Resident....... Or Not

[Gregjam]

What exactly is the status of someone, like many who live here, in regard to their residency. I know of some who have nothing back in their home country and while in effect are resident here they are still on various forms of Non-Immigrant visas be they O-A etc etc.
I work on the basis that as the visa is Non Immigrant and despite not living in my home country I cannot consider myself resident here officially but when asked where I live will happily respond that My home is in Thailand.
Normally this is not an issue unless problems arise and by then it is a bit late to get into the subject.
How do the embassies refer to their nationals whose only link is likely to be for pension payments and should you have to return to your home country for whatever reason how would you be treated.

[JamesWest]

NOT. If you get a drivers license the cops treat you differently but that is about it.

you are a citizen of what ever country you hold citizenship in.

with very few exceptions for Farangs, that is not Thailand.

you are a guest in the Kingdom based on what ever understanding you have with immigration.

that is why you report every 90 days so they can have a chance to throw you out of the country if they have a problem with you.

i have a non-immigrant O visa, good for one year, then the time is up and I start the process over with no guarantee i will be allowed to remain. LIKE EVERYONE.

Many people will tell you that this is not a "Visa", but a "extension of stay."

I am a American, if I live here for ten years, I am still a American just visiting Thailand one year at a time. Ever country has laws about leaving the country. They might look at you funny and ask a lot of questions about why you have been gone so long.

[VincentD]

JamesWest hit it on the head. I have PR so I have been visiting for twenty six years. Doesn't matter if you go back once every three or more years, you are still a citizen of the country you're from.

[Gregjam]

What does PR status offer that is different O the visas apart from spending a lot more money to get it (assuning PR stands for permanent resident or at least resident status).
If you are classed as some kind of resident surely you can the say you a national of whatever country resident in Thailand. Holding the O visa you are, as JamesWest says just a visitor and no matter how long or how much you have spent could be kicked out tomorrow and just become another statistic.
I feel somewhat comforted that my plans to maintain a presence in my home country will at least give me a bolt hole should it be required.

[VincentD]

Yes. PR is residence. I got this many years ago when nobody was even interested so not too much cost at the time. I can stay until I croak without any worries, the entry date stamped in the passport has an open expiry; no 90 day reporting required and almost no job restrictions. Moot point, though as once you pass sixty no one wants to employ you anyway. I know someone (also PR) who renews a blank passport every 5 years at the embassy. .. he's not left for a while. .. :-)

[STEVE G]

I've gradually found out that not being a resident anywhere is greatly advantageous from a taxation point of view. I've not been officially resident in any country since 2003.

[jingjoe]

I was informed by my accountant that i had become a non resident of australia because i had spent more than 183 days in one year,2 years in a row outside of australia.
this meant:
i no longer had to pay the medicare levy,although am still entitled to medicare if i go back,
had to pay 10% withhold on interest in bank
no tax on dividends from shares
but 39% tax on rental property income..no threshold..which is a biggy for a lot of aussies living here who have rental income..no matter how much you earn from rentals you get taxed 39% of it!!

[Dannie Boy]

If you're a Brit and living outside of the UK (other than up to an average of 90 days a year) you will be classified as non-resident for tax purposes, however any UK sourced pension is still liable for UK tax, although you're still eligible for the tax free allowance, currently the first £10,600 is tax-free.

[STEVE G]

If you're a Brit and living outside of the UK (other than up to an average of 90 days a year) you will be classified as non-resident for tax purposes, however any UK sourced pension is still liable for UK tax, although you're still eligible for the tax free allowance, currently the first £10,600 is tax-free.

If you have any kind of financial dealings through the UK it's best to tell the taxman that you're going, there's a form P85 that you send them, "I am leaving the UK" and also another one that gets you off having any bank account interest taxed.