Married to a Thai and want to move to Thailand

[robertthebruce]

Stay in your own country for another ten years. Build up your pension and savings and move to Thailand when you have enough to live on without having to work. Life will be much more enjoyable that way.

Agree 100 percent...

[ripstanley]

Airlines put restriction on pregnant women travelling. If you plan to travel before the baby is born then check with the airlines before booking.

You plan to live around Phayao Chiang Rai. Do not forget that the air quality is poor March to May.

She lived there all her life and there air still beats my city

Baby will be born before we go.

Thanks

Is her village far from the city of Phayao? We live in a small village on the other side of the lake to Phayao.

[ubonjoe]

"12000 is nothing in the grand scheme of things " 

 

What was suggested is that 12000 meets the tuition cost (at current prices) for one child. (That sounds to be an underestimate to me for a "good" private school")

 

On top of that there are the costs associated with transport, school uniform,  school meals, books, sports wear etc. The total cost rises rapidly and for two children the costs double !

 

As in indicator a Thai friend of ours is paying 144,000pa for their five year old daughters private school.

 

 

Good compared to others of same classification. It is a Catholic school.

Not an estimate but real close to what we pay for 2 semesters without reading the receipts. For 2 it is 24k more or less.

We pay for books (1200 baht each) at start of school year and then get about half that back from government. Also get some for uniforms.

Lunch for GD is included in with tuition (2,000 per semester grades 1 to 3). About 50 a day for daughter and 20 for GD for snacks.

Hard to put number on transport because wife takes them to school and back.

The 144k number is about what an international school costs (there are none in Ubon). A semi international (YES 2) here is about 60k per year.

[mmushr00m]

Did the same myself a few years ago. The difference was we knew that it was only temperory, 3-5 years.

As others have mentioned, getting a good paying job isn't easy. Especially if you have no credentials. Note: to get you a work permit whoever hires you need to have B2mil capitalization , 4 Thai staff and pay you a minimum of B50,000 a month. So unless the company is big they will be choosy in hiring a foreigner.

You mentioned you are a chef, do you have any certifications and what is your forte?

Personally I would try to get certifications (if you don't have one) and maybe take a course to be a specialist. It will increase you chances of finding work in a restaurant or hotel.

[robertthebruce]

Reading through the various comments and posts, i do feel that 99 percent of them are giving you a good insight into ''Life in Thailand''...

All the best whatever you decide...

Its a difficult decision to make, but if you are determined, give it a go, if it does fail, you could always go back to ''Ireland''

Cheers

[ubonjoe]

Did the same myself a few years ago. The difference was we knew that it was only temperory, 3-5 years.

As others have mentioned, getting a good paying job isn't easy. Especially if you have no credentials. Note: to get you a work permit whoever hires you need to have B2mil capitalization , 4 Thai staff and pay you a minimum of B50,000 a month. So unless the company is big they will be choosy in hiring a foreigner.

You mentioned you are a chef, do you have any certifications and what is your forte?

Personally I would try to get certifications (if you don't have one) and maybe take a course to be a specialist. It will increase you chances of finding work in a restaurant or hotel.

Only partly correct.

Only one million capital for those married to a Thai.

There is no minimum salary for work permits. The 50,000 number is for extensions of stay based upon working. For teaching their is none.

OP can get his extension based upon marriage. If he gets extension with 400k baht in bank. He can get a work permit, work and get paid whatever he is willing to accept. If 40k or more he could use it to get his extensions. Another advantage is that extension is not tied to the job so if job goes away his extension remains valid.

[Arkady]

For Your information:

The minimum salaries has been increased to 50000 Bath/month for Europeans.

http://www.doingbusinessthailand.com/blog-thailand/doing-business-in-thailand/thailand-visa-and-work-permit/thailand-work-permit/work-permit-minimum-wages-applicable-to-foreign-workers.html

My attorney has confirmed this.

So I guess the 400K limit in the bank will also be increased soon.

(Hope not)

It has been 50,000 baht for many many years.

So your other comment is also very wrong.

Also minimum salary requirement does not apply for extensions based upon marriage.

That is for getting an extension based upon working other than teaching which also has no salary requirements.

Correct and bear in mind that you can obtain a work permit with an extension based on marriage. The 50k salary is extensions of NON-Imm B visas, not work permits. The extension based on marriage involves more paperwork and showing the 400k but is not affected by your work status, so that would probably be most suitable in your case. if you lost your job on a NON-Imm B visa, you have 7 days to leave the country at a time when you may in emotional chaos.

All in all I would recommend building up more savings at home before taking the plunge. It is hard for expats to find jobs without skills that are really in demand in Thailand and it is a low wage country, so that jobs that can be done by Thais pay a pittance. Most expats with good jobs are sent to Thailand by their companies or head hunted. There are very few expat chef jobs and chefs have to be truly exceptional with excellent credentials from their home countries to make hi-so Thais, who have experience of eating in expensive restaurants around the world, want to make an effort to come to your restaurant. Most of them work in 5-star hotels and many are Japanese or Chinese rather than farang. Otherwise you can find a Thai to do the cooking for a fraction of what a foreign chef would be paid.

If you really want to teach English, make it easy on yourself by taking the time and trouble to prepare yourself by studying for a degree and then a TEFL qualification before you move to Thailand. Teaching is a tough enough job as it is without starting out totally unqualified and inexperienced, as if with both hands tied behind your back.

[thongsuknork]

Why not open a restaurant if you are a chef? First year you need two tax paying employees and 4 thereafter - that is if you work. If you just own the business, then you do not need a work permit. Teaching without a degree is not legit - and will garner very little income (I know many up here in CM that scrape by on 20k a month - a good month - in language schools add to that cost of repeated drives back and forth to the school as it is not usually 9-5, but as and when a lesson is assigned to you).

I love Thailand I have spent 2 weeks every 4 months there for past 7 years. I love village life and her family and friends love me

Been to hospital twice and I drive all the time over there so no worries on that.

Thanks for the input every little helps.

I would be careful of comparing two weeks holidays here and there with living here - believe me, it is not the same. Also, it may be advisable to NOT live with your wife's family - as in anywhere near - being a wealthy tourist will make you a popular guest to the in-laws - being a wage beast here will not have the same endearing features (like you will not be able to afford to treat everyone - and little things unnoticed on holidays will quickly become mountains - and Thai families just love to interfere with relationships). My advice, but up to you, taken it or leave it. Village life can also wear very thin after a while.

very nicely said u r correct about u r view about relationships slowly every day 10 people come eat in u r home u have to buy beer or lao for them and many more problems for u this is only a advice on expeience by livivng in village for more than 8 years good luck Welcome to Forum post u r updates

[ubonjoe]

Only if you have a wife that will allow it.

[bigbamboo]

Stay in your own country for another ten years. Build up your pension and savings and move to Thailand when you have enough to live on without having to work. Life will be much more enjoyable that way.

This is seriously worth considering. Maybe not as long as ten years ten years but it is a good idea to have some financial weight behind you. I was in that position when I semi retired here and married my Thai wife in my early forties ten years ago. We both keep busy but there is a huge difference between wanting to work and having to.

You would have more cash, your son would be fluent in English by then (my stepson is more or less now but he's seventeen) and hopefully the situation in Thailand will be more stable than it is now. One huge change since I arrived is that the cost of living here has increased dramatically. It's not the ridiculously cheap place it once was.

Anyway, best of luck. I have never regretted moving here. It's not perfect but show me somewhere that is.

[irlguy1]

Airlines put restriction on pregnant women travelling. If you plan to travel before the baby is born then check with the airlines before booking.

You plan to live around Phayao Chiang Rai. Do not forget that the air quality is poor March to May.

She lived there all her life and there air still beats my city

Baby will be born before we go.

Thanks

Is her village far from the city of Phayao? We live in a small village on the other side of the lake to Phayao.

From Chun

[Cheapcharly]

Ask what kid want. What games they want. Then install play stations and other gadgets in a room and start to make money.

Charge 20 bahts per hour. Link pc together so guys can play together. 10 kids=200 bahts. In one evening you make 800 to 1000 bahts.

Problem in Thailand, there is no way to make good money.

If you find a way to make good money people will steal you idea and thai will try to kick you out. If you want make money, stay in US or europe and even, it s hard to make money with the actual crisis.

In Thailand, you have to learn to live cheap if you want survive.

It means no car, no privat school, no restaurant, no gadgets like iPad, no Internet, boil your own water, no ac, rent cheap thai room. And no beer and no bar girls. Family having this life style become successful in their heart and children become good person. Plus they talk thai and English.

Once your mind is free from our western culture, your mind will be light and clean, then you will find lot of ideas. You will live without stress and you will realise how miserable you have been before.

Thailand is not perfect but i think it could be very interesting for you to move here as long you accept to live like a thai.

Every thai day is an interesting day while in Europe everyday is boring.

[wolf5370]

You may find it much more difficult in the country - no one else has any money, so businesses are hard to earn on. Restaurants will be a hard sell in the sticks. Farming might be a way to go - your wife could buy it from her father - there is a farming forum here, check that out.

I had a Thai friend that did what CheapCharlie is talking about - problem is that in the country, as said, money is scarcer - and if you do open one and it is successful - within weeks there will be half a dozen clones that cause everyone to fail (this is what happened to my friend - he also had problems with staff letting friends play for free etc).

Mom and Pop stores used to be quite good, but 7-11s have wiped out a lot of that business - also needs a good size investments and same problems with copycats. Where I live there, a year ago there were two such places at each and of a nearby moo bahn = now there are 5 and a 7-11.

I think it will be far easier for you to live in town rather than in the sticks unless you have an out of country income. You can always drive to your in-laws later.

Remember that you can earn a business without a work permit, but you can not work (at all) legally without one. So you can buy (set up) a business and let the Mrs run it.

Schools come in several levels (cost wise at least - and often in education you get what you pay for - though not always in equal ratio). Bargain basement is home schooling (although exams, books, paper, equipment, DVDs etc can add up) and Temple Schools. Then the state schools. These are all fairly cheap and you only need to pay for uniforms, lunches, books and extras - but standards are dreadful. Then you have Thai Private Schools - Bi/Tri-Lingual schools which will likely cost about 10-25k per term (English Program - Thai program is considerably cheaper) - much better standard, good for contacts with the right school and Thai is used in many lessons even in the EPs. Top of the list are international schools, these are much more expensive (up to on par with private schools at home - cost wise) - standards vary of course, but these are great if you can afford them and want your kids to go home or on top western universities (in some kids may rarely speak Thai and lessons may be completely in English - making it hard for kids living here). You can search for all of these on Google and look at prices etc - Int. schools are going to be in cities rather than towns and villages of course.

[dighambara]

I suggest to come to Thailand and stay during the humid weather months, than make a decision. This is a major move for you. You wife will love it but, you must be ready for major changes.. Driving here is not fun and there are accidents daily where a foreigner like yourself is responsible. Health care is not cheap and you better have it. If you decide to rent most homes require a six month lease. Cable TV and internet service is expensive. This is a small portion of what you will face here and that is not including the job you are seeking. Corruption is here so you may need more money if you get in some trouble.

Thailand was great for me, I visited Thailand every year for 15 years, got married and decided to move here, 5 months later I moved back to the states. Two traffic accidents, a car note that the dealer will not take back, Oh, did I mention my Bacteria Infection that most Thai doctors could not correctly diagnose and finally went to Bangkok Pattaya Hospital for emergency surgery almost losing a leg.

Don't let me scare you my friend, several people survive fine in Thailand. I do go back every year in December when the weather is great to visit my Thai wife's family and than return to the states with my wife and child.

Good Luck To You Whatever You Decision may be...

HMMM - many good points, but I pay about 1000 Baht a month for both Cable TV and Internet - separate service, so not expensive. In the US, cable service would be closer to 2000 Baht, yet Internet service would be much cheaper.than the 470 Baht I pay now.