Investment Visa (3mios Baht/condo Purchase)

[fleming]

First to say is your forum is very interesting and a mine for information but browsing in it I could not find answer to couple of question regarding the Investment visa...

I intend to take a job break next year and live with my family in Thailand for few years. I am French (41) and my wife is Japanese, we have 2 children and I currently work in Japan.

I understand that the best is to apply a 90 days visa with 1 year extensions as Non-immigrant visa investors before getting the permanent resident.

I will go soon to Bangkok to search for condo to buy or see if it is better to rent something in the first place. Prior to that I have few questions:

1 - Does the 3 mios bahts investment count for the whole family?

2 - Can I transfer this amount to HSBC Bangkok or does it have to be in local Thai bank?

3 - If I dont buy a condo at first, can I use the 3 mios Baht to purchase a condo afterwards?

Thanks for your time. Hoping that soon I could help this forum when I 'll better about Thai

and... if you want to know something about Japan let me know...

)))

[lopburi3]

You really need to talk with Immigration in Bangkok yourself as few are aware of requirements.

I do not believe it is likely you would receive PR on this investment visa without other factors as recent PR investment required 40 million baht.

[fleming]

Thanks Lopburi3..

Actually I am asking the question also because both Consulate in France and Japan denied such facilities, they even denied that I could get any extension of non-immigration visa just by buying condo or keeping 3mios Bahts on an account, they both told me that I need to work or set up my won business to get an investment visa, because I am too young to retire... The only thing I can obtain from them is a 60 days tourist visa.

So I am a bit lost... I will follow your advice and call Bangkok office to check if arriving with such visa and buying condo or placing 3mios baht could be sufficient to get those extension for me and my family...

[george]

The extension based on 3 million baht investment does not exist anymore (since last year).

[fleming]

Another precision is that I understood from Bangkok Immigration Office (66-2-287-4948) that buying a condominium is NOT sufficient to get visa extension.

You MUST buy a 'PROJECT condominium' from a company to obtain such 'Special Investor' facilities.

Buying a condo from a regular owner apparently doesnt give any advantage for visa extension...

[fleming]

George...

Even more confusing here... the Immigration Officer of Bangkok whom I talked with earlier today told me that the easiest way to get extension was to apply for the 3 mios bahts deposit in Thai bank...

[lopburi3]

The extension based on 3 million baht investment does not exist anymore (since last year).

According to Bangkok Immigration it still is an option. The project run by MFA ended but immigration had the option to continue it and it appears that they have. At least up to Col level that is the word.