smilingjim

I, for one, am delighted. I first went there in 1991 and it had beautiful beaches.  

I stopped going when more and more guest houses were built, a road was built and the speedboats & jet skis moved in , totally destroying the tranquility.

The trash on the island is a disgrace.

Let's hope they actually clean it up. 

I have no interest in recriminations at this stage. All I want to know is which charitable Foundation, if any, supports them and why there appears to have been no requests for immediate help in the form of donations, temporary shelter, grief counselling etc. Can anyone enlighten me? I live in Chiang Rai and there are people here who would like to help!

Plenty of Thai restaurants with live music - all of the ones I have been to have Thai bands - mainly acoustic.

I like Retro and it's a 2 minute walk from where I live.

Hardcore cafe has a great atmosphere - nearly all Thai's letting their hair down or celebrating birthdays. Has some good rock groups on occasionally.

Hangover bar on Jed Yod road has live music on Friday evenings. One band does a variety of old classic songs (including rock) and last night saw the first performance of a jazz band.

A new venue will be opening soon on Uttarakit Road.

Thanks for the advice. I did put it on the arrival card.

I'll go to CW and try and get it fixed.

I applied for and was given a tourist visa in my home country - UK.

I applied for a 60 day tourist visa but have justb noticed that on arrival at the airport I have only been given permission to stay for 30 days.

I've had 3 previous trips to Thailand this year - all for 2-3 weeks and also been to Singapore and Vietnam.

Can I go to Thai immigration at Chaeng Wattana and ask them to change it?

I was planning to change it to a Non Imm b and apply for a work permit but not until I've had a holiday first.

My new employer wants to do it next month.

Sorry, but what about members with Windows Phone? No app for us and so no discount?

I arrive in Bangkok on Friday and I'll have my laptop with me during my visit. Don't want to bring that so have a similar problem!

What are those without the app supposed to do???

If you provide more information then suitable & appropriate advice can be given:

1) Your nationality

2) Passport(s) held

2) Do you have an address other than in Thailand?

3) Where are the assets located that you are selling?.

Very important criteria for the banks.

Ever increasing due dilligence and money laundering!.

Monday evening (19th March).Arrived at the airport 11pm - 3 and a half hours before our flight.

Spent longer at dropping off our bags for online check in than going through immigration and security.

Only a a short queue and the snake system in operation.

5 minutes to go through immigration. The lady was quick, efficient and evn smiled. Took about 20 seconds!

Only 2 minutes to go through security.

This was such a pleasant surpise and I hope it contiues in the future.

Hats off to whoever has broght about these changes.

Took a lot longer to clear immigration at Manchester airport.

Only 3 staff to cope with our flight (new A380)!

I'll come too.

I've looked a the various postings but I'm a bit confused about the date(s) on which my Thai wife can apply for ILR.

1)She was granted a fiance visa on 1 May 2007

2) She arrived in the UK on 8 May 2007

3) We got married and she was later granted a 2 year settlement visa on 19 July 2007

Does she apply for ILR within the 28 days before 8 May 2009 or within 28 days of 19 July 2009?

Thanks

Jim

I would say 2 years from the date of your marriage. The Rule says:

"287. (a) The requirements for indefinite leave to remain for the spouse or civil partner of a person present and settled in the United Kingdom are that:

(i)(a)the applicant was ....... given an extension of stay for a period of 2 years in accordance with paragraphs 281 to 286 of these Rules and has completed a period of 2 years as the spouse or civil partner of a person present and settled in the United Kingdom;"

In that context, the grant of an extension of 2 years stands separately from the duration of your marriage.

I would bang in the application a couple of weeks before your wedding anniversary. Perhaps this overlaps with 28 days before 19 July.

Thanks for that. We got married on 6 JUly 2007 so I guess the application should be made towards the end of June.

I have given up phoning them as you just get the same old message: all our people are busy! You can't even wait in a telephone queue!

Jim

I've looked a the various postings but I'm a bit confused about the date(s) on which my Thai wife can apply for ILR.

1)She was granted a fiance visa on 1 May 2007

2) She arrived in the UK on 8 May 2007

3) We got married and she was later granted a 2 year settlement visa on 19 July 2007

Does she apply for ILR within the 28 days before 8 May 2009 or within 28 days of 19 July 2009?

Thanks

Jim

I (for my company) work in UK Nov-Feb and for the foreseable future will be spending March-October in Thailand. Over the next year or so I will be trying to get a small business in Thailand off the ground, to suplement my income earned in the UK. Yes, profit in the UK is less than £25,000

The plus side of the UK business is that I have minimal reclaimable VAT on purchases so am on the flat rate scheme. I charge VAT at 17.5% but only send HMRC 9.5% deep joy. All UK accountancy and book keeping fees are £700 though.

Tell me if I've got this right....

Say I kept my annual UK visit down to 90 days and I did away with the UK company altogether and worked soley for the Thai company, I could go Thai tax-resident, and put down the genuine 3-month business trip to the UK and all it's relevant expenses against the Thai business' profit. Yes or no?

Corporation tax payable by Thai companies is only 3% over the UK rate now AFAIK.

I guess some of the above would make a quick hop back to Blighty to make use of the NHS a little more tricky though?

You're not working in Thailand so why have a Thai co? Is it for a visa?

Why not switch to being a sole trader in the UK until you are more sure of what will happen in Thailand.

You can always apply for a 1 year non imm b multi-entry visa at Hull to explore business opportunities in Thailand(unless the rules have changed recently).

Once you are more sure about the future then make a decision.

Ans 1-4: Living in Thailand March-Oct (245 days), living in UK Nov-Feb (120 days)[/color][/b]

Had the UK Co. for twenty years now. Downscaled in the last 2-3 years so now it's just me employed, working 3-4 months of the year in UK for one client (Nov-Feb). Suppose I could close UK Co. and get the Thai Co. to invoice my UK client??? That would open up some new possibilities I guess but a bit nervous about putting all my eggs in Thailand.

So - are you doing any work in Thailand or is it work in the UK Nov- Feb and holiday in Thailand rest of the year?

Do you need your Ltd Co for commercial reasons? if net profit is less than £25,000 probably not worth having it and better off and switching to sole trader.

Jim

I have a scenario that I am pondering and would like to run it by you "experts" .

Say I wholly own a small UK Ltd company. This UK company makes an acceptable profit after paying my salary of £6,000 per year. This £6000 per year just uses up my UK tax-free allowance.

Now let's say a Thai company which employs me, and of which I have control, invoices the UK company for "services" to the tune of £10,000

The Thai company now has the funds to pay me 50,000 Baht a month gross (allowing me to more than satisfy conditions for a work permit on Non-Imm "O"). With the Thai tax-free allowances etc. on this income I pay approx 40,200 Baht tax for the year (£650) to the Thai tax revenue authorities.

Now, I am officially tax resident in the UK so how does this work with receiving "tax-free allowances" relating to wages for employment in Thailand and to tax paid in Thailand?

Am I right to assume that on my UK tax return I have to declare "income earned abroad"? I understand UK and Thailand have a dual tax treaty so would that mean paying additional tax (additional, up to UK tax liabilities according to allowances) to UK HMRC ? And is there such a thing as a Thai tax return form that Thai company directors need to fill in by law?

Not that they're likely to own up to it, I can't help wondering if there is anyone "living" here in LOS (tax resident in UK) who works here but gets away with not declaring on the UK tax return . I'm sure that that is likely to be suggested to me too.

I'm asking these questions here to get clued up before talking to someone "Thai/local". I want to be knowledgeable enough to be able to judge their expertise on the matter.

Many thanks in advance for taking the time to advise me.

//Edit//for clarity.

Before giving any accurate advice you need to tell us more facts:

1 Where are you living now?

2) How many days per year do you spend in the UK?

3) How many days per year do you spend in Thailand?

4) What are your future plans for time in the UK/Thailand?

If you are resident in the UK for tax purposes then you will have to declare world-wide income

If you live/work in Thailand for any length of time then you need to complete a Thai Tax Return. They have a self-assessment system that is very similar to the UK.

It is expensive to maintain a UK limited Company just for the sake of setting things up so you can get a Thai salary through a Thai Company for visa purposes!

Jim

I have managed to get her some application forms sent out for her to open a bank account with halifax.

I spoke to the bloke and he said there would be know problem for her to open one.

Also we have a halifax branch, which is a 10 min walk from our home.

I have also gots some papers being sent out for the doctors, for her to register.

Again its only a 5 to 10 min walk up the road.

quickly moving away from this subject, is my wife likely to get questioned and quized at passport immigration, when she arrives on wednesday??

Thanks everyone..

Scotty....

I had no problems opening a bank account fro my wife with LlodsTSB as I was an existing customer. Just needed to go to a branch with her and her pasport and fill in a form recommending her as I was an existing customer. Then used the letter from them as proof of address to change my Halifax current account to a joint account!

My wife (fiance at the time) came over last May to Manchester.

They gave her a very tough time at THAI immigration- why was she travelling alone etc. etc. the implication being.....

They also held her back at Manchester immigration- same questions. She told them I worked full-time in the UK and couldn't just get time off to accompany her. She also told them I was waiting for her at the airport arrivals and eventually they let her through. She told me 2 other Thais (men) were also given a hard time principally because they couldn't speak English. Forewarned is forearmed!

Good luck!

Jim

Did you contact Charlert(Charlie) at Charlie Connection Travel? He should be able to do that quite easily.

Also no problem to do direct with the airlines, but don't expect a cheap flight. Just go to the airline office and pay there. THAI have been known to do it.

It does seem that direct with the airlines is the best option. Malaysia Airlines upto now have been pretty helpful, and will even let me pay by cash in person at any of there offices.

Will see what Thai have to say !....

Try Etihad. They have an office on Sukhumvit near Asoke intersection. Tel: 02 253 0099

Your wife should apply for her extension as a spouse now. This will be valid for two years from the date the BIA issues it and she may then apply for indefinite leave no earlier than 28 days before the two years finishes, assuming, of course, that the relevant criteria are met.

Scouse.

Thanks for that scouse.

Jim

My fiance got her visa in late April and came here on 9 May. We got married last Friday - 6 July.

Does it make any difference if she applies for the FLR visa now or should we wait till nearer the expiry of the 6 month period of the fiance visa?

Also how will the date she applies for FLR impact on when she should apply for ILR?

Thanks

Jim

My will, drawn up by my attorney in USA, does it cover my assets here in Thailand ie bank accounts,stock, real estate etc.

Or should I have a Thai attorney draw up a separate will for local assets?

I know this is probably a question for my attorney here, but if I ask he'll see $$ and insist that he draw up a will for me here in Thailand.

The general rule is to draw up a will for each country in which you have assets.This avoids any disputes and arguments over assets/jurisdiction.

Jim

I've flown with Emirates on a couple of occassions now and have been impressed with their all-round service and inparticular their great inflight entertainment (on-demand). I've also flown BA, EVA & Thai direct and thought Eva were much better than the other two as they had newer planes.

How do Qatar & Etihad compare to Emirates in terms of overall service and specific points.

Would appreciate comments

Thanks

I've flown with all of them and for overall value for money I prefer Etihad. Good inflight entertainment and food and only 2 hour wait at Abu Dhabi, although the airport is on the small side! ebookers has best prices.

Jim

After reading the various postings on this site and making an application with lots of supporting documentation I'm pleased to say the whole process went smoothly. She applied for the visa on Monday morning and picked up her passport yesterday afternoon. She will be flying to Manchester on Tuesday 8th to join me and we are both so happy.

I'd like to thank the scouser and all others who have made numerous factual postings on this subject. I don't think I could have done all this without the excellent advice given.

Cheers

Jim

I'd like to transfer my UK pension funds into a SIPP invested in Thai property - specifically some land, a house on it to live in and a small resort on same land. Does anyone have any experience of this - is it possible etc etc ? I'll be asking my UK IFA for advice too.

I'm sure your IFA will tell you this is a non-starter! Please remember most UK IFA's have a lot of knowledge about UK laws etc. but very little about offshore matters.

Must be UK COMMERCIAL property.

Would need a lot more info to give best advice: age, nationality, how long in thailand, residence position, how long staying in Thailand etc. etc.

If you are now resident in Thailand you could do the following:

1) transfer your pension fund offshore with Royal Skandia or similar. Lots of flexibility and access to some of the funds.

2) if you are over 50 you may have the option of taking 25% of your funds value in cash and transfering the balance into an offshore fund.

As another poster has said you couldn't own the land in Thailand - you'd have to lease it. There are lots of postingson land ownership in Thailand.

Basic advice: if you can't afford ot lose it don't do it! Especially when yo uare talking about your pension fund!!

Want to move some items: king size bed, sofa, TV, hifi, computer system & desk and sundry small items. From Sukhumvit to Phatalung province (north of Hat Yai).

Can anyone recommend a reliable firm to do this and likely costs.

Thanks

If you want to submit the additional documents, doing so will not harm her case, but neither will it assist.

The problem is that some staff at the visa application centre seem to believe they are de facto visa officers. In reality, however, they can't refuse to accept an application, and, if you are otherwise confident that you have submitted all evidence relevant to your application, you may insist that it goes forward as it is.

Scouse.

Thanks a lot. I agree your comments. if I was there I'd have a few words with them!

Jim

Jim,

Those documents are of no relevance to your fiancée's application. If, when she makes the application, the staff at the visa application centre say they are needed, she can insist that it goes forward to the embassy as is.

Scouse.

Thanks for that. Her concern (and mine) is that disagreeing with them may cause a problem!

Jim