on it. I could well be wrong about these assumptions.

Was looking at some photos of my vicinity in Thailand earlier today.

Still couldn't see my house or my local.

Good stuff though.

They'll be used to the mosquitoes then?

The one thing I wouldn't advise is going back to Thailand with her/staying there with her.

If she's as distressed as described and the Western police have been called on a number of occasions, I'd be very concerned about what she might be capable of "back home".

It would be very easy for her to blame the OP for the failure of the Western visit and to become more unstable.

Certainly, professional help is the number one, but to live with her in Thailand is leaving yourself wide open. I've been here with a "homicidal maniac" before and it's not fun. I've got the scars to prove it.

Looking at our marriage certificate, it states on the back that my wife had 60 days in which to change her surname. That was easily done at the tessabahn.

As far as buying land is concerned, surely tabienbahn (sic) would prove nationality. What's in a name?

Seavisionburma,

Yes, that was a joke, although I would have thought with a name like "The Honey Bear Hotel", the place would have been alive and kicking even in the land of democracy!! Again, joking.

The Andaman Club's a good bet, if you've got the dosh. I've never seen much point in supporting a regime that I don't believe in - other than visa runs.

The info on Jansom is just above.

Closed, for now.

I used to spend a lot of time in Buriram province and looking back now I was possibly spending 6-7,000 a month.

I had a roof over my head and up to 4 meals a day, so it wasn't a bad deal, not that I was looking for one.

It just sent me nutty.

It's now been about two years since I visited the region. Maybe I should go again?

If you were thinking about Jansom, it's currently under renovation, which means that the whole frontage has gone.

I heard that it was a "good time" years ago.

Alternatively, there are many karaoke places that will be happy to see you part with your money.

Why not try "The Honey Bear Hotel" on the Burmese mainland.

Good luck.

How about the good old 15 days?

After years here, I feel in a privedged position to get 30!!

The short answer's no.

I've stayed overnight there a number of times and have been bored to death.

If you find somewhere, let me know.