simple1

I'm still confused tho, I'm wondering whether this prospective marriage visa is for 9months or 2 years - I know you have to Marry within 9 months - am i getting the wrong idea somewhere ?

Yes, I think you are getting confused. The fiance visa is to provide time for you and your fiance time to get married after arrival in Oz. If you don't marry she must depart Oz. The two year period covers the time she will not qualify for any social security benefits or financial support from Oz government, other than Medicare cover. After two years she can apply for Oz citizenship.

An additional point is that if your relationship is not successful, you can only apply to sponsor another foreign partner after a five year waiting period.

Note that this info is from my own experience going back a couple of years. Therefore you should cross-check as Government regulations do change.

To take legal action under Thai law you must have a written contract; verbal agreements are not generally recognised. In any case it sounds like you are working illegally i.e. no work permit for part time job.

Perhaps someone can clarify for this guy visa type required to establish an export company of Thai goods to E.U. I believe I have read somewhere that at a minimum an export licence is required. Therefore I assume he will require a B visa. Also that he will need to establish a company entity to acquire land with house. Unless he's going to put his assets into Thai girlfriend's name. Obviously he cannot officially marry her until his divorce is finalised as he will require Irish embassy confirmation of his marital status before a formal marriage that is recognised under Thai law.

What I propose is. If I ask her to come over on a tourist visa and she overstays her stay and then returns with me when I am ready.

I would suggest that your girlfriend overstaying on a tourist visa would ban her from any further visits to your home country for a number of years. This is certainly the case in Australia; not sure about Ireland. Doesn't seem to be a good idea upon which to build a relationship with your future wife. However, as always in Thailand, "up to you".

To shed a little more information. My Thai stepson was until the age of 12 going to a Thai government school. Whilst English was a part of the curiculum he couldn't speak one world of English, let alone read English. I now have him in a Thai private bi-lingual school in Pattaya. I have read the Thai Education Department's targets that by the age of 13 Thai's being taught English as a second language should have reached a vocab of 450 words, by age 16 1500 words. I can assure that this target is very rarely achieved unless the child has an expat parent. Regarding quality of life in the Pattaya area their is very little, indeed nearly zero, publicly available infrastructure for children to utilise other than the beaches. Unfortunately the sea in the Pattaya area is polluted, but there are programs under way to address this particlar problem.

I'm seeking some positive suggestions to overcome my Thai stepson's (aged 13)resistance to reading books. It seems to very much be the norm that Thai chidren have very little interest in reading. Other than a historical lack of access to education for many Thai's, does anyone care to shed any light on this matter?

Although I'm currently doing fine on multiple entry non-immigrant B visa, I just want a quick check to make sure that I am not missing out on any visa 'advantages'

Next month my Thai ltd company is purchasing some land in Phuket. (I am the director and bank account signatory). This land will be used for both a private house for me and to build a small hotel, (so further millions of baht will also come into LoS as the house and hotel are built)

To fund this purchase I will send 4.7 million baht from the UK to my personal bank account in BKK.

I have assumed that, because this is a Thai ltd company deal, there are no visa advantages that I'm going to gain by bringing this money into LoS. Or are there? I don't want to send this money and then find that if I had done X and Y first, then I would be eligible for a 50 year visa and free BGs thrown in...

On a more general note, I have previously paid for land, car etc in LoS by sending money directly from my UK account to the 'seller' in LoS. I assume that it might be better for me to actually send this money firstly to my Thai bank account, so that evidence builds up of funds being transferred into LoS

Any comments welcome!

I understand that overseas funds transferred to Thailand to acquire land/businesses should be transmitted directly to your company bank account to comply with Thai law in order to obtain a Tor Tor 3. Therefore funds should not be remitted to your personal bank account in BKK, but to your company account. Would anyone like to to clarify if this is an accurate summary?

There are many books about the Nazi's written in thai, for both school children and adults.

I would think the wife might want to be at least informed as to the potential gravity of her husbands interests, and a simple way of doing this would be to buy her a small 'introduction to hitler' textbook and hand it over with a smile, "This is a book about the man your husband likes so much - I thought you might want to learn about him.'

Let's at least save the kids.

I've been looking for history books in Thai for my Thai stepson; aged 13. He keeps saying that his school does not have any material on foreign history (private bi-lingual school). Can you recommend a bookshop or place/s to obtain? I'm based in Pattaya, but can commute to BKK Thanks...

Australia, as a developed country, has a public teat. Developing countries don't boast such luxuries.

I don't know about public teats. I paid major taxes whilst living in Oz. Nearly 50% income tax if you include complusory 1.5% for Medicare. I was just pointing out some of the major benefits available to Thai nationals migrating to Australia. Let me add the vast majority of the significant drinkers of Government milk in Oz are the local nationals who usually have the same level of boring self expression as you.

From my experience you will need to provide a guarantee of financial support as usual government benefits may not be provided for two years from time of entry into Australia. However, cross-check as regulations may have changed during last year. I would recommend you contact your local Office of Immigration and request an appointment to ascertain all the criteria for visa approval. Do not use an agent to assist with the application; it's a waste of money. Additionally if you are able to lodge the application in the Oz embassy in Bangkok it speeds up the application processing time. e.g. my Thai wife's son (aged 12), with me as Australian citizen sponsor, was granted a permanent residency visa for Oz within three weeks from Bangkok. Immigration in Sydney quoted a processing time of 6/9 months.

BTW he had access for one year free schooling in English as a second language and the Australia education system with all benefits such as free transport to school, medicare etc. Somewhat different to some Asian countries treatment of foreign nationals.

The problem is that the Thai citizens seem to overstay abroad. A lot.

Really George? If this is correct I am completely wrong in the basis for my argument for reciprocal visa arrangements.Any hard evidence however because on an anecdotal basis overstaying Thais are not a great problem, in the UK at least?

Following info is one year old, don't know if regulations have been altered. My Thai wife (with Oz residency visa) requested a tourist visa for her mother. Oz immigration demanded a written guarantee of A$10,000 in case of overstay, with proof of funds, before issuing visa. Reason given that "many Thai's overstay on a visitor/tourist visa".

On a difereent topic, you may not be aware that Australian residents are only permitted to sponsor a foreign fiancee/spouse visa once in five years. i.e. if you divorce, must wait five years before applying for another foreign fiancee/spouse visa.

I wonder how the new FTA between Australia and Thailand will affect his ranting regarding strict measures. Just when Thai- Australia have relaxed visa rules and WP requirements

I'm unaware on any linkage with relaxed visa & WP requirements for Australian/Thai nationals within the Thai - Australia FTA. Can you clarify with reference material?

I recently obtained my Thai driving licence in Pattaya. I have a N.Z. passport with O visa & was required to provide a letter from Thai immigration confirming my address (at Soi 8 cost 400 baht) for letter covering car & motorbike, plus international drivers licence and doctors certificate (cost 200 baht from Pattaya Bangkok hospital). Can get cert cheaper elsewhere. Will also need photo's that are smaller than passport size. First year car licence cost 105 baht. After one year can obtain 5 year licence. It's good to take along a Thai national (unless you can read Thai) as the application forms are in Thai. Total end to end time at the office was 2 hours. Maybe if you have an EU licence rules are diffferent?

Alternatively you can go to Pattaya Expat Club at Henry J. Beans on Beach Road. every Sunday starting at 9:30AM and they co-ordinate the whole process in groups of expats every month or so.

Can anyone assist in pointing me in the right direction for business/property real estate company/people contacts in Chiang Rai? I'm researching the potential to re-locate from Pattaya to Chiang Rai. Thanks for your support.

Also you should be aware that as a foreigner you will not earn interest on your Thai bank deposit (Bank of Thailand regulation), plus you will be charged 500 baht a month service fee.

Hmm both incorrect newby....

Apologies, I had been mis-informed by Pattaya expat club. My Thai bank today advised that savings account will earn 0.75% interest based upon daily balance, payable twice annually.

To obtain a one year "O" muli-entry visa I will assume you have a marriage certificate, if so, you will need to demonstrate 400,000 baht in a Thai bank account supported by a letter from your Thai bank confirming the money was deposited from an overseas bank. However, if you are travelling in & out of Thailand on a regular basis why not just obtain a 30 day on demand tourist visa each time you entre the country?Also you should be aware that as a foreigner you will not earn interest on your Thai bank deposit (Bank of Thailand regulation), plus you will be charged 500 baht a month service fee.