Its Scary Bringing Up A Family In Thailand

[samran]

Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no.

[ludditeman]

Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no.

Very few of us living here and earning a 'reasonable' salary

Many of us living here with a fortune in investments/pensions/savings

[ExpatJ]

Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess...

Really?!

Just two months ago you were looking for a cheap apartment to move into for under 2k bht/mth!

"I Need A Cheap Room2-3k, wifi, & close to store"

What exactly is your idea of "piles of cash"?

You know what they say..."a liar should have a good memory"

Busted! this my friends is why you never take to seriously what is written in annoymous forums

Back to the OP, why not take the family back home? every country needs construction men.

Dropping out and trying to scratch a living in Thailand will create grief. Nearly all family problems revolve around lack of money

Epic bust I was actually intrigued/.downright jealous of the online money making scheme until i saw the follow up about the rent!

Edited January 16, 2012 by ExpatJ

[Ulysses G.]

Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no.

I agree with you and I might have been misled, but when I was going to apply, I was told that no Westerners had been able to get it for a number of years and that I would be wasting my time and money if I applied. That is why I did not bother.

I have to admit that it a while ago and I forget about it and have not checked again since

Edited January 16, 2012 by Ulysses G.

[chops]

Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess...

Really?!

Just two months ago you were looking for a cheap apartment to move into for under 2k bht/mth!

"I Need A Cheap Room2-3k, wifi, & close to store"

What exactly is your idea of "piles of cash"?

You know what they say..."a liar should have a good memory"

Busted! this my friends is why you never take to seriously what is written in annoymous forums

Back to the OP, why not take the family back home? every country needs construction men.

Dropping out and trying to scratch a living in Thailand will create grief. Nearly all family problems revolve around lack of money

My business is soaring and I'm doing rather well financially now. I came here with some credit cards at age 28 and never looked back.

BTW, that post was made about a year ago. Times change...

[zzaa09]

Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no.

Very few of us living here and earning a 'reasonable' salary

Many of us living here with a fortune in investments/pensions/savings

Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life.

I would stray away from the old stereotype of a retirement/pensioner character, as I don't think it's the norm. Being partly dependent on the proverbial private or goverment pensions. On the contrary, there is a significant Farang residential population that have never become interacted with this retirement stigma, as a growing and stable foreign resident community are from a far younger set that have established themselves here. I believe that this "Old Retired Geezers" archtype tends to run amoke as an accepted standard - they're probably in the minority regarding Western foreign residents.

[hotandhumid]

I feel for you not seeing your kids.

I know of a guy here who has a 1 year old daughter but hardly ever sees her but he DOES live in Thailand, just in a different city to his wife and kid. Very weird if you ask me.

[samran]

Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no.

Very few of us living here and earning a 'reasonable' salary

Many of us living here with a fortune in investments/pensions/savings

Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life.

I would stray away from the old stereotype of a retirement/pensioner character, as I don't think it's the norm. Being partly dependent on the proverbial private or goverment pensions. On the contrary, there is a significant Farang residential population that have never become interacted with this retirement stigma, as a growing and stable foreign resident community are from a far younger set that have established themselves here. I believe that this "Old Retired Geezers" archtype tends to run amoke as an accepted standard - they're probably in the minority regarding Western foreign residents.

I'm with the curmudgeonly misanthropic member on this one.

Plenty of working age folk making a descent crust who would all qualify but for one reason or another don't end up applying. The old farts brigade might be a majority out in the boondocks but it isn't the case out in Bangkok where you can work for years and come across new people every day who have been there for years as well.

[MAJIC]

however I always get the impression that thailand doesnt want me here and if they could they would banish us all. i pay taxes and contribute to the local economy.

You are right.

I'm on a retirement extension and have no delusions at all.

The day they no longer want my money is the same day they will stop extending my visa.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is dreaming.

Agreed,

but there are plenty of western dreamers on TV,who have convinced themselves otherwise.

Clearly we are tolerated because we have money,nothing more,nothing less!

[PattayaParent]

Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no.

I agree with you and I might have been misled, but when I was going to apply, I was told that no Westerners had been able to get it for a number of years and that I would be wasting my time and money if I applied. That is why I did not bother.

I have to admit that it a while ago and I forget about it and have not checked again since

I believe that was more a case of applications not being taken as the government was changing frequently so there was nobody in office long enough to sign off the approvals.

I did read that applications were again being taken in December of 2011.

[PattayaParent]

My business is soaring and I'm doing rather well financially now. I came here with some credit cards at age 28 and never looked back.

BTW, that post was made about a year ago. Times change...

What are you paying in rent these days?

[ludditeman]

Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life.

Apparently 50kbht a month is considered reasonable if you are married and want citizenship.

If you don't pay tax on that amount each month, they don't want your application.

[samsiam]

Few of the rest of us know ANYBODY (personally) that have been lucky enough to gain citizenship.

Lucky to become a Thai....well I never...

[samran]

Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life.

Apparently 50kbht a month is considered reasonable if you are married and want citizenship.

If you don't pay tax on that amount each month, they don't want your application.

40K from memory. Either way, hardly earth shattering.

You are right.

I'm on a retirement extension and have no delusions at all.

The day they no longer want my money is the same day they will stop extending my visa.

Anyone who thinks otherwise is dreaming.

Agreed,

but there are plenty of western dreamers on TV,who have convinced themselves otherwise.

Clearly we are tolerated because we have money,nothing more,nothing less!

More nonesense. Tell me a country which lets people in to live more or less permanently on a retirement visa with such derisory amounts of money in the bank (and in many cases, on the basis of a 'sworn statment' from the embassy...it's the truth your honour!). How many country's in the world let you overstay illegally for years, rock up at the airport, pay a $600 fine, and then let you back in on the next flight? It takes alot to be blacklisted from Thailand.

Technically, you are correct, in that anyone who is not a citizen of a country is prone to changes in visa conditions etc and has the remote threat of deportation, especially if they've broken the law. But the likelyhood of that happening is pretty low to make your statment scaremongering more than anything else.

For class A stuff ups of visa conditions changing and putting people out, you'd be hard pressed go past the UK in 2008 who changed the conditions their Highly Skilled Migrant Permit extension of stay system. If the Home Office had got its way thousands of families who moved to the UK under the system would have been forced to move back. It took High Court challenge to stop the change.

Edited January 17, 2012 by samran

[Livinginexile]

A year ago?

"2011-09-30 08:53:07"

Try about 3 months ago.

[Livinginexile]

My business is soaring and I'm doing rather well financially now. I came here with some credit cards at age 28 and never looked back.

BTW, that post was made about a year ago. Times change...

What are you paying in rent these days?

Try about 3 months ago.

"2011-09-30 08:53:07"

[BookMan]

My business is soaring and I'm doing rather well financially now. I came here with some credit cards at age 28 and never looked back.

BTW, that post was made about a year ago. Times change...

What are you paying in rent these days?

Try about 3 months ago.

"2011-09-30 08:53:07"

Only digging the hole deeper and deeper

[PattayaParent]

Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life.

Apparently 50kbht a month is considered reasonable if you are married and want citizenship.

If you don't pay tax on that amount each month, they don't want your application.

40K from memory. Either way, hardly earth shattering.

80k actually

[chops]

A year ago?

"2011-09-30 08:53:07"

Try about 3 months ago.

I have no idea what your problem is buddy. Perhaps you are jealous that I make a living entirely online? That I didn't become an english teacher like some people?

I do rather okay now thanks to 2 years of hard effort. It was not easy. Now I can travel anywhere I like and I make money with just an internet connection.

And I spend very little on rent. Less than 10% of my spending.

[StreetCowboy]

A year ago?

"2011-09-30 08:53:07"

Try about 3 months ago.

I have no idea what your problem is buddy. Perhaps you are jealous that I make a living entirely online? That I didn't become an english teacher like some people?

I do rather okay now thanks to 2 years of hard effort. It was not easy. Now I can travel anywhere I like and I make money with just an internet connection.

And I spend very little on rent. Less than 10% of my spending.

I'm not sure that I'd be so happy about spending so little on my rent that I'd twist a quick one off the wrist.

I suppose, if you're not making much money, you'll be resorting to DIY rather than employing a specialist...

Or maybe you've found your true love - it sounds a bit like that, from your posts.

Anyway, straying a little bit back on topic, I prefer the security of being a wage slave, and one of the criteria I look at when I am hawking my services in the market is the likelihood of the salary being paid at the end of each month. When I had lower fixed costs - no school fees, and a more mobile family, I could afford a life under the Jolly Roger as a freelance consultant, but alas no more...

Even then, though, when I was working from home, I was still away from home more often than not, as I have never been fortunate enough to have a lot of local clients, and clients expect a good deal of face time - bums on seats, so to speak.

SC

[HardenedSoul]

Few of the rest of us know ANYBODY (personally) that have been lucky enough to gain citizenship.

Lucky to become a Thai....well I never...

[Livinginexile]

A year ago?

"2011-09-30 08:53:07"

Try about 3 months ago.

I have no idea what your problem is buddy. Perhaps you are jealous that I make a living entirely online? That I didn't become an english teacher like some people?

I do rather okay now thanks to 2 years of hard effort. It was not easy. Now I can travel anywhere I like and I make money with just an internet connection.

And I spend very little on rent. Less than 10% of my spending.

Yes we know, you spend very little on rent. 2-3k per/mth wasn't it?

So your income from online (urhum..) activities is about 25k per/mth?

[rgs2001uk]

A year ago?

"2011-09-30 08:53:07"

Try about 3 months ago.

I have no idea what your problem is buddy. Perhaps you are jealous that I make a living entirely online? That I didn't become an english teacher like some people?

I do rather okay now thanks to 2 years of hard effort. It was not easy. Now I can travel anywhere I like and I make money with just an internet connection.

And I spend very little on rent. Less than 10% of my spending.

Yes we know, you spend very little on rent. 2-3k per/mth wasn't it?

So your income from online (urhum..) activities is about 25k per/mth?

I dont know about that, seems to have plenty to go on the piss with,

then again,

Check out the dates, what a turn round in fortunes, marevelous effort, we salute you.

[Chonburiram]

... How many country's in the world let you overstay illegally for years, rock up at the airport, pay a $600 fine, and then let you back in on the next flight?

NZ, no fine at all, that's what I know ...

[Chonburiram]

Livinginexile, do you remember that one?

I'M About To Buy A Property And The Farang Owner Doesn'T Even Know It'S Being Sold!

Started by Livinginexile, 2010-07-07 00:27

I hope you feel miserable for many many years.

[samran]

... How many country's in the world let you overstay illegally for years, rock up at the airport, pay a $600 fine, and then let you back in on the next flight?

NZ, no fine at all, that's what I know ...

Your statement conveniently ignores the 5 year ban that NZ places on overstayers......

[farang000999]

The biggest expense imo is international schooling, 400-500k in Bangkok. I have no idea what the quality of schooling is in schools outside Bangkok. Most farang teachers seem to have very little positive to say about their schools and jobs and likewise, farang expats don't seem to think too much of farang teachers. Maybe home schooling is the answer?

[StreetCowboy]

The biggest expense imo is international schooling, 400-500k in Bangkok. I have no idea what the quality of schooling is in schools outside Bangkok. Most farang teachers seem to have very little positive to say about their schools and jobs and likewise, farang expats don't seem to think too much of farang teachers. Maybe home schooling is the answer?

The school my bairns are at is excellent - I would say comparable to the best in the world. That is in Bangkok, though. And costs per head at the upper range of what you quote, and more in senior school. However, I do worry about their ability to fend for themselves, which they would develop to some extent in the UK, I think. We looked at moving to another country, but decided not to, solely on a comparison of the international schools.

SC

[zzaa09]

Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life.

Apparently 50kbht a month is considered reasonable if you are married and want citizenship.

If you don't pay tax on that amount each month, they don't want your application.

40K from memory. Either way, hardly earth shattering.

80k actually

80K, or more, might be the round-about figure as such applies long-term residency and related visas

But I believe the deeper reference [outside of the non-imm O/B visa requirements and bureaucracy] was what one's reasonable comfort level would be. We could stretch 80K for six months. But then we live differently....the great need for want has passed us. Quite a stable bank account [for the visa requirements]. We've long become self-sufficient. Two houses on 2-and-a-half rai, businesses, 37 rai which produces market rice, fruit, vegetables, and livestock.

80K + sounds like city slicker living with all the [unnecessary] trimmings.

The discussions would change if we included, as a matter of life here, the increasingly OTT expenses one needs to secure for the appropriate resident visas.

[PattayaParent]

The biggest expense imo is international schooling, 400-500k in Bangkok. I have no idea what the quality of schooling is in schools outside Bangkok. Most farang teachers seem to have very little positive to say about their schools and jobs and likewise, farang expats don't seem to think too much of farang teachers. Maybe home schooling is the answer?

You're not wrong. School fees alone (not including extras) accounts for 33% of my yearly expenditure.