diyer

It's the outcome of the appeal that's important.

I can only agree with the above comments.

Why not bring your wife to the UK on a Visitor Visa and both find out what your up against.

Thai food is presented differently in the UK to suit the British palate.

£20K wouldn't even employ the staff you'd need.

Thailand doesn't have certified 'Notaries' as in other Countries.

Surely, it really depends for what purpose the copy of the Passport is required.

If the copy is required for use within the private sector of Thailand, then that office may accept authentication of a copy by a qualified Thai lawyer.

If the copy is required for an agency of another Country then it will need to be authenticated and Notarised by a qualified Notary, which can only be completed by the Embassy of the Country in which the document is to be used.

There is a BBC news article with Video's ref Britons who leave the UK to get their family in.

The Video clips were recently screened on UK TV as a full length documentary.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23029195

The Immigration Minister Mark Harper recently issued this statement:

"The EEA family permit is not a 'loophole'. It reflects the current requirements of EU law and would not apply if someone went abroad to a member state for a short time just in order to circumvent the immigration rules. An application will be refused if it cannot be proved the British citizen was genuinely engaged in employment."

The definition of 'a short time' is still rather ambiguous and left open for personal interpretation by Border Control Officers.

I know of people who successfully exercised their rights after 9 weeks, others were refused after 13 weeks and accused of trying to circumvent the Immigration rules.

7by7 is correct, there is no age limit under which you are forced to retire.

However moving to an EU Country, finding accommodation, work, language problems isn't easy and is fraught with pitfalls.

Some are lucky, others spend a chunk of their savings and can't get work.

About 20,000 non EU spouses use the EU route every year.

A non EU spouse of a British citizen using the UKBA Family Immigration route, has no right to public funds in the UK.

A non EU spouse of an EU citizen using the EU route has full immediate access to public funds.

Do Immigration offices accept the banks Passbook as proof of deposit, or do you still need a letter/certificate on the day you apply for an extension.

Wouldn't the passbook show deposits and withdrawals, and therefore the total in the account.

Thanks for your advice.

I've toggled the BBCode off/on so I'll see how it goes from herein.

I also notice that sometimes when replying, the script appears in italics and the italic tab is highlighted.

I can deselected the highlighted italic tab and type in normal font but Bold isn't always that obvious to note before posting.

Has anyone had any problems with their posts appearing in Bold Font?

I've had a couple of messages removed due to the fact they appeared in Bold Font, which is against Forum rules and considered poor Forum Netiquette.

However when I type replies the font and type does not appear Bold in the message box. The Bold tab is not highlighted, but when I 'Post' the font appears in Bold on my reply.

It doesn't happen everytime, just now and again.

I'm on a number of forums and this problem never occurs except on this forum.

I have a brand new laptop (windows 8)

Could there be a glitch in the forum software?

I don't want to have posts removed when the cause seems beyond my control.

Any advice???

Hope you enjoy your stay. I like Roi Et too. One question about you friend in Buriram. What work does she do? BTW If you are here 2nd week in November, the city nearby has the largest gathering of Elephants in the world! Maybe that might be of interest ?????

9-5 she works as an Administrator in an Accountants company. She also owns a café, coffee and steaks.

Her daughter runs the café but she helps out 5-9pm. Doesn't work weekends.

Unfortunately 3 weeks is the longest period I'm allowed to take off work in one go.

Why on earth would I want the woman to meet me in BKK. I have no intention of staying in BKK.

If you are serious about living here i would suggest you spend a year in Bkk, rent a cheap condo in On Nut and study Thai at say UTL for 6,000 baht per month, this will give an insight into the culture and thought process of normal Thais, you would be surprised at the number of farang who have lived here for years and cant string a simple sentance to gether in Thai, totally reliant on their wife.

I quite agree, I'm also surprised at the number of English who can't spell sentence or together.

Can we call a truce on the tit for tat.

Life's to short!

rgs,

I'm sure your posts are from concern about my safety. I'm sure over a pint of beer you'd get to know me and know I'm no mug. (no pun intended)

But you are correct that I have a lot to learn about Thailand. Maybe we got off on the wrong foot

In the UK I run a forum, much smaller than this one, about China.

I give the same advise to others about the pitfalls, scams, women, customs, cultures and Visa requirements for China and the UK.

I don't profess to be an expert, but I try to help others with my knowledge and experience.

I joined this forum for the same advice about Thailand.

I've already done a lot of research on Thailand, I have an English friend who lives in RoiEt, but one can ever know everything about another Country.

Will I make mistakes.......you bet, who hasn't!

Thanks for the travel advice, I'll ask more in the appropriate forum, but basically I'll be taking a 3 week vacation in October.

I'll be taking a flight to BKK, then my thought was to shuttle over to 'Don Muang' and catch a Nok Air flight to RoiEt where I'll meet my friend.

After a few days I'll catch a local bus to Buriram.

She hasn't invited me to her home and I certainly wouldn't stay in it anyway. I'll look for a nearby hotel.

I told her I was visiting my friend in RoiEt and would pop down to meet her.

Nothings in concrete about where or who I'll live with.

As for income. £40K (1,880,000 baht) savings and monthly income of £800 (37,600 baht) initially, rising to £1,600 (75,200 baht) later.

I prefer to keep my home in the UK as a security.

The Thai locals in RoiEt regard Buriram as a decent place to live and thanks to a few PM's I've been given a lot of local knowledge and good advice on the area.

If I get time I'll visit Phetchabun and Chanthaburi which rgs recommended.

One last question.How striict is the same day bank statement.Can it be done the previous day.If not,can't go early morning to apply.And can this statement be obtained at any branch of my bank?

You will require 800000 baht in your Thai bank account 2 months before your visa extension application date. This must be a sole account in your name only. joint accounts are permitted, but only with your official Thai wife, in which case you will require 1.6 million baht in the bank, double the amount.

Perhaps I'm confusing issues, but I thought if you had a Thai wife then you only had to hold 400,000 baht in the bank.

i.e. half the figure of 800,000, not double the figure of 800,000

Then you are applying based on being married, not based on being retired. Different rules and paperwork apply to that, but indeed only 400,000 would be needed. (But you cannot use a combinaiton of income and money in the bank as you can with retirement).

Thanks for your clarification.

One last question.How striict is the same day bank statement.Can it be done the previous day.If not,can't go early morning to apply.And can this statement be obtained at any branch of my bank?

You will require 800000 baht in your Thai bank account 2 months before your visa extension application date. This must be a sole account in your name only. joint accounts are permitted, but only with your official Thai wife, in which case you will require 1.6 million baht in the bank, double the amount.

Perhaps I'm confusing issues, but I thought if you had a Thai wife then you only had to hold 400,000 baht in the bank.

i.e. half the figure of 800,000, not double the figure of 800,000

^^^^^,

too be honest I was thinking more of the OP having some sort of say over, where he stays, what type of food he chooses to eat, what he wishes to do during the day, how much or how little money he chooses to spend.

Going to Buriram on his own for the first time he will be nothing more than an innocent abroad.

I assume he doesnt speak read or write Thai, thus leaving him at the mercy of the girl who will have to be his eyes and ears, translating etc for him.

So many questions I could post on here for the Op to ask the girl, best he learns for himself.

Living here has made me cynical, not an excuse, just a fact.

Feel free to post questions for me...........an innocent abroad, like a lamb to the slaughter.

Is that the typical opinion shown to a newbie on this forum without any insight to his background.

Well I may never have been to Thailand before, but I was married to a Chinese woman before.

Different Country, similar cultures, similar customs, similar cuisine.

I have English friends in Roi Et.

I can probably barter better than most Thai's, or walk away.

I don't flaunt money about.

Buy me house, I love you long time..............Nope! To many mugs fell for that one.

Speak Thai......No, but never had a problem with communicating before, gestures, sign language, or a pen and paper.

I tend to think with the head on my shoulders, instead of the other head.

I'm only talking with a woman in Buriram, who happens to speak good English.

If you want to be cynical and disrespectful, first identify your problem, then learn how to spell it.

Constructive criticism or advice accepted and appreciated.

Constructive criticism or advice accepted and appreciated.

Heres questions a Thai would be asking, has the woman been married before if so does she have any children?

Where did the woman get her degree (she does have one I assume)?

Where does she work and what position does she hold?

How much is her monthly salary?

How much land does she own, does the land have chanote papers?

What kind of car does she own and is it on credit?

Does she have access to the government healthcare system?

Where did she learn to speak such good English?

How old is the woman?

The above are just for starters, as I mentioned before, whats stopping the woman coming to Bkk to meet you?

I have the answers to all the above questions and a lot more.

Why on earth would I want the woman to meet me in BKK. I have no intention of staying in BKK.

I want to live with the locals, eat the same food and learn a little Thai.

You've already made up your mind I'm one of those wet behind the ear tourist.

I can assure you my eyes are wide open.

If they are gypsies and live in caravans, I'll be just as happy.

I'm not coming as the traditional tourist, more a reconnaissance mission.

I would find much out about Thailand in a 4* BKK hotel!

Thanks for the positives guys.

Interesting.

Looking on a map there is little industry there.

The airport, hospital, school and 1 factory are present, but I was lead to believe this is mainly an agricultural area?

Can anyone tell me what the Phonom Sarakham district of Chachoengsau is like to reside in.

What facilities, any expats there etc?

Why not buy property to let in the UK, a lot more secure , and a good letting agent will make it easy for you. a lot less hastle, and no sleepless nights.

Good advice. You retain 100% ownership and control.

Rental income from property in the UK will surpass that of Thailand.

It appears the easiest option is to just deposit 800,000 baht in a bank account and use that as proof of income.

Is there a list of local Immigration offices for different districts anywhere on the forum ?

Towards the end of the 30 days you can travel to an adjoining country to get a 90-day non-O visa for retirement. Take the banks documentation showing you are seasoning the money.

E&OE

If your going to retire in Thailand why not apply for a 90 day non O Visa for retirement from the UK before you go to Thailand.

I currently live in the UK but looking into Visa requirements for retirement in Thailand.

Retirement stay for one year requires 800k in bank account (2 months first time - 3 thereafter) or 65k embassy letter of income or a combination to meet 800k per year. Same TM.7 application for 1,900 baht and proof of financials each year.

You can not own land in Thailand so be aware of that with your planning.

Feel free to post questions for me...........an innocent abroad, like a lamb to the slaughter.

Is that the typical opinion shown to a newbie on this forum without any insight to his background.

No mate, it's that you're going off to meet a girl in Buriram, means nothing to you of course, and that's completely natural, why would it.

To those living here for years it's like popping up on a UK forum saying that you're about to visit for the first time and you're off to the largest Gypsy halting site in the UK to meet a local girl there.

No disrespect meant to yourself or people from Buriram. I've traveled through many times and always enjoyed my stay.

Thanks for your opinion Salapoo, I'll bear that in mind.

That's definitely the type of local knowledge I wouldn't know.

Which area around Roi Et would you consider to be the best. Obviously some will disagree with you.