Under50 Retiree - So What Am I To Do?

[itchy]

first post so hi to all on the forum.

this is my situation. i am 33 years old and have been living in LOS on and off for 3 years on a tourist visa. i am self-sufficient ie i have a few properties in the uk which i rent out and recieve approx 60000 baht a month which i happily spend here. i do not work,i do not own a bar or business. i am basically quite happy spending my time at the beach, reading and doing my pet love writing (non commercially).

now i have just found out unless i get a work permit i am leaving in 3 months.

what do i do as i really don't want to leave as i like my life here. is there anyway i can get around this or am i forced into the position where its either get a job (why i left uk) or pack my bags. its so frustrating to realise that if i was over 50 i could get a retirement visa for 800k (no problem).

any advice

itchy

[Barney_the_Dinosaur]

It can get boring in Thailand, particularly as the television programmes are not much kop, and the newspapers are ditto.

However, you can spend an hour or two on the internet each day, which helps while away the time. I also enjoy going for a walk to the shops and back to keep slim and trim.

Sweet liquor, thats also helps ease the pain (in moderation) !

[Noel]

It can get boring in Thailand, particularly as the television programmes are not much kop, and the newspapers are ditto.

However, you can spend an hour or two on the internet each day, which helps while away the time. I also enjoy going for a walk to the shops and back to keep slim and trim.

Sweet liquor, thats also helps ease the pain (in moderation) !

Some mothers do 'ave 'em...

Edited September 29, 2006 by Noel

[lopburi3]

Well if the 800k for retirment would not be a problem perhaps you should look into the Thai Elite Card program as for 1m baht it seems to offer a renewable visa status. The down side it could end at some point and the money is gone.

Perhaps a better choice would be to leave every so often and obtain a visa from your home country or another and then return using that. At the present time only the border run for 30 day entry without visa is effected by the 90 day rule.

[abdulrahman]

first post so hi to all on the forum.

this is my situation. i am 33 years old and have been living in LOS on and off for 3 years on a tourist visa. i am self-sufficient ie i have a few properties in the uk which i rent out and recieve approx 60000 baht a month which i happily spend here. i do not work,i do not own a bar or business. i am basically quite happy spending my time at the beach, reading and doing my pet love writing (non commercially).

now i have just found out unless i get a work permit i am leaving in 3 months.

what do i do as i really don't want to leave as i like my life here. is there anyway i can get around this or am i forced into the position where its either get a job (why i left uk) or pack my bags. its so frustrating to realise that if i was over 50 i could get a retirement visa for 800k (no problem).

any advice

itchy

Hi,itchy,welcome to Thaivisa.

I have read in the last two weeks many complaints same as yours;I don't want to judge you or your motivation for staiyng in Thailand,neither that of other posters.

You don't wish/need to work and with the money at your disponibility,you can avoid to do it(as long as you live in Thailand or same other less developed country.

May I assume that it would be much more difficult/impossible in your country?

Now,and for the time being,your countribution to the Thai economy may be valuable,if not necessary.

But,IMHO,it's not a solid basis for a prolonged stay in the Kingdom and I will not call the Thais xenophobic if they decide that they don't really need you people.

The rules have been tightened of late,but people that really love Thailand and have a valid motivation for staying are not overly worried.

Good luck!

[LoveDaBlues]

I'm on a retirement visa so the new rules don't affect me.....BUT.......can't he go to say Laos and get a proper visa for 90 days (not VOA) and just do that every 90 days? I thought I read a post where Laos issues 90 day visa.

Aren't they only 'cracking down' on the month-to-month-to-month-to-month-etc VOA folks?

[lapamita]

[YOU ARE OFF !!!! SAME ME!!!!!!!

belive me only 90 days in 180,,, if you make voa you notb getvisa after!!!!!

you are in the lucky position that you have propertys in UK

i have two big condos , one in pattaya one in a beachresort ( nonday -friday quiet in beachresort).satyrday undaday in pattaya

175qm and 76qm i bought for shit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i am very sad about this moneysuckingcountry,,,, buy and go home,,,,,,,,,,,!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i try to sell here, i am fed up from this country and ever changingrules in 17 years, hust how they like iot, depending on time

...they kiss foreigners arsh after asiancrisis

--- now they are on highflyers trip

even i can proof incomming from oustide thailand ( bankgarantie/proof)

i can go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

i hate now this..............................

[lapamita]

sorry for my writing it is same bd like my feelings about thailand.

they not give us a legal choice

[The Dan Sai Kid]

first post so hi to all on the forum.

this is my situation. i am 33 years old and have been living in LOS on and off for 3 years on a tourist visa. i am self-sufficient ie i have a few properties in the uk which i rent out and recieve approx 60000 baht a month which i happily spend here. i do not work,i do not own a bar or business. i am basically quite happy spending my time at the beach, reading and doing my pet love writing (non commercially).

now i have just found out unless i get a work permit i am leaving in 3 months.

what do i do as i really don't want to leave as i like my life here. is there anyway i can get around this or am i forced into the position where its either get a job (why i left uk) or pack my bags. its so frustrating to realise that if i was over 50 i could get a retirement visa for 800k (no problem).

any advice

itchy

Get married?

[enuff said]

Hey there itchy. You are not alone in what you are doing. There are thousands like you or at least in very similar circumstances. That's part of the problem. Thousands. Maybe tens of thousands.

I have to go with the comments made by abdul. Look at your life more seriously. Are you advancing along any line or in any direction? What will you do if your income should suddenly stop or be reduced for whatever reason? Can you support yourself? Do you have anything to offer an employer should you need to get a job? Or are you just treading water and going nowhere? I hope you don't have cause to seriously regret this waste of time in your later life.

About the "X" word:

Xenophobia has become such a buzzword. It's easy to point a finger at someone who doesn't especially like your lifestyle or ethics or values or the color of your skin and say "xenophobia".

Maybe they are just trying to keep Thailand for Thai people. Maybe they see the huge waste and conspicuous consumption of foreign visitors as being detrimental to their nation as a whole. A needless splurging of valuable natural resources to support people who are only playing at living here and have the money to up stakes and leave (which they certainly will do) as soon as the well runs dry.

There have already been water shortages and sewer back-ups and electrical supply problems in certain areas. Maybe Thai people think it would be more proper for you to go back to your homeland and suck off that teat for a while even if the milk isn't quite as cheap. Dry up some of your own countries wells.

I dunno,

'nuff said

[Noel]

first post so hi to all on the forum.

this is my situation. i am 33 years old and have been living in LOS on and off for 3 years on a tourist visa. i am self-sufficient ie i have a few properties in the uk which i rent out and recieve approx 60000 baht a month which i happily spend here. i do not work,i do not own a bar or business. i am basically quite happy spending my time at the beach, reading and doing my pet love writing (non commercially).

now i have just found out unless i get a work permit i am leaving in 3 months.

what do i do as i really don't want to leave as i like my life here. is there anyway i can get around this or am i forced into the position where its either get a job (why i left uk) or pack my bags. its so frustrating to realise that if i was over 50 i could get a retirement visa for 800k (no problem).

any advice

itchy

I empathize with you ‘itchy’, but I really doubt that anyone can allay your fears with certainty at this time.

Simply put, nobody really knows and will not for some time yet. It is quite possible that back to back ‘real’ Tourist visas (60 days + 30 day extension) will be issued as some claim they will, but I would not bank on it.

Much depends on the underlying motivation behind the imminent changes in my view.

Again, nobody can say for sure as the posted bulletins from the authorities make little sense as they are merely a babble of words that could be interpreted in several ways. I still suspect that the authorities want to do more than just get rid of the 30 day visa exemption perpetual border bouncers whom they believe are working illegally; it strikes me that they may well effectively be targeting those who have and wish to continue living under the guise of a tourist, when it is patently obvious that a true tourist does not stay in one country for years on end.

I found it odd that the 3m Investment option will be withdrawn; I have yet to see definitive evidence that it has been replaced by a 10m alternative, although even if that is the case it may not be an option you would like to ‘take advantage’ of.

I know several people who are financially more than comfortable with no need or desire to work and are caught in the age trap.

It appears that such people have fallen through the cracks as things stand.

Let’s just hope that commonsense prevails, but again I would not bank on it.

All as you can do is hope for the best but prepare for the worst.

Good luck, regardless... .

[lapamita]

There have already been water shortages and sewer back-ups and electrical supply problems in certain areas.

'nuff said

SORRY THIS IS NOT A FOREIGNER ISSUE

I bought condos out of NPL from asiancrisis,,, but i wonder about all this construction, waht never would be sold

your goverment not change policy on construction

there is huge ammount of moneyt out,,,,illeagal constructionwork,,mass corruption out, no cityplaning,,,, no plans on the table for reduce construction or organize

why many companys can still build condos on the beach, even law says maximum 8 storys,,there are many out under construction with 20,30,80 in pattaya.

now its the foreigners problem..............oh good!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

yes we all go home, and all this constructionshit is going back as NPLs to the banks

[manjara]

I'm not sure if this would work or not, so you had probably better get advice from Sunbelt or similar, but here's my suggestion.

Set up a Thai company and transfer the money you get from renting property in back home to the company account, write yourself an invoice from the Thai company to the house-owning entity (person or company) for Property Management Services.

You then 'work' as Managing Director of the Thai company and pay yourself 50k (-tax).

Setting up the company will cost a bit, and if you don't have your own accountant and office space then the monthly costs will be a little high, but it's possible.

Of course now they are making all these additional rules to make company setup more difficult, but that's another story

Alternatively, sell the property in the UK and buy property out in Thailand instead, then rent it out to holidaymakers or 'real' retirees. You probably have enough for an investment visa, and property in Thailand will probably do as well as the UK (rents are higher as a proportion of the investment)

Maybe a combination of the above...

[lapamita]

MANJARA ,,,

thats the best idea !! buy propertys in thailand

manjara at its best

i have to sell condos at deep discountprices ( 30% UNDER ORICE OF LAST YEARS SELL ABLE PRICE!!!) OR CLOSE TO THE LOWPRICE BEFORE BOOM STARTED IN 2003

common invest here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you intrested please BM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

best buy

[manjara]

MANJARA ,,,

thats the best idea !! buy propertys in thailand

manjara at its best

i have to sell condos at deep discountprices ( 30% UNDER ORICE OF LAST YEARS SELL ABLE PRICE!!!) OR CLOSE TO THE LOWPRICE BEFORE BOOM STARTED IN 2003

common invest here!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

if you intrested please BM !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

best buy

Happy to provide some humour!

I'm still waiting for prices to come down markedly in BKK.

Perhaps things have changed in the last month, but I still see silly prices for stuff.

Pattaya doesn't seem to shift much though. I still think some of the stuff is ok, e.g. it's tough to find anyone wanting to sell the Dharawadi development, which I was interested in. But 1 bed condos, in the latest Pattaya tower, no thanks, and I think most people are the same.

[southbot]

[qoute]

The rules have been tightened of late,but people that really love Thailand and have a valid motivation for staying are not overly worried.

Good luck!

Dunno 'bout that Abdul. Me? I am really very, very worried now.

I have lived, worked, trained staff, sweated and bled in this country for over ten years now.

And now, because some Thai stiff in Bkk wants to toss a few laws around I most likely have to leave (thinks of that as "have to die")

I run a consultancy, old law it was me and 1 Thai staff. Now, from next freaking Sunday, it is 4 Thai staff. What the hel_l am I to do with 4 Thai staff designing websites? Which is what we do. For 12 <deleted>' years now. I do NOT need any more staff. I got enough, thanks. What? Hire a bunch of nongs to bloody decorate my office's balcony? Maybe have 3 freaking tea ladies? What?

I DO love Thailand. I DO input to the country. I train Thais. We pay big taxes. We purchase all good locally. We do not send any money overseas. We spend all money here in Thailand. Have done for ever. My business BRINGS business here.

But not only am I told it is 4 Thai staff now, I am told I have to have the salary and costs for both them and me (on an overly inflated rate of min. 45,000 baht per month which I have NEVER seen here in my pocket, ever... ) in the bank, cash.

THAT IS RIGHT, MORE THAN A MILLION IN CASH or I am told I cannot renew my papers to carry on my work here.

So, you are very wrong. This action of the Govt is INDISCRIMINATE. In fact it is worse.

I personally know a few Farang crims and gangsters who are not the least bit worried because they have plenty of money. I know whoremongers who ain't sweatin' a bit. Bar owners are laughing, they can do the 4 staff ratio crap, no worries. Million Baht in the bank? No worries. Pay an official on the side? No worries.

But me and my wife and our business. We are just simple workers who love Thailand and pay our tax.

But it looks very much like it may be possible that I must go soon, leave the missus here and, and, and do the hel_l what?

And regards the initial poster on this thread. Nobody can tell anybody how they should "review thier lifestyle" or whatever. Lucky bugger worked hard for a bit, got lucky and got some cash, now he wants to chill out and spend it in Thailand. What the hel_l is wrong with that, I ask you all?

I work, but I hold no grudge against those who apparantly do not need to. I almost envy them.

Cheers all from sunny Samui :-)

Edited September 29, 2006 by southbot

[Maestro]

But not only am I told it is 4 Thai staff now, I am told I have to have the salary and costs for both them and me (on an overly inflated rate of min. 45,000 baht per month which I have NEVER seen here in my pocket, ever... ) in the bank, cash.

...

But me and my wife and our business. We are just simple workers who love Thailand and pay our tax.

Does this new requirement (4 Thai staff now) really apply also in your case, a company run by a husband-and-wife team? If so, then it is really tough and I hope you can find a way out of it.

Are the four Thai staff per foreign employee perhaps required only for the application of permission to stay under a non-B visa, but not for the work permit? If so, change to an extension of stay based on support of Thai wife.

---------------

Maestro

Edited to add last paragraph.

Edited September 29, 2006 by maestro

[southbot]

Hey Maestro, thanks for input.

Today the law says that I can hire one Thai staff per one Farang. ( we are a consultancy )

That law is, I hear, changing on Oct. 1.

Now as a consultant, no matter what is which about permits and visas, I simply MUST have 4 local staff per farang. I cannot afford to do this without lying or faking books. The business just don't cut it that way, not so much money at all. And besides, I don't fake books.

For us there is no option on marriage visa, lived with the spouse/missus for over ten years now and we don't want to get married. Simple, eh?

Cheers.

[Maestro]

For us there is no option on marriage visa, lived with the spouse/missus for over ten years now and we don't want to get married. Simple, eh?

Well, if your wife is not a legal wife, your options are fewer.

Web designers with only foreign clients can stay “under the radar” but this is not possible for you as you probably visit and work in your clients’ places on Koh Samui and elsewhere in Thailand and thus can be seen working.

If your work does not involve your sitting much at a client’s computer hammering away on the keyboard you might have a chance:

– give up your work permit, stop paying taxes in Thailand

– take up legal residence outside Thailand (i.e. when arriving in Thailand, do not give a Thai address as your home address)

– enter Thailand on a tourist visa, which means getting a new visa every so often from a Thai embassy and doing the occasional visa run (at the moment, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore still issue triple-entry visas)

– when you visit a client of your company, you are not working but merely visiting a friend of yours and chatting with him about what he is doing, about the good life in Thailand, etc. And if you bring along your laptop computer on such a visit and plug the friend’s modem into it or connect to his wireless LAN, you are doing so for the purpose of browsing the web for personal reasons, reading and writing your email, etc.

Remember, you are allowed to be a shareholder and non-executive director of a Thai company without a work permit and without tax liability. In this function, you can attend board meetings and shareholders’ meetings, but not sign contracts, cheques, etc.

If you visit your home country once in a while, you may even be able to get a multiple-entry non-B visa from an honorary consulate for the purpose of attending quarterly or monthly board meetings in Thailand.

---------------

Maestro

Edited September 29, 2006 by maestro

[southbot]

Yo Maestro, thanks for input.

Still got some "but"'s though.

I do a lot of work for Thai owned hotels and such. Even though the managers are Farang, the hotels belong 100% to Thai companies.

Plus I am well entrenched and well known in the local community.

I do occasional jobs for both local and regional government.

I am personal friends with several government officials here and in Bangkok.

Going under the radar would be a most difficult option for us. Our business is simply too well known here in the real world and even more so on the internet/web. (search "carsena" on goog/yah/msn you will see what I mean )

Even with that list of but's - I believe that now, with the tourist visa changes, I could only stay here in LOS for 3 months at a time - max! After that I would need to stay out for the following 3 months.

I can't work like that.

What I am deducing just now on these forums is this:

1. I may have to get rid of the one farang I hire full time

2. I might have to hire 3 nongs at 5,000 baht per month and figure out what to do with them

3. Visa issue will be OK because I have always got by with the normal one year multiple entry non-immig B visa. I kind of enjoy the border run each 3 months, usually go over to Burma off Ranong there. Nice drive, nice weekend away..

The thing is that it may be quite possible that as long as nobody in my business applies for a one year stay here visa, then nobody is going to ask any questions about staff ratios.

Only problem now is that if I continue working with 2 Thai and 2 Farang, as I am now, I am technically in breach of the law.

This in turn means that any pissed off / jealous / competing local (or farang) person could try to use this against me by simply lodging an official complaint. I'd have dept of labour and immigration all over me in a flash.

It is all just more problems and I guess we must deal with them. I for one am not bailing out or giving up.

Cheers