Advice On Options (visas Wps Etc..)

[MrBungle]

Hi,

I would like some advice on what would be the best procedure\option to move to Thailand with my Thai Wife in the near future. I am a little confused as to which visa I should apply for and hope you can point me in the best direction.

I am British, 32 years old and work in the UK with my Thai Wife. We dont have much savings. I have dual Nationality of British and Italian and hold passports for both countries.

My Wife's Mother is poorly and we would like to support her during her old age so are planning on moving to Thailand to work and settle down.

I am an experienced English Teacher (3yrs exp) and IT Professional (8yrs exp) with the following qualifications :

8 G.C.S.E passes

NVQ Level One in Business Administration

A T.E.F.L certificate

An E.C.C Teaching English to Young Learners Certificate

A Microsoft Certificate Of Excellence for a Microsoft Certified Professional

A Microsoft Certificate Of Excellence for a Microsoft Certified Desktop Support Technician

I am also a Music Producer with my own equipment and website domain and I am interested in producing\mixing with Thai Music Professionals in Thailand and maybe form a production company or sell music.

What would be the best option for us to move to Thailand? Should I apply for a non-immigrant O or B visa and would I be eligible for a work permit? or sponsorship? Jobwise, could I get IT work also?

Any advice would be very much appreciated..

Kind Regards

MrBungle

[lopburi3]

You should obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa for entry. This allows 90 day stays for one year. If you find employment that supports a work permit (most likely teaching) then you can do so from that visa.

[MrBungle]

You should obtain a multi entry non immigrant O visa for entry. This allows 90 day stays for one year. If you find employment that supports a work permit (most likely teaching) then you can do so from that visa.

Thanks for that mate. I lived out there in 2002 for a couple of years but know that the laws change frequently. What would you say my chances are of obtaining a WP with a TEFL cert with 3yrs exp in teaching, NVQ lvl1 in business and my Microsoft certs? I do not have a BA but am curious whether a BA is the only creds you need to obtain a WP..

Many thanks

[lopburi3]

Believe BA is only required for private school but there has been talk of making a teaching degree a requirement but don't know where that stands - probably a read in the teaching forum will answer some questions. BA is not required for general work permit issue - but a job is.

Understand you did not ask this and I am perhaps amiss in bringing it up but you are very young with most of your lives in front of you. Are you sure you can afford the move? You are both likely to be at a much lower wage/savings. Is there no other family members that could take care of mother with the extra income you could likely earn overseas?

[MrBungle]

Believe BA is only required for private school but there has been talk of making a teaching degree a requirement but don't know where that stands - probably a read in the teaching forum will answer some questions. BA is not required for general work permit issue - but a job is.

Understand you did not ask this and I am perhaps amiss in bringing it up but you are very young with most of your lives in front of you. Are you sure you can afford the move? You are both likely to be at a much lower wage/savings. Is there no other family members that could take care of mother with the extra income you could likely earn overseas?

Thanks..

I would like to work with Computers\IT preferrably so will chase that avenue first, teaching second.

As for the move etc..

We have lived here in the UK since 2004 and it has got steadily worse and worse. The bills have become horrendous! We bought a house last October and just cannot enjoy it like we want, it is more of a hinderance than a comfort..

We havent managed to save or go on holidays due to the cost of living, even though we are both working full-time its just a constant struggle.

My Wife has family near her Mother so its not such an emergency but more of a piece of mind thing.

It could well end up that we dont move to Thailand but at the moment, we are increasingly becoming depressed with the life we have here in the UK..

It will be a difficult decision but I would like to weigh out all of our options, we are young but are not as happy as we should and my Mother in law is getting old and poorly and could do with our support..

[Martian]

MrBungle,

On the Thaivisa forum main page there is a section farther down the page about teaching in Thailand. There's all kinds of info in there about teaching requirements if that is the profession you are going to pursue in Thailand.

I am considering teaching next year as at least a "test year" since I am currently unemployed after 22 years of service to my American company. Fortunately, my Thai wife and I already have a house built and I have two job offers in my Thai hometown at the moment.

Additionally, my wife just attained her USA citizenship so if things don't workout in Thailand we can always return to the USA.

Good luck!

Martian

[MrBungle]

MrBungle,

On the Thaivisa forum main page there is a section farther down the page about teaching in Thailand. There's all kinds of info in there about teaching requirements if that is the profession you are going to pursue in Thailand.

I am considering teaching next year as at least a "test year" since I am currently unemployed after 22 years of service to my American company. Fortunately, my Thai wife and I already have a house built and I have two job offers in my Thai hometown at the moment.

Additionally, my wife just attained her USA citizenship so if things don't workout in Thailand we can always return to the USA.

Good luck!

Martian

Hi Martian

Thanks for the advice. I checked out the forums and found them very helpful. As we are not so happy in the UK, (its just gone too dam_n expensive) and my Mother in Law is getting old, we have been looking into building a house in my Wife's hometown near Kalasin in Isaan. Seems that it shouldnt cost too much to build a decent home. I'd really like to get work in IT or start a small business, but I can teach English if neccessary.

It would be helpful if I could find out whether I could get a WP without an actual BA\Degree for sure..?

I have TEFL and ECC Teaching to young learners certs and two Microsoft Certs of Excellence. And I have three years teaching experience.

Do you or anyone know if there is a department in Thailand that could answer me this?

Cheers

MrBungle

[KamnanT]

It would be helpful if I could find out whether I could get a WP without an actual BA\Degree for sure..?

I have TEFL and ECC Teaching to young learners certs and two Microsoft Certs of Excellence. And I have three years teaching experience.

Do you or anyone know if there is a department in Thailand that could answer me this?

There's only one question that can be answered with 100% certainty - there is no one in any department in Thailand who will answer you on this.

But seriously, with your qualifications as an IT support technician, you may be able to secure employment that pays THB 30,000 or maybe even THB 40,000 per month if you're lucky. There are many qualified Thais working in this area, so you would have to demonstrate some unique skill or capability to convince an employer to hire you. This would have to be in Bangkok - the odds of finding a suitable position in Kalasin are close to nil, particularly if your Thai language skills are only basic.

I certainly understand your financial frustration with the UK - every time I visit I wonder how the vast majority of working people get by in a country with such a high cost of living. But to echo the comments of other posters, are you sure you wouldn't be trading one depressing situation for an even worse one? "The simple life" in Kalasin with little or no money may suit some, but it's more likely to bore you to tears.

[MrBungle]

It would be helpful if I could find out whether I could get a WP without an actual BA\Degree for sure..?

I have TEFL and ECC Teaching to young learners certs and two Microsoft Certs of Excellence. And I have three years teaching experience.

Do you or anyone know if there is a department in Thailand that could answer me this?

There's only one question that can be answered with 100% certainty - there is no one in any department in Thailand who will answer you on this.

But seriously, with your qualifications as an IT support technician, you may be able to secure employment that pays THB 30,000 or maybe even THB 40,000 per month if you're lucky. There are many qualified Thais working in this area, so you would have to demonstrate some unique skill or capability to convince an employer to hire you. This would have to be in Bangkok - the odds of finding a suitable position in Kalasin are close to nil, particularly if your Thai language skills are only basic.

I certainly understand your financial frustration with the UK - every time I visit I wonder how the vast majority of working people get by in a country with such a high cost of living. But to echo the comments of other posters, are you sure you wouldn't be trading one depressing situation for an even worse one? "The simple life" in Kalasin with little or no money may suit some, but it's more likely to bore you to tears.

Hi KamnanT

Thanks for the input..

It will and always will be a 50/50 decision for us and we will seriously debate the pros and cons of both ways of life. Its just that the UK is falling to pieces, taxes are too high and inflation has hit the roof. Our house value is dropping and it just seems like we are living to work and not working to live and enjoy.

The quite peaceful life over there is attractive but as you say, maybe too quiet and lack of money can be off putting. Its a tough one! If others were in my shoes I wonder what they would do??

I remember staying on my Wife's farm for a few weeks in 2004. It was a great experience, practically self sufficient, no stresses and noise..Would be great to secure a regular income there and live an easy going life..hmmm, decisions decisions...

MrBungle

[Martian]

It would be helpful if I could find out whether I could get a WP without an actual BA\Degree for sure..?

I have TEFL and ECC Teaching to young learners certs and two Microsoft Certs of Excellence. And I have three years teaching experience.

Do you or anyone know if there is a department in Thailand that could answer me this?

There's only one question that can be answered with 100% certainty - there is no one in any department in Thailand who will answer you on this.

But seriously, with your qualifications as an IT support technician, you may be able to secure employment that pays THB 30,000 or maybe even THB 40,000 per month if you're lucky. There are many qualified Thais working in this area, so you would have to demonstrate some unique skill or capability to convince an employer to hire you. This would have to be in Bangkok - the odds of finding a suitable position in Kalasin are close to nil, particularly if your Thai language skills are only basic.

I certainly understand your financial frustration with the UK - every time I visit I wonder how the vast majority of working people get by in a country with such a high cost of living. But to echo the comments of other posters, are you sure you wouldn't be trading one depressing situation for an even worse one? "The simple life" in Kalasin with little or no money may suit some, but it's more likely to bore you to tears.

Hi KamnanT

Thanks for the input..

It will and always will be a 50/50 decision for us and we will seriously debate the pros and cons of both ways of life. Its just that the UK is falling to pieces, taxes are too high and inflation has hit the roof. Our house value is dropping and it just seems like we are living to work and not working to live and enjoy.

The quite peaceful life over there is attractive but as you say, maybe too quiet and lack of money can be off putting. Its a tough one! If others were in my shoes I wonder what they would do??

I remember staying on my Wife's farm for a few weeks in 2004. It was a great experience, practically self sufficient, no stresses and noise..Would be great to secure a regular income there and live an easy going life..hmmm, decisions decisions...

MrBungle

Mr. Bungle,

I and my wife are in the same situation as you with regard to weighing the "big decision". At the end of April this year my job was taken away from me by my employer after 22+ years of service because of the economic situation here in the states. Although my company was diversified, I worked in the one big division that gets hurt every time there is a housing crisis or building slowdown and this time I was one of the casualties. I spent 4 years in Thailand managing one of our production facilities but returned to the USA with my Thai Fiancee in 2004. Just last week she passed her citizenship interview and we are awaiting her final approval and oath ceremony letter. Once this is all completed and she has her USA passport, we have some tough decisions to make.

If I were able to liquidate all my assets at a reasonable price, living on 45,000 Baht per month (our hometown isn't quite as remote as yours but less expensive all the same) and no big surprises, we could live almost 12 years, including the interest that would have been accumulating. This would put me to the point where I could receive Social Security (reduced amount from not working last 10 years and starting benefits early) and this would be on top of my private retirement accounts I could start receiving 3 years BEFORE Social Security. Again, I could almost live off the monthly interest of my private accounts at that point.

If I did this, I would be locked into staying in Thailand the rest of my life for the most part because it would be the only place (as it is now) I could afford to live a comfortable standard of life, even if I did teach for the next 5 or 6 years.

The alternative is stay here in the cold midwest of the USA and try to find a job (probably not making near what I did before) and keep my wife happy about being here. She is torn between each option because of the comparative pro's and con's as well. I am, just this weekend, liquidating (Yard sale) everything from my house that I absolutely do not want or need to put myself in a better position should I want to go to Thailand. I have 4 vehicles that operate on gasoline and those are a hard sell right now. I would also have to rent my house so it wouldn't be a monthly drain as I do want to keep it in case we are unhappy in Thailand, otherwise I would sell it but have to rent if returning to the USA due to no job history to get a loan. Then there is the health insurance side of things, which I won't go into....this has gone on long enough.

You are not alone, we are agonizing on what to do and I even have a teaching job offer in my hometown....pretty hard to pass up even though it isn't completely a perfect situation.

Hang in there and give it some time. That's what we are doing while working to a point where whatever we decide, we will be in a position to move forward.

Regards,

Martian

[MrBungle]

It would be helpful if I could find out whether I could get a WP without an actual BA\Degree for sure..?

I have TEFL and ECC Teaching to young learners certs and two Microsoft Certs of Excellence. And I have three years teaching experience.

Do you or anyone know if there is a department in Thailand that could answer me this?

There's only one question that can be answered with 100% certainty - there is no one in any department in Thailand who will answer you on this.

But seriously, with your qualifications as an IT support technician, you may be able to secure employment that pays THB 30,000 or maybe even THB 40,000 per month if you're lucky. There are many qualified Thais working in this area, so you would have to demonstrate some unique skill or capability to convince an employer to hire you. This would have to be in Bangkok - the odds of finding a suitable position in Kalasin are close to nil, particularly if your Thai language skills are only basic.

I certainly understand your financial frustration with the UK - every time I visit I wonder how the vast majority of working people get by in a country with such a high cost of living. But to echo the comments of other posters, are you sure you wouldn't be trading one depressing situation for an even worse one? "The simple life" in Kalasin with little or no money may suit some, but it's more likely to bore you to tears.

Hi KamnanT

Thanks for the input..

It will and always will be a 50/50 decision for us and we will seriously debate the pros and cons of both ways of life. Its just that the UK is falling to pieces, taxes are too high and inflation has hit the roof. Our house value is dropping and it just seems like we are living to work and not working to live and enjoy.

The quite peaceful life over there is attractive but as you say, maybe too quiet and lack of money can be off putting. Its a tough one! If others were in my shoes I wonder what they would do??

I remember staying on my Wife's farm for a few weeks in 2004. It was a great experience, practically self sufficient, no stresses and noise..Would be great to secure a regular income there and live an easy going life..hmmm, decisions decisions...

MrBungle

Mr. Bungle,

I and my wife are in the same situation as you with regard to weighing the "big decision". At the end of April this year my job was taken away from me by my employer after 22+ years of service because of the economic situation here in the states. Although my company was diversified, I worked in the one big division that gets hurt every time there is a housing crisis or building slowdown and this time I was one of the casualties. I spent 4 years in Thailand managing one of our production facilities but returned to the USA with my Thai Fiancee in 2004. Just last week she passed her citizenship interview and we are awaiting her final approval and oath ceremony letter. Once this is all completed and she has her USA passport, we have some tough decisions to make.

If I were able to liquidate all my assets at a reasonable price, living on 45,000 Baht per month (our hometown isn't quite as remote as yours but less expensive all the same) and no big surprises, we could live almost 12 years, including the interest that would have been accumulating. This would put me to the point where I could receive Social Security (reduced amount from not working last 10 years and starting benefits early) and this would be on top of my private retirement accounts I could start receiving 3 years BEFORE Social Security. Again, I could almost live off the monthly interest of my private accounts at that point.

If I did this, I would be locked into staying in Thailand the rest of my life for the most part because it would be the only place (as it is now) I could afford to live a comfortable standard of life, even if I did teach for the next 5 or 6 years.

The alternative is stay here in the cold midwest of the USA and try to find a job (probably not making near what I did before) and keep my wife happy about being here. She is torn between each option because of the comparative pro's and con's as well. I am, just this weekend, liquidating (Yard sale) everything from my house that I absolutely do not want or need to put myself in a better position should I want to go to Thailand. I have 4 vehicles that operate on gasoline and those are a hard sell right now. I would also have to rent my house so it wouldn't be a monthly drain as I do want to keep it in case we are unhappy in Thailand, otherwise I would sell it but have to rent if returning to the USA due to no job history to get a loan. Then there is the health insurance side of things, which I won't go into....this has gone on long enough.

You are not alone, we are agonizing on what to do and I even have a teaching job offer in my hometown....pretty hard to pass up even though it isn't completely a perfect situation.

Hang in there and give it some time. That's what we are doing while working to a point where whatever we decide, we will be in a position to move forward.

Regards,

Martian

Hi Martian,

It seems we are not the only ones in this predicament. Over here in the UK we bought a house a year ago. The value has dropped almost 10% !! Gas\Elec has gone up 20-25%. On top of paying tax on our salaries (20%), water, local council tax, tv license, travel to work costs, food which has increased considerably, we are working for what feels like a life of stress, bills and a house which is losing its value!

Its disappointing to say the least, as I brought my Wife here to give her the chance to experience western life and open opportunities that she may never had been given in Thailand.

Maybe our timing was all out, I just dont know? One thing I know for sure is that I do not want to start a family in the UK anymore, I do not care for the free medical\hospital service here and schools. You go into a hospital here and come out with MRSA or C-Difficile which are life threatening. The schools are full of drugs and kids with knives. The government is content on helping the unemployed by giving them free accomodation,money,tax relief and even free vetinary services. Its just backwards!

When I was laid off work last year, I couldnt claim tax relief and could not take my sick dog to the free vetinary service because I am not a drug dealer\criminal\sponger of the state! Its hilarious..

Putting things into perspective, I would love to work in a country where I could help people less fortunate than myself, live comfortably and just enjoy life...I just hope it is not a dream.

As you suggest, we will wait and see and when the time is right, decide on our future..

Regards

MrBungle

[KamnanT]

Martian & MrBungle,

Living the simple life is not a dream - it can be done - but much will depend on expectations. The biggest complaint I hear from upcountry friends is boredom. And not just foreigners - Thais too! Most Thais under the age of 40 can't wait to get out of their upcountry town and get to Bangkok, even if does mean a seriously reduced standard of living. At least there is something to do in The Big City.

Yes, the cost of living in Thailand (particularly rural Thailand) is far lower than the US or the UK. But as in all developing countries, incomes and costs are rising much more rapidly in Thailand than in the West. The gap is narrowing. Numerous other posts on TV from long term residents noting that the retirement income that provided a lavish lifestyle 10 or even 5 years ago has been seriously devalued by inflation and currency movements. A friend of mine in the FX options business has consistently ventured his opinion that if Thailand could ever put it's political instability behind it, the true value of the baht is something closer to 25 to the USD. Were this ever to come to pass (a BIG if, I realise), how far would the social security go then?

A long weekend with the in-laws should not be considered representative of what you would experience living there long term. I would recommend trying it for a few months before committing yourselves financially to the move.

I'm not saying don't do it - just do the "worst case" financial scenario and evaluate objectively whether you think you would be happy. I've been here with my family for 7 years: good job with a multinational company, mid 40s, not in any great rush to leave. But I do worry about my ability to move back to The First World should the need ever arise. I simply wouldn't be able to afford to buy a home in any European, North American or Australian major city. Am I trapped here? Not yet...but a few more years and I might be.