^^
Off the top of my head I've come across at least dozen PR's and six or eight westerners naturalised as Thai's. And I don't even get out much.
The predictable retort of course is that isn't many, to which I'd reply that not many bother to apply. Many as they don't want it/need it, but the same amount again who think that it is just 'all too hard'. The thing is though, if you are working in a half decent job, it isn't.
0
Its Scary Bringing Up A Family In Thailand
Started by Livinginexile, 2012-01-15 19:07
#52
PattayaParent
Titanium Member Posted 2012-01-16 16:01:33
Hi Bill, Thanks so much for your reply, you obviously know exactly what I am taking about. I work in construction and there are no "4 week on - 2 week off" type contracts. When you sign up it's for the duration of the project. My last 3 projects have been back-to-back with no break in between. Like i said, I used to bring my family with me but now my son needs routine now he's started school full time. My past has a big part to play, I was very much an absant Dad in my last marrage but this time around I know from personal experience the consequences of what being from your kids too much when they are young. I do not want to make the same mistake. Besides, I miss them both terribly when I am away. But alas you are right, to support a family in Thailand takes money, a lot of it if I want my son to have a good education and a good life for my family so I will plod on. I wish someone would just give me a million quid but then again, that probably wouldn't be enough either  Libya used to be 6 and 2 or 3 (weeks) Kazakhstan has 28 and 28 (days) at the moment. Angola too and Nigeria. You last 3 projects have been over what time scale? 1 year each? 3 or 4 months each? If they're short stints then talk to your company about skipping one. Or go freelance and do contract work you can pick and choose yourself as to when and where you go. I've gone the opposite way, from being single doing contract work, to having a family and being permanent but on family status. Edited by PattayaParent, 2012-01-16 16:03:27. #53
chops
Senior Member Posted 2012-01-16 16:24:31
Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess...
#54
BookMan
Super Soi Dog Posted 2012-01-16 16:38:32
Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess... Living the dream, sounds good! #55
Livinginexile
Diamond Member Posted 2012-01-16 17:02:58
Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess... Really?! Just two months ago you were looking for a cheap apartment to move into for under 2k bht/mth! "I Need A Cheap Room2-3k, wifi, & close to store" What exactly is your idea of "piles of cash"? #56
Forethat
PGA Member Posted 2012-01-16 17:22:58
Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess... Really?! Just two months ago you were looking for a cheap apartment to move into for under 2k bht/mth! "I Need A Cheap Room2-3k, wifi, & close to store" What exactly is your idea of "piles of cash"?
#57
DiamondKing
Senior Member Posted 2012-01-16 18:01:06
2 words solves all these woes
The Internet Learn how to make money online, and once you do, you can do what i do which is spend 24/7 with my kids and family without worrying about income. the OP sounds like he has a great paying job but I wonder where his money is going if he lives on a farm and is self sufficient. How much do you really need to live comfortably here DK #58
DiamondKing
Senior Member Posted 2012-01-16 18:06:01
Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess... Really?! Just two months ago you were looking for a cheap apartment to move into for under 2k bht/mth! "I Need A Cheap Room2-3k, wifi, & close to store" What exactly is your idea of "piles of cash"? 400K baht #59
Hooters
Senior Member Posted 2012-01-16 18:15:24
Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess... Really?! Just two months ago you were looking for a cheap apartment to move into for under 2k bht/mth! "I Need A Cheap Room2-3k, wifi, & close to store" What exactly is your idea of "piles of cash"? Busted! this my friends is why you never take to seriously what is written in annoymous forums Back to the OP, why not take the family back home? every country needs construction men. Dropping out and trying to scratch a living in Thailand will create grief. Nearly all family problems revolve around lack of money #60
Ulysses G.
Unwanted Member Posted 2012-01-16 18:24:37
What real reasons are there for this attitude? I often feel I live in a different Thailand than some people and I dont get these negative feelings. What attitude? I love living in Thailand and am usually accused of wearing "rose colored glasses". However, I am not a citizen and I do not think that it is impossible that foreigners will eventually find it very difficult to get long-term visas here unless they are wealthy. I just don't believe that. I know too many bog standard average foreigners who've easily gotten PR and citizenship. None of them are wealthy at all. To be honest, and maybe it is just me, but I'm a bit sick and tired of this myth - that you have to be well off and have connections - being bandied around as fact. I challenge anyone to say that the rules to get PR or eventually citizenship are onerous. Fact of the matter is when my wife's Thai citizenship application was submitted, though we could have lined up some big guns to get us through the process, we were advised against it by the police at the special branch, and as it turned out, her eligibility was assesed (and approved) with little regard to wealth or status. I'm impressed as - as far as I can make out - foreigners being awarded Thai citizenship is less than 40 per year? Yet you know "too many"! Few of the rest of us know ANYBODY (personally) that have been lucky enough to gain citizenship. I have been here more than 20 years and only know one Westerner who has gotten Thai citizenship. I did recently meet a cousin of mine who has PR, but he has been teaching in Bangkok Universities since 1963 and has a lot of connections with the Bangkok Elite. Edited by Ulysses G., 2012-01-16 18:25:43. #61
samran
Titanium Member Posted 2012-01-16 18:40:23
Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no.
#62
ludditeman
Super Member Posted 2012-01-16 18:49:16
Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no. Very few of us living here and earning a 'reasonable' salary Many of us living here with a fortune in investments/pensions/savings #63
ExpatJ
Senior Member Posted 2012-01-16 18:53:59
Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess... Really?! Just two months ago you were looking for a cheap apartment to move into for under 2k bht/mth! "I Need A Cheap Room2-3k, wifi, & close to store" What exactly is your idea of "piles of cash"? Busted! this my friends is why you never take to seriously what is written in annoymous forums Back to the OP, why not take the family back home? every country needs construction men. Dropping out and trying to scratch a living in Thailand will create grief. Nearly all family problems revolve around lack of money Epic bust  I was actually intrigued/.downright jealous of the online money making scheme until i saw the follow up about the rent!
Edited by ExpatJ, 2012-01-16 18:54:28. #64
Ulysses G.
Unwanted Member Posted 2012-01-16 19:14:17
Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no. I agree with you and I might have been misled, but when I was going to apply, I was told that no Westerners had been able to get it for a number of years and that I would be wasting my time and money if I applied. That is why I did not bother. I have to admit that it a while ago and I forget about it and have not checked again since Edited by Ulysses G., 2012-01-16 19:15:51. #65
chops
Senior Member Posted 2012-01-16 22:30:05
Luckily I don't have to travel around to make money. I can wake up, log into my websites and I just find piles of cash in there. One of the fringe benefits on earning money online I guess... Really?! Just two months ago you were looking for a cheap apartment to move into for under 2k bht/mth! "I Need A Cheap Room2-3k, wifi, & close to store" What exactly is your idea of "piles of cash"? Busted! this my friends is why you never take to seriously what is written in annoymous forums Back to the OP, why not take the family back home? every country needs construction men. Dropping out and trying to scratch a living in Thailand will create grief. Nearly all family problems revolve around lack of money My business is soaring and I'm doing rather well financially now. I came here with some credit cards at age 28 and never looked back. BTW, that post was made about a year ago. Times change... #66
zzaa09
curmudgeonly misanthropic nonpat Posted 2012-01-16 22:58:34
Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no. Very few of us living here and earning a 'reasonable' salary Many of us living here with a fortune in investments/pensions/savings Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life. I would stray away from the old stereotype of a retirement/pensioner character, as I don't think it's the norm. Being partly dependent on the proverbial private or goverment pensions. On the contrary, there is a significant Farang residential population that have never become interacted with this retirement stigma, as a growing and stable foreign resident community are from a far younger set that have established themselves here. I believe that this "Old Retired Geezers" archtype tends to run amoke as an accepted standard - they're probably in the minority regarding Western foreign residents. #67
hotandhumid
Senior Member Posted 2012-01-17 00:15:06
I feel for you not seeing your kids.
I know of a guy here who has a 1 year old daughter but hardly ever sees her but he DOES live in Thailand, just in a different city to his wife and kid. Very weird if you ask me. #68
samran
Titanium Member Posted 2012-01-17 00:49:55
Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no. Very few of us living here and earning a 'reasonable' salary Many of us living here with a fortune in investments/pensions/savings Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life. I would stray away from the old stereotype of a retirement/pensioner character, as I don't think it's the norm. Being partly dependent on the proverbial private or goverment pensions. On the contrary, there is a significant Farang residential population that have never become interacted with this retirement stigma, as a growing and stable foreign resident community are from a far younger set that have established themselves here. I believe that this "Old Retired Geezers" archtype tends to run amoke as an accepted standard - they're probably in the minority regarding Western foreign residents. I'm with the curmudgeonly misanthropic member on this one. Plenty of working age folk making a descent crust who would all qualify but for one reason or another don't end up applying. The old farts brigade might be a majority out in the boondocks but it isn't the case out in Bangkok where you can work for years and come across new people every day who have been there for years as well. #69
MAJIC
Platinum Member Posted 2012-01-17 02:15:10
however I always get the impression that thailand doesnt want me here and if they could they would banish us all. i pay taxes and contribute to the local economy. You are right. I'm on a retirement extension and have no delusions at all. The day they no longer want my money is the same day they will stop extending my visa. Anyone who thinks otherwise is dreaming. Agreed, but there are plenty of western dreamers on TV,who have convinced themselves otherwise. Clearly we are tolerated because we have money,nothing more,nothing less! #70
PattayaParent
Titanium Member Posted 2012-01-17 08:28:03
Fair call UG. My main point remains - are the rules onerous for someone earning a reasonable salary to make their way to PR and citizenship? The simple answer is no. I agree with you and I might have been misled, but when I was going to apply, I was told that no Westerners had been able to get it for a number of years and that I would be wasting my time and money if I applied. That is why I did not bother. I have to admit that it a while ago and I forget about it and have not checked again since I believe that was more a case of applications not being taken as the government was changing frequently so there was nobody in office long enough to sign off the approvals. I did read that applications were again being taken in December of 2011. #71
PattayaParent
Titanium Member Posted 2012-01-17 08:29:19
My business is soaring and I'm doing rather well financially now. I came here with some credit cards at age 28 and never looked back. BTW, that post was made about a year ago. Times change... What are you paying in rent these days? #72
ludditeman
Super Member Posted 2012-01-17 08:43:36
Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life. Apparently 50kbht a month is considered reasonable if you are married and want citizenship. If you don't pay tax on that amount each month, they don't want your application. #73
samsiam
BumGunsRule Posted 2012-01-17 08:45:07
Few of the rest of us know ANYBODY (personally) that have been lucky enough to gain citizenship. Lucky to become a Thai....well I never... #74
samran
Titanium Member Posted 2012-01-17 09:17:08
Whatever reasonable is considered to be. I would imaigine that full-time year-round Western residents [with or without the family, property, business/work] living here could be classified as "comfortable".....that can vary, as everyone has their own comfort zones and way of life. Apparently 50kbht a month is considered reasonable if you are married and want citizenship. If you don't pay tax on that amount each month, they don't want your application. 40K from memory. Either way, hardly earth shattering.
You are right. I'm on a retirement extension and have no delusions at all. The day they no longer want my money is the same day they will stop extending my visa. Anyone who thinks otherwise is dreaming. Agreed, but there are plenty of western dreamers on TV,who have convinced themselves otherwise. Clearly we are tolerated because we have money,nothing more,nothing less! More nonesense. Tell me a country which lets people in to live more or less permanently on a retirement visa with such derisory amounts of money in the bank (and in many cases, on the basis of a 'sworn statment' from the embassy...it's the truth your honour!). How many country's in the world let you overstay illegally for years, rock up at the airport, pay a $600 fine, and then let you back in on the next flight? It takes alot to be blacklisted from Thailand. Technically, you are correct, in that anyone who is not a citizen of a country is prone to changes in visa conditions etc and has the remote threat of deportation, especially if they've broken the law. But the likelyhood of that happening is pretty low to make your statment scaremongering more than anything else. For class A stuff ups of visa conditions changing and putting people out, you'd be hard pressed go past the UK in 2008 who changed the conditions their Highly Skilled Migrant Permit extension of stay system. If the Home Office had got its way thousands of families who moved to the UK under the system would have been forced to move back. It took High Court challenge to stop the change. Edited by samran, 2012-01-17 09:43:40. #75
Livinginexile
Diamond Member Posted 2012-01-17 09:46:11
A year ago?
"2011-09-30 08:53:07" Try about 3 months ago. 
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