sinkorswim

Thankyou or that. A few people have mentioned Cebu to me. What is the visa situation like there and can I take my thai wife and own land and a house? Cheers for the info.

I wonder who???

looks ok but your internet should only run you approx 1000 baht per month that is what I pay with TOT for a 1mb download shared connection. Also for TV the basic package is crap the top package for UBC is 2200 baht per month but if you dont watch too much TV then it might not be necessary. Also if you get yourself a nice live in that is not a money grabing slapper then she should be good to go for 5000 baht. As long as you are paying for her food and other essentials then she should be happy with that. I would persoanlly say 10000 baht if for if you sponser a girl and dont live here but living here you are going to pay for everything. Remeber she does not have to pay for rent or for food so all the money you give her is for her to spend or send to the family. A decent girl will be happy with 5000 baht per month if they are in it for the long haul. Or until you get bored

Sorry I just said you where full of it (good information). Back on topic what do you like about Cebu? Surely cannot be for 1 bar. What is it like there, what is the visa situation and would I be able to take the Thai wife?

how much per kilo? I am sure you could manage 500 kilos you are full of it.

Ok you picked Nepal but what is the infrastructer (ATM's, internet, hospitals) like and the visa situation, I would appreciate details........I WANT DETAILS I just have a bad feeling the way this country is going. They are making it harder for us to stay not eaiser and who knows where they will stop. I still have a good 30 to 40 years in me and I dont fancy being uprooted at anytime when I am older. Also the hurdle about not being able to own land is a big problem for me. I currently have a big plot of land in Chiang Mai and I am going to sell it and rethink my plans. I have spend over 300000baht in this country in the last year. I am contributing more to the economy than 100 thais yet I cant do or own shit.

Another topic on here got me thinking. If you had to move for me personally I would need atms, good internet and health care, cost of living would be good if it was the same as LOS or cheaper Also which country has the best food after LOS? The reason I am asking this is because I might bugger off somewhere else where I am more welcome and can own land.......if that is possible in any of these countries. Also taking my Thai wife so that would be a must. I have been to 4 out of the 8 but only for 5 to 10 days at a time so my experience is very limited so I thought I would ask the seasoned ex pats who have been about a bit. Detailed answers would be appreciated.

I have a business account which may be different. I personally would never recommend Barclays International they are incompitent. I have initiated 6 wire transfers and they made mistakes on 4 of them. I am in the process of changing my accounts to another bank. I would sugest to the OP open the account using your current address then change it when you move here. To prove your address you can go to any British consulte and they will confirm your address for a small fee. Not sure how much but it can be done. You can definatly get your interest paid gross. Most banks just ask you to complete a form.......As for bills will you have internet when you come over here? Lots of bills here have your name and address in english so that may be fine.

do they allow you free withdrawals from all ATM's the same as nationwide UK? I would have though very easy to do just open an account then send your funds by TT transfer. When you move to LOS send them a letter telling them you are no longer an EU resident and you can get your interest paid gross.....like I do. Make sure you can have internet banking from Thailand. I am with Barclays international but they failed to inform me of the fact I cannot have internet banking. I still have my nationwide UK account as I use that for day to day living expenses. Forgot to add you can open a international account from anywhere in the world.

I was down in Pattaya a few weeks ago and was looking to buy a condo for myself. I went to the same building I was going to buy in 3 years ago for 1.7 million baht...........they now want 6 million baht for the same condo. These condos are renting for 20 to 30000 baht per month. Not a good return in my opinion but like you say you can get condos in different buildings at cheaper prices. I would still wait and have a very very good look.

forget about it......wait to see how the visa rules effect the property market in Pattaya, there is already a over supply and people want stupid prices for second hand properties. I would not by in Pattaya now it is virtually impossible to make a decent return on your investment if renting. example, you can pay 6 million baht for a nice condo and it rents for 20000 baht per month. 30000 baht if you are lucky.

wait a few months see how the visa rules effect the property market.

interesting point. I would be glad to know the answer. I should see no reason why you could not leave and comeback within the validity of the extended visa but not to sure.

sunbelt asia have started a new topic yesterday saying you can renew old investment visas. here is the quote. "4. Investment visa extension. For existing extension of stay holders of 3 million Baht, we are now being told this will now be grandfathered in and they will be able to get the extension forever as long as they renew. (Yes I know reversal from several hours ago but the government is aware that people bought condos before on this scheme and now will allow it.)" Investment Visa

3 million baht visas are being stopped but if you already have one it should be ok as long as you renew it every year without letting it lapse. As for the marriage option. Go to KL get a 3 month non immigrant marriage visa (after you are married) then show you have 400000baht in the bank and you can get it extended yearly after that providing you are still married and have the baht in the bank. They will check that the marriage is real and provide you with 1 month extensions until your application is approved/declined. I did this yesterday and got a 1 month extension I should get my visa next month so I never have to do visa runs or leave thailand. Just report at immigration every 90 days. I have a 1 year multiple entry non B business visa which I got from Hull in th UK. I am not working so do not need a work permit to get a extension. If I do start to work.....which I doubt it I will then get a work permit and pay taxes. We are guest in their country you have to play by their rules. If you cannot do none of the suggestions mentioned in this topic then.....GO HOME. Sorry but that is the simple fact. Thai poeple are sick of school teachers and others working with no work permits and not paying taxes. I know chiang mai will be quite next month as it is full of them. Even if you only visit for 2 weeks you will only be permited to enter 3 times within the 90 day period then you have to leave for 90 days before you can start again. Looks like people will be heading to Cambodia. Alot of my friends are returning to the UK to get 1 year multiple entry visas.

DO NOT send that much cash here. You get crap interest and if you want to go home your cash is stuck here. You need to get permission to send more than 20000baht (I think) out of the country at any one time. Leave it offshore and get your interest paid gross as you are not resident in the EU. Easy to do just let them know you live in Thailand and some banks ask for you to complete a form or just send them a letter of confirmation.

make sure you check everything 5 times. Thailand is not a easy place to do business for a falang. Just keep your wits about you.

house builds over here tend to be poured concrete. They do use suspended ceilings but if you wanted to work here you would have to set up a company and employ thais to do the job unless you wanted to work all day yourself for 200baht per day

You can only get a multiple entry in your own country.....unless you want a non-b in that case you need a work permit. Get your visa before you come here it is easy and I got mine from Hull in 2 days. I have done that for the last 2 years. Also renting a house is easy just do not comit yourself to a long lease. I would ask them if you can rent month by month (incase you want to move) and you usually have to pay between 1 and 2 months rent deposit when you rent. If you get a non O visa which I think is best for you then you just have to do the visa runs every 3 months. Hope this helps a little

I actually went to the bank and asked about this 2 days ago. They said I can have one no problem if I want a 100000baht limit they will lock 2000000baht from my account to cover, all I need is my passport and proof of address. I bank with Bangkok Bank and have approx 1 million baht in there.

I am british and I have perfect teeth, AND they are all my own. This has turned into a fuck it lets have a fight tread.

Sounds like typical lazy Thai logic. No reasoning with people like that.

I understand that.....I hate driving in this city. I want to sell my car and then just get a motorbike or take taxis if I need to go anywhere.

I still cannot see how it is done. This month I have spent 45000baht, BUT I have not been out I also dont smoke and I eat Thai food every day. I still spent 45000baht so I cant get how some spend 20000baht and manage to go out each week???? I would like to try it for 1 month to see if I have the self disipline but I think I would go stir crazy after 1 week.

I have an account with bangkok bank. very easy to open with your passport and address. The do have a fixed interest account that pays over 4% interest BUT you do need to give them 3 months notice to withdraw from the account. Otherwise the rate is something silly like 0.34% Hope this helps