Just starting

[Jeff1]

I just found this forum today and I have been reading posts for two hours now. I think it's great to have this type of site!

A big thank you to the creators and all the helpful posters.

Now, Here's the plan...

Im living in Chicago, My wife ,who is Thai is now here with me . ( has been for 5 months ) If anyone needs k3 info ,please ask. because I ( we ) went through it for a year and a half! Now, We want to live in Thailand. What exactly ,in order please do I have to do ?

We were married in Thailand.

We have money.  Not great sums, but enough to buy more land and build a nice house and still keep a few million ( baht )

in the bank, making intrest, or investing. I have read about the non-immigrant visa and extending it for 3 years but how often do I have to leave the country and for how long. Where do I apply . ect.

Thank you so much for your input,

Jeff

[lopburi3]

I don't know your age, or if you plan to work, so can only give general advise.

You can not own land here so any buying of property, other than a condo, will have to be your wife, using her money, and in her name only.

Bank interest will not earn you much as it is below 1 percent.  How DO you plan to live?

You should be able to obtain a multi entry type non immigrant visa on the basis of your marriage which is valid for one year and with that you have to leave every 90 days.  It does not 'count' toward PR if that is your goal.  If you support your wife in the amount of about 250k (may be 400k soon) you can extend your stay on a yearly basis (new proof each year) at an immigration office inside Thailand and after three years you can apply for PR but only 100 nationals of each country are allowed to be approved and you will be expected to be a credit to Thailand, with a command of the language etc.

You apply for a visa at the Royal Thai Consulate in Chicago.

[Jeff1]

Hello Lopburi,

Thank you for your reply.

I understand about the land and house being under my wife's name. That is no problem ( I hope ) . we have a farm, so that will be our work. Not a small farm.

Checking into Bangkok banks website I found  intrest to be one percent at a million baht. Has that changed?

Im 46 years old.

Ok I have to leave Thailand every ninty days. How long do I have to be gone ?? Can I come back the same day? How much does it cost?  Im sorry about all the questions ,but I dont want to screw this up. Do I have to go to the embassy in person or can I file forms from internet?

Thank's again,

Jeff

[lopburi3]

When you say farming I see a red flag but could be wrong so you should check further.  Don't believe foreigners are permitted to do such work here.  

Not sure of current bank rates but you would only be able to have a passbook savings account without a work permit AFAIK.

You can just cross border and return every 90 days until you need a new visa at the end of about 15 months.  The cost is transportation and visa (if needed) to the other country.

If you live in Chicago believe they would expect you to apply in person.

At your age you might want to consider sticking it out a few more years (building the nest egg) and then looking for an early retirement.

[Jeff1]

Thank's again Lopburi,

I was not very clear when I mentioned farming, more exactly it will be raising cattle..... That is what I would really like to do .And or Investment property is another thought.

To retire I must be 55, correct? thats a long time ( Budda willing ) and if you have ever suffered through a Chicago winter you will understand. My wife has not seen winter here yet and already her teeth are chattering !

So I can go to Cambodia or somewhere , see the Thai embassy, get a visa stamp and return the same day ? every 90 days?  Thats gotta be weird. But I can do it . I WILL do it!!

I have read some of your other posts and the information you gave to the gentleman about " A Thai national getting a visa to the states " were right on. It took my wife and I 11 months

to get her here on a K3. And the interview( er ) was very routine and polite.

Jeff

[Bob Chittie]

I was not very clear when I mentioned farming, more exactly it will be raising cattle..... That is what I would really like to do .

I'm 99% sure you can't work in agriculture. But maybe if you set up a company here (2 million baht registered capital-you owning 49% with 6 partners who have turned over their right to make decisions to you), the company could then be involved in this work and you of course would be running the company. But there still may be a law prohibiting farang companies from beign involved in agricuture. So you definitely want to look into this.

And I don't think you need to go to an embassy every 90 days. Get the non-immigrant O and then every 90 days you just go to a border, cross over and cross back. I don't have experience with the Non-Im O for marriage, but I beleive it is relatively simple, but someone else is going to have to take that up.

[huski]

Get the non-immigrant O and then every 90 days you just go to a border, cross over and cross back. I don't have experience with the Non-Im O for marriage, but I beleive it is relatively simple, but someone else is going to have to take that up.

Forget about doing those visa runs every 90 days.

First get a non immigrant O visa from a THAI Consulate in the US. As Lopburi3 posted, when you come to Thailand, open up a bank account in Thailand and deposit at least 400,000 BAHT and ask for a letter from the bank verifying the funds. Then you and your wife go to BKK Immigration and apply for a 1 year extension based on your marriage to a THAI.

When your extension is approved, usually takes a month, get a RE ENTRY Stamp the same day. This currently costs 1000 BAHT for multiple re entries and takes 2 hours to process.

Make sure every 90 days to go to an immigration office here in Thailand to report your address.

[Bob Chittie]

Hi huski,

Thanks for the clarification. I'm assuming that the only way to stay for a year at a time on a non-im visa is if you are married?

[lopburi3]

You just have to leave Thailand, enter another country and then return for a 90 day visa run.  No need to go beyond the border crossing points.

The extension of stay available within country is based on support.  Although the 'money in the bank' is a part of this process they also like to see an income to support this and money coming into the country if you do not have a work permit.  But what may not work for one could work for another so it would be worth a try.

[Jeff1]

Thank you all so much for all of your help.

Huski, Where is BKK immigration?  To apply for a one year extension.

Lobburi, would monthly checks from selling my business in the states be concered income in Thailand? Would it be taxed??

Jeff

[TRIPxCORE]

Thank you all so much for all of your help.

Huski, Where is BKK immigration?  To apply for a one year extension.

Lobburi, would monthly checks from selling my business in the states be concered income in Thailand? Would it be taxed??

Jeff

Monthly checks coming to you should be able to be used as form of income for your purposes.  As far as I know, if this money is brought into the country as income, it will be taxed.

[willypoot41]

Jeff 1

All what lopburi 3 says is exact about this 1 year visa after marriage with thai lady.

When you have your 1 year visa stamp in your passport you go to the room 401 and this immigration officier give you a first 90 day stamp. After that you have the choice to go every 90 day to the immigration office for registration from your address OR you can sent this document to the immigration by registred mail.

This is my experience with this 1 year visa,not difficult to obtain and immigration officier are very kind and helpfull.

Immigration office is in Soi Suan Plu, South Sathorn Road.

[lopburi3]

Believe normal policy is that any money coming into Thailand is considered taxable if not exempt by tax treaty.  But do not believe they worry about it for retirement type visas (at least have not heard of anyone paying tax).