NewInPatts

Hey,

What or is there any grace period on hiring thai staff when opening a thai company and applying for a work permit?

I just can't believe that every company automatically has 4 employees per foreigner. Theres gotta be an interview process to hire staff and so on.

Anyone knows the specifics about it? If I was to open a thai company tomorrow, sit in an office and start posting job ads it would obviously take time to get 4 employees for my work permit.

So whats the roadmap on this?

Hi,

I tried the search function but couldn't really find anything related to the topic.
What are the steps to take for my thai wife to get a German passport and is it even possible?

I would like for her to have both passports as it makes traveling / visa and so on much easier.

Anyone know if it's possible and can outline the process?

so err.... do I have to take wife to Savannakhet next time?

Thanks

No idea, but if you convert your current visa to a NON-O at CW you need your wife with you.

A "visa based on marriage" at a Thai consulate in a nearby country?

Or, an "EXTENSION based on marriage" at a Thai immigration office here in Thailand?

Two different puppies.

Mac

Visa based on marriage at a Thai consulate in nearby country yeah, which I normally get done at Savannakhet

I converted mine to a NON-O at CW with 400k+ in the bank.

Took about 1 1/2 hours from bank letter, to taking pictures and getting my passport back.

Yes, it's true.

Just went through the process yesterday without any 'service' and was lucky to have the wife with me.

She is required to take a picture with you, that's all she's gotta do.

Believe it or not but I wasn't even shocked to hear about it.

Luckily it's only a small left over amount from a house in Chiang Mai so nothing too major that would break the bank.

This being Thailand it didn't really shock me.

Cleared up.

As luck would have it the misses was tied up in an old house loan in another province with her mother. Her mother died. The bank kept sending letters to a vacant address, repo'd the house, took the remaining balance out my wives account and gave us the remaining money back..

oh true good point yea good point how much is medical insurance?

Using BUPA and paying something in the 40-50k range per year. Covers up to 5 million baht.

Just trying to understand at what point the govt gets involved... Do all transfers above certain amount have to get approval from AMLO (or w/e) before they are credited to the recipient account? Or does the supposed check happen AFTER the transfer is complete so your account may be silently flagged and you don't know it until you try to withdraw the monies?

I am not sure the government is involved in this case.

The government has likely dictated some “know your customer” policies, which most countries do (to prevent money laundering), but it’s generally up to the bank to execute on these policies.

The most common trigger is to receive money above a certain threshold (which might be based on past history with the bank), in which case the bank will ask for “proof of funds” before they credit your balance. Presumably if you fail to provide adequate documentation the money are returned to sender.

As I said above, I have been subjected to this once in Thailand, although all they wanted from me was a signature on a form and a copy of my passport. Perhaps this form said that the money were obtained legally.

It has also happened to me in a number of other countries. Once I was explicitly asked for proof of funds, and I sent them a spreadsheet showing one month’s of revenue for my business, which was satisfactory, the other times it only took a phone call.

To me it sounds like NewInPatts has just been unfortunate in not getting through to people who actually know how to clear this up.

If they keep saying that it’s in the hands of “the government” then I would ask for a case number and contact person from this so called government that is holding the money.

Thanks for your reply! Do you remember how long it took until you got your money out, once you provided proof of funds?

I gave them everything from sales contract and the actual pay slip, but its been 2 weeks now.. if not a few day more.

Will go with the car dealer to the bank on Monday and see what happens. As of this week they told us they (the bank) submitted the sales contract, which already includes a copy of each ID go the head office and we will have to wait a week. Will let you know the outcome.

You'll probably be fine. Over the last year the Thailand AMLO has seemed to get more serious in monitoring large money movements...new monitoring/reporting requirements placed on Thai banks. Also, since grey market cars and import taxes not being paid on those cars got a lot of attention over the last year, maybe that has something to do with it. And this may be purely a internal K-bank funds clearing policy they are following for large sums and the AMLO stuff is just a side reporting issue.

large money movements? You are talking 300k. Surely not categorized as large movement.

Please read the thread again. Not 300k - millions of baht. Not everyone is driving a Honda Jazz.

Once again, not 300k - several million baht.

I tried to take out 300k and noticed the money from the car dealer was not credited, even my wife received a SMS confirmation that the money was credited and we got the payment slips and all of it. They keep telling us to wait as they check with AMLO.

The car was sold for 4 million baht. The OP wanted to withdraw 300k from the account.

OK maybe it was an imported car and no import duty was paid on it. If no import duty was paid the money will be confiscated and it is time to take a lawyer.

Was a 7 series BMW bought by the biggest BMW dealer in Thailand.. guessing their paperwork should be in order. Dealer starts with M..

Should be ok I guess as the company has a very good reputation. Was the car bought on your wife's name? If yes sounds good as well.

Yeah in my wifes name. Money went to her account and Kbank pretty much told as it's happening more and more with the 'money on hold' situation lately. It's the gov not the bank itself.

The car was sold for 4 million baht. The OP wanted to withdraw 300k from the account.

OK maybe it was an imported car and no import duty was paid on it. If no import duty was paid the money will be confiscated and it is time to take a lawyer.

Was a 7 series BMW bought by the biggest BMW dealer in Thailand.. guessing their paperwork should be in order. Dealer starts with M..

Any update if the payment has been cleared already?

Nothing. Calling the head office every day seems to make matters worse as well. Just get told to wait and they will call us once its released.

In the meantime the bank account is unusable. I wonder how normal thai people, who depend on their salary would handle that situation. We are in week number 2 now.

Went to the head office today and just like the car deale suspected it, that is the reason for the hold up.

Many high ranking people are moving their money to their mia nois and other places to avoid trouble so the government is investigating everything from the proof of funds to purchase the car to the actual sale and so on.

Simply told us to wait another week.

To clarify, went to a normal Kbank branch and later today to the headoffice in payonyhotin.

Thanks

Hey,

My wife and I are planning a trip to Hong Kong. Does she need a visa? If yes, what about Singapore? She need one too?

Went to K-Bank just a few minutes ago. Same answer like last time. Wait one week, we will call you once it clears.

Car dealer thinks it has something to do with the government holding the money since so many corrupt 'people' get moved to inactive posts all fall from high buildings by accidents.

He will go in the evening to the brach where he transferred the money and will try to find out whats really going on.

Will go with the car dealer to the bank on Monday and see what happens. As of this week they told us they (the bank) submitted the sales contract, which already includes a copy of each ID go the head office and we will have to wait a week. Will let you know the outcome.

are you an American? . that could be the problem..

Went to my wifes bank account. She is Thai. Should have mentioned that earlier I guess.

It won't even show my balance when I log into the K-online banking on my phone []

That is concerning.

I would call the main office and ask whats going on and how to resolve this ASAP.

Ive had a transfer frozen myself because of some anti-money laundering check, but the threshold is $10k, and the check should happen when you receive the money, not when you want to withdraw them.

Thats interesting about AMLO. The amount was like 4 Million baht.

I wonder the lady identified the real reason. Sure hope the car dealer didn't contact the bank afterward doing the transfer saying he transferred money to the wrong account and wants it pulled back into his account which has cause the bank to put a hold on the funds.

No he was kind enough to contact the bank on my behalf as well but they didn't tell him a reason other than they have to check with their 'head office'.

have u tried.. raising the withdrawal limit to 'unlimited' and just do it at the ATMs like a few times.

just a thought

It won't even show my balance when I log into the K-online banking on my phone. I don't have a debit card since it got cloned a few years ago, so I always take my bank book and take out cash.

Did that and had the same issue. Obviously they must have put a note on my account or something.

A few days ago I sold my car at a local dealership. I went with the car dealer to the kasikorn branch which was on the other side of the street and he transferred the money into my account. I got the receipt, sales contract and everything.

Today I went to Kbank and wanted to take out 300,000 baht and was refused. The reason being they want to see where the money came from. I told them to check in their system that its from a car sale and even showed them the sales contract. The lady told me she will have to check with the head office before she can release the funds and I should come back in one week.

Can they really hold my money? Is that a normal procedure?

When can I expect my money or how should I proceed now?