gharknes

The "Evidence substantiating purpose of visit" in your case would be a certifcate of guarantee....  a sample can be found HERE (pdf)

You can PM me for more help if you like as I have done the same..

totster 

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As Tots says you/ll need a letter of guarantee this can be completed by anyone in the UK (mother etc) all the forms are downloadable from The Hull Thai Consulate website including a relatively new one that indicates how you are paying.........dead easy.

Turnaround time including postage 3-5 days max.

Edit..........reason for visit box "visiting family and friends"

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OK I understand now and thanks for clearing that one up for me, letter of guarantee is no problem, never thought at the age of 45 I'd be asking my dad again

anybody ?

Before I start I would just like to say this forum is invaluable...well done.

Just a quick question

I am going to apply for a None Imigrant O Visa from the Thai Embassy Hull, I was in Thailand earlier this year for 3 months and would like to come and live there, I am 45 years of age so still got 5 years to retirement.

I have a Girlfriend and we have remained in contact with eachother almost everyday from I got home in May, so my reason basically for my visit is to come and see her

The Visa form is fine except for one little part, here is the question on the form

--Evidence substantiating purpose of visit (Non-Immigrant only)--

Has anyone any idea what I should put here, if I'm visiting my girlfriend what evidence can I provide ?

Thanks in advance

location laocation location, and a little bit of common sense, when someone talks here about bar ownership like the original poster on this thread they are not reffferring to large entertainment venues like the "blues factory" or go go's, they are talking about bars, you know TV pool table a few seats - outdoor, i myself am looking for such a place in the near future, I don't expect to make a massive amount of money but just enough to pay the rent and buy a few beers, you guys with the big money and the big venues can say what you like, but the little bars do business and if you choose right and run it well (not rocket science) you'll do OK, I went the the blues factory quite a few times but I must say I spent most of my money in the little bars on the way there while the BF was empty (not good business in my books) or the way home,  the reason i didn't spend most of the evening in the BF was because it was not economical to do so, I understand that the drinks will be a little bit more expensive to cover the entertainment etc I drink vodka and have done all my life, I enjoy a full wholesume drink...... and i stop there

Profits at what cost ?????????

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Depending on the time of night for the bf to be empty?

I'm not going to show figures or defend the bf but it does ok.

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you obviously didn't quite get the meaning of my last sentence, I will go a little further - I watched my drinks being poured at the BF and sent quite a few back to be properly filled, so if you are doing OK it would appear to me that your margins are achieved through questionable practice, Dave you are getting the view of an unhappy customer here.....take it onboard right or wrong, love the music but I get tanked up before arrival, it won't stop me going but buying a drink there will be kept to a minimum any time of the day, if you want to discuss PM me.

I also noticed quite a number of other establishments where the alchohol content of certain drinks where very questionable, i guess this happens at home too.

The photo on the front page of the local chiang mai paper shows the bodies draped one across another, as if they both died at almost the same time. In fact the photo looks as if one of the guys is performing oral sex on the other, his head  in the lap of the other guy. Not a plastic bag, pair of hand cuffs or telephone cable in sight, but the way the bodies are lying is very strange, anyone else see the photo's and think it strange?

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something not right here, there is something the authorities have missed e.g. some sort of gas or toxic substance that they both where exposed too together or foul play, how many dead bodies do you need before further investigation is required, suppose there had been 3 or 4 slumped on the floor, in my opinion 2 is just as bad.

location laocation location, and a little bit of common sense, when someone talks here about bar ownership like the original poster on this thread they are not reffferring to large entertainment venues like the "blues factory" or go go's, they are talking about bars, you know TV pool table a few seats - outdoor, i myself am looking for such a place in the near future, I don't expect to make a massive amount of money but just enough to pay the rent and buy a few beers, you guys with the big money and the big venues can say what you like, but the little bars do business and if you choose right and run it well (not rocket science) you'll do OK, I went the the blues factory quite a few times but I must say I spent most of my money in the little bars on the way there while the BF was empty (not good business in my books) or the way home, the reason i didn't spend most of the evening in the BF was because it was not economical to do so, I understand that the drinks will be a little bit more expensive to cover the entertainment etc I drink vodka and have done all my life, I enjoy a full wholesume drink...... and i stop there

Profits at what cost ?????????

you can quote land prices till the cows come home, it really depends on where it is.

I think the Thai housing market is going a bit crazy, my guess would be that there are two markets developing, foreigners and a few Thai nationals getting very rich, and the rest, it will collapse and we will see a lot of bag holders, thai economy cannot support the capitalistic tempory market being created, and to be honest I hope it doesn't, it is fed from western greed, thailand don't need it, hope the government steps in and pulls the plug, stranger things have happend.

I've seen property in Jomtien priced at twice what you'd pay in a UK city environment.....like £350k or $500k.................same at home for about <£200k - that is just simply crazy.

I'd would have let the bastards tyres down.

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Lad without his wheels - well is literally going nowhere!!!

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Where there is a wheel,

there is a way!

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so how do you classify the damage he caused to the cars, it can't be "hit and run"

I can understand why owners of very noisy premises are `spoken` to about the noise if it is a nuisance on a continual basis to residents.

What beggars belief is that the tourists are just starting to come back to Phuket and the `crackdown` has started already.

I suppose there will be the usual embarrassing `pee in the bottle while we test you for drugs` and raids after the so called witching hour just in case an extra beer has been ordered.

Let the tourists start spending their money first and please suspend the ridiculous purges, or the tourists will soon find more amenable resorts to go to, where they can relax without being harassed.

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Well that just depends on the type of tourist you are wanting to attract, the fact that resorts get a name for being noisy late at night or in the early hours can be just as damageing to tourisim as the restrictive licence rules, in fact i would suggest that it is worse, there is a balance between the two that keeps everyone happy, don't know about anyone elese here but i for one would not like to be staying in a hotel beside a nightclub that had thumping music until 5am, I sure there a lot like me, noisy late nightclubs and loud music should be kept away from residential areas. I think the penalty of 30 days closure is a bit extreme though, less than a week should serve as a good enough deterent, perhaps a couple of nights would do the trick, as anything more would be denying tourists a possible good entertainment spot during their stay.

If a resort gets a name for being loud and roudy, then that's the type of tourist it would attract, no sure if there's a big enough market in Thailand for that excluding some isolated spots in Bangkok.

Will the wife/ gf be convicted for this 'crime' by the law?

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I guess he's lucky the family dog wasn't around at the time waiting for scaps from the kitchen window.

On the other hand, It probably wouldn't have mattered not finding it, as it seems there are plenty of donors around, there's a doctor in a bangkok clinic that specialises in removing them and he seems to be very busy, he might even have done well out of a replacement.

Sad muppet - guess she learned that a week of inactivity does mean a week. Doctors dont say these things for the crack.

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"craic"

i seem to be using the mouse with my left hand more often these days, as spock used to say ...live long and eja.... prosper

don't see the point of this,

so does buying a bar also entitle you to an investment visa or is this different again, I was thinking of doing this instead of house or condo.

OK Just to my tuppence worth, I left Thailand in early may after being there for 3 months, I was in Florida before that 3 months also, over the two trips i accumulated quite a hall of ciggies, I was also in Majorca in sept and brought back 3000 cigs from there also, so in total I currently have about 8,000 M'Lights....all for my own use.

So my question.........If I was to return to Thailand with 2000 cigs that where bought in Thailand would I be breaking the customs rules, surely this would be OK as they have duty paid at the 7/11

Of course it's unlikely i will bring them back with me, I'm just pondering the senario, stupid idea anyway, I'll "just give them away" to friends etc

Oh and what is a TROLL ?

I was expecting to see an avalanche of "Business for sale" ads in the Phuket Gazette over the last few months, but, this hasn't happened. I guess people are still hoping that the next high season will get them through.

Also, these initiatives to attract people to come to Phuket all seem to be initiated by the government. Very few "good deals" being generated by the private sector.

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Guess that even if people put their businesses up for sale no one would be interested in buying!

I am sure anyone who previously wanted to set-up a business on Phuket will wait at least a year to look for proper signs of a recovery.

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I find the whole situation quite sad, those pictures are an obvious indication that nobody there really wants to clean the place up, I would guess that people who survived the disaster are mentally scarred and will take a long time to recover (if ever) Can't imagine wanting dig into the ground anywhere for fear of finding human remains which is probably why the place is still a mess, I think we should all remember that this is a disaster area on a huge scale and many of the people that lost their lives are still missing i.e. no body recovered.

The Thai government need to take drastic measures to clean the place up, then make an effort to attract people back.

One thing that puzzles me about Thailand, they don't seem to understand where the countries money comes from i.e. "US" tourists etc, maybe when they realise they will treat us better.

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Forgive me, but I can't help feeling highly incensed by this view. The idea that nobody wants to clean the place up is asinine: pretty much everywhere I go on the island there is work going on to put things right. It may be slow, but it's happening. As for bodies, I think the full-on rainy season will unearth a lot of horror stories, but people are expecting it.

The greatest disaster at present is the lack of tourists - it is this that threatens livelihoods and standards of living. Perhaps the government could do more, but sitting back and tutting isn't the answer - come to the island and spend money, thereby supporting the local economy and aiding the recovery.

As for not understanding where the money comes from - this takes the biscuit in the arrogance department. May I point out that Phuket is not a Truman Show-esque spectacle for your entertainment. If you ever ventured out of your resort and had a look around the real island and spoke to real people (if you could suppress your arrogance sufficiently to learn even a few polite words in Thai), you'd find that they are a warm and friendly people. How better would you like to be treated?

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sorry if i offended, my post was not ment to be arrogant, but very sympathetic, sorry if my words didn't reflect that, i guess if you read again and understand that i have the utmost respect and support for all the people involved in such a tragic event to the point that i personally would like to go there and help anyway i can.

As for my comment on the Thai people/authorities and tourisim, they need to understand that their ecomomy is very much supported by tourisim and people living there through retirement or whatever, I don't want special treatment but I also don't want to be exploited. My own experience.

read my post again

PS - sadamn, what is your position, what are you doing to help, I want to understand why you feel you can criticize, we are all entitled to an opinion, what is yours ? what do you think ?

I was expecting to see an avalanche of "Business for sale" ads in the Phuket Gazette over the last few months, but, this hasn't happened. I guess people are still hoping that the next high season will get them through.

Also, these initiatives to attract people to come to Phuket all seem to be initiated by the government. Very few "good deals" being generated by the private sector.

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Guess that even if people put their businesses up for sale no one would be interested in buying!

I am sure anyone who previously wanted to set-up a business on Phuket will wait at least a year to look for proper signs of a recovery.

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I find the whole situation quite sad, those pictures are an obvious indication that nobody there really wants to clean the place up, I would guess that people who survived the disaster are mentally scarred and will take a long time to recover (if ever) Can't imagine wanting dig into the ground anywhere for fear of finding human remains which is probably why the place is still a mess, I think we should all remember that this is a disaster area on a huge scale and many of the people that lost their lives are still missing i.e. no body recovered.

The Thai government need to take drastic measures to clean the place up, then make an effort to attract people back.

One thing that puzzles me about Thailand, they don't seem to understand where the countries money comes from i.e. "US" tourists etc, maybe when they realise they will treat us better.

I guess it bears repeating, especially considering that I read you were going to sell your house.

Thailand is a great place. I love it, but it isn't for everyone for in long run, and even I need some time away from it. Don't burn your bridges to the UK, maybe look at renting out your place instead of selling it and living off the rental income/pay off your mortgage.

By all means come for a year or two, but always make sure you have the escape option of returning to the UK, as once you deal out of the UK life, it can be very hard/expensive to deal back in again.

Good luck with the move!

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That is indeed sound advice, I have seriously considered all my options, I am still quite young and do understand your point very well, my house is not the only investments i have so I am well looked after in that respect, i really am dead set on living in thailand for good, but as you say time can change everything.

Going strictly by the 'rules' it does not look like you are eligible for the non-immigrant visa.  I am going to retire to Thailand also but I will be 50 in one year so your situation is different.  Check this link to this web site and see if you meet the requirements.  You may find that you have to get the Tourist Visa and make the runs.....

http://www.thaivisa.com/275.0.html

Also, I recently spent 2 months in Thailand with 3 weeks of that in Chiang Mai.  In Chiang Mai you can live a pretty decent life style on aroung $1200 USD per month.  This will provide a decent apartment, food, health insurance, and roughly $800 USD left over for entertainment, travel, etc..  If you want a car, better apartment, etc.  you must factor in these things.  Personally I plan on spending around $2000 USD per month when I retire to either Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai.

As you can see on other threads the amount of money needed to live varies wildly depending on your life style.  My gut feeling is your pension alone will be a little short; at age 50 you're still pretty active and won't just be sitting around scratching your balls all day.

Hope this helps and if I'm wrong on some issues I'm sure other members will correct me.  I'm American currently living in Las Vegas.

Good luck.

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i was under the impression i should be able to get NIM O visa without much trouble, my question refered to getting it renewed after the 15 months had passed, i would hope by then to have a work permit anyway.

i also have the option of getting an educational visa to cover my first visit but what then.

I will not be relying totally on my pension when 50, "which by my calculations is just short of your 2000usd a month" i will always have money in a bank account of well over 800k baht additional to my pension, (interest alone will be over £6,000 per anum) so i don't see money as a problem

i was also in chang mai and found it more expensive than anywhere else i had visited.

where are you getting your health insurance and how much will it cost.

good luck with your retirement by the way, hope things work well for you.

Will assume you from UK with the pound symbol so a non immigrant type O multi entry visa from a small consulate would be your best bet.  That would provide up to 15 months with only 90 day visa runs required.  When then ends do again if able.  If not then tourist visa/or border runs.  One never knows about those things so there is not guarantee and until you are 50 and have retirement it is going to be hard to get a better option. 

Of course if you get married you may qualify for support Thai wife if you can bring 400k baht into Thailand each year.

Only you can determine how much money you need.  But it will probably be more.

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Thanks for the reply

Is there any particular reason why I cannot get a non img type O renewed every 15 months provided I meet the criteria,

Are they normally turned down on renewal ?

Do I need to leave Thailand to do this i.e. back to the UK.

I may well get married during the first 15months, you mention money needed to bring to the country is 400kbaht ? this is only half the retirement amount.

sorry for all the questions

First I would just like to say a thankyou for the existance of this forum and the assisstance and help provided by the regular posters it is invaluablet,

I am looking forward to my return to Pattaya, I stayed for 3 months and loved it so much that I need to return for good. I lost my job in the UK after 27years and took myself off on holiday and fell in love with thailand.

I am 45 yoa and hopefully I can get by for the next 5 years on savings and maybe some part time work with the intention to retire there at 50, I can draw on my company pension at 50 albeit a reduced one but should still be around £12,000 per year.

I have savings and house sale to keep me going until then

The reason for this post is to find the best way forward for me,

The type of visa I should get ?

What I should expect to have to do during my 5 years up to 50 ? visa runs renewal etc

Are there any pitfalls

How much money do I need to have during the 5 years.

Many thanks in advance

Write your own letter.

Alternate names are quite legal in the UK!!

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Thanks chaps for the reply

Does the Guarantor mentioned below for None IM O visa application have to be a Thai national or Resident or can it be someone from your Home - Like a relative "father perhaps" living in the UK

Thanks in advance

WRITTEN GUARANTEE:-

Persons requiring Non-Immigrant Visas who are not able to provide a letter of employment or appointment or marriage certificate are required to provide a letter of guarantee from someone who is prepared to meet any costs incurred by the applicant which they cannot pay themselves including the cost of repatriation if necessary.

The wording of such a letter to be as follows:-

Name of guarantor

Address of guarantor

Date

I (name of guarantor) have known (name of applicant) for ___ years and understand him/her to have sufficient funds to meet any reasonable costs which may be incurred during their stay in Thailand including the cost of returning to the UK. However, in the event of it being necessary I (name of guarantor) hereby undertake to meet any expenses which may be incurred by (name of visitor) including the cost of repatriation.

Signature of guarantor