thai_narak

TE will not last long. The target of 1,000,000 members by the end of 2007 will not be met.

So you do not have 40k if you turn 50 you would only have one option (unless you find income then) and that would be the 800k bank account method. When you qualify for more than one you have the option (which most people I believe would consider as a positive point).

This means I have to change my non-O based on marriage to based on retirement.

...may not qualify to the 40k ...save ample amount of money from now own to prepare for our retirement in ANOTHER ASIAN COUNTRY.

I hate to be critical, but aren't those contradictory statements?

You don't think you will financially qualify for a retirement visa but you can save enough money to retire in another Asian country?

Curious as to which one you think 2 foreigners can retire to cheaper than Thailand.

TH

I'm under 50 and will not qualify for 800K when I turn 50 since the rule has changed and also will not have a guaranteed 40K a month when I retire. My current salary is 200K and obviously can save now that the rivers runs wild in the pocket. I don't think I can do visa run when I'm over 50 or 60 as well whilst on a non-O visa.

Why will you not qualify for the 800k in tne bank rule?

i'm talking about extension of stay for non-O.

You are about to make a serious life decision based on a serious misunderstanding. The 40k a month rule applies to Type O based on marriage. You have to have the 800k in the bank for 3 months prior to application for extension of stay for non-O based on over 50.

Methinks you are just being negative.

TH

Yes, the 40K a month rules applies to type O based on marriage. I have this visa now. I have to get non-O every year outside Thailand since I do not qualify for extension of stay. Why? because I do not work in Thailand and my wife doesn't have 40K a month.

Now, the 800K rule. OK, let's say I turned 50 and retired, should I qualify for 800K in the bank or should I have to have 40K a month? Should I also change my non-O visa based on marriage to non-O visa based on retirement?

These twisted rules in thailand are confusing... In Malaysia, if I put 1.5M Baht in the bank I will be able to stay for 10 years and can buy properties like house, land, etc. in my name. I can also have an option to extend my stay for another 10 years. I will be 70 by then and ready to depart... simple as that! No, border runs, application for extension of stay, re-entry permit, notification every 90 days, etc. etc.

...may not qualify to the 40k ...save ample amount of money from now own to prepare for our retirement in ANOTHER ASIAN COUNTRY.

I hate to be critical, but aren't those contradictory statements?

You don't think you will financially qualify for a retirement visa but you can save enough money to retire in another Asian country?

Curious as to which one you think 2 foreigners can retire to cheaper than Thailand.

TH

I'm under 50 and will not qualify for 800K when I turn 50 since the rule has changed and also will not have a guaranteed 40K a month when I retire. My current salary is 200K and obviously can save now that the rivers runs wild in the pocket. I don't think I can do visa run when I'm over 50 or 60 as well whilst on a non-O visa.

Why will you not qualify for the 800k in tne bank rule?

i'm talking about extension of stay for non-O.

me and my wife decided that we save ample amount of money from now own to prepare for our retirement in ANOTHER ASIAN COUNTRY.

where ?

First in our list is Malaysia. There is a program for expats which is called "Malaysia my second home". We have another countries in the list but still on research mode. Philippines is second...

...may not qualify to the 40k ...save ample amount of money from now own to prepare for our retirement in ANOTHER ASIAN COUNTRY.

I hate to be critical, but aren't those contradictory statements?

You don't think you will financially qualify for a retirement visa but you can save enough money to retire in another Asian country?

Curious as to which one you think 2 foreigners can retire to cheaper than Thailand.

TH

I'm under 50 and will not qualify for 800K when I turn 50 since the rule has changed and also will not have a guaranteed 40K a month when I retire. My current salary is 200K and obviously can save now that the rivers runs wild in the pocket. I don't think I can do visa run when I'm over 50 or 60 as well whilst on a non-O visa.

Deep down, sometimes I feel this country would have been much better of if it been colonialised by the brits.

Not just for our sake, but for the Thais as well.

Why not colonized by the Yanks?

Philippines?

Philippines was colonized by the spaniards and liberated by the yanks but raped by the japs in between...

girlx,

you suppose to be traveling, sightseeing, etc. since you are a tourist. it seems that you have been to every places in thailand already since you have been there for so long now. i'm sorry to say, but you are still illegal by doing some kind of work whilst on tourist visa. get legal before getting caught, it's a friendly advice...

Thai Narak

I can only speak as a UK national and getting a non imm "O" from Hull is absolutely no prob for a Brit. Obviously, I have to be in the UK, but can send passport by post and is always back 2 days later.

What nationality are you?

interesting...

i'm a US citizen so I'm not applicable to apply in Hull. I'm currently on non-O as I'm married to thai.

Being aware that I will not be working the rest of my life and may not qualify to the 40k when I get old nor do a visa run when I'm 60, me and my wife decided that we save ample amount of money from now own to prepare for our retirement in ANOTHER ASIAN COUNTRY.

loong,

Are you saying that anyone is applicable to apply for non-o visa? I thought only for marriage and retirees...

This will help so many people so why don't you tell us how to do this?

girlx,

you are basically working illegally (no work permit) with a wrong visa and can be arrested/deported if caught. you are also not qualified for a non-o visa since you are not over 50 and nor married to thai. what you have to do now is to employ yourself with your own company and try to get a non-b visa and a work permit to be legal. this is a bit complicated process so i would advise that you consult a lawyer.

camerata,

I'm posting not to argue with you but can you please give answer to my question?

Am I entitled to apply for a PR?

I think you'd be able to apply in the "Humanitarian" category for support of your son, but I don't know anything about that category. Frankly, I can't see them knocking back someone who earns 200K a month if the income can be verified. If I were you I'd talk to Sunbelt about it or have your wife call up and ask Immigration directly.

Sad part, my wife asked the immigration about 4 years ago and they told her that without work permit it is not possible to apply. Why should a foreigner who wishes to have PR is required to work in thailand for the salary that is so high that not many company can afford? OK... I will keep quite now.

many thanks...

camerata,

I'm posting not to argue with you but can you please give answer to my question?

Am I entitled to apply for a PR?

Here is my situation:

- married with Thai and under 50.

- marriage is registered in Thailand.

- have thai son.

- currently on NON-O.

- all property with wife amounting to more than 4M baht (my condo, our house, shophouse, and cars).

- wife have own business, well educated.

- NOT WORKING IN THAILAND.

- my job is specialist in my field.

- used to work in Thailand for more than 8 years (NON-B ) as specialist.

- salary overseas of more than 200K a month.

- no criminal record.

If you notice that "not working in Thailand" is in BOLD or caps this means that I do not have a work permit.

to say you would have 7 days to leave is a bit dramatic.that maybe the case ,but then you could come back in on tourist or non imm o. you qualified before for pr , so presumably you still qualify for a non im o or b.

It's not that simple, really. I was on a non-imm B, had many years continuous residence in Thailand and always intended to go for PR some day. If I had lost my job, there goes my 10 years' continuous residence and the 3-year mandatory residence for PR. Getting another B visa with no sponsor sounds difficult now. I might have ended up on tourist visas for months or even years while looking for a new job. Regarding PR, I would have had to start from scratch.

As for retirement, I don't have any Thai family to support and I don't have any income or pension from overseas so it would have been difficult to apply for a retirement visa. This in fact was a major concern. After 20 years in Thailand, paying Thai taxes, I didn't want to get kicked out because I didn't qualify for a retirement visa. Sure, I could put 800K in the bank but I couldn't replace it at the rate of 65k a month. None of that matters now I have PR. After I retire I'll be living on meagre savings but no one will care. I believe this is one reason why the salary requirement for PR is as high as it is. How much can a guy earning 30K a month save for retirement? How will he provide for himself and his family after retirement?

Seems like the PR perfectly fits your situation but not not for a guy like me whereas I'm married and under 50 y/o. The funny thing is, I cannot even apply for a PR now since I do not work in Thailand at the moment. To be able to apply for a PR for the reason of supporting Thai family still need to have a work permit. It doesn't make sense to me since I work in another country and earning much mcuh more than if working in Thailand.

One more thing, even with PR a foreigner cannot still own a piece of land eventhough married with Thai. It would be a breakthrough and will definitely reasonable to get a PR if one whose married with Thai and with PR would be able to buy a residential lot. What I can think of about PR until now is that, the immigration get your money one time in big amount and in return saves you a hassle for boarder run. End of story.

So can you show us where you read this information about not being able to own land??

I am sure you can be written in, in minority, in the tabien baan book

And if you are partner in a company the company can own land to 'exploit' as in farming etc

This is currently done by a friend of mine

Yes it saves the hassle of the border run and these runs are going to be over one of these days plus you do need to apply for non'o' visum when you are married or retired

J

Your name can be written in tabien baan if you have a PR but you can never be the owner of a land in Thailand if you are a foreigner. The thing about setting up a company to own a land is not completely legal and may be scrutinized soon.

One more thing, even with PR a foreigner cannot still own a piece of land eventhough married with Thai. It would be a breakthrough and will definitely reasonable to get a PR if one whose married with Thai and with PR would be able to buy a residential lot. What I can think of about PR until now is that, the immigration get your money one time in big amount and in return saves you a hassle for border run. End of story.

camerata,

The one thing that I hate the most with the PR is that you lose it when you go out of Thailand in the case of just forgeting to inform the immigration (1 year endoresement?) before leaving the Kingdom. If not for such rule, I would definitely go for a PR. Imagine paying more than 100,000 Baht and then just losing it one time? I would rather pay 5,000 Baht for a Non-O for 20 years (if I have to live 20 years more). My calculation did not include re-entry for the PR in 20 years (78,000 Baht).

If I'm married to Thai just like now then I would. Otherwise, not in a million years. My only mistake was marrying my wife...

Yes, I'm one of the unlucky ones, being married and under 50 y/o. It may be that the immigration are culling out criminals, illegal workers, tax evaders, and the like but being legal can also be affected by the new laws. Now I face uncertainty, since I know that if I lose my job I can be denied of my Non-O visa. Thus, will not be able to stay with my Thai family.

ah.. OK, my fault. I mean visa not extension of stay. So now I learned one more pointer that I have to bring my wife to get extension of stay. thanks...

mmm.... my wife never came along with me during application and pick-up.

I'm married and below 50. I do not have income in Thailand but can show proof of income from overseas. If I have to be in Thailand for 60 days first then I don't have a chance to apply but OK I will ask my wife to call them. Thanks Lop!

singapore...

Long time ago I have to submit all my credentials when my company applied for my work permit. Yes, you can get a work permit using your non-O.