cantona_777

Apologies if this is a bit off topic but do you feel that now is a good time to bring your young family to Thailand?

With the current political climate there is too much uncertainty in the air. Just a thought to consider.

R

Even though Thaksin has the discretion to decide when to say - or not to say - who should lead the next government

So now a politically banned,fugitive criminal who even doesn't hold a thai passport has the discretion to say who will lead this country in the future?Unseen Thailand indeed.

He'll have to do visa runs on his Montenegrin passport.

TIT.

Knew Jim well in Sri Racha. Very sad news indeed. Condolences to Crocker family and friends.

RIP.

There are numerous reasons why I switched HSBC Premier to Standard Chartered in Singapore. Have a look at some Singapore forums.

In regards customer service and investment options HSBC is far behind...

If your wife and gf is looking for extra income then this maybe of interest. We are importing and reselling cosmetics and beauty products form abroad.

Our sales reps make an average 10K a month for part time work. Wholesale option is available for 100+ items offering better income potential.

Currently operating in Bangkok and Eastern Seaboard.

Please pm or visit www dot orientalbeautystore dot com.

Hello,

Does anybody know the import tax and possible overall customs taxes similar to http://www.customs.go.th/Customs-Eng/Sampl...?menuNme=Sample

that would apply to importation of cosmetic goods from Europe?

As well, is tax applied to purchase price of products or valuation by customs.

Any suggestions to get around customs tax such as shipping methods are more than welcomed.

Cheers,

R

Hi there,

Thanks for all of your replies. I should have stated that photos are to be used for a commercial venture and as it stands they need to be licensed. I had a look at http://en.fotolia.com/ and http://www.shutterstock.com/. Licensing terms seems to imply that photos can be used for commercial nature (Royalty Free) and it appears to be within my budget (750 photos for 125GBP or 250USD).

Thanks again.

R

Hello,

Quite new to this forum so welcome to all. Not a photography wiz as well...

I'm interested in purchasing 100 - 500 quality photographs suitable for printing 'holiday style' prints.

Does anybody know where I can purchase them and how much they could cost? I guess I could try Pantip to see what I could scour but I'm interested in a legitimate option.

Thanks.

R

Hello,

I'm looking for a modern western style house to rent for up to 1 year around SiRacha.

• 2 or 3 bedrooms
  
• Western Kitchen
  
• Carpark
  
• Prefer Furnished
  

Willing to pay up to 15K a month. Contract for deposit is required.

Please PM.

Regards,

Rob

I've lived in Thailand off and on for over two years, mostly in Bangkok but traveled in quite a few places in the country so don't tell me that I'm unprepared.

I've been to Pattaya as well and I now that's it's not all go-go bars, so don't lecture me on it. There are better places to bring up a child than Pattaya I would think. Yes you have sex tourists everywhere in Thailand and it doesn't bother me too much, although high crime rate around Chonburi does bother me and my wife.

Next time if you have nothing good to add then don't post at all or at least refrain from useless replies.

Terrenova,

Job is not an issue nor is my wife's place of origin as we're quite flexible in where we're going to reside.

Pattayparenent,

We're considering Chonburi area as well as well but my wife is a bit concerned about safety within proximity to Pattaya. How are you finding life with a child around that area. I'm sure schools and hospitals are in order but how are finding life around tourists and other obvious immoral elements.

I've traveled in many places in Thailand but it's a different story planning for a family. First hand life experiences are what I'm really interested in when comparing to life in the North America or Europe.

Take care,

Rob

Hello there,

In a few months my Thai wife and 8 month old baby girl will be moving to Thailand.

We were initially thinking about residing around Hua Hin/Cha Am area, but I've read mixed reviews about international schools around Hua Hin

We would like to consider additional areas outside of Bangkok.

The key factor is education for the little one, although she's still young it is very high on my list of priorities.

Second is good hospital, overall safety and reasonable infrastructure (shopping, communications, etc...)

Please do not post on pros/cons on educating/raising children in Thailand at it has been covered in different threads.

Any input from family members within this forum will be greatly welcomed and appreciated.

Regards,

Rob

I find it a bit ironic that pigs are raising pigs but then again it's late at night.

Thanks for that guys. However, with the current situation I might still fall into the EUSD and going forward I don't want to risk paying 30% tax. I'll look more at DBS for now.

R.

Hi Guys,

I'm seriously fed up with HSBC in IOM and with recent change to EUSD (terms of service) I'm looking to move funds and savings to Singapore. It does not appear to be a 'real' offshore bank sort of speak as British hands are deep in their pockets.

We'll be moving to Thailand next year so it's time for planning.

Some things to consider:

- Selection of unit trusts (mutual funds)

- Customer Service and Financial Advise Quality

- Possible mortgage in Thailand options

- Currency Pairs / Rates on savings

- Premier banking options

- Fees

If you've dealt with any banks in Singapore and have good or bad things things to say I would appreciate your input. I'm currently looking at DBS/UOB/Standard but not sure with whom I want to establish a relationship.

Thanks for your help on this.

R.

Another plus is that your wife can work and use NHS right away, which can be a big plus.

Also, the process at UK embassy in BKK is so much simper that a tourist visa, except for TB testing.

Regards,

R

Good one Bubbles! Nothing against good old Rod!

Usually we just laugh at the whole Farang-Thai approach here in the uk, we're out of here soon enough not to be bothered!

Take care.

Typical English stereotype here. Blah, blah. Why is it that when I go out with my 26 year old wife and a child that we get stared at? I'm 31, btw. I love my wife and it doesn't matter where she would come from. It as if it's immoral here to have a good looking wife and a child. Yeah, when you see a 50 year old falang and 20 year of thai gf your guts start twisting, but then again english man would screw just about anything that moves after a few pints so it doesn't really matter. It gets a bit depressing here when your walking with your 9 months pregnant wife and bunch of jobos are trying to hit on her! Sorry but it my books that's quite disturbing.

Had girlfriends from Poland, Canada, India and Scotland, but my wife is the kindest and loving person I have been with. So you get the picture that it doesn't really matter where you come from. Don't really fancy overweight, pissed drunk and depressed English women sitting in pubs, eating crap and complaining how bad their lives are. In the meantime being completely disrespectful and highly demanding.

Well, that's my rant for a sunday morning.

Enjoy.

Uggr. It's a lot safer and saner than the UK. Btw, I'm not English.

A lot of farangs raise children in LOS. IF you can afford private education than you're a lot better of than doing it in the west. At least that's my two cents for you.

I think most of you guys are way out of line. I'm planning as well to come to LOS next year with my wife and child. Investing about 200 gbp at roughly 8-12% usual market deviations pending. We are also planning to build a house with money saved on top of investments. Currently in the UK we get by on 1000 GBP (70K bht) a month. If we can get by easily on this sort of money in the UK how come you can't do it on 100K in Thailand? I think it comes down to lifestyle, if you're messing around with girls and blowing 2-3K a day then yes it is not enough. I'm more concerned about a stable life with my family.

I'd suggest:

-Invest money offshore

-Mix cash and funds - you need to increase the value of your holdings. If you don't you will be losing up to 5% a year due to inflation and currency.

-Diversify in to different currencies and draw down as the rates are appropriate

-Create a list of monthly expenses and see how much you might be spending. If you need more then 50K then a:) work longer in the uk b:) invest smarter

Don't get discouraged by nay sayers stating you can't do it. Plan ahead and look for growth.

Good luck

Hello,

Does anybody know the procedure and waiting time to obtain Canadian Tourist Visa for Thai Wife. Is the whole sponsorship crap applicable when married or is it a strait forward application process.

Thx,

Rob

It's pretty straightforward although the Canadian embassy hires locals to do the tourist visas and in my opinion these people are a huge annoyance. Just be patient but firm with them and plan for several trips as these people will not ask you up front for everything they want. Assume they want a letter from her employer, bank statements, copies of your marriage certificate, evidence of any property she may own in Thailand, etc. Don't deposit money in her account, do a statement and then remove it because there is a good chance they will ask her to go get an ATM reciept on the spot.

If you get any trouble from the local staff, politely but firmly ask to speak to their supervisor. They hate this but the supervisory staff there are just the opposite of the front line people. Very reasonable and helpful. It helps if you go with her as I've found that Canadian nationals are not dealt nearly the same degree of BS from the local staff as lone Thais are.

You don't need to go through as intense of a sponsorship process as you would for a permanent residence application, but have the documents mentioned above ready just in case.

Are you living/working in Thailand, or do you have a home in Canada?

Thanks for the info. We went today and applied so the answer should be available tomorrow.

Just a few notes for some Canadian reading this. The service is terrible, you wait about 2 hours to submit the app and then don't forget the listing of all family members in both english and thai. I have applied for a UK visa twice for my wife and helped a friend with a EU visa. The treatment of the Canadian embassy is really sub class. Considering there were about 30 people waiting (including agents) and only one window open.

Rob

Hello,

Does anybody know the procedure and waiting time to obtain Canadian Tourist Visa for Thai Wife. Is the whole sponsorship crap applicable when married or is it a strait forward application process.

Thx,

Rob

Thanks Scouser & Vinny.

I don't have a GP yet, due the nature of my work I tend to move quite a bit from city to city and I'm not where we'll settle before the baby will come. We should have at least 4 months before the baby is due so that's when I'll have to register with the GP.

Thanks again.

Hello,

I would really appreciate some input on this issue.

I'm a Polish national and have been in the UK off and on for over 1 year. I have a National Insurance Number and registered under WRS.

My soon to be wife is Thai, she's pregnant and the baby is due in July. I will be going over see her shortly where we'll apply for EEA FAMILY PERMIT after we get married. She has been with me in the UK for the last 6 months, if it makes any difference to the whole process.

The million dollar question is whether she will be covered under NHS, specifically to give birth in England. She can give birth in Thailand but due to work related reasons I would prefer we'd be the UK at the time and about 4 months before the baby is born.

Any and all advise would ge greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Hey all,

I'm still new to this tourist visa enigma for Thai nationals. But here it comes:

I've read about the necessary paperwork to be prepared on both ends, mine and hers. The issue is cash, she holds a decent job making about 15,000B a month and savings of about 80,000B. She says that I should send her about 40,000B a month for 6 month to show that her income will supplement her 6 month stay in the UK.

Question: what is a good financial standing for Thais to qualify for a visa. Its partially a question of trust as I've been with this girl for 3 months and don't want to be taken for a ride. Don't want to sound like an a**hole but after hearing some many stories you have to ask yourself that question.

Any information or advise would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.