Living In Thailand

[marty827]

Hi, everyone, I'm looking for some advice. I am a 46year old British citizen, currently working in Singapore as an English language teacher at a private school.I have been visiting my Thai girlfriend, who is a teacher at a government school, on average once a month for the last 9 months, and we have decided we want to get married. I will be meeting her parents soon to discuss wedding etc. We have decided to get married in December 2008. I plan to leave Singapore after we are married, buy a house and live together in Thailand. (She lives near Nakhon Ratchasima). What I need is any advice on what I need to be doing before we marry and what I need to do after we marry. Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I have not got a degree by the way.

[lopburi3]

Probably the first thing you should be looking at is your finances and how you can afford this. If that is not a problem (you do not have to work) then you need to plan how you will stay in Thailand. Currently that will require a combined monthly income of 40k so perhaps the wife will be able to make that requirement? You may be able to find employment but without a degree and getting up into the older category it may not be too rewarding - would suggest reading and asking questions in the teaching forum. You speak of buying a house but land can not be sold to foreigners so if you want more than a condo it will have to be in the name of your wife.

At any rate you seem to have time to read up and inform yourself. Good luck.

[marty827]

Probably the first thing you should be looking at is your finances and how you can afford this. If that is not a problem (you do not have to work) then you need to plan how you will stay in Thailand. Currently that will require a combined monthly income of 40k so perhaps the wife will be able to make that requirement? You may be able to find employment but without a degree and getting up into the older category it may not be too rewarding - would suggest reading and asking questions in the teaching forum. You speak of buying a house but land can not be sold to foreigners so if you want more than a condo it will have to be in the name of your wife.

At any rate you seem to have time to read up and inform yourself. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice, I was looking through the teaching forum and it doesn't look very promising in getting a reasonable job teaching in Thailand as there seems to be an abundance of wannabe English language teachers. My girlfriend currently earns about 12,000baht per month ( a pittance I know), so does that mean I need to find a job that pays at least 28,000baht per month? I have just over 10,000 pounds in savings but that's about it. As regards buying the house, my girlfriend can get a cheap loan because she works for the government. I would stay in Singapore but she is very close with her parents, as are most Thai's. , and doesn't want to leave Thailand.

[Lite Beer]

Yes to stay in Thailand on a yearly basis you would need 28,000 Baht a month plus your Wifes income.

You could get a visa from a neighbouring country, lasting 90 days. Meaning every 90 days you would have to go to a Embassy outside of Thailand and get another Visa.

To actually get married is not a problem.

[ratcatcher]

Probably the first thing you should be looking at is your finances and how you can afford this. If that is not a problem (you do not have to work) then you need to plan how you will stay in Thailand. Currently that will require a combined monthly income of 40k so perhaps the wife will be able to make that requirement? You may be able to find employment but without a degree and getting up into the older category it may not be too rewarding - would suggest reading and asking questions in the teaching forum. You speak of buying a house but land can not be sold to foreigners so if you want more than a condo it will have to be in the name of your wife.

At any rate you seem to have time to read up and inform yourself. Good luck.

Thanks for the advice, I was looking through the teaching forum and it doesn't look very promising in getting a reasonable job teaching in Thailand as there seems to be an abundance of wannabe English language teachers. My girlfriend currently earns about 12,000baht per month ( a pittance I know), so does that mean I need to find a job that pays at least 28,000baht per month? I have just over 10,000 pounds in savings but that's about it. As regards buying the house, my girlfriend can get a cheap loan because she works for the government. I would stay in Singapore but she is very close with her parents, as are most Thai's. , and doesn't want to leave Thailand.

As a regular on this forum, I can agree that Lopburi 3 always gives good advice.

"Probably the first thing you should be looking at is your finances and how you can afford this".

There are many "wannabe" teachers and many good teachers in Thailand and also many teachers working for a lot less than you are probably getting in Singapore. However, many of these, though not all, are financially set up. Some are also quite poor by western standards.

You say you have 10,000 pounds in savings, that would be about 670,000 baht at current rates. Is that all?

If so, you have a problem. You need a provable income of B40,000 a month whether jointly or on your own.

Relationships have a habit of going wrong.

You say you have been visiting once a month for the last 9 months. Does that mean you've known her 9 months or longer?

Perhaps this is not the forum to discuss relationships either financial or romantic, but I see potential problems ahead.

Sorry.

[lopburi3]

If you find employment and work permit you could use that to stay in Thailand so the 40k is not a requirement. You can also obtain non immigrant O visa entry for visits of up to 90 days with just the marriage and if you return to UK or Oz yearly can likely obtain one year multi entry that allow 12 months of 90 day stays. With proof of your savings you can likely also obtain in Singapore. The sticky point in my mind is how many more years do want to work and will you have enough savings at a Thai pay rate to retire - but that has to be a decision you and wife make; taking into account her family. Often there can be unfounded expectations when a foreign husband appears. Sorry - you asked for advise and I have probably provided too much but am always concerned when the first post mentions buying a house. Rent in Thailand is cheap so it is not usually a good immediate personal investment.

[marty827]

Thanks for advice Lopburi and Ratcatcher, I will take on board your advice about renting instead of buying. I know there will be a lot of hurdles to cross, but if I worried about them all and didn't take chances I'd still be in the UK working in a factory bored out of my skull. I left Uk with no plans 18 months ago and have just allowed fate to take its course. At the moment I have a nice job in Singapore a beautiful girlfriend ( who I've known for 18 months by the way) in Thailand and have never been happier. I think I'll take my chances and tackle the problems as they come.