Doing the right thing...

[BV70]

I originally posted this in the Marriage & Divorce forum but have since been recommended to repost this in the Visa forum. Thanks.

Posted 2014-12-10 16:06:07

So I know this guy. He's been holidaying in Thailand on and off for the past 5 years. Has a girlfriend here that he 'takes care' of. On his latest visit she drops the pregnancy bombshell. Now this guy is a decent sort. He wants to do the right thing - get married, raise the kid, settle in Thailand, be a grown up. No problem in that, except, he currently doesn't have a pot to piss in. I've told him that, as far as I know, he needs at least 400k in the bank before he can get the necessary paperwork that allows him to stay here as a married man. He barely has 40k. He's adamant that the authorities here will not break up his relationship/marriage and leave the child fatherless and will allow him to provide for his new family by allowing him to earn an income here as the recognised father and husband of Thai nationals. He believes it would be inhumane if he was refused the ability to provide for them based solely on his lack of savings. He puts up a good argument to back his case and thinks what I'm telling him is illogical. He's the honest type who's had a mishap and genuinely wants to make things work for the best but doesn't have the 400k to allow him to remain here and do the right thing.

I genuinely feel for the guy but also feel that he's in for a shock. What are his options?

[Timwin]

Get married and do a visa run to border every 90 days. No need for that 400K or income of 40K per month.

[Squeegee]

So your pal is too arrogant to listen to your advice, or even do a quick Google search? He thinks he knows better based on his own opinions on what is inhumane?

Good luck to him with that kind of attitude in Thailand!

[Fatty123]

If he gets married he can do a visa run every 90 days to Laos (Savannakhet) for a multi entry non O. No need for 400k (no financial proof needed). Not for me to judge or tell him what to do, but that window may close soon. Even if it doesn't, he's gonna need something to do (work) to stay in Thailand. You probably know the work permit rules, but if not, he'll need to be a skilled professional (engineer etc) or to have a degree to try teaching.

The days of Johnny Foreigner coming over and living the high life without worry or hinderance are well and truly over. You can only 'really' stay in Thailand long term (as a westernerand without becoming a monk) if:

1) You are loaded or at least well off (married or single,,,,non O for married or Elite visas for singles etc)

2) You are a professional which Thailand needs

3) You are over 50 and have a good pension

4) You have a degree (preferably in Education or a post grad in Education) to teach

5) You do a degree at a Thai uni and then move into teaching or another career in Thailand

That Savannakhet non O may not be renewable as well. Sure I read (maybe on here) that after you've had one of the 'no proof required' non Os, Imm will want you to get the 400K one after that. Still, he'll be good for a year (or 15 months if he times the last visa run right). Depends what he sees as a good 'plan'.

.

Mind you, some are planning on staying in Thailand for ten years on Ed Visas (Thai language courses), so who knows...

[ubonjoe]

As said he can get a multiple entry non-o visa in Savannakhet with no financial proof after he gets married. The visa will give unlimited 90 day entries for a year. At the moment there is no problem to get them back to back.

He can find a job, get a work permit and work with this visa.

[Sharp]

Let's hope there's no Sin-sod for the OPs friend...

[Diplomatico]

So your pal is too arrogant to listen to your advice, or even do a quick Google search? He thinks he knows better based on his own opinions on what is inhumane?

Good luck to him with that kind of attitude in Thailand!

Guy doesn't sound arrogant at all....sounds well-meaning but naive. He should probably listen to the OP but his belief that the Thai government will display the same concern that he (apparently) has for the well-being of the child is not an "attitude", IMO.

What is it about the internet that makes so many people so negative, nasty, and ready to cr@p all over complete strangers for no apparent reason? Baffling.

Good luck to the OP's friend.

[4evermaat]

Just to add, once you obtain the multi non-o visa @ savannakhet or whatever thai consulate, you can do a border run anywhere.

Penang is also a good second choice, although SOME financial proof is needed. One malaysian was saying he showed 100k baht equivalent and it was ok.

I do agree with Fatty that the long-stay visas are tightening up for most common folk who either are not retired, visiting family, teaching, or attending bonafide school. It's not impossible, but more difficult.

Spiritual warfare.

[ubonjoe]

Off topic posts have been removed.

[Squeegee]

So your pal is too arrogant to listen to your advice, or even do a quick Google search? He thinks he knows better based on his own opinions on what is inhumane?

Good luck to him with that kind of attitude in Thailand!

Guy doesn't sound arrogant at all....sounds well-meaning but naive. He should probably listen to the OP but his belief that the Thai government will display the same concern that he (apparently) has for the well-being of the child is not an "attitude", IMO.

What is it about the internet that makes so many people so negative, nasty, and ready to cr@p all over complete strangers for no apparent reason? Baffling.

Good luck to the OP's friend.

Based on the wording of the OP: he was decribed as adamant and it said he puts up a good argument. Seems he's been more than told, going beyond naivety into a form of arrogance whereby his morals know better.

[Commerce]

First thing to do is assert the child is his, before even considering anything else! Fact!!

[BV70]

Thanks for your replies guys, which I'm going to print off and show him. Sounds like the Laos trip and O visa is his only option but that at least gives him some time to try and find work. We all know how difficult that can be though, right? I've read here that even with teaching opportunities are fewer once you're pushing 40 (he's 44) and is educated.

He's not the arrogant type in my opinion, just someone who would fail to get his head around any individual or authority that doesn't display a compassionate side when it comes to kids. And yes, I'm sure he'll want to make 100% sure the child is his but I understand said lady is keen to marry before giving birth, so as not to lose face with her family. This obviously involves a huge amount of trust on his side for, as far as I know,there's no way of establishing the child's father in the womb.