10 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

There are many foreigners living in Thailand as a spouse , there are no laws in Thailand that prohibit a spouse from doing this .

  "Financial rules " ?

Yes, we have those in the UK as well , which are more stringent than the Thai rules

 

Australia welcomes many Thai married to  or in a relationship with an Australian. Once you have applied for a partner visa you are entitled to full work rights. There is no crazy ongoing financial requirements. I know many Thais who are students doing simple hospitality courses or similar who are working legally.

5 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

13 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Totally agree. My friends from many countries around the world first don't believe me and then express their astonishment that Thai law prohibits a foreigner from living with his wife in Thailand,

There are many foreigners living in Thailand as a spouse , there are no laws in Thailand that prohibit a spouse from doing this .

  "Financial rules " ?

Yes, we have those in the UK as well , which are more stringent than the Thai rules

Thai law, as you will see in numerous posts about visas, allows aliens to VISIT their wife. Nowhere at all is permission in official terminology given for aliens to live with her.

As for your second point, this is about Thailand. But yes, in the UK a larger income is required, but that then paves the way for permanent permission for a Thai to reside in the UK. And income is relative, isn't it. It costs more to live in the UK so more money is required for permission to be granted.

 

By the way, because of that I am forbidden from living in my own country as my current income is below what is required to bring my wife to live there with me. The government pension I receive, set by the government, does not match the same government's minimum that I need. My understanding is that I also, as a non-resident, have to pay a 50 percent surcharge for any medical treatment I might need while visiting there, even though I paid into the system all my life. I believe the rule is that I would have to be back there as a resident for six months before I could be treated as a British contribution-paying citizen. The Daily Telegraph has periodically campaigned about that, and no inflation-related rise in pensions for those in many countries around the world, but it has always fallen on deaf ears.

17 minutes ago, userabcd said:

There are avenues for a foreigner to get permanent residence to live with his Thai wife outside of the 1 year visa and annual extensions.

Perhaps you can enlighten us. Citizenship is pretty much impossible for most. What other avenues are available that allow more than permission to visit family? My investigation found the following usual confusion, from thaivisa.com which I know is nor actually an official government site:

1 - Holders of multiple NON-Immigrant visas can not apply. 2 -  You must be a holder of a non-immigrant visa at the time of submitting your application.

So - non-immigrant visa holders can't apply, but you need one to apply.

Edited September 4, 20205 yr by Bangkok Barry

1 hour ago, dallen52 said:

12,900 

Cambodia inter.

Soi buchao.

A friend told me.????

That's for a RETIREMENT extension via agent. Marriage extension via agent are over 30k in Pattaya.

30 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

 

Totally agree. My friends from many countries around the world first don't believe me and then express their astonishment that Thai law prohibits a foreigner from living with his wife in Thailand, instead only giving permission to 'visit' her year after year. By contrast, my Thai sister-in-law has a five year visa to live in Hungary with her Dutch husband. No 90 day reports, no visit to the marital home by immigration, no financial demands etc. They are welcomed into the country to live peacefully and put their money into the local economy. And neither of them is even a Hungarian citizen! Such basic human rights do not exist in Thailand.

 

Documents for proof of means of subsistence in Hungary:
- A statement from a Hungarian or foreign financial institution concerning the applicant’s bank account, or
- an income certificate issued by the tax authority for the previous year, or
- an income certificate issued by the employer, or
- a certificate issued by the employer and/or tax authority as proof of regular income received from abroad, or
- other reliable means.

https://residencies.io/residency/hungary/temporary-residency/hu1

EEA nationals may apply directly for an Interim Permanent Residency Card (provided that the above requirements are met), which has a 5-year validity, renewable. After 5 years, they may apply for a Permanent Residence Card, which is valid indefinitely.

 

It would seem there are financial requirements to stay in Hungary using the Interim Permanent Residency Card

5 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Thai law, as you will see in numerous posts about visas, allows aliens to VISIT their wife. Nowhere at all is permission in official terminology given for aliens to live with her.

As for your second point, this is about Thailand. But yes, in the UK a larger income is required, but that then paves the way for permanent permission for a Thai to reside in the UK. And income is relative, isn't it. It costs more to live in the UK so more money is required for permission to be granted.

 

By the way, because of that I am forbidden from living in my own country as my current income is below what is required to bring my wife to live there with me. The government pension I receive, set by the government, does not match the same government's minimum that I need. My understanding is that I also, as a non-resident, have to pay a 50 percent surcharge for any medical treatment I might need while visiting there, even though I paid into the system all my life. I believe the rule is that I would have to be back there as a resident for six months before I could be treated as a British contribution-paying citizen. The Daily Telegraph has periodically campaigned about that, and no inflation-related rise in pensions for those in many countries around the world, but it has always fallen on deaf ears.

All you need is a home address to register with the NHS to get free treatment , just any official letter addressed to your place of abode , take that along to your GP and register and thats all you have to do (no need to tell them anything else) 

People still don't understand, if you don't have the required finances 800/400, 65/40 you shouldn't be in Thailand. Border runs or fake visas are not the answer.

2 minutes ago, Henryford said:

People still don't understand, if you don't have the required finances 800/400, 65/40 you shouldn't be in Thailand. Border runs or fake visas are not the answer.

For the last time, people were not given time to meet these requirements, please engage brain

4 minutes ago, nightfox said:

That's for a RETIREMENT extension via agent. Marriage extension via agent are over 30k in Pattaya.

So they did already a marketing study  …. seeing so many are in desperate position (family, child(eren) ) ,while pensioners are more divided in strings or no strings …. 

4 minutes ago, CorpusChristie said:

All you need is a home address to register with the NHS to get free treatment , just any official letter addressed to your place of abode , take that along to your GP and register and thats all you have to do (no need to tell them anything else) 

If you are suddenly taken ill and don't have an official letter from anyone as you don't live permanently at that address (I would, for example, stay with my sister), you are treated as a foreigner despite producing a UK passport.

6 minutes ago, Henryford said:

People still don't understand, if you don't have the required finances 800/400, 65/40 you shouldn't be in Thailand. Border runs or fake visas are not the answer.

Please read all previous posts before coming here to gloat.

22 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

While there are flaws in your arguments what you point out is ultimately heart breaking and should garner a great deal of sympathy. 

 

This morning I watched a video of a father reunited with his children, arriving home after ASQ. It reminded me of how devastatingly torn apart I was when I couldn’t get home to my family. It reminded me of that day I was reunited with my Wife and Son.

 

I was one of the fortunate ones able to return to Thailand with a Non-Imm Type O Visa (based on marriage to a Thai) and secured a repatriation flight. But there is potentially a great many people slipping through the gaps, unable to get back to their families and loved ones and friends. 

 

This is devastating and more could be done to help people. The hard line and restrictions unnecessary. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yes, what you say is true.

But, if people followed the correct path, such sad situations can be avoided. Nations cant be governed on sympathetic grounds. These sad movies and stories are now circulating on FB, Youtube and other social media to gain sympathy - some are even performances.

 

Best policy is to play by the rules.

18 hours ago, Pattaya Spotter said:

Don't tell me...tell it to the immigration officer when you're hauled-up in front of them for having obtained permission to stay illegally.

Some guys really have no clue how Thailand works.... should I tell the immigration officer who stamped my visa extension in front of me that what he is doing is illegal after or before he receives his payoff from the agent?...

12 minutes ago, Henryford said:

People still don't understand, if you don't have the required finances 800/400, 65/40 you shouldn't be in Thailand. Border runs or fake visas are not the answer.

 

It seems you can sit there comfortable in your sanctimony without any form of sympathy for those caught out, stuck outside of Thailand without their family. 

 

 

Border runs and Visa Agents were the answer for many people for a very long time, Immigration clearly facilitated this. This system worked well for some, but the sudden change has caught people out, some in the worst ways possible. 

 

 

I was caught outside of Thailand when the Emergency Decree was announced (I was overseas at work).

It was fortunate that when my Wife and I married we did so officially (at an Amphur) rather than just having a wedding party etc.... Last month, even though I had the Thai Elite Visa, the only option for me to return was to apply for a Non-Imm Type O (based on Marriage to a Thai). I will have to extend that [type O visa) in a couple of months, fortunately I have had 400k baht seasoned in a Thai account for a number of months otherwise I too may have found myself completely caught out on a ’technicality’.

 

In short, its very easy for many to have been caught out by all of this. 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited September 4, 20205 yr by richard_smith237

Just now, Barney13 said:

For the last time, people were not given time to meet these requirements, please engage brain

But many  liked to wait to ultimate dates , hoping the elastic would be amnesty stretched again & again ….(still some do …)

 

One very good phrase I remember from a poster as answer on them

"Hope for the best …, but prepare for the worst …"

44 minutes ago, david555 said:

On condition only if you are not50 , as others youn ca stay with your wife whole year if liking ,having the 400K on bank (temporary )

But if no 50 than your post is correct 

There is no age restriction when married to a Thai.

6 minutes ago, Henryford said:

People still don't understand, if you don't have the required finances 800/400, 65/40 you shouldn't be in Thailand. Border runs or fake visas are not the answer.

In my case I had a non O me starting November. I had a job for 3 months in Australia starting in May. I intended staying with my wife in Thailand till mid April then going to Australia to work for 3 months then back to Thailand for a while then back to Australia. At the time an ME visa seemed appropriate. With Covid the job in Australia fell through. Now where I live in Australia is in lockdown and even if I could get one of the few seats on a flight there the chances of getting work there are remote. I believe my situation is what the non O me was designed for but I am still at the mercy of the amnesty

7 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

If you are suddenly taken ill and don't have an official letter from anyone as you don't live permanently at that address (I would, for example, stay with my sister), you are treated as a foreigner despite producing a UK passport.

You can get a letter from your bank addressed to your sisters house , and that will be sufficient to get registered with the NHS 

4 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

There is no age restriction when married to a Thai.

Good news ! …. so it is only a money thing I suppose ….or negligence by waiting last moment for another amnesty?

Edited September 4, 20205 yr by david555

3 minutes ago, ravip said:

Best policy is to play by the rules.

I assume, once those difficult times are out of the way, many won't use the  "loopholes" anymore.

Which means some will ' play by the rules ",

others will lay Thailand aside.

3 minutes ago, luckyluke said:

I assume, once those difficult times are out of the way, many won't use the  "loopholes" anymore.

Which means some will ' play by the rules ",

others will lay Thailand aside.

Which loopholes?

27 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

As for your second point, this is about Thailand. But yes, in the UK a larger income is required, but that then paves the way for permanent permission for a Thai to reside in the UK.

For settlement in the UK the financial requirement is £18,600 per annum.

It's now a 5 year route to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (PR).

Even then if you live outside the UK for more than 2 years years, the PR status is withdrawn.

The only way to live in any foreign Country free from some kind of Immigration condition is to obtain citizenship.

But yes, that is much more achievable in the UK than Thailand.

Just now, Barney13 said:

Which loopholes?

????

Just now, Barney13 said:

Which loopholes?

I put  -loopholes-  under " " as some here consider particular ways of staying in Thailand as such.

Same as I put -play by the rules- under " ".
 

2 minutes ago, luckyluke said:

I put  -loopholes-  under " " as some here consider particular ways of staying in Thailand as such.

Same as I put -play by the rules- under " ".
 

Which ways, please expand

20 minutes ago, david555 said:

But many  liked to wait to ultimate dates , hoping the elastic would be amnesty stretched again & again ….(still some do …)

 

One very good phrase I remember from a poster as answer on them

"Hope for the best …, but prepare for the worst …"

I’m hoping you stop interjecting, but I’m prepared to put up with it

22 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Is 400k stuck in a Thai bank for 2 months and then able to use it, that difficult.

It could be for some who are 'trapped' here at the moment with Thai families to support and unable to go on international travel to earn a living as they might normally do pre COVID.

22 hours ago, fishtank said:

As Sheryl said, Non O Imm Visas are not designed so that people can live here full time.

If you want to live here full time get the correct Visa/Extension instead of finding loopholes.

Some of the requirements for these visas are unfair, so people have to find "loopholes", so the ones who are genuine and contributing to the Thai economy, good luck to them.

11 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

For settlement in the UK the financial requirement is £18,600 per annum.

It's now a 5 year route to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (PR).

Even then if you live outside the UK for more than 2 years years, the PR status is withdrawn.

The only way to live in any foreign Country free from some kind of Immigration condition is to obtain citizenship.

But yes, that is much more achievable in the UK than Thailand.

Then again, its easier for Westerners to come and live in Thailand, than it is for Thais to live in the West

12 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

For settlement in the UK the financial requirement is £18,600 per annum.

It's now a 5 year route to obtain Indefinite Leave to Remain (PR).

Even then if you live outside the UK for more than 2 years years, the PR status is withdrawn.

The only way to live in any foreign Country free from some kind of Immigration condition is to obtain citizenship.

But yes, that is much more achievable in the UK than Thailand.

But yes, that is much more achievable in the UK than Thailand.

Today, it is seen that the 'Refugee' status is the easiest method to get PR in the West! And 99% are 'Economic Refugees', who manipulate systems with the help of relevant 'experts'.