lordmullin

11 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Cannot be both, your visa status will be married or retirement.

I didn't say I had two visas, just that I happen to be retired - and I'm on a married visa. Anyway, academic - if I could close this post I would. I get the gist, already ????

Okay, thanks to all of you.

I won't be paying anyone off, or bending any rules, or anything else to jeopardise my status here, so that's that.

I was just running the options, see if it was simple - clearly not!

Cheers everyone.

3 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

 

Married Visa, GO TALK to them and find out, areas etc as always will vary.

 

Its because of this inconsistency you are potential danger. what has happened in one area doesnt follow it will automaticaly happen in another. SPEAK to the people in YOUR area they are the one who will unltimately take action. Get it from the horses mouth.

Will do, thanks Charlie????????

3 minutes ago, bamboozled said:

In my understanding, you can chat up guests until you're blue in the face. There are many restaurants/bars/guesthouses that run this way. The foreign husband/financier mucks about and chats the patrons. But no, you cannot check anyone in, touch money, move anything, etc.... As CharlieH said, I suppose immi can mess with you with any excuse they want. I would go talk to them directly, perhaps, and explain the situation asking what you can/can't do. This could also be bad advice if it alerts them to keep eyes on the place.

Excellent, thanks for that????

Just now, bamboozled said:

Not fraught....expensive. Can work on marriage visa with work permit. Can not work with retirement visa, ever.

Thanks for that, Bamb... That's clear????

Thank you both, for your answers.

Is it fraught with pitfalls, to apply for a work permit, whilst on a married visa and retired?

Dinga - kop khun khap ????

Thanks for that - it's all pretty grim reading!

How come I keep hearing that 'a Farang can buy a condo, but only buy a house if the land is owned by the Thai and the building that sits on it, is owned by the Farang'?

None of what you guys are saying sounds like that ????

I really appreciate the input, by the way - if there's any more I need to hear it!

Thanks Stu - any advance on this bit: ?   'what's this I read about the house being in the Farang's name and the land being in the Thai's name? '

Wow... okay, lots to think about - but what's this I read about the house being in the Farang's name and the land being in the Thai's name?

I would be okay with that - is that not fairly straightforward?

The way some people talk about it (friends over there) there's a kind of mutual security about it; neither party can sell their part of it, without the agreement of the other - is this not true?

Thanks again ????

Thanks Stu and Chalawaan.

Stu, can I ask please: do you mean I have to renounce all claim to the property, if I funnel the cash through my wife's account?

Thanks again.

Hi, I have a feeling I've seen something before, about buying a property (I understand and accept the Thai-owns-the-land/Farang-owns-the-building principle) in which the Farang cannot be seen to transfer the money to his wife's account, to buy the property....? Something about signing a waiver, renouncing all claim to that money...?

I would like to just transfer the money to the seller, but apparently that's not the way.

Anyone with a firm grip on this please advise! Many thanks ????

20 hours ago, skatewash said:

Can you open a Thai bank account when you aren't physically present in the bank?  No

Can you open a Thai bank account when you're here on holiday?  Probably not, but you can try.  Presumably you'll be here on visa-exempt entry (45 days) or Tourist Visa (60 days)?  Neither of those are long-term visas (meaning something 90 days or more) so banks will be reluctant to open an account for an applicant in Thailand on that basis.

Assuming when you arrive in November you may be coming in on a Non-O visa for purpose of retirement, you'll have an easier time but not an easy time.  The Non-O Visa is a long-term visa.  You may need a letter from your embassy in Thailand attesting to your address in Thailand and the fact that your passport is legitimate.  Some banks want that sometimes.  You may have to ask at multiple banks and multiple branches.  If you know someone in Thailand, preferably Thai, that banks at the branch you are trying to open an account at that can be helpful if they can be with you at the bank.

In short it's not easy for a foreigner to open a bank account, but they certainly have to be in Thailand, it helps greatly if they have a long-term visa, and then something proving their address in Thailand like an embassy letter can make a difference.  I suggest the embassy letter rather than a Certificate of Residence obtained from an immigration office because some of those won't give you one unless you've previously filed a 90-Day Report there.

Finally, as a last resort, there are agents who for a fee will help you open a bank account.

Thanks Skatewash - an excellent and comprehensive answer, cheers!

Hi - I realise this sounds a bit mad, but is it possible to open a bank account vfrom here in the UK? I will be in the country in July for holiday and then November for retirement & relocation.

Or is it possible to just walk into a bank when I'm on hols in July, with my passport and travel docs, to open one, there & then?

Any tips greatly appreciated, thanks.

Thanks Peter - that sounds more likely than not. Cheers.

I've read about the Farang owning the house and his Thai wife owning the land it sits on; I've been told that it secures both parties' interests, in a way.

She can't sell the land from under you, or evict you - and you can't sell the house to another party without her consent.

This is all worst-case-scenario, obv!

Thanks again - any further coment on this greatly appreciated.

Hi - i'm aware of the condo thing, but I've recently seen something about Farang-ownership being possible in a 'branded project' or 'villa complex'.

Does anyone know about these things? It sounds like, because the developer calls it a single project with multiple units, they can sell under the same 49/51 rule as condos...

It can't be that simple, can it?

And would a branded project be something like brand-new townhouses with a name like Habitown or Townhome?

I think maybe villa complexes might be out of my price-range, but I'd like to know how it all works.

Thanks for any help.

Can i just say thanks to all of you for your input! I must have had notifications turned off, as I've just returned to this forum and seen all your replies. Much appreciated.

Thanks everyone ????

Thanks to both of you - I will not be going any further with this one! I am quite risk-averse and want to get somewhere legit, with all i's dotted and t's crossed. Cheers Gents!

[I'll be hiring a local law firm to make sure I'm watertight.]

Hi - I've seen a great looknig condo in Patong - good sq.m and price. Trouble is the guy selling it says it's NOT up for foreign ownership, but and I quote:

" As you said this is not Foreigner free hold unit.

I might be new at this, but I've found lots to go at on two sites: DDProperty.com and Thailand-property.com.

Good luck.

Thanks Upnotover - good to know.

I had heard that the Thai system was simpler for me, rather than navigate the UK system for my GF. So that's very helpful, kop khun khap ????

Hello everyone - forgive me if this has been asked before, but, in general terms, is it better to have a Thai marriage ceremony (legal, official in Amphur) or UK (registry office)?

I mean this in terms of worst-case scenario in the future: division of assets after divorce - or probate after death, leaving property to Thai wife and  UK children, etc.

Thanks for ANY help or guidance - ????

Tim.