JB300

Clearly you were not on the consultation panel for the "attempt to assist dumb Thai rule makers"

Join the other zillion farang thinking this is most stupid requirements ever for a tv . Well except for the self righteous farang already living here

I've quite a number of fellow British friends who have lived in France to long that they have Grandchildren. These rules say they can't apply in France because they have a UK passport and can't apply in the UK because they have a French bank account. Insanity.

Thailand supposedly wants 'quality people' as I understand. I could be accused of giving too much credit but it would seem that they want 'gullible people' rather.... I personally, IMHO, think I am giving too much credit because the nation, run by the government' doesn't have a clue about the outside world.

I'm ten months away about even thinking about an METV so no real reason to even be interested in this topic because it will change. I only do because it will be interesting to see how it evolves. Waiting for clarification as usual.

Government, and most of the people, think all farangs are rich. Perhaps many are but they are because they would not leave the equivalent of B200k in a bank for 6 months.

So your British Friends who've lived in France for so long as to have grandchildren there have never bothered to register at the local town hall & got residency status (not exactly hard, a non-EU spouse can get it after 3 months just by living there with an EU citizen), because if they have (& meet the other criteria) I'm pretty sure they'll have no problem applying for an METV in France.

Not that they'd have a problem (if they meet all of the other criteria) in applying for one with French bank accounts in the UK either.

Have any of them actually tried?

Luxury studio for 3.5K Baht a month? Umm... no. Unless you define luxury as "somewhere that cockroaches live"- in which case, go right ahead.

I never saw any cockroaches. My last apartment in CM was 3500 and it was really nice. Solid wood floors with an incredible balcony view. If I recall correctly the utility bill was rather low as well since CM is so cool.

I think you're all a bit jealous of my apartment finding skills. I'm able to secure 3* accomodation in Thailand for just US$100 a month(3500 baht) while the rest of you are paying 2-3x the amount.

I am very jealous, so maybe you could give us mere mortals a helping hand & a hint as to where's best to rent in CM.

Needs to be within walking distance of the shops, restaurants bars etc...(am a clumsy fcker so anything that involves 2 wheels is out), 20-25k THB pm is fine but has to be > 70 sqm & at least 1 bedroom...

Oh & no cockroaches, unless they're chipping in on the rent.

As far as I recall the British Embassy isn't a mobile ATM for UK tourists to pillage at the slightest, and long may it continue.

They are supposed to assist UK citizens with health issues, but as he was at the airport for sometime trying to contact somebody back home to buy a return ticket, who's to say that the British Embassy wasn't doing everything they could to assist him at the time.

Hopefully they'll improve the transport links to/from the airport before the 2nd terminal opens.

Then again, just need more tour buses for the thousands of extra Chinese coming in on the China Southern flights

As mentioned in an earlier post reference the Irish Thai consulate's requirements for the METV (as originally pointed out by JLCrab) they seem to say that proof for the unemployed or retirees is acceptable.

Have any other consulates/embassies added similar lines to their requirements? Sorta seems logical to do so.

http://www.thaiconsulateireland.com/#types-of-visa

Extract from Irish METV Reqs.jpg

And for those who are self-funded retirees?

Vast majority of people (early retirement due to disability aside) receiving pensions are going to be over 50 so easier/cheaper for them to get a Non-O for retirement locally.

Thanks SantiSuk... Will read the ICA link with interest as there's been very little posted about the new upcoming changes to dividends save that it comes in on April 6th & there's an allowance of £5,000.

Cheers

JB

If there is no net benefit to you from being non-resident for tax purposes then there is no need to make a claim that you have left the UK, as far as I know. I would just carry on filing a normal online tax return. However, remember that UK residents for tax purposes have to declare worldwide income. If you have deposit interest (or any other income for that matter) in Thailand or elsewhere outside the UK you should declare it and you may have to pay additional UK tax. Thai bank interest is typically subjected to a 15% tax deduction at source so that if you are a basic rate taxpayer in the UK you will possibly suffer an additional 5% payable to HMRC - it would depend on the level of your worldwide income in relation to your UK personal tax allowance. It would be a definite additional 25% for a higher rate taxpayer.

I agree that it is annoying that the "Residence, Remittance Basis, etc" form (SA 109) is not automatically attachable into your online annual tax filing. You have to file by paper (at an earlier date) or pay money to a third party software provider to file a tax return on their software. I tried a couple of the software providers (they typically allow you to test a dummy of their product before subscribing) and found them to be user-unfriendly. I alighted on Taxfiler - https://taxfiler.co.uk - and used them for my 2014 return and my amended 2013 return. Cost was GBP 24 and I found their product simple to use.

I guess that UK Gov thinks all expats are wealthy and getting a great break by being non-resident. In my case that is true. Living in Thailand I can still invest via the UK and be taxed on UK source dividend and interest income at a tax rate of 10% and 20% respectively (with no additional taxation arising in Thailand as I do not need to remit that income to use it in the same tax year), which might even reduce to 0% in 2017 tax year for dividend income. That break is only available to people who have significant UK-source investment/interest income and who can take advantage of the "disregarded income" rules. The old addage that (having) money begets money has more than a grain of truth here.

My accountant files my returns & has never asked me for any information on my overseas income (though all of this comes from Singapore which has a double taxation agreement in place), which part of the return asks for this?

I'm waiting to see what will happen with the new Dividend rules, 1st £5,000 is tax free but what is it taxed after beyond that? & will non-domiciled individuals still only pay the basic rate (as we do today) or will they be subject to higher tax rates if they hit the higher-rate tax band (which would hit the wealthier ex-pats).

Can holiday in the USA for 6 months yes... But I was trying (& failing miserably) to suggest there should be easier ways for people to stay longer (even live permanently) based on their "Connection" to Thailand as other countries do.

Your 1 - 5 points, I do not fall into category, but I can live here.

It is all a bit hypothetical.

Neither do I (nor retirement which in my haste I'd missed) but should I be able to if I don't fall into one of those categories?

I can't live in the US or Singapore or Australia etc... So why should I be able to live in Thailand just because I have a bit more money than the locals?

But HooHaa, forget about tourists for a minute, the main thing I'm on about is expats who come to Thailand on holiday, love it,

and decide they want to stay here.

Think about these people who are over fifty, and don't want to get married to start with, some will say that if they cannot afford

800.000 Bt in their bank account for retirement extensions, they can't afford to live in Thailand. That is rubbish, how many working class people in the

UK have about 15000 GBP in their bank account? They are too busy paying expensive heating bills, council tax etc,etc. to save that amount of money.

Some people, both over and under fifty, can live quite easily in Thailand, on about 30.000 Bt per month, there is the state pension, private pensions, rental from

properties etc,etc. They can rent a cheap apartment, even afford to drink some days, and live quite comfortably.

These people cannot live comfortably in the UK, but can easily do that in Thailand, while contributing to the economy.

Thailand needs to find a way of catering for them, and giving them the chance to live here.

Instead of the 800,000Baht and 400,000Baht, would it not be better if they were to issue a visa for a more permanent type of stay which required the applicant to deposit 500,000Baht to cover any medical type emergencies,and it would be fully refunded on departure.

Sounds a lot like the Philippines SRRV approach where you deposit US$20,000 in an approved bank account. They even have a version for "Ailing Retirees" where the deposit is US$10,000 for end of term care.

I've seen a few comments saying how people should be able to stay as long as they like because they spend 1 or 2Million+ THB every year, but the reason the Thais may not welcome this with as open arms as you'd think is that the influx of (disproportionate) wealth leads to higher prices & the locals needing higher wages to live the same quality of life (which in turn leads to higher prices... ) or live a lower quality of life & get peeved at the Government.

Personally I think they should have some kind of quota system for residency/stay with points (IMHO in weighted order) being given based on...

1. Family Ties (Direct/1st as in Parents, Kids, Wife are Thai).

2. Employment (could be split ala Singapore where they have different quotas from Domestic/Construction workers on S-Passes through to Employment Passes for Execs/Key Technical ).

3. Investment

<<< Edit... 3B... Retirement>>>

4. Educational

5. Tourist

With the length of stay ranging...

1. Permanent

2. Length of employment (no crap about renewing work permits every year or 90 day reporting)

3. Length of Investment (though should need to do something with the money within X-period of time & not just leave it sat in the bank).

<<<3B... As long as they can maintain the required funds necessary to live & for medical care>>>

4. Length of the official course (again, shouldn't need 90 day reporting).

5. Length of trip (within reason, again I don't see the point in 90 day reporting if the hotel/landlord reports for you).

Edit Apologies, I hit reply before composing all my thoughts (phew I hear you say), so rushed to edit it before too many people saw it 1/2 complete...

EDIT 2. Sorry, I missed Retirement!!! should be in between Investment & Education IMHO.

It's different for the different services...

- For NHS it's normally 3 months... http://www.housingcare.org/downloads/kbase/2040.pdf...

"Chapter 9: returning to the UK – health servicesPeople who do not live permanently in the UK are not automatically entitled to free NHS hospital treatment, even if they have a British Passport or have lived in the UK and paid National Insurance and taxes in the past.If you have lived abroad for more than three months (or six months for pensioners living in another EEA member state), you may lose your entitlement to free NHS treatment until you can show evidence that you intend to resettle in the UK"

- For CGT it's 5 complete Tax Years (I.e. if you left the UK in Oct 2014, you'll have completed 1 year on 5th April 2016 & will still be liable for CGT on assets you owned before Oct 2014 until 5th April 2020... NB your property is different, from April 2015 you're liable for CGT on it when you come to sell even if you've been abroad for more than 5 years... CGT is a lot more complicated than this & there's things like tapering relief to take into consideration but hopefully this answers the "How Long" question.

- Non-Residential Landlord status can be applied for the following Tax Year after leaving the UK, this simply states that the Agent can pay you your rent without holding back the Tax element.

Other things to consider... Technically ("Legally") you cannot...

- Drive on your UK license abroad after 6-24 months (depending on the country), you should either convert it to a local license or get an International Driving Permit

- Drive on your UK license in the UK (you should use the license you've converted to or the IDP).

- Renew your UK Driving License (have to have a UK address that you're resident at, which you're not so you either can't or need to make a false declaration)

- Add any funds to an ISA

- Participate in any government share offerings (Lloyds, Royal Mail etc...).

I expect comments about how the above is rubbish & how people have kept an address in the UK or used their sisters address, I'm just sharing what the rules/law says, if you want to ignore/circumnavigate them... "Up to you"

Stop with all the talk and put 1 million boots on the ground. It's long overdue!!!! Many more innocent people are going to die if you just continue your useless bombing campaigns.

That's exactly what ISIS has said they want to happen (& apparently is prophesied) as it would almost force the moderate Muslims to join in the fight against "Infidel feet on Muslim soil".

Bomb the Shiite out of them I say, leave the boys at home sorting out the nutters we already have over there & all the ones that are on there way thanks to Merkel's approach to refugee management.

Easiest way (assuming you have WIFI) is Apple TV but a cheap android box will do the same thing.

I'd recommend the Minix X series, not the cheapest but really good at streaming from the Internet.

I'm sure you could install something on an old desk/laptop you might have, but by far the easiest way is to use airdrop on an Apple TV.

I believe Perth has the most expensive accommodation on the planet

https://www.wotif.com/Hotel-Search?#&destination=perth&startDate=01/12/2015&endDate=02/12/2015&latLong=&adults=2

for a 2 week stay best to stay up the coast a bit

I must have visited the wrong Perth as I recently stayed at the Ibis on Murray Street (centre of town & would recommend it) & it cost me less than the hotel I stayed in prior to that in Manila.

A trip to Freemantle (Left out of the hotel, 3 minute walk & a few dollars on the train) is highly recommended... They say Singapore is Clean/Litter Free, Freemantle blew my mind as to just how clean & peaceful that place is... Zero liter...

If you haven't visited Perth/Freemantle before I highly recommend it., if you can pick up some kind of visa there all the better, but worth visiting anyways [emoji106]

I could even fly to your country Australia Canberra (6000THB with airasia ) and get a METV for virtually zero requirements.

Again why should I "Go home for METV"

Do you know for a fact tht Canberra is ignoring the MFA directive on residency? Do you have a link for anyone anywhere getting an METV without meeting the residency requiremenr?

just do the online pre application on Canberra website.

All you need is an EVISA proof which is free entry in australia for 90 days for european such as myself.

Interesting, no mention of Funds or Proof of Employment on their online application page either...http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/Home/visa

You would be wrong, in assuming you can open a bank account - even with your wife's help - legally in Thailand.

According to government regs, you MUST have a valid working or resident visa in which to open such an account.

I work outside of Thailand...can't work for peanuts and support my family.

And as a working professional...making a 400,000 THB savings, while trying to take care of one's family is not every worker's possibility. eh?

Thanks for your contribution...but again, I am not any more informed, after it.

You've been to the wrong Bank/Branch, try a different one...

Again, if you don't have the 400K in the bank, you only need a verifiable income of 40K THB per month.

I think what you're looking for doesn't exist but the barriers to you being able to stay in Thailand with reasonably little hassles aren't huge, being able to earn a decent wage whilst living there is a different matter altogether.

Edit: Bangkok Bank requirements for opening a Bank Account... http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/SpecialServices/ForeignCustomers/Pages/Openinganaccountnew.aspx

"In Thailand for a short time?

Staying for a long time?

Even if you are only visiting Thailand for

a relatively short period of time, you can open a savings account and get a debit

card to use for shopping and ATM withdrawals. All you will need to provide

is your passport and one other official identification document – for example,

a reference letter from your embassy,

your home bank or a person acceptable

to the bank.

You will also need to provide evidence of your address in Thailand as well as your regular address in your home country".

"Staying for a long time?

If you have a work permit, are a permanent resident, or hold a long-stay visa, you can apply for a wider range of services such as a cheque account, internet banking and online international funds transfer services".

(Non-O for marriage would count as a long-stay visa)

Hopefully you're a little more informed (at least about opening a Bank Account) now...

My consulting bill is in the post

TTT69, I'm mystified as to how you think that...for a working stiff

Non-O Spousal...400,000 in the Thai bank (if you don't have a Thai visa, can't open an account) for 3 months, minimum

Or 40,000 in a combined account (only works if you already have a Thai visa...again...)

Non Imm B...have to have a company sponsor.

You see, TT69, not all of us are sexpats, expecting our pensions to be enough for us to play the visa game. Some of us are actually working professionals whom the Thai government seems to lunk into the same group as sexpats.

I can't make enough money in Thailand to support my family in the best way it should be; first class tuition, private school, mortgatge, car, etc. Don't know your situation.

Because Thailand <deleted> farang that are responsible...I can't be on my housebook, I can't own property, I can't do shit except pay money to the government...

I have this choice, working outside of the Land of Suck Me...a visa that let's me see my family more often...you think you have a better solution for me?

Please share it...but your "Non O" "Non ImmB" argument falls outside my toilet. It isn't factual.

If you actually have something constructive to add...I'd be happy t

Not sure I understand what point you're making, are you a "Working Professional" in Thailand (in which case you'd only need an income of 40,000 THB pm, less than £800) or you're a "Working Professional" outside of Thailand, in which case you should have no problem opening a bank account (especially with your wife's help) & putting 400,000 THB.

It's the non-married, under 50, not-working ("Officially" as in no non-Imm B + WP) & not able/willing to go for the Elite Visa that has the problem.

My letter, as an example, attached.

Confirms £151.25 pw start point less the contracted out deduction of £65.79 = £85.46 enhanced by £34.41 to make a total of £119.87per week.

OAP1.jpg

OAP2.jpg

So only approx £280 per week shy of the "Average" £21,000 then!

My sister who is in the public sector and quite high up will in 2 years when she retires at 58 will get a pension of over 80k a year, she will when at retirement age get her old age pension , also she will get yearly rises , so some have it better than others

Wow!!! So assuming your sister has done her full compliment of years to get the maximum 2/3rds of her Salary when she retires, she be on £120,000 a year! It's no wonder the government can't afford pension increases when it's paying its civil servants so much!

But good luck to her if she's managed to work there that long, I lasted exactly 5 weeks working (as a consultant) at DWP & had to get out because the bureaucracy/pettiness is stifling.

For the work-permit, if doing a joint-venture with a wife, only hire 2 Thais (this rule varies by where in Thailand). If they did nothing, you would be close to the Iglu monthly-costs with two employees. All options require the startup investment / shares, but I have heard varying reports of what percentage must be cash in the bank. Now add in legal costs.

My point was, no easy option here that I know of - pending new information.

Indeed, there are no easy options. And if you have no wife and wish to have no wife, there aren't any options. Thailand could cash in nicely if they made it easy to self-employ yourself here without having to involve anyone else - pay your taxes, get a business visa & enjoy. If they wanted to, they could even stipulate that all of your income must come from outside of Thailand so as not to compete with any domestic business. The numbers of geographically independent, self-employed professionals will only increase in the future, and Thailand could attract hundreds of thousands, maybe millions of them if they played their cards right, and make a nice slice of money from their taxes & spending. They could either have you pay standard taxes just like everyone else or charge a suitable amount of money for your business visa.

It's very difficult to see how such a scheme would not benefit them massively.

But why would you move to Thailand & pay 35% in tax when you could move to Philippines/Cambodia & pay 0%, you'd probably pay less tax in UK/US.

I know we're well OT now, but worth pointing out that the influx of disproportional wealth does impact the locals as it pushes up the price of everything (especially housing), ask anybody who grew up in a normal working class family in London, Lake District or even Singapore.

A reports in of non-residents getting an METV from Vientiane with only proof of 200k THB in a Thai Bank... http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?/topic/870548-The-Multiple-Entry-Tourist-Visa-Topic-%28METV%29/page__view__findpost__p__10091314

Please don't complain about the 200k in the bank, it's great news that people seem to be getting them without the residency/employment requirements.

Google 'digital nomad summit Chiang Mai' - there've been huge public events like that, where thousands of digital nomads got together, not under the radar at all. Last one was in February. Entire websites and youtube videos about it.

To me that suggests it isn't a legal issue. Or that Thailand has no interest in pursuing them whatsoever. Which makes sense, they're not harming anyone.

I never claimed that Digital Nomads are under the radar. Quite the opposite, they are not under the radar when they should be. Conferences aren't considered work in even the strictest countries, so let's write that example off.

We know it's not legal because the law says so. We know it's not enforced because otherwise people would be getting deported as we speak.

The trend however is more towards limiting tourist visa abuse rather than tackling illegal-workers directly. It's more likely that spending more than 6 months in Thailand will just not be possible in the future without overstaying, which is enforced.

It was only from 13th March this year that you (technically) no longer needed a Permit to attend conferences / Trade shows etc... (Nb presenters still need authorization) But as has been said, Thailand has always turned a blind eye to it anyway.

Edit: Have googled but the only references I can find to this "List of Permissible Business Activities" are tied/limited to this announcement, does anybody know where I can get the full list?

http://www.ey.com/GL/en/Services/Tax/Human-Capital/HC-Alert--Thailand-clarifies-definition-of-work-for-foreign-visitors

Thailand clarifies definition of work for foreign visitors

Summary

Foreign visitors to Thailand no longer need to obtain urgent work permits to attend business meetings or participate in conferences, seminars or board meetings, as these activities will no longer be considered “work” by the Employment Department.

Key issues

Effective 13 March 2015, the Employment Department of Thailand has expanded the list of business activities permissible without a work permit. Individuals entering Thailand for activities listed below can now do so with a normal visitor’s visa:

Attending business meetings, conferences or seminars

Attending exhibitions or trade shows

Business visits or business negotiations

Attending non-routine or technical talks/ speeches as a participant

Attending technical training and seminars as a participant

Purchasing goods at trade shows

Joining meetings of the directors of one’s own company

The Employment Department will not process urgent work permit applications filed for these activities. However, conference speakers, sponsors or representatives at a trade show still require work authorization.

Following the original announcement, officials have confirmed that no work permit will be required for permissible activities only if the period engaged in the exempted activities does not exceed 15 days.

This development is in line with the promotion of Thailand as a center of trade and investment and to encourage foreign companies to set up Regional Operating Headquarters in the country.

Action required

The changes reverse long-standing rules regarding business visits to Thailand, which required work authorization even for activities generally assumed to be permissible under business visitor status, such as business meetings.

The expanded list of business activities means many trips to Thailand will be less administratively burdensome for both the foreign national and the employer.

Nonetheless, employers should review the nature of activities undertaken by their foreign employees in Thailand to determine whether it falls under any of the seven prescribed activities or not.

That's one demographic I hadn't considered & you can see how it will benefit Indians who want to pop to Thailand a few times over a 6 month period.

Found a great Palestinian Film "Borrowed Identity" on Genesis.great english subs embedded too.

Story of a sensitive non violent and intelligent arab kid growing up in Israel.beautifully observed and a nice surprise ending.

PS. When you search on genesis the cover will say Mon Fils which I guess is the name it released under in francehow bizarre. The original title is far more appropriate.

guys guys guys,i keep on about it but this is a truly great site it had about a 100 different links for this film,,

http://www.alluc.ee/

oh excellent film by the way

When Genesis works I can see that Alluc is one of the scrapers it employs….is there an android or kodi app for alluc or must one just access it from a browser?

Does it have lots of popups?

Cheers

Alluc is a search engine that scans the normal Kodi channels/collections.

Lots of pop-ups if you chose the wrong provider but I tend to limit the search to my favorite Kodi channels (e.g. thevideo.me) which limits it to a non-pop up advert that you simply close whilst the page is loading.

Per the above, countries not eligible for 30 day visa exempt entry but for 15 day visa on arrival (as of 25 AUG 2015, MFA):

Andora Bulgaria Bhutan China Cyprus Ethiopia India Kazakhstan Latvia Lithuania Maldives Malta Mauritius Romania San Marino Saudi Arabia Taiwan Ukraine Uzbekistan

I thought they'd changed the rule for China so they can now get VE entries (given that the Chinese seem to be the main target for tourism it would make sense to).

Also thought I'd read that it was reciprocal & much easier for Thais to travel to China now.