Big changes in Thailand for farangs

[jimster]

It's getting more difficult to impossible to get married to a Thai in Thailand? Nonsense. While there are reports of some amphurs not knowing what to do, or saying "no" to save face, and I also read on TV not long ago a report about some amphurs wanting a police report of the foreign spouse, this is done in order to prevent sham marriages and has nothing to do with perceived xenophobia. While I know that xenophobia exists in Thailand like anywhere else, there is simply no stopping globalization and the mass migration of people into each and every country in the world including Thailand.

If you want to get married to a Thai, I recommend going to Bang Rak in Bangkok or other places where lots of foreigners go such as Pattaya, Chiang Mai and Phuket. You will find numerous pairs of Thai-foreign couples getting married every single day.

Edited June 18, 2018 by jimster

[SteveK]

5 minutes ago, rumak said:

sometimes too much of something turns people off.   big chunk of ego maybe ?

I am guessing you will say you were polite, etc,,,,,,,   but thais may not have thought so.

I wasn't there...but i have seen many farang/thai interactions at banks, offices, internet places etd

that have made me cringe ! 

I treat people how I would like to be treated and don't look down on people no matter what. I am not boasting or having an ego, just trying to put across my position. I really don't understand what some posters are trying to gain by critising me for explaining what happened today. I'm only trying to help people who might find themselves in a similar situation. I apologise if it looks like I am being egotistic, a moaner, or someone who needs to leave Thailand, I assure you that is not the situation.

Edited June 18, 2018 by pr9spk

[jimster]

11 minutes ago, rumak said:

also dismissing the fact that so many of us have easily opened accounts as being out of touch with

how things are now....just because YOU had trouble..... might explain some things about your attitude

as well.    banks, and govt institutions do not like attitude.    just sayin

Yes true. Although being able to speak/read and write Thai, knowing the requirements for opening an account (check the banks website and print it out, preferably in Thai only or both Thai and English) and if possible, opening an account at the bank's head office in Bangkok or another branch in a place where lots of tourists visit/expats live such as Bangkok, Pattaya, Chiang Mai or Phuket helps. The OP mentioned Ubon which is an out of the way sort of place with no many westerners.

[rumak]

2 minutes ago, pr9spk said:

I treat people how I would like to be treated and don't look down on people no matter what. I am not boasting or having an ego, just trying to put across my position. I really don't understand what some posters are trying to gain by critising me for explaining what happened today. I'm only trying to help people who might find themselves in a similar situation.

i said MAYBE ..........not criticising.   i also am just trying to explain some reasons that people have problems.   If the shoe doesn't fit....good on ya

[glegolo]

45 minutes ago, pr9spk said:

That sounds correct to me. Did you open the accounts recently? I think the retirement visa seems a lot more kosher than a 37 year old on a SETV.

 I wish to add to this.... Here in Chaiyaphum I have myself helped like 5 or 6 falang-friends to get thai bank-accounts on Khrung Thai Bank. Khrunfs ri (ayutthaya Bank) Bangkok bank and Kasikorn Bank... ALL banks here without any exceptions, they demand to have proof of address, mostly the yellow book (tabien baan), but in one case even the driver license was OK.

 

So I have over time get myself tabien baan, thai ID-card, and driver licenses, and on top of that, I am married.

 

Without being nasty - But sometimes I wonder, over how helpless some people just are. "There are people who get things done - and there are people who must ask other people to get things done".... Which one are you?

 

glegolo

[SteveK]

3 minutes ago, rumak said:

i said MAYBE ..........not criticising.   i also am just trying to explain some reasons that people have problems.   If the shoe doesn't fit....good on ya

I've also witnessed foreigners getting angry here. I know full well that it doesn't get you anywhere in Thailand. I see where you are coming from completely, just wanted to say that I'm a normal guy who doesn't start shouting when he doesn't get what he wants.

[rhodie]

10 minutes ago, pr9spk said:

I treat people how I would like to be treated and don't look down on people no matter what. I am not boasting or having an ego, just trying to put across my position. I really don't understand what some posters are trying to gain by critising me for explaining what happened today. I'm only trying to help people who might find themselves in a similar situation. I apologise if it looks like I am being egotistic, a moaner, or someone who needs to leave Thailand, I assure you that is not the situation.

Welcome to Thai Visa mate! 

[SteveK]

4 minutes ago, glegolo said:

 I wish to add to this.... Here in Chaiyaphum I have myself helped like 5 or 6 falang-friends to get thai bank-accounts on Khrung Thai Bank. Khrunfs ri (ayutthaya Bank) Bangkok bank and Kasikorn Bank... ALL banks here without any exceptions, they demand to have proof of address, mostly the yellow book (tabien baan), but in one case even the driver license was OK.

 

So I have over time get myself tabien baan, thai ID-card, and driver licenses, and on top of that, I am married.

 

Without being nasty - But sometimes I wonder, over how helpless some people just are. "There are people who get things done - and there are people who must ask other people to get things done".... Which one are you?

 

glegolo

I'm someone who had moved to Thailand and is learning how things get done. Maybe because I haven't been here long I could be considered helpless. I don't see how calling me helpless helps either you or I, when you could be helping me by giving your advice.

Edited June 18, 2018 by pr9spk

[rumak]

4 minutes ago, pr9spk said:

I'm someone who had moved to Thailand and is learning how things get done. Maybe because I haven't been here long I could be considered helpless.

well, nobody has thrown this one at you yet ...so here goes :

DON'T RUSH AND GET MARRIED !!!!   

there may be some reasons why you want to....  but many many more why you should take your time,

like YEARS !

[stud858]

Ok.  So to conclude,  yet another farang gets stuffed around but in the end gets it sorted. 

Some have problems.  Some don't.  The ones that don't have problems are geniuses and just have the Thai charm about them.  The ones that have problems are maybe to blame due to lack of street smarts.

 

Thanks everyone.  A very interesting discussion,  but I gotta focus on the English world cup game tonight.  

Enjoy. 

 

[SteveK]

21 minutes ago, rumak said:

well, nobody has thrown this one at you yet ...so here goes :

DON'T RUSH AND GET MARRIED !!!!   

there may be some reasons why you want to....  but many many more why you should take your time,

like YEARS !

Bloody hell now I'm an idiot rushing into marriage! Bring more critcism please. I really don't understand some of these posts. I've known my fiance for ages and lived with her in her house for almost a year minus a few weeks when I went back to the UK to sort some things out.

 

Is there a reason why posters on here just look for any reason to denigrate someone? Does it make them feel better? Why is there so much negativity? Thailand is still a great country and much more preferable for me than the grey skies of the UK where a bottle of coke costs £1.59.

Edited June 18, 2018 by pr9spk

[greenchair]

I would be very careful about the part that says, my girlfriend had to sign as guarantor.

No such thing. 

What she has probably done is signed as a second signatory. This means that 3 years down the track , when your 17 million is safely in that joint account and your girlfriend is in the sack with your best friend, that 17 million ++ will disappear before you can say the silly ampur wouldn't process my documents to get married. 

[Sheryl]

2 hours ago, pr9spk said:

That sounds correct to me. Did you open the accounts recently? I think the retirement visa seems a lot more kosher than a 37 year old on a SETV.

The tourist visa is I think the root of your problem.

 

I'm not sure it has ever been possible to open a bank account with one.

 

Those of us with non-O visas or b visas and one year extensions of stay, have nto usually had much difficulty.

[JackThompson]

2 hours ago, pr9spk said:

Unfortunately she informed me that the immigration offices in Thailand are all starting to refuse marriage applications for farang/Thai marriages. There is no way around it as they don't want farangs marrying Thais. She said she has had dozens of clients refused, in places like Rayong, Chon Buri, Pattaya, Chantaburi etc.

I think you mean "Amphoe" offices.  Your experience mirrors my own last year, when I married a Thai.  I am a USA Citizen, also w/ Masters Degree; in my 40s and wife in mid-30s (no cradle robbing).  One amphoe after the other refused us - some with rules specifically tailored to prevent American citizens from being able to marry, based on the wording of our embassy-docs. 

 

I ended up being directed to an amphoe with a "farang friendly" top-person.  It cost me a chunk of change to an agency, to hook me up with that chain, but included the required interpreter, witnesses, and translations of everything, including your Thai marriage certificate to English.  The "old days" of using other people in line for witnesses, or paying off staff with 1000 Baht, seem to be over.  You can find translation-places in Bangkok that can do this for you around where Wireless-Rd hits the skytrain. 

 

It is primarily a "clique" of farang-haters within the ranks of some amphoes and immigration which are the problem.  Not all personnel in those agencies are of this ilk.  Many are nice people who recognize our contributions (foreign-sourced incomes) and general-benefit (talents/experience/skills) to Thailand, while others seem bent on becoming either something akin to Bhutan, or a wholly-owned subsidiary of China.

[SteveK]

She signed photocopies of her I'd card, passport and Tabien Baan to ensure I was actually living with her.

 

So it's not a joint account, she helped me open my own savings account.

 

Why so much negativity?

[anon537687643]

Gotta be crazy transferring 17 million baht to Thai bank account! You’ll struggle to get that out the country try if you ever need to


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[JackThompson]

30 minutes ago, overherebc said:

Then there was no reason for her to sign anything.

I have read cases here of people getting someone who has an account at the bank to sign as reference.  In a recent-case in another thread, it was a farang who signed (since his wife/gf was too demurring to politely push the issue - a common problem).  After some back and forth, they then tried one last time to avoid opening the account by telling him the reference had to be a Thai.  He pointed out that this was nowhere to be found in the rules (shooting this down, as with all the prior excuses), and the account was opened.

 

I'm glad I opened my first account a few years ago, before this became such a PITA.  When I tried to open a 2nd account more recently, at a different branch - same headaches other reported - so went back to the first one and no problem

Edited June 18, 2018 by JackThompson

[SteveK]

9 minutes ago, markaoffy said:

Gotta be crazy transferring 17 million baht to Thai bank account! You’ll struggle to get that out the country try if you ever need to


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Don't worry. I am not transferring anything like that much. Maybe half a million. One thirty-fourth of my cash. Don't panic!

[anon789561]

don't listen to them mate. the scenarios they describe is 9 x out of 10 some old dude with a young bird from a skint family, no one knows your situation or relationship. i married quickly and young and was told she'd be off as soon as she got UK citizenship or fleece me out of everything. we're both only 41 and have been married 18 years. i'd advise this though. open another account, maybe at the same branch you already have one. keep half a million baht in one account and don't touch it to use for your marriage extensions. use the other account for transferring money as and when you need it for living etc. no need to try to get it all over straight away and the exchange rates crap now anyway so probably best of where it is for now, and safer. up to you how you do it but that's what i do and works out alright for us

[FritsSikkink]

3 hours ago, Tacuisse said:

Sounds to me you need to move away from Bangkok. I've never heard of these difficulties in Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai.

Bangkok isn't a problem too, who needs an agent to get married. I just walked in the government office with the paperwork, was late so they couldn't do us that day anymore. Told me to leave the paperwork their, come back next day, were the first to get married. Didn't even need a witness. 

Got a bank account before I was married on a tourist visa in her village. Said I would be working and she co signed, done and dusted in half an hour.

Edited June 18, 2018 by FritsSikkink

[JackThompson]

2 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Bangkok isn't a problem too, who needs an agent to get married. I just walked in the government office with the paperwork, was late so they couldn't do us that day anymore. Told me to leave the paperwork their, come back next day, were the first to get married. Didn't even need a witness. 

Which amphoe (many in Bangkok - I tried several and failed) and what year was this?

[Wonderw0man]

Last week I walked into a bank and asked for an account.  I was told to get a phone number.  Got a SIM card, went back the next day and opened an account on an ED Visa.  Only proof of address was a deposit I’d put on a Condo.  I’ve now applied for a credit card at same bank and it’s on its way.  I did make a point of dressing well, smiling a lot and I’m a 40ish fit female ?

[overherebc]

54 minutes ago, markaoffy said:

Gotta be crazy transferring 17 million baht to Thai bank account! You’ll struggle to get that out the country try if you ever need to


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Struggle is not the word. ?

[darksidedog]

4 hours ago, bkk6060 said:

Here we go again.

From my experience the OP is correct regarding bank accounts.

So, where, when, what branch, and who did you contact at those banks????

First one Bangkok Bank, Jomtien near immigration to set up account to show funds for retirement visa. 3 years ago. First free member of staff.

Second Bangkok bank, Soi Kaonoi, to set up standing order to pay water bill. 2 years ago, first member of staff free to serve me.

Third one Krungsri/ Ayudhya Bank, also Soi Kaonoi, when Bangkok bank stopped giving VISA card and offered Union Pay, which you cant use anywhere. This one 2 months ago. First free member of staff.

So, you are totally wrong, and it is super easy. The only document I needed on any occasion was my passport.

None of them asked for anything else, and none, as per my original comment, took more than 20 minutes.

3 applications, 3 successes, with no questions at all, about anything.

And, why exactly, as a moderator, would I lie about something so basic?

From my experience, which seems to be far superior to yours, the process is extremely simple.

I await your apology.

[B T Justice]

Opened an account at krungsri last week on a 90 day non-o with 20k THB

* no work permit

* no retirement visa

* no fiance 

Just a copy of my lease and landlords house registration 

Exchange Tower Sukhumvit.

 

Edited June 18, 2018 by B T Justice

[SteveK]

Of course it's easy when getting a retirement visa. I think everybody knew that already. I'm not retired, and that's the whole point of this thread. Read before posting such rubbish.

Edited June 18, 2018 by pr9spk

[moana]

5 hours ago, pr9spk said:

So getting married to a Thai is now almost impossible, and opening a bank account needed me to find an employee that liked my partner enough to bend the rules. It took 17 attempts.

Here's a slight rephrase of your long message:
 

"I tried opening an account at Ubon 15 times and failed, after which I complained here and was told by everyone to go try in a big farang friendly city. It only took 2 attempts there! Those are amazing statistics, thanks guys!"

Getting married to a Thai can be done at ANY amphur in Thailand. This works EXACTLY like opening a bank account. Find a branch that is known to be lenient and GO DO IT THERE.

[anon789561]

this subject has been brought up many times and was a few months ago. at the time i went in just to ask at bangkok bank abdulrahim place near saladaeng and asked the manager there, he said proof of residence ie tabien ban or rental contract and passport was all they required in that branch. could have changed but it was only a few months ago.

btw he said didn't matter what visa they are on

btw alot of the branches, if not all, have phone numbers so may be easier to call and ask 1st instead of running around 

Edited June 18, 2018 by Happy enough

[SteveK]

I intended this thread to be helpful to people in similar situations to myself, and to friendly posters who were not giving up to date advice.

[Scott]

Off-topic post reported and removed.