Oorinara

IB seems to be a subcategory of B.

http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/123/15388-Non-Immigrant-Visa-%22B%22-(for-Business-and.html

And, if the site below is correct, IB seems to be for foreginers who have obtained project approvals from BOI but have not incorporated in Thailand yet.

http://www.vfs-thailand.co.in/Cat_BOI_docreqd.html

Unsure if one can apply for and/or obtain IB, even after incorporation.

Read thru this thred with much interest. Conclusively, the success seems to depend on mixture such factors as i) bank, ii) branch, iii) officer and manager, iv) visa, v) relationship with Thai, and vi) applicant's appearance(?), if not having Work or Resident Permit.

In fact, I tried several banks and branches in Bangkok and Pattaya in May and June 2008. I found general tendency as follows.

(1) Location: Bangkok is much stricter than Pattaya where a number of retirees reside. However if you live in or visit mostly Bangkok, better to open an account in branch in Bangkok metropolitan area, as inter-prefecture withdrawal or deposit require processing fee of at least Baht 10 per transaction even within the same bank network.

(2) Bank: Kasikorn is less strict to tourist than SCB.

(3) Appeal: Speaking Thai, even a little, and wearing good-looking clothes help, as officers and managers seemingly don't want to entertain Farang Keenou (low profile Farang) claiming loudly in English.

Eventually, I could open e-savings and time deposit accounts with K-Bank Suk branch, with 90 days tourist visa, hotel address and room no. but without Work Permit.

Required documents for account opening (K-Bank)

http://www.kasikornbank.com/portal/site/KB...00056f8f30aRCRD

Another good point of K-Bank is that it doesn't differentiate interest rates between resident and nonresident.

http://www.kasikornbank.com/portal/site/KB...00056f8f30aRCRD

By the way, resident and nonresident are different meaning from Thai and foreigners. For example, my account bears local address in Thailand only, so it is categorized as resident account for purpose of withholding of income gain tax. Too often mislead or mistaken.

Should you want to have a bank account anyway, the most sure way is to open an investment account with securities firm which then writes a letter of introduction to its tied-up bank. For example, Seamico securities to Siam Commercial Bank. Seamico or Capital Nomura Securities are accustomed to opeing accounts for foreigners. In this case, if you are a traveler with visa of less than 90 day say, I am unsure if your securities and bank accounts are categorized as nonresident (which defines withholding tax on income/capital gains).

^sadly, it's one of the worst indeed.

Exactly. Manila airport, especially International Terminal 1 and CEB Domestic Terminal, is very much outdated, not renovated, and poorly maintained. No wonder Manila airport showcases how Phils. is stupidly and jokingly organized.

For example, the number and system of airport secutiry guards and checks (besides check-in and immigration).

(1) at entrance of airport site, off terminal; vehicle and baggage check (by just looking in a second)

(2) at entrance of terminal; passport and ticket check (by just looking. Maybe guards are specially trained to memorize all info and reconcile it with airlines' database)

(3) at entrance of check-in ques; passport and ticket check (by just looking. No value added such as guiding business class pax to business class counters. Moreover, too often this checking process is not in place, implying it is unnecessary at all.)

<check-in>

(4) at entrance of terminal fee collection counter; boarding pass (by just looking. This process is not in place in terminal 2. Don't ask why only in Terminal 1. This is the Phils.)

<immigration>

(5) at entrance of boarding satellite; boarding pass (by just looking. Again, not in place in terminal 2. This is the Phils.)

(6) at entrance of boarding waiting area; passport and boarding pass (by reconciling with airline's pax list. Seemingly make sense, but again and again not in place in terminal 2. This is the Phils.)

<congrat, boarding>

However, perhaps because I don't transit through Manila, as an expat in the Phils., I find Manila airport convenient at least to me.

(1) near to the city center Makati, in where I live and work, and just 15-20 minutes drive (if less traffic jam),

(2) small and compact terminal, so no need to walk long from curve side to checkin counter, to immigration and to boarding gate, and of course no inner-terminal transport (unlike BKK, HKG, KL and SIN),

(3) no fabulous shopping or service facilities inside terminals, so no need to look around and no worry to spend (important when traveling with wife and daughters).

I used to sail to Batangas years ago, what other destinations would you suggest for retiremenr, giveen that Manila is a s,,,hole ?

Outside Metro Manila and part of Mindanao are not so unsafe, even though incomparable to Thailand or Malaysia.

I like Olongapo (Subic), Cebu, Bohol, Samal, Tacloban, Cagayan de Oro, Davao and Camiguin.

Should you require better medical services, big cities such as Cebu and Davao might be better (again, incomparable to Bangkok or Pattaya).

Philippine-based low cost carrier Cebu Pacific Air is offering promotional fare now.

THB 795++ per way from Bangkok to Manila, Cebu or Davao.

http://www.cebupacificair.com/

What about buying land or houses and what about owning a business can those be done by a foreigner?

Land: Cannot. Even by company, similar restriction as like Thailand.

Business ownership: Can, unless otherwise specified as negative list.

For detail, check Board of Investment (BOI) of the Phils. at http://www.boi.gov.ph/

I've never been to the Philipines before, What's it like price wise? Is it as cheap as Thailand? Is there a good nightlife there too like Bangkok / Pattaya / Phuket? Any tips on where to visit for my first time? I want somewhere where there are lots of clubs / nightlife,

Thanks.

Prices in the Phils. are slightly cheaper than Thailand. Simply put,

prices in the Phils. come in same numbers as Thailand, more or less.

E.g., if something costs THB 500 in Thailand, them it is PHP (Phils. Peso) 500.

USD 1 = THB 34 = PHP 45. Implying 30% less expensive. Very rough argument, though.

Nightlife: Less vibrant than Thailand, but much active than Malaysia and Vietnam, for instance.

- Makati (Metro Manila's Central Biz. Dist.); Go gos, Karaoke and massage parlors.

- Gueson Avenue and Timog Avenue in Queson (northern part of Metro Manila); Go gos, bar biers and many massages.

- Angeles (former US base in Clark, 2 hrs drive from Metro Manila); Many go gos and bar biers. Phils' Pattaya.

Many info on the Phils. is in English, so just google out for more detail. Enjoy your trip.

I don't see much advantage to this vs the Thai Elite card at 1.5 Million (about 45k USD) Baht for the under 50 crowd.

I have my complaints about Thailand but so far have received excellent medical care, love the food and of course the women aren't bad to look at.

Well, Thai Elite Card's around USD 45k is outright payment and hence nonrefundable, though transferable with conditions.

The Philippines' SRRV, USD 50k for 35-49 yrs old, is time deposit, so one will receive principal and interest when he/she withdraws from the program.

Yes, there isn't much difference if you don't have family to come along and will be able to sell out Elite Card at par or premium.

Fed up with Thai visa/registration regulations?

Consider the Philippines' permanent resident program called as

Special Resident Retirement Visa (SRRV), should you like.

http://www.pra.gov.ph/

Conditions (among otheres):

(1) Aged over 35 years old.

(2) USD Time Deposit of 20k for 50yrs old & up, and 50k for 35-49yrs.

- good for applicant, spouse and 2 children aged below 21.

- convertible into investments such as condo after 30 days.

Benefits (among others):

(1) Lifetime visa, outright.

- No need to renew (but need to renew ID card every 1 or 3 yrs).

- No need to have entry/reentry permits.

- No need to report your place of living (unless one change it).

(2) Can work.

- With Alien Employment Permit, easy to obtain.

(3) No need to live in.

- One can choose to live in or outside Phils.

- Renewal of ID card can be processed thru bank transfer and post mail.

Advantage of Phils. against LOS (IMO, of course):

(1) English speaking, mostly everywhere

- Formerly US colony. Still very good proficiency in English.

- Laws, regulations, documents, etc. are all in English.

(2) Acceptability/adaptability to foreigners.

- Less sensitivity to nationality. Many Filipino, of course riches,

have dual citizenship (US, HK, etc.).

- In Thailand, Farang is Farang forever.

Same Same with Thailand (IMO):

(1) Warm climate, year round.

(2) Hospitality.

(3) Vibrant nightlife (second to LOS in Southeast Asia).

(4) Living cost (depending on life style).

Disadvantage of Phils. against LOS (IMO, again):

(1) Less organized and governed. Hence(?), less safety.

(2) Lesser quality of medical services.

- Rich Filipino go abroad for medical operations.

(3) Fatty, sweet and oily foods.

- Which is why I plan to retire in LOS!