Making the move!

[REECE]

Good evening,I'm looking to make the move next year with my family to Thailand. What would the procedure be for us? How do we obtain long term stay?

[frogblogger]

Originally Posted by REECE

Good evening,I'm looking to make the move next year with my family to Thailand. What would the procedure be for us? How do we obtain long term stay?

Hi and welcome to ExpatForum....

It depends. Are you of retirement age (50 in Thailand)? Have a job waiting for you? Have family in Thailand? A major investor? If none of the above, it is quite difficult to get a long stay visa these days.

Let us know a little more about your personal circumstances, and we can try to advise you more....

[REECE]

Hello, my husband would be working in Australia & we are looking for Thailand to be our base. We are financially secure so we have the money to set ourselves up in Thailand. What is the best way for us? Thank you

[frogblogger]

If your plan is to be Thailand resident, and your husband wants to work in Australia, flying in and out, you are going to struggle to get a long-stay visa. From the 'doingbusinessthailand' website:

Non-Immigrant Visa: for foreigner looking for prolonged stay, or coming to work or invest in Thailand, There are several categories of Non-Immigrant visas which include, among others, business visa category (B); dependent visa category (O); investment subject to the provisions of the laws on investment promotion category (BOI IB); diplomatic and consular visa category (D); performance of duties with the mass media category (M); performance of skilled or expert work category (EX); investment (with concurrence of ministries and departments concerned) and capital investment category (IM); and study or observation category (ED).

As far as I can see, you don't fall into any obvious category here. You are not working in Thailand, have no family links in Thailand, not studying, not investing massively. I presume you're not of retirement age (50, for the purposes of a retirement visa in Thailand). You haven't mentioned the possibility of enrolling for a full-time study course, or possessing the qualifications that would put you in line for a visa as an English teacher (TEFL, degree).

Thailand doesn't have an open door policy with respect to immigration, protects Thai jobs by various legislative means with respect to business visas, and is cracking down on long-stay 'tourists'.

How old is the family?

[REECE]

Hello Pete,My husband & i are 41 and we have 2 children 4 & 16. Son is due to start A levels in September 2010 and daughter also will be ready for full time education.Mmm well by the looks of things with what you have told me,we may have to look for another place as our base. The plan was that my husband would fly in and out,I'm not really keen on living in Australia. Thought Thailand would be a good spot!My husband has worked in and out of Asia for the last 12 years,unfortunately have always missed out on Thailand. Thank you for your help-very kind

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by REECE

Hello, my husband would be working in Australia & we are looking for Thailand to be our base. We are financially secure so we have the money to set ourselves up in Thailand. What is the best way for us? Thank you

REECE,

Thailand is going to be very difficult for you and your family. Depending upon your finances other options are the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore and Bali [which is a part of Indonesia]

I've done a bit of research on the first two and you would have little or no trouble with either the Philippines or Malaysia. Malaysia has a MM2H visa where, by sticking money into a Malaysian bank [and keeping most of it there] you can become residents. It's called "Malaysia My 2nd Home" but you don't even need to do that. You can enter on a social visa, stay 90 days, then head to the border - Thailand or Singapore - and renew the visa. The other major advantages of Malaysia are the very good and very cheap food and you can buy/own properthy. Not so in the Philippines but still a pretty good place to live. I would recommend Davao City area in Mindanao - no hurricanes/typhoons and very safe area. Singapore and Bali are supposed to be a very good places to live as well. I think you can buy/own property in Singapore but probably not in Bali.

All have an easy commute to Australia but Malaysia and Singapore are easiest with both major international flights [Singapore Airlines / Malaysia Airlines] but some discount airlines that are even cheaper such as Air Asia. Probably the two best places in Malaysia are Penang and Kuala Lumpur. Penang has a very large expat contingent, not sure about Kuala Lumpur - but the shopping is very good and the ambience is outstanding! Good luck with your exciting new adventure.

Serendipity2

[Cer]

Malaysia is slowly going to change into a muslim state.Be aware.

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by Cer

Malaysia is slowly going to change into a muslim state.Be aware.

Cer,

Malaysia IS a Muslim country but that should not be a hindrance. They, like Turkey, are very moderate and although most of the population is Muslim [about 60%?] you will experience no difficulty. I've been to both countries and the people have been very nice and it's hard to know you're in an Islamic country except for the call to prayer. I hardly noticed in in either Istanbul or Kuala Lumpur but when I did I rather liked hearing the muezzins call to prayer.

If that still bothers you then forget Bali - even though Bali is Hindi it is still in a Muslim country. I think too much propaganda about the horrors of Islam are embedded in our western culture - we need to take the time to see who's behind that nonsense. You're also missing a great experience but each to his/her own.

That still leaves the Philippines [although Mindanao does have Muslim extremists they are kept far, far away from Davao City] I would also suggest Cagayan de Oro but you will see Muslims there as a matter of course. They've always been nice and I've never, ever felt uncomfortable. Finally there is Singapore which once was a part of Malaysia but is it's own independant city/state/country. Nice place to live and mostly ethnic Chinese.

[desres]

I have just been out to Thailand myself & would absolutely move out there .. but i done some research & it is very difficult .. like some comments have already said .. they are cutting back on the visit visa's .. multiple entries & not easy to get residence visa

You can apply for what they call .. a 1 year non resident visa through an agent but in most cases they only grant 90 days !!! then back on visa runs & no guarentee u will get back in to Thailand


Just google Thai Consulate its all on there
Also anyone else looking for info on Thailand ..
there is Sunbelt Asia & Siam Legal websites

Anyone find a legal way to stay there .. let me know !!

[Serendipity2]

Originally Posted by desres

I have just been out to Thailand myself & would absolutely move out there .. but i done some research & it is very difficult .. like some comments have already said .. they are cutting back on the visit visa's .. multiple entries & not easy to get residence visa

You can apply for what they call .. a 1 year non resident visa through an agent but in most cases they only grant 90 days !!! then back on visa runs & no guarentee u will get back in to Thailand


Just google Thai Consulate its all on there
Also anyone else looking for info on Thailand ..
there is Sunbelt Asia & Siam Legal websites

Anyone find a legal way to stay there .. let me know !!

desres,

You could get thrown in the slammer but I suppose that would defeat the purpose of your moving to Thailand wouldn't it!

Sadly, Thailand is becoming less and less friendly to expats. This should be a wake-up call to those expats who own homes in Thailand as the 'pool' of those they can sell to is reduced if the expats are no longer safe buying - or even feel less safe. Those who CAN qualify for a 'resident' visa are not all that safe either. First you've got to put THB800,000 into a bank [about $24,000.00] which is to make sure they can 'export' you back to your home country should you become ill or persona non grata and what government can give they can also take away. The only country that can't deport you is the country of your birth - provided you're also a resident of that country. It's a brave new world out there!