Nickthegreek

Many Thanks to everyone for replying,the more time I spend asking for constructive advice,the more respect I have for the members of this site..!!! There are some that are just full of obsenities and dia tribe...Thank you Thai visa...

Does anyone currently grow rice and cut out the middleman? and does anyone have a contact for the exporters directly in Bangkok?

I see no reaosn why I could not store my rice, bag it deliver it if the cost savings are worthwhile,I can also only assume that to freight the product by train must be less expensive? as long as you stay with your product...Just a thought!!!

Nick

This may seem like a stupid question,but the more i read the more I see how we as westerner seem to think..The poor farmer makes no money and the middleman and exporter seem to make it all.I am being niave?

I ask only because I am about to start a little bit of rice farming,purley to see if it will produce the returns my Father in Law Boasts!!!

However I saw on this site last week that I think it was one tonne of rice exports for 1000 Dollars..

I have been toid that we will receive about 7000 baht per tonne,by my calculations someone is getting very rich..!!!

Therefore does anyone cut out the middleman and take it direct to the exporter? or is this not worth the hassle..

Any feedback appreciated

Nick

Hi Ozzydom,

Thanks, I understand where you are coming from,I guess I did not expect rice to vary so much across the country as it obviously does.

I am fairly sure what I have been told so far is accurate based on the quality of the land which is in Si thep.

I will have to suck it ans see,fortunatley its not my main means of income in Thailand I think if I only had twenty rai I will be in trouble long term..

I will suck it and see this year and maybe I will be lucky.

Well Thanks to all for the constructive support..

A very bigs thanks to Pond life,this document looks like a great read..

I am not jumpimg into farming with both feet this is a plan to test the waters, to see if it will produce enough money to relax a little.

I am quite lucky the land is great and I know that my Father in law only has regrets at leasing the land to a Thai businessman 8 years ago as he has continued to gain good profits from the land.

I guess if i was completely honest i was trying to double check him proposed returns on the land,as I will have to trust them completely,i will not be hand son with this for at least another ten years,when I may make the move to sunny Pectchabun..

Again many thanks

Many Thanks for the replys..

Goes some way to answer the questions..However

The land has been used for 8 years previously as stated to grow rice,we have just gained the land back..

I am really trying to find out approximate harvest amounts and what the rice sells for.I appreciate that iot differs but there must be an approximation surely?

Seeems to be when growing bio plants...

Hi Guys,

After many discussions with the wife and family it seemed better to go along the rice route than the bio crop route based on water issues.

I am just trying to get some experience clarity.

We have brought at this piont 20 rai of land back into the family which has been let on a long term rent as my father in law went down the sugar cane road on 80 rai of his other land.

We know have 20 rai which we will start to grow rice on in May,it has been growing rice for the past 8 years so its all good.

I have been told that it will cost me 40,000 baht as a one off payment to buy top quality rice and chemcals for start,is this some where near?

I have also been told that it should produce an imcome of 7,000 baht per rai,therefore giving me a return of around 140,000 baht for the rice crop,in its five month duration,Is this somewhere near?

Finally I am now reading that I can crop in between the rice and grow other things,the family have suggested fooy long beans,but I read here maybe yellow beans..

Any advice appreciated..

Nick

Many Thanks for all the advice..

Finally cracked it..

Nick

Hi,

I am hoping someone can help with this.

I have a computer with windows XP installed..

When I run DXDIAG i get an error reprt whichj tells me to re-install direct x 9.

I have tried this many times but it does nit fix the issue as I seem to be also missing direct play 8..this I cannot install either..

any help greatly appreciated..

Nick

...You need to prove that last year's audited revenue is at least of the same amount of the coming year's salary of the work permit holder. In case of a European, the minimum salary is 60,000 Baht/month (to qualify for a 1 year extension), so last year should have generated at least 720,000 Baht revenue (12 X 60,000).

Did they raise the monthly salary requirement? I thought it was 50,000 Baht/month and not 60,000 Baht? This is what I paid myself for the last two years and I always got the extensions. You got me nervous here, as my extension renewal is up again in three month!!

Sorry, I'm wrong here, it's indeed 50,000 for persons from following regions: Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, USA.

45,000 for: Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan.

35,000 for: Other Asian Countries not listed, Central and South America, eastern Europe, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey.

and

25,000 for: Africa, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

Do note that the minimum salary requirement is demanded by immigration when applying for an extension based on employment. It is NOT the same amount needed by the labour department when applying for your work permit, although they also have certain minimum salary requirements, they are more based on the kind of employment (aide, management function, production etc...)

Its interesting that you have Europe at 50,000..As MD of my company I was told by Immigration last year that it needed to be 60,000 baht per month..!! Has this changed? I am from the UK....

I am German, also MD of my company and had for the last two years a monthly income of 50,000 Baht per month and no problems obtaining the extensions at Suan Plu. At which Immigration were you told that it's 60K?

It was in bangkok and I was told that I would not receive the extension if my salary was not set at this level.. Joy looks like I have over paid for a year.....no chance of getting that back...

...You need to prove that last year's audited revenue is at least of the same amount of the coming year's salary of the work permit holder. In case of a European, the minimum salary is 60,000 Baht/month (to qualify for a 1 year extension), so last year should have generated at least 720,000 Baht revenue (12 X 60,000).

Did they raise the monthly salary requirement? I thought it was 50,000 Baht/month and not 60,000 Baht? This is what I paid myself for the last two years and I always got the extensions. You got me nervous here, as my extension renewal is up again in three month!!

Sorry, I'm wrong here, it's indeed 50,000 for persons from following regions: Australia, Canada, Europe, Japan, USA.

45,000 for: Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan.

35,000 for: Other Asian Countries not listed, Central and South America, eastern Europe, Mexico, Russia, South Africa, and Turkey.

and

25,000 for: Africa, Burma, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam

Do note that the minimum salary requirement is demanded by immigration when applying for an extension based on employment. It is NOT the same amount needed by the labour department when applying for your work permit, although they also have certain minimum salary requirements, they are more based on the kind of employment (aide, management function, production etc...)

Its interesting that you have Europe at 50,000..As MD of my company I was told by Immigration last year that it needed to be 60,000 baht per month..!! Has this changed? I am from the UK....

I have jsut renewed mine,but the system was the same as application:

Copies of passport/visa pages

work permit,I think that you can replace this with a letter from the Umphur saying you are living in thailand,at your stated address,I had to take the owner of the building with me,to show there is etc..however not needed if you have a work permit..

you will also need a couple of pictures...

I think that was it..

hope this helps

As long as your wife has a tax record of payment on personal income of 40k or more per month you should be good.

Hi Lopburi,

This is whats confusing me.immigration say that business needs to turn over 40,000 per month and after deductions she can pay tax and I can still have the visa extension,based on marrige and that my wife is supporting us both, its just seems a little low to me.

Or are immigration saying that a business is equivalent to a personal income and as long as it produces in excess of 40,000 baht per month,then OK?

If you call to BKK immigration, they will tell you the biggest number on your yearly or half-yearly tax declaration should be >40K month (I called). It's up to you to believe them or not.

Thanks,

Immigration in Ayutthaya told me the same thing,I guess it must be right..!!!

I will go with and hope that its all ok..

Thanks

If you bring in 40k from outside then that is fine. If someone works and earns 40k then logic would dictate that it is 40k earnings or salary but as it appears to be tax receipts which are the key documents, 40k income would not be tax paid on 40k after deductions. I do not think we have had that clarified 100% here as yet.

Hi Torrenova,

Well I guess then its as clear as mud..Thanks for your input,I will go with immigrations suggestions and hope that they have it right..

Regards

Nick

ok here we go,

My wifes parents currently grow sugar cane which yields a return of 600 baht per tonne.

They currently have 80 rai of land which is flat and close to the river,here comes the problem I think?

The land is in Si thep,which is a little north of chai badan..north of Lopburi,it floods every year around late October..

From what I have read here this crop can be planted in Feb and should be harvestable by November?

If one were to switch to this crop,what effect would the floods have on it,if you were to leave it for a two year harvest(assuming anyone can answer this) plus I have already asked this,but where can the product be sold?

Where can the root plant be purchased,

many Thanks in advance..

Nick

"…the total cost of cassava planting is about USD 0.02/kg".

This is spot on, for one-year crops. Two-year crops reduce this to USD 0.011/kg spread over two years.

Khonwan

I am reading all of this with interest,can anyone tell me where the production plants are in Thailand for the sale of the crop,I am guessing that some tonnes in weight is a few trips to a factory,if the sugar cane is anything to go by?

If your wife's business is a sole-trader, then the company profit is effectively her own personal income and taxable as such. My wife owns our hotel as a sole-trader, and therefore the business profit is treated as her own personal salary and tax paid accordingly. But this tax is payable on a 6-monthly basis, not a monthly basis.

Simon

Hi Simon,

That clears that the imcome issue..Simon can you tell me if the figure is net of rent fuel and light etc? or this is a gross figure before these,it may not be an issue for you with a hotel,but would help if you know,one of the posters here says it must be nett,immigration have told me otherwise..

Nick

As long as your wife has a tax record of payment on personal income of 40k or more per month you should be good.

Hi Lopburi,

This is whats confusing me.immigration say that business needs to turn over 40,000 per month and after deductions she can pay tax and I can still have the visa extension,based on marrige and that my wife is supporting us both, its just seems a little low to me.

Or are immigration saying that a business is equivalent to a personal income and as long as it produces in excess of 40,000 baht per month,then OK?

Sorry for the late response,I have been busy.

I am not sure I have explained myself properly.

I intend to switch both of the businesses into my wifes name and then she will pay tax and I will not work.

This is what immigration tell me we can do and then pay tax in my wifes name..

I hope that makesd it clearer?

As my marriage day rapidly approaches I am trying to get my affairs in order..

I would just like to make sure this is correct, as I have read many threads about this income per month.

I am from the UK and currently have two businesses,one is a LTD company and the other is in my wifes name.

Immigration tell me that the joint income to convert my B visa to an O visa is 40,000 baht per month.

I want to clarify that this is before deductions,ie tax,rent etc..or is that a nett figure? once all that has been paid.. and I will then be able to get an extension of stay as per my current work permit allows..I will also no loner be working..!!

Many thanks in advance

As long as you have all of you documents in order,you will recieve a months extension,then you will go back to the labour department and they will extend you work permit again..then in a month you will go back to immigration and you should get your years extension..

You must go back to the labour office before your visa expires each time and re-apply for a new work permit..

Thats how it worked for me,but that was a year ago and it does keep changing..

Good luck and keep calm,I used Thai solicitor that had not done it before and it was more painfull,but cheaper in the long run..

Have you registered yourself for you personal tax payments,that was what causght me out last year..you need,or did have to have paid one months tax..and showed the form..

Sorry I have assumed its your company..

Hi guys!

I just wanted to let everyone know some of the things I found out today while transferring my Canadian car and motorcycle licenses to Thai ones.

You do need:

-The originals and 2 photocopies of your (valid) driver's license, work permit and passport/visa.

-Your phone number.

-A reaction test, a colour blindness test, a depth perception test, and a peripheral vision test that are all taken there at the office within 10 minutes and are so easy that you'd have to be dead to fail them.

-A smile and a friendly, relaxed demeanor. (this may be the most important point!!!)

You do not need:

-An affidavit of residency from your embassy. (your work permit is an authorised proof of this, this was the first "lie" my embassy told me)

-An Embassy-authorised and translated copy of your original driver's license from your home country. (the Thai transport office was happy to see the original of mine, they just needed 2 photocopies of it. I didn't have to take any kind of driving test in a car or on a bike with this. The second "lie" my embassy told me! My embassy wants my money!)

-2 photos: 3cm by 4cm. (they take your picture at the office for your licence - this must have changed recently so I can't really call it a "lie" from my embassy)

-A bad, impatient, angry, ignorant attitude. (I can't stress this enough! There were some other foreigners there who were being rude and impatient, I was helped before all of them even though I came later! A smile and following the rules goes a long way in this country!)

I can't believe how easy this was! Although I was duped by my embassy into buying the affidavit of residency (1700 Baht!), I didn't get any of the extra license stuff because I figured I would just take the road test. They never asked me to take a road test so I didn't say anything to them about it! I forgot about the photos that my embassy told me to bring, but I'm glad I did, they weren't needed. I was surprised when the lady who helped me told me to keep the affidavits, and when she said I didn't need them!

I was pissed at my embassy then, but I didn't show it. A "Mai Pen Rai" attitude is appreciated here, and if you can let them see that you are at least trying to make things easier for them, they will try to make things easier for you!

I hope this helps some of you who are wanting to drive here, YMMV at the office but as long as you are calm and happy, the people that help you there will be too!

I had much the same experience,its fair to say they weill be over the moon if you pop back with a box of doughnuts..!!

The marriage does not provide you any visa - although you can obtain a one time 60 day extension of your present stay from Immigration with a TM.7 and 1,900 baht after you have the marriage certificate and a spouse to back you up.

The marriage certificate/copy of wife ID card can be used at a Consulate to obtain a non immigrant O visa for a visit. In some cases a multi entry visa valid for one year may be obtained. But would require exits every 90 days.

To stay in Thailand, under age 50 and using family for the reason would require proof of 40k per month income (family total) and that requires application at Immigration with spouse and supporting paperwork.

Lopburi,

Thanks for the help, I am assuming I can convert my Non Imm B at immigration into an O and then use last years tax that I paid on my business as the proof of income.Then the wife will pay tax monthly/ yearly and we will use this as proof of income,in the future.Please let me know if this is incorrect as it all seems to change so quickly.

Regards

Nick

Yes except not clear on the "old marriage documents"? If you are already married you can not be single and able to marry. Perhaps you are talking divorce documents?

At any rate you have to obtain a paper from your Embassy, have it translated and registered with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and once that is done you take that to register your official marriage at a District Office of your choice.

Lopburi,

You are correct, my divorce documents.

can I do some of this paperwork in advanceof the wedding or do i need to wait until we are actually married?

Regards

Nick

I assume you are British, though your nickname suggests otherwise?

You need to go to embassy to make a Statutory Declaration that you are free to marry.

If you have been married before then you will need to produce the divorce certificate/

or death certificate relating to the previous marriage.

The declaration needs to be translated and registered with the M of FA.

Then you can get married.

There is no need to "register" the marriage itself at the embassy.

From my own experience a simple copy and translation will satisfy the UK authorities.

The Inland Revenue accepted this when I claimed a married tax allowance, way back when

such concessions existed.

I am British,I guess you have never seen Lock Stock and two Smoking Barrels,anyway thanks for the help.

So let me get this straight one I have all of these documnets translated the documnet from the Umphur is enough to gain the O Visa ?

Hi,

I have tried to find links on this topic but I have not managed to find the answer to this question.

I will marry my Thai G/F in febraury of next year when I will convert my current NON imm B visa with extension from BK to a non imm O and no longer work.

I think I have to go to the British Embassy to give clarification that I am free to marry?

Then once i have this documnet and any old marriage documnets translated,I go to the local Umphur to register the marrriage.

have I got this right, or am I missing something?

Advice greatly appreciated.

Nick