Robert24
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Posts posted by Robert24
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I have accounts with both. Fairly similar to be honest. The only difference really is that the Kasikorn ATM card you can use also as a Visa debit card. Whereas Bangkok Bank works with Union Pay which I have never used.Is there any advantage of having a Kasikorn account over my Bangkok Bank account?
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Anyway, conclusion according to the above is : not possible.
But, where there is a will, there is a way.
Laws are only guidelines. I think if I can get the labour office convinced that this startup is a good thing for many young people to learn a profession, hopefully they will grant us work permits
Of course it can be done. Plenty of other foreigners running a company in Thailand. Go through a lawyer for the set up and some guidance what you vsn or cannot do. My guess is you can teach workers how to do something but not be a foreman/supervisor on construction site. That needs to be a Thai. You will need 4 employees per foreigner with WP, but that could also be someone on your books who does accounting, driving etc. Many ways how to achieve that.
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Yer right they could even make it easier using fake names and vpn. Oh sorry they already do.
One reason this forum is rubbish is that the Op asks for advice and people like you add absolutely zero and just tell him he deserves it.-
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He should have thought about that before committing the fraud.
He was lucky to not go to Jail, yet he still wants to push his luck.
No sympathy for criminals in my mind.
And if you and the OP don't want to read/hear anyone else telling the truth, then don't start a new thread based on the same theme.
Being guilty of running a nominee company is not fraud. And what is and whay isn't a nominee company or person is not always 100% clear. -
Although I recently turned 50, I chose to go with the TE/20 year option.
Why?
For several months, prior to my birthday, I was weighing the cost/benefit of TE versus the ImmO ('retirement') and based on this forum (and talking others with ImmOs) I decided to go apply for the ImmO. The consensus seemed to be it was 'cheaper' and 'easy'.
Unfortunately, I did NOT find it 'easy' after two failed attempts at Jomtien applying for ImmO. Both instances I was rejected due to not having correct documents/certifications (despite PRIOR to my application receiving a list of 'required' documents, they said 'new' ones were now needed).
For ME, I want a 'hassle-free' life (as much as I can obtain) thus this was clearly NOT happening so I chose the TE route. While I did speak with a 'visa agent' about helping me, I decided (for my lifestyle) I wanted to minimize my interactions (and commitments) regarding Thai immigration (for at least 20 years).
In sum, yes, it is 'more expensive' than the ImmO with yearly extensions but for ME going the TE route fits my goals much better. And I have a friend, 65 y/o, who has had a non-ImmO for several years but is 'changing' to TE upon his current visa expiration (he wants to avoid the 800k in bank requirement and annual renewals).
BTW, based on my conversation with the TE representative at CW (yesterday) it is clearly 'growing' She stated she had 'five appointments' that day and some days 'six or seven'. This is, of course, ONE representative. Regarding the 'time line', it was (10) calendar days (total) from the day I received the application to the day I received my 'new' visa at CW. Pretty fast!
Smart move. I may do the same when my 5 year TE expires. The 20 yr option for 1m is a real bargain.
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Well for some 500.000 THB is a lot of money. For others it is really not that much.
Personally, I find it good value. Like I also sometimes like to go to a fancy restaurant and spend my money on expensive wine and food. We all have and make choices in life. A lot based on our financial situation.
If I see a guy driving a Super Car, I do not see this as a waste of money for the guy owning and driving the car. Obviously he can afford it and I would not mind driving one myself (that is if I could). That does in my eyes not make him an idiot. It just makes him richer than me :-)
Agree. It's more about choices you make. And if there would be a cheaper option which would give me nearly the same visa benefits, I would go for it. But if you are below 50, those options are very limited to say the least. Frankly the SETV/METV visa is not an option, the Education route neither, marriage visa is no option. So you can look into work permits, investment visa or TE. TE is by far easiest and safest option in my opinion.
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Money to burn eh ?
Why would you spend 500,000 baht when you can achieve the same results for less than 10,000 (5×1900)
when the global economic bubble bursts you might be glad of that 490,000 which will buy you an awful lot of VIP services:giggle:
I'm below 50 so the retirement visa option is not available to me. Hence I went for the 5 year TE option simply because it will get me closer to when I'm eligible and it's a timeline I somehow have a view on where I am and what I am doing.
Once my TE visa expires I will revisit options available. Right now I would probably go for the 20 yr TE option or look at the new 10 year visa the government is introducing.
Hope this helps you understand my rationale.
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I couldn't agree more with khunpa's comments before. It's definitely a worthwhile investment. Aside from the 'peace of mind' about staying in Thailand, you get a great 'VIP' service every time you travel in/out of Thailand.
I got it mainly because I'm not eligible yet for the retirement visa but even once I am, I think I will just renew the Thailand Elite membership.
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I think I am asking too much but here goes.
When someone has gone down the full route of applying for and getting TE membership in the UK and then having the visa issued in Thailand, could they (please) list in chronological order the procedures as applied to them.
It just saves so much time to see what really has to be done as opposed to repeating the guesswork.
Many thanks for this excellent thread.
As I recall it, I went through the following steps:
- sent email showing interest to join programme
- TE sent application form by email requesting it to be completed and returned with copy passport and digital photo (selfie)
- I returned this application form signed + copy pp and selfie from me
- TE will then ask Immigration to approve you (takes 5 working days)
- TE informed me that immigration approved my request to join TE
- TE sends me payment instructions
- I make payment
- TE confirms receipt of payment
- I tell them when I arrive at BKk
- upon arrival at Suvarnabhumi they gave me the Visa + welcome package etc.
Hope this helps. Pretty straight forward.
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Mine too, approved in 2 days, the card is taking forever, have you received yours yet?
Received the card at Suvarnabhumi airport together with the Welcome package and visa stamp. It all went very fast. Haven't even seen an immigration officer. It was all done by staff from Thailand Elite.
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How long does it take to receive your membership card? I've been waiting almost 2 months
This is their email reply "Please be informed that your new membership card is still in the production process.
We will inform you again once your new card is ready to deliver."
Did everyone recieve theirs within 5 weeks?
My application was done very fast. From start to receiving the Visa stamp about 3 weeks. They asked me at the beginning about time constraints and they made sure everything was ready when I returned to Thailand.
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Don't think those comments help anyone following this thread. The TE visas are an option, there are other visa options too. The price tags of the TE visas are quite ok (starting at 500k) in my opinion, not cheap but certainly not unaffordable for most people.
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Firstly there is a bit of a difference between having a friend who gives you information and actually personally holding the card for 9 years as I did. I can speak from personal experience.
I lived in Thailand between 2003 when the card was first issued to 2012 not working and for the whole 9 years and not one immigration officer uttered a thing about not being able to continually live here. Yes I had to do a border run every 90 days but I was excited to do so and even though I was fully entitled to just walk immediately back into Thailand I very rarely did so because it was an interesting break every 90 days to explore adjoining countries in Southeast Asia.
But again I repeat what I said before. I'm not intending to directly compare the two cards but what I am saying is I still got the benefit of living full-time and there is a substantial difference between paying less than 2000 baht per year compared to 100,000 baht.
Thanks for sharing. How did you obtain the APEC card when living full time in Thailand? Were you employed at a company in a participating country?
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To illustrate why I regard 500,000 baht to be excessive I compare it to the APEC card which I had for 9 years before I got my retirement visa.
This is essentially a 3 Visa but not only for Thailand - also all other APEC member countries like China, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia etc. this meant with this one card I never had to pay any Visa fees whatsoever to visit the other APEC countries either.
Grand cost for 3 years - $186 or $62 annually equals about 1,860 Baht per year.[emoji2]
That is what I call enjoying useful benefits[emoji106]
So the APEC card gives you a 3 yr Visa in Thailand? With like 1 year extension of stay?
How can you obtain it? Any special criteria?
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Infrastructure? Motorways and railway lines? Employees? 10k+ a month x?, benefits for customers? 200 baht massages, 1000 baht taxis. 1000 baht+ Golf green fees. There's a big hole, i can only guess where it's gone
Well speculation of this nature doesn't help anyone. This thread is about providing facts/experiences to people interested in this programme.
What's your message to people in this programme? You recommend against joining it because they made a loss?
My view is more that the price tags to the different programmes are rather low. I think they may well consider increasing the prices. 1m for 20 years is really a bargain.
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How on earth can they make such a big loss? I'd like to see a breakdown of the costs, probably laughable.I had no idea there were still losses of 830 million baht hanging over this organisation.
Now it makes sense why some in these threads seem so overly anxious to defend or promote the " benefits ".
Infrastructure, employees, benefits for customers etc. I'm not surprised.
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Hello my fellow Blondes,
Thanks for your feedback! :-)
Yes, I think the pp needs to have 3 blank pages but it feels "odd" that they ask for 3 blank pages to be scanned and emailed. Guess, I will just do it "for piece of mind" ... lol
If something is not clear, I would recommend to write back and clarify quickly. Maybe the person's English isn't very good.
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Just 2 points based on my experience:
1) the TE is a great option. No immigration hassle. 90 day reports you still have to do in case you stay longer than 90 days in Thailand. However in most cities (Not sure about Samui) TE will do the reporting for you - or an agent from them.
2) taking over a company who holds the property you are purchasing is an option. But not risk free. There is still a possibility that in future they do a review and consider your company a nominee. Especially if you have no other activities in this company. So you need to have a plan for such a scenario. I.e. you sell the shares to a Thai, sell the property etc.
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I'm with Tom9999 in your case exactly for the reason you mentioned. After 5/6 years you can decide if you want to continue and buy a longer term PE visa or you just go with the yearly extensions based on retirement.
I'm in a somehow similar situation as my 5yr PE visa will get me closer to 50. I will still have a small gap but I probably could manage that somehow. However if I had to make this decision right now, I would go for the 20 yr option.
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tried to enter at Suvarnabhumi just with EU passport and got denied entry because of too many tourist visa/visa exemption on arrival. When asked for money proof I showed my Thai banks ATM cards but they wanted to see only cash (that I could not access before Immigration barrier)
What sort of crazy place has Thailand become ? now I will go to Phnom Pehn to see if they can give me a visa and will try to re enter just to recover the staff in my Pattaya condo and the millions baht in my stock/market and bank accounts , but I am seriously thinking to relocate.
Maybe get the Thailand Elite visa if you have the funds for it.
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good luck. Australia is a great country, great quality of life.
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based on my experience, most expats that had to leave (got posted somewhere else), would like to Thailand to live here. The only retirees I saw leaving were for health and financial reason. They certainly didn't want to leave because they didn't like it anymore.
Quality of life is pretty good here despite all the drawbacks.
Never came across expats who say they want to return to live in Singapore, KL, Hong Kong, Shanghai etc.
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Looking for some knowledgeable folk to help me in my decision process:
My Situation:
- 47 yr old Australian
- I own a business in Singapore, but now want to live and possibly 'settle' in Thailand.
- I want to be able to buy property (even if just a condo) and would like to be able to get a loan from a bank for this - I have good income, but minimal cash.
- I travel a lot to other countries - like 6 times per month minimum - sometimes 10-12 so I spend a lot of time in immigration queue!
- Would like to be able to lease a car also
- I am not married to a Thai, but have a Thai girlfriend who works
My Choices
1. Set-up a business here and apply for Non-B and then Work Permit
2. Thailand Elite
As I see it these are my choices. The Business set-up I have done before for another company. This time I guess I'd do it with myself and a local as shareholders. The bit I don't know is how easy/difficult it would be to obtain the Non-B and WP based on this new company (last time I set up a company it was with BOI accreditation/support).
Thailand Elite is a nice quick solution to most things I need, but may not be what I need as far as establishing an income here for the purposes of obtaining mortgage/car lease/loan etc.
Any thoughts/perspectives?
A few points based on my experience:
1) you have to be employed or show regular cash flow in your company to be able to obtain a loan/mortgage from a bank in Thailand.
2) if you have your business in Singapore and frequently travel to Thailand, the TE visa is your perfect solution.
3) if you have a good commercial/business reason to open a business in Thailand, do so. You can obtain the visa and work permit on the back of that. But don't open a business purely to get a visa/wp. Bear in mind tax as well especially compared to Sgp. Not sure about the nature of your business but can you be based in Thailand with your business in Sgp given you travel frequently?
Hope this helps. I'm sure other people can provide more input to your questions.
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Does anybody know which website if the official one? I see www.thailandelite.com and www.thai-elite.com being two completely different pages but with the same offerings.
Maybe they run two sites but sounds a bit odd. Given the longstanding discussions about the pros and cons of the Thai Elite card I would hate to fall for an online scam after doing my due diligence on the program.
www.thailandelite.com is their official website. Not sure who the other one operates.
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for such a scenario. I.e. you sell the shares to a Thai, sell the property etc.
Elite visa help please
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
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smart move. I think I will do the same when mine expires 2 years. 20 years for 960k is a really good deal.