swissie

LOS4words: You seem to be a so called "financially independent person", that absoluely has no need to rush into "buying the family a hotel".

Try this: Stay in Thailand for a year as a tourist and do nothing, exept doing your homework as far as "buying your family a hotel".

After having done your homework (on the spot, in Thailand), your desire to "buy a hotel for the family" will probably be greatly reduced.

If "the family" dislikes this idea and the concept: Get a new "family"!

Luck to you!

"Deathcert"= YOU will never "own the land". No matter what you do, your (Spouse/Girlfriend will).

Especially now, that that "Thai-Authorities" finally have discovered, that a house that is not part in any commercial activity does not qualify as a "Company".

But then again. if you sell your used socks in front of your house, you might be be able to declare this as a viable bussines venture (as long as your wife/girlfriend is with you, and she happens to have "good connections " to the local "Chief of Police", possibly her brother). If this should be the case, you will never have to worry about anything in Thailand anymore.

Otherwise, and if you have no reliable income from "abroad": Go home, work hard and visit Thailand as a tourist and spend your money on "occasional Opportunities" in Pattaya. Believe me, in the long run it's a lot chaeper and more fun, instead of "importing" the most dangerous "Export-Product" (women!) that Thailand has to offer into your "Home Country"!

Anyone listening? Probably not! Nevermind.

Cheers.

After having read the treads, I would like to inject my 2 cents worth of wisdom:

While "fraud" it is a wordwide accepted juristically accepted crime, as soon as "matters of the heart" are concerned, it doesen't apply anymore.

Text (usually): "It was your free will to marry and "Import" a Thai-Lady into your "Home Country" and you were aware of the true reasons why your Thai-Spouse agreed to this.

Therefore, from a legal point of view, if it is your "free will" to buy (for example) your Thai-Spouse 10 houses in Thailand (and what not), the bottom line will always be: "This must have been (automatically) approved by you and must therefore be based on a mutual agreement between you and your spouse.

But the point I want to make is this: The courts (at least where I live) are overburdened with divorce cases, where it is obvious to any judge that (regardless of the "matter of the heart subject"), the majority of Thai-Ladies that are willing to relocate and marry a Frarang, have done this strictly to achieve their personal (financial) goals for her and her family in Thailand.

So, the phamphlets, that occasonally are being distributed at major european airports to departing tourist to Thailand, warning of the dangers of "AIDS" in Thailand, sould be replaced be a similar phamphlet, giving early warning to the most dangerous "Export- Article" that Thailand has to offer: Women that are prepared to do "anything" to improve the live of their family somewhre deep in the Isaan, regardless of what!

I am quite sure, that this article will draw many responses from people that will claim: My Thai-Spouse is differrent, because she told me, that she has been working the Bar in Pattaya only for a week, before she had the privilege to meet you.

Cheers!

Brief, read svenivans comment carefully: Because he is "right on".

I visit Thailand on a regular basis (I even lived here for almost 2 years before) and I have seen many many "Farangs" triying to set up a business in Thailand and I have kept in touch with most of them. The "failure rate" is mindboggling!

In my humble opinion, there is only one way to truly enjoy a worrie-free long term stay in Thailand:

Have a steady source of income from abroad (pension, investments etc.)

AND: Having said that, by rushing into building "her" a house, if your business fails and you want to cover your loss by selling the house, how much will YOU recover and how much the "Missus"?

Go slow on this one and give it plenty of thought before you rush into anything.

Cheers and good luck.

Previous comments: "Visa-Situation" in the Philippines easier than in Thailand. In concrete terms, how does it compare to Thailand.

Dear Chiangrai: Thanks for opening this thread. It was well overdue!

It sums it up quite well. The messed-up "Property-Situation" for Farangs is by now common knowledge: No further comment.

But still: What makes a Farang want to stay in a country, where the "Gouvernment" has decided a long time ago, that as long a "Farang" can be regarded as a walking ATM-Machine he/she is always welcome. No more, no less!

So why do "Farangs" want to stay in Thailand for the long run? Here are the answers:

- Regardless of what "Resident-Status" we have: We like Border-Runs and we like to to do battle with demented Immigraton-Officials, every time it comes to justify our stay (existence) in Thailand. This is paradise!

- We like the fact that we (as "Farangs"), are basically not allowed to engage in any legal commercial venture or work (whatsoever), that actually might enable us to simply make a living in paradise.

- We like Budhism: Nothing like it: Screw your neighbour and/or your best friend, as long you give the monks the next day a bowl of rice, you are forgiven, so you can repaet the same thing today, as long you supply your bowl of rice again the next day.

- We like swelthering heat and high humidity: There is no grater plaesure than leaving the Air-Condidioned Premises and find yourself soaking wet after walkin 100 yards. This is paradise.

- After having covered all the material needs of your Thai-Spouse and her family, you might find yourself suddenly at the Airport in Bankok, giving thanks to heaven, that your remaining funds are sufficient to cover your Air-Fare back to where you came from! This is paradise.

In stark contrast to the above: Once a Thai-National has reched the shores of a "Western-Contry" (usually by marriage):

- No Border-Runs.

- Can work in whatever field you want to work, as long as somebody hires you.

- No need to bother with Bhuddist-Rules of forgiving. Once reached "Western-Shores", you are allowed to screw anyone (including the Person that made your stay possible in the first place). = It's the law!

So then, in closing: Where exactly is Paradise and for whom?

Well, Thailand can not possibly be Paradise for a "Farang".

Or, (could this be, heaven forbid) that we are willing to put up with all this bullshit, so that we can enjoy the company of an uneducated, self-centered, moneyhungry, fast aging Thai-Female for a limited period of time?

Most certainly not! Right?

Cheers!

One thing remains clear: Regardless how anyone sets up his Ownweship-Thing in Thailand, in the final anlysis, the "Farang" is at the mecy of his beloved wife and/or some "Thai-Officials" if the marriage turns sour.

What good is a 30 year lease, if you Thai-Wife (plus "family"), decides to make your life miserable in order to get you off "the property"? = Sliced tires on your car once a week, tasteless additives to your drinking water that put you in the hospital every 2 weeks, the local boys in brown, that all of a sudden start to dislike your nose? etc.etc.

The solution?! Let the beloved wife have her land and for yourself get yourself a Luxury-House on wheels (in the US it's called a Mobile Home, I think the Aussies call it a "Caravan".)

If it's too expensive to import such a thing (very likely), BUILD ONE YOURSELF, because you are basically prohibited to work in Thailand anyway, and therefore you have plenty of time on your hands for such a project (and it will keep you out of the Beer-Bars, HeHe!) I suppose you could own this thing on wheels in YOUR NAME, just like a washing machine.

So if things turn sour: Let her have the land, and you pull out your "house" within 2 hours and move on to greener pastures and live happily ever after in a new environment and possibly with a new "beloved wife" always knowing that you can "pull out" again if history should repeat itself.

Don't be shy "Sunbelters-Asia", (or anyone else) comment on it!

Oh well Rossi,

you don't get the drift of it all do you? Or don't you want to get the drift?

I will most certainly not dignify your posting with "answers".

Obviouslyyou are not very familiar with "Thai-Ways". For beginners (in general, not just you) start reading here:

http://www.stickmanbangkok.com/

read all "readers submissions" that have anything to say about Thai-Lady/ Thai-Girlfriend etc.etc.

I promess: It makes for good reading and could possibly make a few Farangs think twice (or trice)before they issue blindly a "Sole Proprietorship" to their Thai-Girlfriends.

But then again and as we all know: Testerone-crazed Farangs in Thailand learn only by mistake and no previous warnings will have much of an effect.

Well I may have become a cynical person. On the one hand because I married a Thai-Lady and the expieriences of just too many of my "Farang" friends and a aquaintances have made with regard to this subject. No wonder, one starts to "generalize".

It may well be that there are Farang/Thai couples that seem to live "happily ever after" and their marriage has lasted longer than just a couple of years.

Those marriages will be put to the test, if the Farang (for one reason or the other) is all of a sudden no more in the position to accomodate the financial wishes of the wife and family. Or the financial "goals" of the wife and familiy are being considered as "achieved".

More often than not this will be the "wake-up" call for the Farang.

Don't want to be overly cynical: But why go through all the hassle. Just turn over the last penny you have to her here and now, because the end-result will be the same.

@davethailand

I am looking for: Reasonable accomodations (with Air-Cond.) If possible "in the middle of things".

Betwenn Carsberg Nr 1 to Nr 10 I will be looking for girls.

Betwenn Carsberg Nr 11 to Nr 20 I will basically be looking for/at everything! The past has shown, that within this 11 to 20 range my willingness to experiment was somewhat higher than within the 1 to 10 range. I wonder why that is? HarHar! HeHe!

Having read the above, it might be a good idea to wait for the "Agency-Bus" from Pattaya in Aranjaphratet, hop on it, let the "Agent" do the paperwork (since he has already made "arrangements" with the officials and other assorted "thugs" previously for a fixed price).

That way the whole thing sould be fairly "calculable" and not get too much out of hand.

Its an absolute sihthole and notorious for drugs, deaths etc etc.

If you want LB's go to Jenny Star bar but make sure you say Hi to Kurgen who will probably be celebrating his birthday there with Britmaverick.

@davethailand

"Jenny Star Bar" sounds very familiar. Must have walked past it a zillion times. Not sure, but isn't that the "Kathoey" Bar on Walking Street near that big old tree?

Important: I would NOT be looking for a "Katoey" environment!

While I stayed in Thailand, I used to do my monthly Border-Runs from Pattaya with an agency (Trip & Fees included.) All fine and good.

But next time I will be staying in Aranjaphratet, therefore will not need Trip & Agency. Question now: How much is actually the Fee that has to be paid to the "officials" only?

I just know (among others) lopburi3 will know!

Have haerd of the "Day & Night"- Hotel and it's very reasonable pricing. Has also a "built-in" Disco, but was told that this Disco caters mostely to "Katoeys" and gentlemen that favour the "other side"anyway.

Could anyone confirm (or not confirm?) Thanks.

This "Married, still need 800K" got my attention. TALK ABOUT INFLATION!!!!!!!!!!!! Last time I asked (about 1 year ago) it came out like this: Married to Thai Lady, Funds required in Bank: 400'000 BHT when living in urban aereas - 250'000 BHT for rural aereas.

= Is it really 800K now?

AND: This supporting Thai-Wife-Clause! As long as there are some 42 professions listed, that a "Farang" is not allowed to engage in, the Thai-Wife Support would therefore have to come from the "outside", right? (Monthly Pension-Money Transfer for Ex.).

With regard to the posting of "Sunbelt Asia":

Perfectly correct! We are basically only allowed to spend our money in Thailand as a (if ever possible) wealthy tourist or a well supported retiree, receiving funds from overseas on a regular monthly basis!!!!

I have spent 1 1/2 years in Thailand to "fathom-out" business opportunities in Thailand and simply came out empty.

Unless you are willing to involve "Thai-Partners", there is no way of setting up any sort of business for a Frarang in Thailand! (Therefore, you will never be really in control of "your business".)

And if your "Thai-Partner" should happen to be your (Thai)- Wife, you are already "cooked and boiled" before you even know it!

All of this can not possibly come as a surprise to anyone that is capable of reading a newspaper or reading up on Thai-Lergislation. On top of that, Mr. Thaksin has repeatedly outlined this official policy in public spaeches. (Thai Rak Thai). Period!

Conclusion: Make your money elsewhere, and visit Thailand as often as you can as a tourist (as such, you will always be welcome).

If you absolutely have the desire to invest in Asia, you may find opportunities elsewhere.

Thailand: Forget it!

Cheers!

Would like to respond to some of the above comments with regard to this thread:

To sibeymai: You definitely got the grasp of it all! Congratulations!

To cdnvic: The original purpose to return to my country with my Thai Wife was (mutually agreed), to work, save and, in a relatively short period of time to return to Thailand, "to live happily ever after". (Again: mutual agreement.) OR: To plan and work for a future together.

While my "books" were always open to her, she started a financial "hide and seek" game. At such a point, even "bkkmadness" would probably have to start wondering "what happened to the concept of a future together", while at the same time I know for a fact, that the monthly money-transfer conveyor-belt to Thailand is alive and well and on the increase on a monthly basis?!?

In the country we live in, it's not only the law, but also considered as a minimum ethical standart, that both spouses owe each other complete disclosure of their financial affairs. It has to do with trust and not having to hide something. Even the gouvernment feels that way (and this is to say quite a lot.)

To mighty mouse: I have lived with her for 1 1/2 years in Thailand before. So, there was no "rushing into things on my part".

To bkkmadness: You (or the type of "Farang" like you), are clearly the dream of every sceamster-lady no matter where she lives! Accept, everything, question nothing, let the poor thing do what ever she likes and what the mutual future concerns: Trust in God or her goodwill toward you! (at her discretion of course!)

Summary: This is the problem: As long as there are "Farangs" and immigation authorities around, that find above descibed behaviour perfectly normal,

= OR: This vicious "Farang", that had the audacity to Hi-Jack a perfectly innocent female farm worker from a rice-field in Thailand ( or an average Beer-Bar in Pattaya, as the case may be) to a hellish place like Europe and, (on top of it), he actually starts to wonder about the "mutual future" and the true reasons and motivations of his spouse beeing here in the first place, well, then of course, as long as something like this finds support and sanctioning, I truly can not further comment on this subject.

Cheers.

Well, since I started this thread, I might as well give some further input regarding this matter.

After consulting a bunch of lawyers, there seems to be only one remedy:

1) At the first sign of any "irregular" behaviour on part of the beloved wife, don't hesitate to inform the "authorities" by registered letter.

= In my case: She started to re-route her monthly Bank-Statements to a lady-friend of hers, and allowed myself no more insight into her financial affairs whatsoever. (This started 1 1/2 years ago.)

My appearant mistake was, that I let this slide for way too long and didn's signal this to the "authorities" early in the game. In the country where I live it is illegal that one spouse "hides" her/his financial situation from the other. Now the comment is: Well, you accepted this for so long, what do you want now?

After I started to insist on disclosure of her financial situation, she pulled the "Womans-Shelter" thing on me. (As described in the start-out comment of this thread.)

For me, "the deal is done". All others, married to a Thai-Lady and living in his country may want to remember what I posted above under 1).

Cheers, swissie.

On my last visit to Pattaya I got myself some glasses. Bought then in a shop on walking street and got robbed (= way too expensive and lousy workmanship.)

My next visit is shortly at hand and I will again go for a pair of glasses. A tip where in Pattaya you got your glasses and didn't get the feeling that you were "fleeced" just because you were a "Farang"?

Thx.

Probably due to the fact, that a good pert of the male population in the "western world" have (over time), developped a certain dislike towards their female "conterparts" (for various reasons, female emancipation may have something to do with it, etc,etc,), the alternative, to look for a life-partner to build a lond lasting relationship with an Asian (Thai)- Lady seems to be a viable alternative and worth pursuing. Right?

If such a relationship between a "Farang" and a Thai-Lady is taking place in Thailand (and is planned for the long run and can be financed by the "Farang"), there is a fairly good chance that this might actually work.

A different situaton evolves automatically, if the "mutual happiness" should take place in the "homecontry" of the Farang.

In the country where I live (and in case you have married a Thai-Lady and her living with you here) you may, at some point, find youself in the following position:

Take a load of this:

= For whatever reasons, it might happen that she get's bored of you = she wants to get out! But, unless she is married to the "Farang" for over 5 years, her residentual status will be questioed by authorities (fake marriage, etc.) How could she possibly get around this slight problem? Easy for her!

All she has to do is:

- Go to the nearest police station and claim that "my husband beat me" and the rest is history. She will be escorted by local police to the nearest "womans shelter". Once there, and with the support of the average taxpayer, "witnesses" will be recruited (within the local Thai-Community, of course) that will swear that this represents the thruth and nothing but the truth. (Thai Rak Thai).

- Once this scenario is in place, there is no lawyer here that can give you any help. From hereon, it is at the descretion of the the "poor, battered Thai-Lady", for how much she watns to get you in monetary terms or otherwise. Needless to say, that her future stay in the "Farang-Country" is automatically assured for eternety. Mission accomplished! For the benefit of her and her "Family" in Thailand.

So, my humble suggestion would be: Alongside with the distributon of flyers at mayor airports warning "Farangs" of the dangers of AIDS while visiting Thailand, maybe a lot of grief could be avoided by simply adding a warning regarding this matter above.

Cheers, Swissie.

Well, what would be a a good address to get glasses in Pattaya (or surrounding area) without getting robbed just just because one qualifies as a "Farang". Among other things,this is something I will be looking for during my next stay.

Well, we all know about the Thai 1 Year Visa's. Does Cambodia also issue 1 Year Visas? If yes, what are the requirements and conditions? Anyone?