[Cost Of Living In Korat]

May be Dr.PP knows the final decision for retirement as July is very near now.

Yes Dutch, I think many of us are waiting for Khun Doctor to tell us if he knows anything about this delicate matter. But I think I will do just like you and go as a spouse.....! Cheaper! At least for the moment. If they want they can double the sum EVERY year. They can do whatever they want. I mean if they really don't want us to come and stay in LOS!!!

Well, when talking about doctors....... Bangsaen Bob mentioned HEALTH INSURANCE. Does anyone know a reliable insurance company in LOS? Last time in our village I talked to a representative for a American insurance company, who said I couldn't choose just a HEALTH insurance. I must have a LIFE insurance first THEN I can choose HEALTH insurance as an option. Hmmm.... but I'm not interested in a LIFE insurance! I've no use for any money when I'm dead (at least as far as I know.... ) and Khun Wife will have more than enough anyway. And I'm sure the fee is much higher for a LIFE insurance than for just a HEALTH insurance. Of course. I'm sure that is the business concept!

Do any of you have some experience to share about HEALTH insurances?

EXACT instructions and/or figures if possible.

1. A reliable company that can help you when something happens and not only collect the fee.

2. What to ask for (=don't forget to ask about this......... and that!).

3. Example of cost per month or per year for one farang (50++) and his Thai wife (40++).

4. What DOES it use to cover?

5. What does it NOT use to cover? Important!!

6. Any warnings....!!! "Real life stories" from friends.

[Korat ?'s]

As far as I can see Korat is number 5!!! Samut Prakan is number 2!!

Poor Chiang Mai is only number 8.

And, besides, it's Udon Thani (number 4) that is the centre of the world. I know! It's in that area I'm going to live in a few years....... It will be my centre .

This is where I found it:

http://www.gazetteer.de/c/c_th.htm#pl_100

The list below is slightly difficult to read here.

Thailand 2004

Cities and Places

(population in [1000])

rank Place Administrative Division Pop. 1990 Pop. 2000 Pop. 2004 Aggl. 2004 Latitude Longitude

28 Ayutthaya Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 75.9 80.6 14.36°N 100.57°E

35 Bang Kruai Nonthaburi 60.7 64.4 Krung Thep 13.81°N 100.45°E

46 Ban Pong Ratchaburi 51.4 54.5 13.81°N 99.87°E

39 Chaiyaphum Chaiyaphum 53.9 57.2 15.80°N 102.04°E

22 Chanthaburi Chanthaburi 86.4 91.7 12.61°N 102.11°E

8 Chiang Mai Chiang Mai 164.9 167.8 178.1 18.80°N 98.98°E

37 Chiang Rai Chiang Rai 59.3 62.9 19.91°N 99.83°E

7 Chon Buri Chon Buri 187.0 182.6 193.9 13.40°N 101.00°E

48 Chumphon Chumphon 48.5 51.5 10.51°N 99.19°E

6 Hat Yai Songkhla 141.5 185.6 197.0 7.00°N 100.47°E

43 Kanchanaburi Kanchanaburi 38.1 52.1 55.3 14.02°N 99.53°E

20 Khlong Luang Pathum Thani 103.3 109.6 Krung Thep 14.07°N 100.65°E

13 Khon Kaen Khon Kaen 132.1 141.0 149.7 16.42°N 102.83°E

47 Klaeng Rayong 49.8 52.8 12.78°N 101.65°E

26 Krathum Baen Samut Sakhon 78.4 83.3 13.65°N 100.27°E

1 Krung Thep Krung Thep 5546.9 6320.2 6709.2 8970.2 13.73°N 100.50°E

40 Lam Luk Ka Pathum Thani 52.9 56.1 13.93°N 100.75°E

10 Lampang Lampang 147.8 156.9 18.29°N 99.48°E

38 Lop Buri Lop Buri 54.0 57.3 14.80°N 100.62°E

44 Maha Sarakham Maha Sarakham 51.9 55.1 16.18°N 103.29°E

14 Nakhon Pathom Nakhon Pathom 120.7 128.1 13.82°N 100.06°E

5 Nakhon Ratchasima Nakhon Ratchasima 204.1 204.4 217.0 15.00°N 102.10°E

21 Nakhon Sawan Nakhon Sawan 91.6 97.2 15.70°N 100.07°E

15 Nakhon Si Thammarat Nakhon Si Thammarat 118.8 126.1 8.40°N 99.97°E

36 Nong Khai Nong Khai 59.7 63.4 17.88°N 102.74°E

3 Nonthaburi Nonthaburi 258.6 291.3 309.2 Krung Thep 13.80°N 100.18°E

49 Pak Chong Nakhon Ratchasima 42.9 48.0 50.9 14.70°N 101.41°E

11 Pak Kret Nonthaburi 141.8 150.5 Krung Thep 13.90°N 100.51°E

27 Pattaya Chon Buri 62.4 76.9 81.6 12.92°N 100.90°E

23 Phitsanulok Phitsanulok 78.4 84.3 89.5 16.82°N 100.27°E

9 Phra Pradaeng Samut Prakan 166.8 177.1 Krung Thep 13.67°N 100.53°E

32 Phuket Phuket 45.6 66.7 70.8 7.88°N 98.38°E

25 Ratchaburi Ratchaburi 45.5 82.5 87.6 13.54°N 99.82°E

18 Rayong Rayong 106.6 113.1 12.68°N 101.28°E

34 Sakhon Nakhon Sakon Nakhon 65.7 69.8 17.17°N 104.15°E

2 Samut Prakan Samut Prakan 378.7 402.0 Krung Thep 13.61°N 100.61°E

30 Samut Sakhon Samut Sakhon 55.6 68.4 72.6 Krung Thep 13.54°N 100.28°E

31 Saraburi Saraburi 65.0 67.8 72.0 14.53°N 100.88°E

45 Sattahip Chon Buri 51.7 54.9 12.67°N 100.90°E

12 Si Racha Chon Buri 141.3 150.0 13.16°N 100.93°E

24 Songkhla Songkhla 83.1 84.1 89.3 7.21°N 100.56°E

42 Suphan Buri Suphan Buri 52.6 55.8 14.47°N 100.13°E

16 Surat Thani Surat Thani 111.3 123.1 9.14°N 99.33°E

17 Thanyaburi Pathum Thani 113.8 120.8 Krung Thep 14.02°N 100.71°E

33 Trang Trang 64.6 69.8 7.56°N 99.61°E

19 Ubon Ratchathani Ubon Ratchathani 98.8 106.6 113.1 15.25°N 104.83°E

4 Udon Thani Udon Thani 220.5 234.1 17.41°N 102.79°E

41 Uttaradit Uttaradit 52.8 56.1 17.63°N 100.10°E

29 Yala Yala 68.8 74.1 78.6 6.55°N 101.29°E

[Cost Of Living In Korat]

Retirement visa need now 800.000 baht /year.

I not know if in July it will be 1.500.000?

From 800k to 1.500k...........????? Where did you find that piece of information? Is it just a guess from you because Marriage Visa is going up from 200k to 400k or do you have some sort of inside information?

Besides. Can anyone tell me why it's considered cheaper in Thailand to support a wife and children than to live as a pensioner (retired)? In Sweden it's on the contrary. More normal, I think. Or is Thailand having anything against pensioners?

I sincerely hope you are wrong about the 1.500k. Not too many employees in the world can have this sum as a pensioner. Not even as a salary when working full time.

[Money Transfer From And Back To Thailand]

You are not going to fool anyone as accounts in the future will be monitored for this kind of activity.

Hi Lopburi3,

Is it forbidden for Khun Wife or anyone else to send money OUT from Thailand to my "poor" family in Sweden for example? Please tell me because I don't know all the rules yet. And is it forbidden for someone abroad to send money to my account in Thailand? If the answer of the two questions is NO, then what's the problem? The transactions may be monitored! Yes, but so what.

But please calm down! Yes, we WILL talk to Immigration Authorities when the time comes! Of course!! I just want to test the limits. Excuse me for being a little provocative. But I'm just testing all the possible alternatives.

By the way, your idea about Marriage Visa sounds like a better alternative for me. And you have some other good ideas too. Thank you for your consideration. I appreciate it.

Hi Khun Larry,

No, I'm not crazy. It just sounds like that..................everything is under control (I think. Hmmm... is it...?!! Well, hope so! ).

Good idea of yours to keep all my assets in Sweden. Why didn't I think of that! It's a very secure place if you don't consider the Swedish tax system! In Sweden we even have tax on tax. Try to beat that if you can! Why do you think I want to leave Sweden? But then of course I can put my assets in another country. Just wonder how I (=Khun Wife ) can start a business in Thailand with all our assets in Sweden??? Hmmm..... a delicate challenge!

Thank you and chokdee to yourself.

Hi Dah farang,

You have some very good ideas. I will penetrate what you've said thoroughly. Thank you so much for taking your time and sharing your thoughts with me!

[Money Transfer From And Back To Thailand]

Hi Lopburi3,

Thank you very much for your fast reaction. But, but, but.....

Problem #1: There will be a few years WITHOUT pension from Sweden so I don't have any regular income to show them! But I can put 400 000 or 800 000 THB in the bank account. Probably more!

(I will have my whole "fortune" invested in Thailand. But that's not enough for them. They want me to show INCOME from Sweden too!! )

Problem #2: What I've understood they want to see money coming in from abroad. If I have (which I don't have even the first few years) a pension below 35 000 THB/month I have to fill up with money coming from abroad. Not from another Thai account with money coming from Thailand (=Khun Wife ). Or have I misunderstood something? Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Problem #3: So my first problem remains. I have to "circulate" the 400 000 or 800 000 THB in the bank account! First out and then in to the country again. The same procedure every year!

Or do you have another solution, Lopburi3? Maybe we all together can convince Thai Authorities to create a new visa category "Thai wife supporting farang husband with business bought from farangs money"............... !!

I still feel like I need advices for sending money out from Thailand and then back again to the account where Thai Immigration checks.

Anyone who knows? Someone out there must have tried this method. I'm sure!! Please tell me how you did it.

[Money Transfer From And Back To Thailand]

Hi fellows,

Question:

Can any of you smart and experienced guys/girls out there tell a beginner how to do to make it look like money from Khun Wife (legally earned in Thailand) are coming in from abroad to my account in Thailand (the one Thai Immigration check for Visa).

Why?:

Because there's no Visa for farang married to a RICH Thai wife and where the wife supports the farang. At least not what I'm aware of. Does this NEVER happen?

Background:

My wife is a Thai citizen and we have been married for 21 years and have no children. We are living in Sweden. My age is over 50 and hers below 50. We are planning to move to Thailand in a few years. Just now we are selling out all our assets and are sending the money to Thailand. We've just built (and paid) our house and now we are going to invest the main part of our money in some kind of business in Thailand. Yes, a sum will be put on a bank account in Thailand too (in my name if possible). I know I can't own house and land, but Khun Wife CAN and so she does. I'm not planning to work. We have no loans. The money from the business will be more than enough to feed us both. All are happy. EXCEPT the Visa Immigration staff. They want to see money coming in from ABROAD!! Yes, I will have a small pension from Sweden later but because I move to Thailand many years before the standard pension age in Sweden (65) my pension will be rather small, at least below the 70.000 THB a month that is required for Retirement Visa.

Conclusion:

Khun Wife will be rich because she will own all our COMMON capital. And of course she CAN support me with all this without problems. We have transferred all our capital to Thailand and invested it but Thai Immigration still wants to see money coming in from ABROAD when I live there.

So our only possibility is to transfer the money we earn in Thailand abroad and back to my bank account again just to satisfy Thai Immigration. It feels a bit stupid.

You probably have many comments of the text above, who owns what and when and why and so on, but please let us focus at the main question:

How can I make it look like money, earned in Thailand, looks as if they came in from abroad? Or even better, how can I "circulate" the 800 000 THB (needed for retirement visa for example), that I already have, from a Thai bank account to a bank account abroad and back again?

Proposals:

1. Every year I can take 800 000 THB with me from Thailand, go to Sweden and transfer it back to Thailand from there. Expensive and not very realistic.

2. As #1 above but going to, for example, Laos and transfer the money back to Thailand. Is it legal and will Thai Immigration accept Laos as "abroad"?

3. Find a foreign (perhaps Swedish) bank's office in Thailand who can help me. But HOW, do you think?

4. Open a bank account in Switzerland for example and transfer money back and forwards. Theoretically possible perhaps! But practically?!

In other words:

How? Can I send money from Thailand to another country without problems? If so, how can I transfer it back again and make them to land on my "special bank account" (the one Thai Immigration looks at)??

Anyone who has done this for real? Please advice me. In DETAIL please! PLEASE!!!

[Farming In Northeast Thailand]

The main issue I think for someone like Thai Farmer to consider before setting up such a venture is to really ask yourself "what do I want from being a farmer?" Is it maximum financial return, easiest workload for the family, best option environmentally-speaking, or do you have some other priority which you think is most important? Give us some idea of your personal philosophy in undertaking such a venture and, perhaps, I can give you some general advice that might be useful one day. I think Wash's words are very sage and he talks from the gritty end of farming, which is the best place to learn this "trade unlike any other".

Hi plachon,

You seem to have a lot of wisdom to share with us. Please feel free to do so. We (my wife and I) are so grateful for all the help and advices we can get.

These are our intensions in short :

1. We want to live a calm and pleasant country life. No stress. No enemies (if possible).

2. We want to help our Thai family to help themselves by working as farmers, shop owners, cafeteria owners or something similar. We invest our present money and they invest their knowledge and labour. As a retired I'm unfortunately not allowed to work in Thailand. Else I would! With pleasure.

3. We want a comparatively "steady" income for all of us, enough to live a comfortable (not luxury) life.

4. Some money left to put in a bank account for future investments like machines, cars, truck(s), an extra house lot or two perhaps with a new Thai style house. The family is growing and we can't live in ONE house forever. Pay everything cash. Absolutely no bank loans. Ever! I've never borrowed any money in Sweden and will certainly not start to do in Thailand!

5. The kids should have the possibility to study. One of my wife's sister's daughter's daughter has a sharp brain we can see already now. She is number one in her class. "I want to be a doctor", she says! Of course we will help her to study for being a doctor. Especially the girls needs all the help they can get. There are a lot of bright girls in Thailand who never got the chance to educate themselves because their (sometimes not so bright) brothers came in the first place.

What I DON'T mean is:

1. Buy all the land we can get around us just to show off and feel important.

2. Build "castles" here and there with a couple of BMW's and Mercedes and perhaps a private jet or a helicopter standing on the field nearby.

3. Living a sort of jet set life in the cities, having a sort of eternal vacation , travel around the world, staying in expensive hotels, buy expensive clothes and so on.

4. Buy all the gold chains we can get so we look like a "walking gold shop".

Well, I think you understand what I mean by now! Looking forward hearing from you again.

[Construction Costs]

Hi house builders and house owners,

Some stupid questions.

How do you people count and measure sq.m. when you talk about sq.m.-costs. I mean, is it only inside the house behind 4 walls or is it "outside" too. Perhaps you make it very simple and measure your house outside (length x width x number of storeys) and that's it! I think you have to speak "the same language" else you compare apples with bananas.

Some examples. Do you count this in or out?

1. Built-in carport - roof covered (main building) with 1-3 already existing walls.

2. Balcony - with no roof and 1-3 already existing walls.

3. Terrace - 3.1) On the second floor, partly roof covered and partly not. 3.2) On the first floor and all roof covered. Both with at least one existing wall.

4. Entrance - roof covered. Moore or less expensive design with pillars, stairs, banister and ++.

5. "Thai kitchen" partly outside. 3 walls and roof for example.

These spaces are not "for free" and you often have at least some of them even in a "simple" house. For very simple houses it doesn't matter too much but for "better" houses like the one in Korat with blue roof (see this website) and more luxurious it does matter more. The sq.m.-cost can differ up to 30-40% on a "better" house depending on if you count these areas in or not. I've just checked!!

Excuse me for making things complicated. It's a (bad) part of my personality. Ask my patient Isaan-wife! After 21 years together she is climbing on the walls by now.......

[Farming In Northeast Thailand]

Pnustedt,

That does it! Your experience with the loan business is enough to stop me from even trying it. I really don't want to make enemies, especially not with the wonderful Thai people.

Mango Head,

I'm sorry. It's partly my fault to start this discussing about loans in the middle of "farming". My enthusiasm for my new coming life in Thailand sometimes leads me away from one subject to another. Let's keep to farming in this topic from now on! If there is any interest we can make a new topic about loans and advise all the farangs against it. Huuuu! Only problems! One want to stay alive a few years, too, after retiring!!

Wash,

I really, really appreciate your warnings. And you are very right! One can never be too careful. When it comes to money, though, I'm a rather suspicious guy. I think we made all the precautions we possibly could. When we bought the two house lots we now have in my wife's home village, we sent the money to her elder sister's bank account (she's absolutely reliable, we know for sure) and she paid the money, wrote the necessary papers in her name and then when we came to the village my wife changed the owner from her sister to herself and we brought the original documents with us back to Sweden. Just to avoid any possible problems with relatives forcing her sister or even blackmailing her sister to sell or borrow money on the property. And my wife's big sisters eldest son is a chief monk (is this the right word for a monk who "runs" the temple?) for the local temple. Before we came the monk kept the original documents in a safe place inside the temple. He is a very, very respected monk in the whole region and his mother (=my wife's big sister) always talks to him before she makes any decisions of decisive importance. He is the real "head of the family" even if he's not allowed to deal with worldly things like this. So we feel that we have a little help from "above", too. We have also sent a couple of millions to them for building our new house. They have bought all the necessary building material themselves, the building company only got paid for the labour (besides, this is a great way to build a house to a low cost!), and we cannot see that even one single baht is missing. Lucky! Yes, I think we are! But others who read this should be aware of all the possible problems that can appear, just as you wrote Wash.

[Farming In Northeast Thailand]

Hi again Pnustedt,

You really have a fine business down there in Sisaket. Both you and your family seem to be experienced farmers/businessmen. In our family we have to start from the very beginning with land, pickups, iron buffalos, tractors, trucks and all. We've just built the house and now we are ready for the next step. My family owns just a few plots of land (= rice fields), enough for surviving from one year to another. No cars, no animals, no iron buffalos, no...............nothing! But they are certainly not stupid. They have been farmers all their life and are just waiting for us to invest our money so they can use their farming knowledge.

Just like you already do we have also thought about the possibility to let the locals borrow money from us (if there are any left). Have you experienced any problems with that kind of business yet? I mean do you think there's a good possibility to make enemies when they can't pay and have to leave their land?? Have you any idea of a suitable interest? Other important things to think about in this kind of business??

At the map I can see that you have a lot of rivers in your area. Lucky you! Unfortunately we don't have too much of that in our neighbourhood. We have to drill water wells just like "Mango Head".

You have given us a lot of valuable figures to study. Thank you so much. We are really looking forward to visit you and inspect your "gardening hobby" some time. Of course you are welcome to visit us but just now there are not much to be seen!

This is a great and well organized forum and I quote The Terminator: "Ill be back"! Soon!!

[Farming In Northeast Thailand]

Hi Pnustedt,

Thank you very much for your answer. I can see you are way ahead of us. I'm so grateful for all the good advices I can get. I have no experiences from agriculting in Sweden and certainly not in Thailand so I'm assimilating as much as I can before starting up. I have a few more questions following up what you've just said........ if you feel like answering and have the time!!

1. There are really many crops to choose between. Have you tried all of them and do you have a mix of several or are you concentrating on one or two of these?

2. Any of them you can really recommend. Easy to grow and high profit (wishful thinking!! )!!

3.You mentioned availability of clean water. So with no water around (a lake, a small river, a channel or something) there must be a well on the land. I think irrigation is one of "Mango Head's" main problems. Does all the crops you mentioned need irrigation. Sugar canes does not need irrigation from what I've heard. With irrigation, of course, you can grow all year around and don't have to depend on the weather. Am I right?

Do you have some sort of irrigation on ALL your land and how did you solve it?

4. I'm too polite to ask how much land you own (it's none of my business but you MAY answer if you want) but do you have any idea of how much land a family need to have a comfortable life with the possibility to put some savings on a bank account too and buy a Beer Singh now and then? Is it 25, 100, 500 or 1000 rai that is needed? It depends on your needs, size of family and so on. Yes I know. But you have already tried a few years. Any idea?? Just a hint!

5. We need our own trucks you said. Is truck the same as a (large) lorry (language problems for me) or do you mean a pickup. Do you know the price for a nice used lorry and/or pickup? Just a hint again with your experience! Is it enough with one do you think.

How about a tractor. Have you bought one yourself or do you rent one when it's needed? Any prices to share with me?

6. Buy a combine you said. I suppose it's only good for rice harvesting (excuse me my lack of knowledge ). And same stupid question again......have you heard the price of such a monster machine? Most of the farmers around us use old fashion knifes. It generates cheap work for a lot of people. Often it is within the family and then the work is "free". Any reason for them to use our combine? Just a thought! Have you checked around?

7. Funny we have the same time scale, 3-4 years. Are you going to apply for retirement-visa when it's time? Have you any thoughts about the combination of Retirement-Visa / No work permit / prohibited farang-farming. Any work-around for this delicate problem?

Are you retiring yourself or are you still young. I will be near 60 when I move to Isaan (I feel like 25 though !!).

8. One more question. In what area do you live? Are we close or distant neighbours?

Too many questions? Yes, I know! You are not the "Encyclopedia of Thai farming". But in my eyes you are very experienced and if you feel like it, please answer.

[Farming In Northeast Thailand]

Hi fellows,

I've talked to "Mango Head" before so he knows about my plans already. But I want to join him in this question about farming in Isaan.

My Thai wife and I have just finished building our house. We are still living in Sweden but plan to move to Thailand in 3-4 years. At the end of this year we plan to buy 50 rai and nexy year 50 rai more. We will let our Thai family negotiate to keep the price down. The price seems to vary between 25.000 and 35.000 THB/rai (present rice fields). And it's going up every time they ask.........! (I wonder why?) The price depends on where the land is situated. Near a road - high price, far from a road - lower price. Farang asking - high price, Thai asking - lower price. Seller with economic problems - high price at first, then lower and lower, rich seller - high price first, then even higher when showing interest........! And so on!!

We've been advised to grow sugar canes from "experts" around our village. I'm sure there are a lot of other things to grow. "Mango Head" has a lot of ideas. But I wonder just like him.

Are there any other "farmers" up here and what do you recommend to grow?

Any experiences from growing and selling?

Is there any income tax when selling crops? If so, how much? Who's checking?

- "Wash" - I like your story. We will also share all our land with my Thai family. Like a big family business for the best of all of us involved. They now live in the new built house and already they seems to have much better self-confidence. We also plan to build one more house including a small shop and/or cafeteria (With Gai yang khao niow! Not Swedish meatballs or smorgasbord....!) and a satellite television where people can look at football when eating for example. Perhaps possibility to sing karaoke. I don't know yet. The family has to decide. I think some of them are interested in this kind of business too. Perhaps an optimistic idea to try this far out on the countryside. But why not? At least I know many Thai's are crazy about football. And eating they have always liked. So why not combine it?? Sanook, sanook!!

- Yes "Dr." - I know farming is not allowed for farangs. And not any other job either without work permit (I'm hoping for a Retirement Visa). But they can't stop us from thinking, can they!?

By the way - our place is east of (Amphur) Nonsa-At, halfway between Udon and Khon Kaen. I know there are a man from U.K. and his Thai wife in the village next to ours. They have just built a beautiful house but I have not met them yet. I think they still live in U.K. Don't know if they plan to live in Thailand and buy land. But there are farangs everywhere out there in the bush.

[Retirement Visa. Detailed Information Needed]

You can surely have your own bank account but not all Thai banks will open accounts for foreigners. Siam Commercial and Asia Bank are willing but I am sure there are others but didn’t check it out.

Cheers………kandt

Thank you all for your answers to my problems. It's still far from crystal clear what I should do to do it right from the beginning, but I'm learning "as time goes by"........ mmm tra la la!! (that happens to be the title of a great song!!).

This is a great forum with members and "admins" full of valuable knowledge. Thank you so much for caring and taking your time to help others. Everything will be far more difficult without all you out there.

Thow, I must ask one more stupid question. How does the Immigration Authorities think I'm supposed to show them a bank account with 800.000 THB IF THE BANKS IN THAILAND DOES NOT ALLOW ME TO HAVE AN ACCOUNT BECAUSE I'M A FORREIGNER!!!!!!!!????????? "Kandt" answered that SOME banks MIGHT allow me to have an account. What's the problem for the banks? Don't they want my money or what! Must I go around to the different banks and BEG them to keep my money? I'm sure this problem isn't new............of course not! Many must have done this before me. But it's a strange system. To have a VISA they force me to put money in the bank but they can't force the bank to accept my money.........! Temper, temper. Yes, I know. Cool down and accept the system....! But I wonder if I can find those "nice banks" far up in the northeast. Flying to Bangkok just to do bank business is a little expensive!

[Retirement Visa. Detailed Information Needed]

Hi Fellows,

Prepare yourself for a long and interesting letter!

Facts:

I'm from Sweden and I'm over 50 years old. I've been married (in Sweden) to a thai citizen for 21 years. She is now below 50 years old.

We've just built a house in Isaan (the place where the wonderful Luktung music comes from!) for a couple of millions (earned together and transferred to Thailand thru a bank account). My wife is the legal owner of the house and the land.

When leaving Sweden we will sell all we have here, send another couple of millions to Thailand and buy land, in my wife's name of course, to grow sugar canes. We will also put some savings in a bank account.

I call my self "ThaiFarmer" even if I know I cannot work as a such. But I can overlook the business and advise my wife and the staff through HER I suppose....! I don't have to WORK, just TALK to my wife a little now and then just as we've done for the last 22 years....!!).

There will at first be a couple of years when I don't receive any pension from Sweden (until I'm 61). That's partly why I have the question/-s below.

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

I've studied your documents concerning Retirement Visa forwards and backwards and looked in FAQ and so on but I can't find the answer of the following question.

First a clip from the rules:

"Letter from your embassy saying you wish to retire in Thailand For an applicant who is over 50 years old, proof of a sum of 800,000 baht in a Thai bank OR an income of not less than 65,000 baht per month must be presented - OR a combination of balance in the bank and a monthly income. Example: 400,000 Baht in the bank and 32,500 Baht coming in every month."

Starting point:

- I have 800.000 THB and I put them in a Thai bank from abroad the first year I apply for a Non-Immigrant O-visa. I do NOT need to present a monthly income if I've understood the text above.

- I don't have to touch the 800.000 THB ever during my retirement.

Question:

- Are not the Immigration Authorities interested in how I survive in Thailand. I mean, if I don't touch the 800.000 THB in the bank account, where does the money for all I need for living come from? When having a Retirement Visa I cannot work! Right? So money just HAVE to come in from abroad. But they don't care as long as I have 800.000 THB in my account, or..................!? Have I misunderstood something here?

- There's at least one more possibility, of course, and that is that someone supports me during my retirement. A rich Thai wife for example!!! If so, do they not ask for any proof? Or are we talking about another sort of Visa now. Alien supported by Thai wife or something?

- Are perhaps the Immigration Authorities satisfied if they are shown another bank account with savings sent from Sweden before we've left the country? I mean with money enough to live several years in Thailand.

- Or do I have to take out my 800.000 THB once a year, send them abroad and let someone send them back to my bank account again, just to satisfy the Immigration Authorities?

- By the way! Can I have my own bank account with my own savings in Thailand (in case she past away before me). What happens if money are coming into that account not from abroad??? For example from selling sugar canes from my wife's land????????? Am I allowed to receive gifts (money) to be put in my bank account?

Is it being complicated now? Puuuuhh! What do you think I think!

But I must do the right thing in the right order. My whole future can depend on it.

Conclusion:

- Yes I know what you think out there! Rich man's problem. But not at all. We've been struggling with simple works all our life just to be able to retire in Thailand.

- And yes! I have to trust my wife to 100% (well, I do!). She will be in charge for all our money earned together in almost a lifetime. I must depend on her now just like she depended on me when she left her country 22 years ago! Why not! But it's a good reason for me NOT to get involved with one or more "mia noi"!!! If caught by her I will end up very poor I think..............!

Please give me some advice.

[Legally Married Or What?]

Hi fellows,

Thank you all for your advices. We will contact the Thai Embassy here for advice, just like you said "lopburi3".

[Legally Married Or What?]

Well, it's somewhat complicated.

Nationality: Swedish

Wife's age: a few years below 50

My age: a few years over 50

1. My wife is a Swedish citizen (and Thai, too). I'm of course also a Swedish citizen.

2. She has a Swedish passport with my family name.

3. She also has a Thai passport with my family name. It's not active and not used since the 80's.

4. In Thailand she had a Thai ID-card when she was young, with her Thai family name on (of course!).

5. When in Thailand 2000 she renewed this ID-card with her Thai family name (= before she married me).

6. She also bought land with this ID-card in 2000. No problem. She is a Thai citizen!

So today she has two family names, mine and her old Thai!!

But I'm beginning to wonder, how legal this is. She is married to me in Sweden. But we are NOT married in Thailand. I've heard that if a Thai is married to a foreigner and she has the foreigners family name Thailand consider her as foreigner and therefore she can not own land.........?????

Or is she an unmarried Thai as long as she is'nt married in Thailand? And if we are getting married in Thailand and wants to stay in Thailand and own land, what family name should we choose, mine or her's?

Has she done anything illegal (6. and 7. above)?

If so, how can we make it legal again?

I will apply for Retirement visa.

Complicated...... Uhhhhh!!

Heeeeelp! Please!

[Legally Married Or What?]

Hi,

I have one small (?) problem, just to start with:

When reading about Thai visas I can see the words "Legally married" here and there.

What does "Legally married" mean in Thailand?

I've been married (in MY country) to my Thai born wife for more than 20 years and now we are planning to retire in Thailand and become farmers. She has MY familyname. As I understand it there are problems for a Thai married to a foreigner if she wants to own land in Thailand. Am I right about this? Does anyone know the exact rules about marriage, family names and land owning in Thailand?

Hope anyone out there can help me.