Like everyone else I am planning a move to Thailand.

I have read TV forums and have a good understanding of different options to ensure I won't waste anyone's time:

I am 24 y/o English Male coming from the UK on a Tourist Visa from London.

Choosing a decent Thai Language School (Most likely Pro Language) to obtain 1 year ED (location unknown - possibly CM/BKK)

Applying myself fully to learning the language with a plan to finding work and networking.

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Questions:

Thai Bank Account: Bangkok Bank - London to open account before departure. Is this my best option for storing funds being brought from UK? Are there any possible complications with this method?

If I was to secure work, can I transfer from ED to Non-Imm B? If not how would be the best way to do this?

What are the basics I would need to consider for living there for an extended amount of time? (Healthcare, Visa requirements etc)

Any (useful) advice from seasoned veterans would be greatly appreciated. I speak Thai to an intermediate level, have been visiting Thai for several years but not long enough to think about actual long-term living requirements.

Thanks in advance - looking forward to actually making the move!

Regards

FB

As a 24 year old the reality of staying long term is a very remote possibility.

Sorry a few of questions need to be answered .

1. Are there adequate finances available ?

2 . What skills are possessed which would ensure employment ?

3. What qualifications have been obtained and at what academic level?

4. What kind of work is being sought ?

The Bangkok Bank in London is not a high street bank and no personal accounts can be opened there.

1. Are there adequate finances available ?

I will be taking enough funds to live for 6-7 months without any additional income.

2 . What skills are possessed which would ensure employment ?

Although no longer my profession in the UK, I do have a professional Chef qualification. I am hoping to explore other permitted avenues of work whilst in Thailand but have this to fall

back on.

3. What qualifications have been obtained and at what academic level?

I have no degree, but as mentioned above I have a prof chef Cert from a top college in London.

4. What kind of work is being sought ?

I know a few teachers in the North who could get me a teaching job but for obvious reasons I'm avoiding that.

I am seeking work only as a means to having an income to sustain living whilst networking. I know some business groups that meet monthly in BKK and was going to try my luck there.

The Bangkok Bank in London is not a high street bank and no personal accounts can be opened there.

Thanks for clearing that up, what is the process like for opening an account in LOS?

Regards

FB

You can not open an account at the Bangkok Bank in London. Once you get here you can open an account at Bangkok Bank and then do your inward money transfers through the Bangkok Bank branch in London. Opening an account on a tourist visa can be a problem as it seems that the decission is left up to the branch manager, but if you try different branches you will find one.

If you are on an ED visa and find a job, once you apply for a work permit you will have to go to a consulate/embassy in a neighboring country and apply for a Non-B visa. I don't think that you can extend an ED visa for work in Thailand, but I could be wrong.

If you have the skills and certification as a chef and want to pursue tis type of work, I would look for a position as an apprentice chef at one of the big hotels. Teaching is the other option, but without a degree and certifications a job might be hard to find.

Health care is always an issue no matter where and how young you are. Medical treatment in Thailand is cheap but it's still an unexpected expense and if you should get insurance make sure that it will cover expenses in Thailand. My US insurance doesn't and I had an unexpected hip joint replacement operation that came out of my pocket, nose dive off of a ladder. It was cheap but still an unexpected expense.

Visas and extensions of permission to stay are always a PITA but are necesssary. If you get an ED visa you will have to do and extension every 90 days with paperwork from the school and 1900 baht. I've been here since 1997 and haven't been out of the country since 2004. I do yearly extensions, 1900 baht each and 90 day address reports by mail, free except postage. If you do find work and get and extension for the length of the contract, you will,have to do 90 day addressreports, but they are free.

My 2 baht worth, I'm sure that others will be along to give you theirs but don't get discouraged by some of the BS that you will read! good luck!

Thanks Wayne - that reply was very useful. Do you think that 6 months is a realistic timeframe to find work? I'm conscious that employment and all the visa paperwork is much harder than it used to be. Still just as determined to just get over there and crack on with it though.

Regards

FB

I assume maybe incorrectly that you have spent sufficient time in Thailand to have come to your decision.

Visiting a place and going to live in the place are two different things. You are a young man reconsider your decision.

I think that six months is a realistic timeframe. If you agressively look for and don't find work in the food industry in six months in the area that you want, you most likely won't. The visa/extension/90 day reporting BS is not that difficult. It changes occasionally and is sometimes dependant on the immigration office that you use. I get an Income Affidavit from the Embassy, cost 1600 baht, and extend my visa for one year, cost 1900 baht, once a year. I do my 90 day reports by EMS, cost 48 baht, 3 times a year, total 3644 baht/year or 10 baht/day, not including travel to Bangkok for the letter.

Good luck!

Colabamumbai,

I had nothing and fought hard to get where I am today. Anything is possible.

Thanks for the concern. I don't have any doubts, although if you have any experiences that could benefit me I would be grateful to hear them.

Regards

FB

Edited March 3, 201412 yr by ForeignBeggar

I think that six months is a realistic timeframe. If you agressively look for and don't find work in the food industry in six months in the area that you want, you most likely won't. The visa/extension/90 day reporting BS is not that difficult. It changes occasionally and is sometimes dependant on the immigration office that you use. I get an Income Affidavit from the Embassy, cost 1600 baht, and extend my visa for one year, cost 1900 baht, once a year. I do my 90 day reports by EMS, cost 48 baht, 3 times a year, total 3644 baht/year or 10 baht/day, not including travel to Bangkok for the letter.

Good luck!

What type of visa are you on that requires an affidavit of income?

Do you have a yearly extension for marriage to a Thai national?

Thanks for the detailed costings - really helpful!

FB

if I recall correctly he is getting extensions of stay based upon retirement.l

I do the same but do it based upon marriage.

Cheers Joe, does being married to a Thai allow for easier living here in the long run or do you still endure as much red tape as the rest?

I have done 6 extensions with no problems. I have not left the country in almost 6 years and that was to Laos to get my last visa (literally).

I am married to a Thai and used to get a yearly extension based on marrage because I was able to get a work permit with that type of extension. When I stopped working, I changed to a yearly retirement extension. It requires more money but since I qulaify and it is easier I use it. The yearly marriage extension requires less money in the bank or income but does require more paperwork and is a two step process at immigration, an initial 1 month under consideration process and then the final stamp.

Retirement - 800000 baht in a Thai Bank in your nme only or 65000 baht/month income from overseas, must beat least 50 years old. In most cases you can not get a work permit.

Marriage - 400000 baht in a Thai bank in your name only or 40000 baht/month income. In most cases you can get a work permit.

You can not extend a visa, only your permission to stay! Sorry for the nomenclature error!

Edited March 3, 201412 yr by wayned

All i can say mate is GO for it win or lose it will be a life experience the worst thing is to get to the age of some of the guys on this forum and look back and say I "should have I could have" you only get one shot at life so fill it up as much as possible

Follow your dreams, you are young enough to bounce back if thing don't work out.

It IS possible to spend a while in Thailand, even without doing much, at least if you are willing to travel and spend some time in neighboring countries too (for visa applications and/or to spend some time away from Thailand before coming back). Using a combination of tourist visas and extensions, visa free entries and much better if possible, an ED visa (but you should actually be studying, not just using it as a way of extending your stay without travelling) and/or some visa runs to Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos or Malaysia etc. you could stay a while in the region. However, you'll probably start to consider asking yourself what your options are if you can't find decent work after say half a year or so.

It IS possible to spend a while in Thailand, even without doing much, at least if you are willing to travel and spend some time in neighboring countries too (for visa applications and/or to spend some time away from Thailand before coming back). Using a combination of tourist visas and extensions, visa free entries and much better if possible, an ED visa (but you should actually be studying, not just using it as a way of extending your stay without travelling) and/or some visa runs to Cambodia, Myanmar, Laos or Malaysia etc. you could stay a while in the region. However, you'll probably start to consider asking yourself what your options are if you can't find decent work after say half a year or so.

Thanks for the positive message. I have heard that Myanmar is developing rapidly with lots of resorts etc. I'm guessing the work restrictions for foreigners are more relaxed? Do you know what kind of work I might be able to find in neighbouring countries?

Regards

FB

All i can say mate is GO for it win or lose it will be a life experience the worst thing is to get to the age of some of the guys on this forum and look back and say I "should have I could have" you only get one shot at life so fill it up as much as possible

Follow your dreams, you are young enough to bounce back if thing don't work out.

Thanks mate, great to hear that. Do you have any advice on networking in Bangkok? I bet if you know the right people they could make things happen?

FB

All i can say mate is GO for it win or lose it will be a life experience the worst thing is to get to the age of some of the guys on this forum and look back and say I "should have I could have" you only get one shot at life so fill it up as much as possible

Follow your dreams, you are young enough to bounce back if thing don't work out.

Thanks mate, great to hear that. Do you have any advice on networking in Bangkok? I bet if you know the right people they could make things happen?

FB

I try to avoid Cities too crowded too hot I live a retired golfing life, beachside Bangchang Rayong

Edited March 6, 201412 yr by ubonjoe
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