Rionoir

This is what I know... the shares will be 51% Thai owned, yet I will retain majority voting rights, and my work permit will be based on the fact that I will be the managing director of the company, not specifically a photographer. They are taking care of things like getting a sponsoring Thai company, setting up a "virtual office" so I have a valid corporate address, and other little details that I wouldn't have been able to do on myself without some huge headaches. I apparently don't need to have any Thai employees with this company either... which was a big relief. So that's about all I understand... I'm putting trust in them because of the recommendations I've seen... hopefully it all works out as they say.

My Thai friends have called the school for me and they sound like nice people at Walen. The reason you can get the visa for it is because the government is encouraging the spread of Thai culture and language or something like that. Make sure you have a ed visa before you go because it sounds like you have to leave the country otherwise to switch from tourist to ed?

When my partner goes back to Thailand in Sepember (a month before I go) he is going to stop by the school and check it out. I will post something after that, there were a couple people asking about it in the language forum too.

Thank you whoever recommended Sunbelt Asia... they are gonna have this whole business setup for me before I even get on a plane.

I'm still getting conflicting reports though as far as the photography thing. Sunbelt made it sound like it isn't a problem the way they are setting the company up, but if a company wanted to hire me specifically as a photographer they said it would be more difficult... which sounds like photographer must still be on some list? Anyway... totally worth the expense having someone else worry about the legal aspect of things.

Think about how hard it is to understand English when Thais either add tones to english, or when they pronounce english without accenting any/the proper syllabals (or both)... it's very difficult to understand then... yet to the thai they probably don't know why we can't figure it out. Or when they interchange R and L and form completely new words... yet to them we should know what they are saying.

It goes both ways. When you have heard a word said one way for 20 or 30 years, any variation of it becomes very difficult to understand.

I even plan on adopting eventually.

Can we do that in Thailand? LoL In the US same sex couples can be foster parents but I don't think can fully adopt children.

BTW, good for you for being in what seems like a very healthy and happy relationship. I hope things continue to be well for you there.

I'm 57 and he's 34.

O...

Ok I'm not implying anything directly to you here tust me, but I was thinking about this last night so just thought I'd ask since it came up... are there any older gay Thais? Like if I am there a long time, and when I'm 55 say I find myself single... isn't there anywhere to go to meet guys my age at that point? I understand wanting a young bf if you can get one... but clearly they are going to be based on more than love and faithfulness... so say an older farang wants a mutual loving relationship that doesn't involve his money... can they find that in Thailand too?

I'm 30 and so is my Thai bf, so I am having a hard time relating to some of the things I am reading in this forum... but even at my age I have stopped dating guys too much younger than me because unless you are going to be in a rent-a-boyfriend sitution, there are almost too many differences in that kind of age gap for MOST relationships to thrive. ???

regardless of work permit status.

If resident in thailand, and the employer is a Thai employer, regarless of where they pay you, your income is taxable.

If resident in Thailand, and your employer is not a Thai based company, and they pay you off shore, then that money isn't taxed UNLESS it is repatriated by you back into Thailand. EG. A US company pays you $10000 to an offshore account in HK. You bring in $1000 for living expenses, that $1000 is liable for income tax at your marginal rate.

Thank you for that explanation. Would it be considered "working in thailand" so that I would need a work permit for that work in a situation like this? I have ways to get a work permit from another company that wants to employ me, but I also have a business in the US and could continue to get paid here and do some work over there... would I have to move the business over there or?

That's too bad some people take such advantage of others like that. I gotta say though, look at what some of the guys who want a bf half their age are willing to put up with while continuing to dish out money... and you gotta admit it's easy to see how Thai guys fall into that situation. It's almost like older white men go to Thailand for the sole purpose of buying a boyfriend... and then feel bad down the road when they realize they aren't in a love-based relationship.

I want to say that I don't judge anyone if that's what they want to do... if I was 70, single and had the money I'd probably consider getting me a 30 year old bf too... but I think it was you who had posted that you need to treat the money you give like a salary and not just give it out no matter what they do... and look yourself in the mirror before you even go down that road and make sure one knows what they are getting into...

We ARE the foreigners here, in this LOS.

I've seen that a couple times in this thread now... I don't think just because you aren't native that you should expect less from a relationship, if you indeed are committed to each other. I understand if you are hesitant to be alone or whatever... but don't be afraid to stand up for what you want in a relationship. (Are you both the same age-ish?)

My Thai BF has an obsession with The Little Mermaid... and barbies... ugh... LoL I think that's pretty gay? haha

Rion,

Keep in mind that when u and your bf are living in Thailand, things may well change as things may be reversed, eg. your bf may miss so many farangs around and get closer to you, but there are also other issues like you are likely to fall into 3rd place in his priorities to his family and job. The question of relative wealth may also play a part and who pays the bills etc. Finance and local temptations are the usual reason for Thai/farang relationships breaking up and these always change when you make a move with a bf..

Thanks for the reply. I fully know I am going to be second to his family, I already am... lol He isn't a workaholic, he's actually told me already he's afraid of having too much responsibility with a job right now, but he does work hard at the jobs he's given, which is fine because I plan on travelling a lot for the work I am going to do as well. We aren't really the type of couple that overdoes our affections 24-7... we are pretty realistic about things with our relationship... hopefully that doesn't change. We currently live 2 hours apart and have since we met... so we aren't used to spending all our time together. Again, that's a good thing to me. We aren't going to live together right away after the move either... lol... can you see we're being pretty careful. I'll have my bills and he will live with his family and the maid heh... *jealous*

We've kind of talked about the culture shock it will be with our majority/minority type roles being reversed... I've never been to a bar where the majority of guys were cute asian boys... lol He knows I'm kind of excited... he's gonna take me to the go-go bars and all that... but really, I'm too scared of disease to screw around when I get there, and seems fine with me looking but not touching... so hopefully that is how it works out.

PS - I don't think he is going to miss having so many americans around... he never really liked many of them to begin with. lol He wasn't the type of Thai that was in the US to find a white boy, in fact he never really wanted to... it just worked out that way. If anything, I'd worry more about him when we go back having all the Thai boys around again...

anyway thanks again

Ok thanks. I actually have a friend who will be a partner in a business over there and they said they can get me a work permit... but I don't think it would do me any good, because from what I understand any company that I work with I have to have a work permit with. I want to do some freelance work, but short of starting a business it's looking impossible.

This has been an interesting thread to read. It makes me wonder if there are many guys out there in my situation - which is my Thai BF just finished his masters degree here in the US, and when we move there in a couple months I completely expect him to be out-earning me, at least for a good while. How divided is Thailand in terms of upper and lower class? From what I understand the middle-class Thai is pretty rare? Just curious...

I am usually on the side of trying to explain things away, but things don't just get written on that part of your body without your shirt being off and without you knowing it. Having said that... it seems like this isn't the first time you've had reason not to trust him and don't feel you can do anything about it anyway. It's pretty clear you aren't the type to take a huge stand without actually catching him in the act, so I think your current strategy is best... don't worry about it. I don't know that would be my strategy, but we each have to do what works best for us. Good luck to ya.

Well if we don't hear anything here you guys can PM me in a couple months... LoL I'm going there to learn Thai of course, but also for the student visa. =P

Related to another thread I had, but just want to clarify something...

If I get paid in a bank in the US and do the work while I am in Thailand on a student visa... is this going to get me in trouble? (assuming someone finds out etc)

*bump*

i. be willing to compromise a lot if you don't want to get a quality camera... you can't have it all.

ii. I'm sure you know what videos from a camera look like - if you're fine with that that's up to you

Megapixels - 5mp is enough for an 8x10 and any more than that you won't even notice the difference. Since you are viewing the images only on a computer, and 5mp is pretty much the minimum you'll find in a new camera... it's completely a non-issue.

Focal length... mmm... I'm not sure what point and shoot cameras are exactly, but usually a neutral kind of focal length, probably around 50mm? "Telephoto" with a camera that is going to fit in your pocket really doesn't exist unless you want digital zoom (which isn't zoom at all)

If you are concerned about good images, look at an entry level dSLR... the canon Rebel XT (which has just been replaced by the XTi) is probably really affordable, and you can get a good one on ebay for a good price I'm sure. That would be my suggestion if you truly want images that look better than ur camera phone.

I'm not saying $35K in the US is a ton of money... but you can live just fine off of it without feeling like you are poor. Now if you were supporting a family or trying to have the best of everything, it wouldn't work so well... but for one person like I said, unless you really can't control your urge to buy everything you want and have to have it right NOW, then I'm saying it works just fine... and translated to Thailand, I've got to imagine you can have a very nice life for that amount based on what I've heard. But some people are making it sound like that's bare minimum just for them living by themself... and I can only imagine how nice their living quarters must be, and that they are somewhat spoiled now and don't realize how well they are living.

I am curious what some of you consider an acceptable lifestyle. I find it funny that in the teacher forum you can live the high life with 100k baht a month... and I hear some people here that sound single that are saying they can barely get by on that. LoL 100k baht a month is even a decent salary in the US if you don't have a huge apartment in a major city... I can't imagine it being inadequate in Thailand?

I believe I spent over 100K in the end for everything.

I was dividing by 3 instead of 33 for a second, I almost had a heart attack. That sounds very reasonable though. I actually was talking to my partner before and realized that I could hire extra photogs and such that would make a lot of sense. Well I can't wait to talk to sunbelt now - looks like this might work out afterall.

I've got time to work it all out anyway, I think I am going to go to that Thai language school (Wallen?) because I can get a student visa for a year and feel everything out before getting in over my head there... not to mention improve my Thai and be able to communicate with my employees! heh Completely off the topic there, but if anyone has any recommendation or experience with that school I'd love to hear it.

And btw, you should thank Razzell for pointing out the erroneous information, and A_Traveller for actually pointing out what I expanded on after further research after I presume he went to bed

Sorry... big thanks to both of you too

Thanks again. There might be an issue with that part about the extra staffing... since, ah... there really is no work for, how many people was it, 6? =P But I guess we will just have to see how it goes... thanks over and over lol, I really appreciate having this cleared up.

Thanks for that onethailand! LoL Now I'm confused why an american photographer in thailand has told me it is prohibited? And then someone at the consulate made it sound like it was no problem. Ok, well that is good to hear anyway... I'm glad someone could clear up all these lists for me.

So now I'm curious... let's say I want to freelance for various companies that bring in foreigners for destination weddings. Can I get a work permit on my own somehow? Do I need one of them to sponsor me? Phew... =P

Thanks again, I really appreciate that info. You really know your stuff...

Well, we're in for a shocker here.

The link posted above on ThaiVisa says that this is the Schedule Annexed to the Royal Decree Stipulating Work in Occupations and Professions Prohibited to Aliens B.E. 2522 (A.D. 1979) .

http://www.thaigov.go.th/en/non-resident/v...3&M_CODE=47

However, it is NOT. It is actually the Alien Business Law (N.E.C. Announcement 281), from 1972, which was replaced by the Thai Foreign Business Act of 1999 ("FBA").

Section 1. This Act shall be called the "Foreign Business Act 1999".

Section 2. This Act shall come into force immediately after the lapse of the 90-day period that commences on the date of its publication in the Government Gazette.

Section 3. The following shall be repealed:

(1) Announcement No. 281of the National Executive Council dated November 24, 1972.

(2) The Act of 1978 amending Announcement No. 281, of the National Executive Council dated November 24, 1972.

(3) Act No. 2 of 1992 amending Announcement No. 281 of the National Executive Council dated November 24, 1972.

http://www.dbd.go.th/eng/law/fba_e1999.phtml

The Schedule Annexed to the Royal Decree Stipulating Work in Occupations and Professions Prohibited to Aliens B.E. 2522 (A.D. 1979) stipulates 39 professions in which aliens may not work. That is the same list that most of us have referred to in a number of places, and photography is not amongst the professions prohibited.

The Alien Business Law does in fact state that photography is prohibited - as a BUSINESS. But this has already been superceded by the Thai Foreign Business Act (FBA) as of 3 March 2000.

The FBA stipulates the three Lists that I referred to above. Photography does NOT appear on any of these lists. And furthermore, these restricted lists are for businesses which foreigners may not operate - they do not represent occupations which are prohibited to foreigners.

Thus, it should be plainly clear that photography is NOT restricted to aliens Now you know why I asked to see a reference...

OK, so in a nutshell, wedding video/photo as part of an exotic wedding package. You would sell your expertise to the company {or would you sell to the happy couple when they arrive here [don't think so but your answer is ambiguous]} arranging the wedding package {presumably in the US} and you would be their video/photo arm here.

As a US citizen you have the option of an Amity Company which may be of some value, but it depends on how you intend to integrate your Thai partners expertise.

Given your position then advice from a suitable source would be wise.

Regards

I will have to look into that Amity Company thing, I don't know anything about it... I have just started researching this a couple of days ago. So I apologize if I come across as not having a clue - I really don't at this point. LoL

I am open to either offering my services through a Thai based company that arranges destination weddings, or arranging photography directly with the couple themselves... if one is easier to do legally than the other I'm fine with either situation.

Well thanks again for the input.