Best Option For Permanent Stay?

[stevenjm]

okay , I know I should read through all the posts and usually do but I am going through ###### with my fiances health and am having trouble concentrating.

Am looking at relocating to phuket from Phnom penh on the permanent basis and building a house.

Fiance is cambodian and am moving due to better medical for her and better surroundings.

Have limited finances available and am hoping to build a house for less than 30,000 after which I will be surviving on 500 a month until employment is available.

am wondering whats the best visa option given the above will do 30 day runs if necesary but want to try and find a more suitable solution given I am building a house and staying permanently, are the 90 days available indefinately (extensions) or only for one go at a time?

age 41 - self employed web designer , with backup income of 500us a month.

apreciate any replies as I want to get a move on asap from phnom penh.

btw - is the 90 year lease thing still the best method for property purchase by a falang?

[astral]

Sorry, I think you are on hiding to nothing.

You do not qualifty for a long term visa, unless you can find a job,

and I would think the same applies to your fiancee.

The amounts you are talking about, I assume they are US$?

will not impress the immigration authorities at all.

Even if you were aged 50 and retired, you would need $20,000 pa

to meet the requirements.

You will be hard pressed to live on $500 pm, never mind pay medical bills as well.

[thaiflyer1]

Hard as it sounds i/d have to agree with Astral.

Been following your thread in the Health Forum , wish you all the best .....but i think its going to be a non-starter here in Thailand for the pair of you.

Hope you prove me wrong though.

[thaiflyer1]

Just to add with your fiancees medical condition i would be surprised if she is issued a visa of any description (thats if you declare it of course).

[Digger]

To have a fighting chance I would suggest renting somewhere in Pattaya, say a small 2 bedroom townhouse for about 10,000 baht (250 US$) month, with a view longer term to buying somewhere around the 1,000,000 baht mark and yes they do exist. However the cost of maintaining a legit company is probably around 30,000 baht + per annum. If it was me, i'd rent somewhere long term and forget the buying of the house scenario. I would though forget Phuket - way out of your budget for everything and too far from BKK for medical emergencies.

Now of course, none of that takes into account visa's which are going to be difficult for you and very difficult for your GF.

By the way healthcare costs in Pattaya are very good but more importantly there are a number of western orientated charities that provide support and sponsorship of medical expenses in some cases. Make yourself popular with these guys, perhaps via some free website work to help them raise money and take it from there. Unfortunately a Cambodian passport carries no prestige in Thailand.

[RDN]

...  I would though forget Phuket - way out of your budget for everything and too far from BKK for medical emergencies...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would agree with the first point - Phuket is expensive - but we do have some very good hospitals here.

[Digger]

...  I would though forget Phuket - way out of your budget for everything and too far from BKK for medical emergencies...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would agree with the first point - Phuket is expensive - but we do have some very good hospitals here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, not disputing that Phuket has good medical facilities but I was refering specifically to his GF's HIV condition - there are many more specialists in HIV treatment in BKK than anywhere else and at an affordable price given that she will not have any medical insurance, at least covering her HIV and most likely none at all. Might be that Phuket doctors could meet his requirement, at a price, but I'd say with the seriousness of her condition, that limiting your options is not really the smartest thing to do. Couple of air tickets every 10 days flying up to BKK to see your specialist is not really doable on his budget.

[astral]

To have a fighting chance I would suggest renting somewhere in Pattaya, say a small 2 bedroom townhouse for about 10,000 baht (250 US$) month, with a view longer term to buying somewhere around the 1,000,000 baht mark and yes they do exist. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Pattaya would not be a good choice of place to live.

The prices are inflated by the location and the tourist industry.

Most provincial towns have private hospitals now, and that would be

a better choice.

Somewhere like Rayong, Chantaburi, not too far from Bangkok.

[Dragonman]

Sattahip would sound ok for your position. Keep your cash for medical expenses and rent. You can rent 2 bedroom bungalow for 3000 baht per month. Good local hospital and clinic. Medical expenses at thai prices.

30 minutes from Pattaya and Rayong, 2 hours to Bangkok.

Would imagine your visas to be more of a problem than living here once you've got them. Good Luck.

[RDN]

...  I would though forget Phuket - way out of your budget for everything and too far from BKK for medical emergencies...

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would agree with the first point - Phuket is expensive - but we do have some very good hospitals here.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yes, not disputing that Phuket has good medical facilities but I was refering specifically to his GF's HIV condition - there are many more specialists in HIV treatment in BKK than anywhere else and at an affordable price given that she will not have any medical insurance, at least covering her HIV and most likely none at all. Might be that Phuket doctors could meet his requirement, at a price, but I'd say with the seriousness of her condition, that limiting your options is not really the smartest thing to do. Couple of air tickets every 10 days flying up to BKK to see your specialist is not really doable on his budget.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Sorry - didn't know about the g/f's HIV condition in the health forum. Yes, he needs specialists in the capital, and quick access to an airport too, just in case. Best of luck to him and his g/f.

[Digger]

Good suggestions from other people as well but reason for saying Pattaya is that its relatively easy to blend in - danger could be that in Rayong or Sattahip, farang with a Cambodian GF would likely become very common knowledge, given there are not that many farang or Cambodians in either town - only takes one nurse to say to her friend, oh we have a farang and a Cambodian girl in for HIV treatment and word could easily spread and get to the wrong people. Staying in Pattaya, they could keep off the radar screen and not have any issues with immigration, wrongly saying that as the Cambodian has HIV that she cannot stay in Thailand, unless he makes a donation to the christmas party fund. Should not happen but would you want to take the risk and given the posters financial position he is not really able to demonstrate to immigration that he can easily cover the costs of medical treatment. If that was me in that position, i'd be staying in Pattaya and using hospital in BKK or Rayong.

[stevenjm]

Good suggestions from other people as well but reason for saying Pattaya is that its relatively easy to blend in - danger could be that in Rayong or Sattahip, farang with a Cambodian GF would likely become very common knowledge, given there are not that many farang or Cambodians in either town - only takes one nurse to say to her friend, oh we have a farang and a Cambodian girl in for HIV treatment and word could easily spread and get to the wrong people.    Staying in Pattaya, they could keep off the radar screen and not have any issues with immigration, wrongly saying that as the Cambodian has HIV that she cannot stay in Thailand, unless he makes a donation to the christmas party fund.  Should not happen but would you want to take the risk and given the posters financial position he is not really able to demonstrate to immigration that he can easily cover the costs of medical treatment.  If that was me in that position, i'd be staying in Pattaya and using hospital in BKK or Rayong.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks heaps guys,

not really the sort of info I was hoping for but the truth is the truth I guess. I have become a bit of an optimist over the last couple of weeks or so - Gf's health improved dramatically over the last couple of weeks due to the thai meds and blood transfusion - cd4 count re checked next week - fingers crossed.

Have spent a bit of time in Phuket and looked into property prices a while back and honestly beleive the budget issue to be no problem as far as getting a place and day to day living - was just sort of hoping there was something better than the 30 day runs, also aware of some thai's attitudes to cambodians in general, and although I will do 30 day runs if necesary I am worried about gf's 30 day runs as being cambodian is probably enough for immigration to say " sorry, too many 30 day stamps".

are the 3 month visa's extendable more than once or can you for instance do a 30 day run and then a 3 month visa eg - 30 day stamp leave country , get 3 month visa , leave country for 30 day stamp and then redo again - basically how many 3 month visa's and how often?

Ive got a passport full of 30 day day stamps already and know people who survive and have survived on 30 day stamps for over 7 years so am sort of optimistic - I may have to drop the optimism though as its never worked for me in the past.

Phuket was top of the list because myself and my gf both love the place and enjoy the water, fishing, snorkelling etc

All the suggestions above will certainly be taken into account when it becomes decision time though - thanks again.

[samran]

Sorry to be the bearer of even worse news, but I don't think cambodians are eligible for 30 day visa free trips to Thailand. Short hops with a border pass into the neighbouring province maybe, but no more than that.

I think they have to apply for a tourist visa at the thai embassy in PP and each time they have to prove their financial viability and intention to return to Cambodia at the end of their journey.

Edited May 8, 2005 by samran

[stevenjm]

Sorry to be the bearer of even worse news, but I don't think cambodians are eligible for 30 day visa free trips to Thailand. Short hops with a border pass into the neighbouring province maybe, but no more than that.

I think they have to apply for a tourist visa at the thai embassy in PP and each time they have to prove their financial viability and intention to return to Cambodia at the end of their journey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeh - your exactly correct, I had forgotten I had to get her a 3 month visa last time - amazing how much stress can effect a persons common sense and memory.

will investigate other options for cambodians.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

Sorry to be the bearer of even worse news, but I don't think cambodians are eligible for 30 day visa free trips to Thailand. Short hops with a border pass into the neighbouring province maybe, but no more than that.

I think they have to apply for a tourist visa at the thai embassy in PP and each time they have to prove their financial viability and intention to return to Cambodia at the end of their journey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeh - your exactly correct, I had forgotten I had to get her a 3 month visa last time - amazing how much stress can effect a persons common sense and memory.

will investigate other options for cambodians.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Will the Thai Embassy give her a 3 month visa ?

[stevenjm]

Sorry to be the bearer of even worse news, but I don't think cambodians are eligible for 30 day visa free trips to Thailand. Short hops with a border pass into the neighbouring province maybe, but no more than that.

I think they have to apply for a tourist visa at the thai embassy in PP and each time they have to prove their financial viability and intention to return to Cambodia at the end of their journey.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

yeh - your exactly correct, I had forgotten I had to get her a 3 month visa last time - amazing how much stress can effect a persons common sense and memory.

will investigate other options for cambodians.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Will the Thai Embassy give her a 3 month visa ?

yeh - 3 month no problem, visa through a tour company, would not like chances of applying directly to immigration though. The tour service visas seem to be mass processed and not got through the same process as applying to department directly - more stringent.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>