Another crackdown on border runners

Post by **johnnyk** » Thu Jun 04, 2009 11:53 pm

Khundon1975 wrote:
johnnyk wrote:Not wanting to be rude, but I've never understood the anxiety about putting 800K baht in a Thai bank in order to live in Thailand.
Its money to live on.
Most countries worth living in require something in the way of guaranteed funds so they don't have to foot the bill for non-citizens.
Yes, bank interest is lost.
But these days how much are banks paying on 800K baht/$25K/15K sterling?
2% maybe.

johnnyk

Thats ok mate it's not rude.
Anyone who is leaving money in a British bank is only getting 0.5% interest, if you allow for inflation they are losing money on the deal.

I'm not anxious about putting 800K in a Thai bank, we have several times that there already, put there in 2001/2002, so that my wife can continue to purchase land and property there, whilst she is in UK.
I would not consider doing that now, with the exchange rate.

My point about leaving money in Thai banks at no interest, is that I can earn over 10% interest by investing in stocks/shares property etc in UK /Europe at the moment, not able to do that in Thailand.
Why let it lose money in a Thai bank when it can be earning money which can then be spent in Thailand.

But khundon,
aren't you drawing down the 800K month-by-month as you would anywhere?
Right now I don't know where 10% can be gotten. Let me know please!
If 10% can be gotten it will not be without serious risk IMO and anything in the 3-5% range wouldn't be easily accessed for monthly living expenses.

Post by **Khundon1975** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:15 am

johnnyk

Of course it can be used month by month and another 800k transferred each year (at a cost).
The money though is tied up for 3 months at no interest to me.

10% return is easy, do your homework on stocks/shares and property and you can easily atain this % even in the current market conditions.

It's not rocket science.

Post by **Takiap** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:55 am

SJ wrote:-

"Anyone confused by this debate, the Royal Thai Consulate in your own country will legally issue you a Non-Immigrant 'O', that gives you 15 months, which you then you renew in a neighbouring country. No income proof is requirement. I've got about 6 in my passport if anyone wants one scanned and posted up, don't forget to go for the 'M' Multiple entry one"

Sorry SJ but your information is outdated. I tried to get a new 1 year Non O (Thai spouse and 2 kids) visa in KL a few months ago and they wanted to see 400,000 baht in a Thai bank. As I'm not that wealthy, I got three months instead.

S

Post by **Wanderlust** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:47 am

Takiap,
Actually SJ is spot on - he did say 'Royal Thai Consulate in your own country', although I am confused about what you say about KL - I have obtained a multi entry non immigrant O visa (also Thai wife and two kids) without having to show funds in a Thai bank, twice; first time in 2007, second time last month without all the other proper paperwork (see the thread I posted about that trip here).

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 5:42 pm

Takiap wrote:Sorry SJ but your information is outdated. I tried to get a new 1 year Non O (Thai spouse and 2 kids) visa in KL a few months ago and they wanted to see 400,000 baht in a Thai bank. As I'm not that wealthy, I got three months instead.
S

Hi Takiap, my comments were about obtaining the Non-Imm 'O' in your home country for someone under 50 (with no other options, teaching, working, family support etc), not to do with the 'support of family' visa you are referring to.

Cheers mate,

SJ

Post by **Jim** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 7:15 pm

Khundon1975 wrote:johnnyk
10% return is easy, do your homework on stocks/shares and property and you can easily atain this % even in the current market conditions.

It's not rocket science.

You are having a giraffe mate. Anyone who thinks 10% is easy is either a) a genius or b) about to get masses of egg on face.

Enjoy the weekend

Post by **JAJA** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 8:56 pm

The visa run issue would exist in any country. I am not aware of any country that does not regulate permanent or semi permanent residents. The problem with boarder runners is that they want to convert their tourist status to that of permanent or semi permanent resident by means of manipulating the tourist visa. If anything, Thailand is more generous on this score than most other countries.

Post by **Khundon1975** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 9:09 pm

Jim wrote:
Khundon1975 wrote:johnnyk
10% return is easy, do your homework on stocks/shares and property and you can easily atain this % even in the current market conditions.

It's not rocket science.
You are having a giraffe mate. Anyone who thinks 10% is easy is either a) a genius or b) about to get masses of egg on face.

Enjoy the weekend

Jim

You live in your little World mate, I have been achieving those sort of returns for years on stocks and shares and much higher returns on property in UK and Europe.

I am not really concerned if you can't.

Of course to achieve those sort of returns on property in Thailand at the moment, is not so easy but can be done if you don't buy crap and try to sell it as premium property, as many people have been trying to do.

Stick with 0.5% from your bank and enjoy your life.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:09 am

Khundon1975 wrote:Of course it can be used month by month and another 800k transferred each year (at a cost). The money though is tied up for 3 months at no interest to me

Based on your above post regarding you raking it in at 10%, why would losing a few months interest on a relatively small amount (to you), the 800k be of much concern ?

And just the mention of the TT transfer fee of 25 quid, or whatever it is, done it for me.

SJ

Post by **caller** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:38 am

Khundon1975 wrote:Stick with 0.5% from your bank and enjoy your life.

With respect KD, that is what the majority have to do. Although I recently got a wee bit more than that. Dabbling in stocks or property, either in the UK or europe, is not the lot of the average guy in the street! But good luck to you for being in a position to do so.

Post by **buksida** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:48 am

Great innit, old and loaded, you can stay here!

Just a regular bloke doing a job and trying to feed your half-Thai kids ... nah, ... feck off until you can show us some Euros ...

Don't ya just luvit! Gimme those rosy ones SJ, we'll find a way -

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 4:29 am

Firstly Buks those regular blokes you mention earning a living to support their family are not required to bring in a single Euro, they are given long stay extensions based on their 'B' Business visas/WP's, so no ploblem.

Re: the 'support of family' visa requiring the 40k a month income from the foreigner (or ZERO income if he has bank show money) is pretty modest for supporting a whole family, many people have 2-3 kids to support. Those of us with a couple of kids could survive on that 40k, what with rents and school fees (as we value our kids education more than living in the sun).

They're requiring us to have an income of just 1,300 Baht per day, this will not cover all potential eventualities like rent, bills, food, entertainment, transport, schooling, school trips, PC's for kids development, medical bills, emergency repatriation, insurances, clothing, birthday & Xmas presents, assistance for spouses family members' medical treatment, etc etc.

SJ

Post by **Takiap** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:26 am

Wanderlust wrote:Takiap,
Actually SJ is spot on - he did say 'Royal Thai Consulate in your own country', although I am confused about what you say about KL - I have obtained a multi entry non immigrant O visa (also Thai wife and two kids) without having to show funds in a Thai bank, twice; first time in 2007, second time last month without all the other proper paperwork (see the thread I posted about that trip here).

Hi WL

I tried for mine five months ago and was only granted a three month visa because I was unable to show 40,000 monthly income or 400K in a bank. That's the reason I extended here for 60 days and now I've just done a Ranong visa run. As I've posted before, HH immigration told me I will be able to get another 60 days on top of that but of course, seeing is believing.......lol

Post by **Takiap** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 7:48 am

Hi SJ

In your one post you mentioned getting the visa in your own home country but that it could be extended in any of the neighbouring countries without proof of funds?

That's exactly what I tried to do five months ago in KL and was turned away because I could show proof of funds or 40,000 per month income.

On a slightly different note...................While I agree there needs to be some form of control regarding people staying here or in any country for that matter, I don't think money should main factor. Let's face it, any criminal, or at least any half successful one would have no problem meeting the financial requirements for a visa. As an example, Garry Glitter could have stayed here perfectly legal, and fiddled with kids to his hearts content because he has money. Me on the other hand falls slightly short of the 40,000 per month so of course I'm not welcome. What's worse is; with my wife's income on top of mine, we do have more than the 40K but her money doesn't count.

What strikes me is, the Thais are forever preaching about family values and yet they are quite happy to tear a family apart and deprive kids of having their father, and that over a couple of thousand baht.
Just for the book.....we've been married for ten years and we have two kids, so it's hardly a fake marriage. Also, for those who think it's impossible, we do get by on less than 40,000 per month as neither of us hang out in the bars, etc, and yes, we only eat Thai food which is mostly prepared by ourselves at home.

I know there are many who keep sprouting that the visa laws here are perhaps more relaxed than anywhere else and while that may be true in some cases, I don't think it's true in my case. If I moved back to my country, my wife and kids have every right to stay there with me, whether they have money or not and after a few years, my wife would get citizenship if she wanted.

Well, rant over. Now, if any of you fine gentlemen would like to deposit 400K in my bank and leave it there for two months, I'd be most grateful.....lol.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 8:50 am

Takiap wrote:Hi SJ
In your one post you mentioned getting the visa in your own home country but that it could be extended in any of the neighbouring countries without proof of funds? That's exactly what I tried to do five months ago in KL and was turned away because I could show proof of funds or 40,000 per month income.

Hi, I did clearly state above the discussion was about visas for those under 50 WITH NO other visa options available to them, like education, support of family (marriage to some), business, investment, retirement etc. They can renew locally without proof of funds. Based on your 40k comment I think you are still talking about the 'support of family' visa where 40k is a criteria.

SJ