How Can I Live In Phuket As A Scot With African Wife

[McFarang]

I am a Scot 44 yrs old (not old enough for retirement visa) my wife is from the Ivory Coast West Africa.

We have been to Phuket many times on holiday and fell for the island.

I work in the oil industry on a rotational basis 28/28 but my wife is a houswife.

At present we are in Dubai UAE but the lease on our overpriced villa runs out on 31/12/06 and Dubai is not what it used to be traffic madness,cost of living going up at over 20% per year etc etc.

In my unreasearched wisdom I signed a 12 month lease on a villa in Rawai starting 01/01/07 but I did this before the Visa changes.

Please can somebody help me and advise my best course of action to come and live in Thailand and what Visa/Visas we need.

I have removal men on stand-by and my dog & cat ready to move and we are coming up against brick walls in terms of Visas.

If I cannot find a solution soon its back to dull grey high Tax freezing cold UK for us.

Any help much appreciated

[rcm]

I am a Scot 44 yrs old (not old enough for retirement visa) my wife is from the Ivory Coast West Africa.

We have been to Phuket many times on holiday and fell for the island.

I work in the oil industry on a rotational basis 28/28 but my wife is a houswife.

At present we are in Dubai UAE but the lease on our overpriced villa runs out on 31/12/06 and Dubai is not what it used to be traffic madness,cost of living going up at over 20% per year etc etc.

In my unreasearched wisdom I signed a 12 month lease on a villa in Rawai starting 01/01/07 but I did this before the Visa changes.

Please can somebody help me and advise my best course of action to come and live in Thailand and what Visa/Visas we need.

I have removal men on stand-by and my dog & cat ready to move and we are coming up against brick walls in terms of Visas.

If I cannot find a solution soon its back to dull grey high Tax freezing cold UK for us.

Any help much appreciated

I think she could do the Tourist Visa in Penang each for 60+30 days (and then repeat). I am not sure though how the situation is for Nationals from Ivory Coast . Maybe Lopburi comes with better advise .

rcm

[Jockstar]

Not too sure about this. You should be ok if you get a non immigrant. I think? Not sure for your wife. Maybe get in touch with Greg at Sunbelt Asia(he's a member on here). He should be able to help you. BTW welcome on board. Always good to see another fellow Scot on the forum.

[McFarang]

I am a Scot 44 yrs old (not old enough for retirement visa) my wife is from the Ivory Coast West Africa.

We have been to Phuket many times on holiday and fell for the island.

I work in the oil industry on a rotational basis 28/28 but my wife is a houswife.

At present we are in Dubai UAE but the lease on our overpriced villa runs out on 31/12/06 and Dubai is not what it used to be traffic madness,cost of living going up at over 20% per year etc etc.

In my unreasearched wisdom I signed a 12 month lease on a villa in Rawai starting 01/01/07 but I did this before the Visa changes.

Please can somebody help me and advise my best course of action to come and live in Thailand and what Visa/Visas we need.

I have removal men on stand-by and my dog & cat ready to move and we are coming up against brick walls in terms of Visas.

If I cannot find a solution soon its back to dull grey high Tax freezing cold UK for us.

Any help much appreciated

I think she could do the Tourist Visa in Penang each for 60+30 days (and then repeat). I am not sure though how the situation is for Nationals from Ivory Coast . Maybe Lopburi comes with better advise .

rcm

rcm,

Thank you for the advice this seems to be my only option at the moment as a UK Citizen I can certainly do this from the Thai Consulate in Dubai but I think that my wife being Ivorian can only get a 30 day visa . These Visas will not allow us to take possesions or pets as I need some sort of Non Immigrant Visa.

Maybe Sunbelt can help as I do wish to invest in Phuket by buying a house and or setting up some sort buisness.

Sunbelt can you help?

Thanks McFarang

[McFarang]

Not too sure about this. You should be ok if you get a non immigrant. I think? Not sure for your wife. Maybe get in touch with Greg at Sunbelt Asia(he's a member on here). He should be able to help you. BTW welcome on board. Always good to see another fellow Scot on the forum.

Jockstar,

Thanks for the rapid response I have already sent an E mail to Sunbelt but as yet no reply I will give them a call Monday and ask for Greg.

This is certainly a good forum first time I have done this sort of thing very impressed by the speed at which it works and hopefully I can get what I need and enjoy my Burns Night in Phuket.

McFarang

[lopburi3]

Well I believe you need to do a little more research as you can not really buy property either. Having a non immigrant visa also does not allow duty free importation of HHE. As your employment is not in Thailand that is also out. Setting up a viable business probably not be an easy task either without you here to run it. As mentioned you are most likely in need of professional advise rather than the common wisdom that the group here can provide.

[McFarang]

Well I believe you need to do a little more research as you can not really buy property either. Having a non immigrant visa also does not allow duty free importation of HHE. As your employment is not in Thailand that is also out. Setting up a viable business probably not be an easy task either without you here to run it. As mentioned you are most likely in need of professional advise rather than the common wisdom that the group here can provide.

Thank you for your straight to the point answer I do need to do more research and get professional advice on this very important matter.

Hopefully Sunbelt will offer that advice and help me as they seem to have answers and the valuable experience that I require.