Emigrating to LOS

[Cat Man]

Originally Posted by tionggoklan

Bro Cat Man,

What u say is quite true abt sg passport dun require visa in many countires. But as a sporean, u also know lah, many of us dun have much cash on hand 1, if have, maybe in our CPF which in turn means the HDB/property we own.

So to get the CPF money out, onli way is to gif up the citizenship. If not, even if u r 55yo, also can't withdraw all out, must leave a minimum sum, n that "minimum" sum is getting less n less minimum, hahahaha. Basically, for ppl like us in the late 30s n 40s, dun tink we have anything much to get at 55yo after minusing the minimum sum.

So maybe Bro sg69 wanted to do so b'cos of this. Of course, if the person is cash rich, then I fully agree wif yr way.

To become Thai citizen, you must stay in LOS minimum 10 years continuously!! To become PR, you must stay for 3 years minimum on the same visa. That means if you come and go on different visas, it doesn't count. The only ways are to get a job with work permit in LOS and stay at the job for at least 3 years, or get a spouse visa, which requires you to show a Thai bank account with 800K baht or funds coming from abroad. All this info can be found in www.thaivisa.com forum.

Some more, each year only a maximum of 100 PR slots will be allocated to each nationality. That means if more than 100 S'poreans apply for PR, then only 100 will get.

There is also some uncertainty whether the 10 years minimum for citizenship starts counting from the time you get PR, or includes the 3 years for PR, i.e. is it 10 years or 10+3 years? I don't know the answer.

There is a cartoon in one of the books about living in Thailand showing a young guy who goes to the immigration office to apply for citizenship, then another picture shows the same guy getting his citizenship, but he is an old man with tongkat already!!

So forget about getting Thai citizenship quickly or easily.

[siamcutey]

Originally Posted by bkkguy

My own rules when come to any investment in Thailand.


2) Cash item like car will have to be in my name.(Can cash in 24 hrs anytime)

Foreigner buy car can loan boh? If can, minimum how much downpayment?

hehehe
SC

[singrakthai]

Originally Posted by siamcutey

Foreigner buy car can loan boh? If can, minimum how much downpayment?
hehehe
SC

u buy, i help u take care ok?

[siamcutey]

Originally Posted by singrakthai

u buy, i help u take care ok?

If I buy, means I have use for it, not for my so-call tiraks/gfs to use.

Need to ask this because I know buy condo is pay full sum, so for car must see whether can put downpayment and then pay by installments.

SC

[singrakthai]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

There is a cartoon in one of the books about living in Thailand showing a young guy who goes to the immigration office to apply for citizenship, then another picture shows the same guy getting his citizenship, but he is an old man with tongkat already!!
So forget about getting Thai citizenship quickly or easily.

hehe.. see? Where got so easy? Got 1 joker in another thread says can sell parent's house and move everything to Thailand and can buy house, buy car and "start something".. sabai sabai.. so easy machiam "bang pooi"... haha..laugh untill I stomach pain...

[Cat Man]

Originally Posted by siamcutey

Foreigner buy car can loan boh? If can, minimum how much downpayment?

hehehe
SC

I got car loan for 60% of the car price, but based on my salary. I think it is a case-by-case basis. You also need one or two Thai guarantors. I managed to convince them to waive this requirement in my case. My expat friend got his secretary to be his guarantor, haha. I think the secretary is stupid, but then considering how much my friend makes, maybe she thinks her boss is totally credit worthy.

[siamcutey]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

I got car loan for 60% of the car price, but based on my salary. I think it is a case-by-case basis. You also need one or two Thai guarantors. I managed to convince them to waive this requirement in my case. My expat friend got his secretary to be his guarantor, haha. I think the secretary is stupid, but then considering how much my friend makes, maybe she thinks her boss is totally credit worthy.

Maybe the boss increase her salary by 500baht every month. Who knows? Or maybe is her gig.

Ok, will look into this area again. Thks

kekeke
SC

[suteerak1099]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

My own question, bro bkkguy sure can answer.

If your wife give birth in LOS, can you register the child for both S'pore and Thai citizenship? If can, how to do this? I'm becoming a father very soon, kekeke.

อนุโมทนา ~!! soon to be a dad! ho seh liao.. can celebrate wan-por very soon na ja!

about your question, if i'm not wrong, its somehow a gray area that alot have queries about. if i'm not wrong, by getting your child singaporean citizenship... it may in turn be a benefit to offer your spouse long-term visa in singapore (but unemployed).

well, since already paved so hard to be in LOS, might as well just settle there. least to say, the economic prospects despite the recent bird flu issues is something better to work towards to.

str1099

[suteerak1099]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

I got car loan for 60% of the car price, but based on my salary. I think it is a case-by-case basis. You also need one or two Thai guarantors. I managed to convince them to waive this requirement in my case. My expat friend got his secretary to be his guarantor, haha. I think the secretary is stupid, but then considering how much my friend makes, maybe she thinks her boss is totally credit worthy.

i was advised by local thai peers that it should cost about 4-6K thb to afford a reasonable 2nd hand set of wheels. if the wheels are meant for errands, small honda jazz/mitsubishi colt should suffice. if not, then do it the thai way, get a pick-up lor. unless the ride is to serve as babe magnet/head turners.. sigh, then that 1 really gotta burn a big hole in pockets.

i was just wondering if a new showroom car could be shared among spouse? 50-50? co-owned by wife, bt hubby the chauffeur... probably owned by wife, but operated by hubby. at least that also solves the issues for loans.

[U-Need]

Originally Posted by siamcutey

Foreigner buy car can loan boh? If can, minimum how much downpayment?

hehehe
SC

Foreigners can always get car loan. The dealer would be more than willing to help you to outsource for the financial institutions that could offer the coverage (You must be working in Thailand). Some of my friends could even get up to 100% for car models that are on promotion. However, u would still need a guarantor.

For condo, there are some banks that can cover up to 90% of the house value for foreigners, as long as you are working here in Thailand. Try going to the property show, there is one now in BITEC. The banks are willing to help as long as the project is under their scope. For second hand housing it would be rather difficult.

[singrakthai]

Originally Posted by suteerak1099

i was advised by local thai peers that it should cost about 4-6K thb to afford a reasonable 2nd hand set of wheels. if the wheels are meant for errands, small honda jazz/mitsubishi colt should suffice. if not, then do it the thai way, get a pick-up lor. unless the ride is to serve as babe magnet/head turners.. sigh, then that 1 really gotta burn a big hole in pockets.

Can u intro ur friend to me? I'm interested in a 4-6k 2nd hand Honda jazz/mitsubishi colt! Actually.... 4-6k 2nd hand pickup also not bad! Thanks!

[siamcutey]

Originally Posted by U-Need

Foreigners can always get car loan. The dealer would be more than willing to help you to outsource for the financial institutions that could offer the coverage (You must be working in Thailand). Some of my friends could even get up to 100% for car models that are on promotion. However, u would still need a guarantor.

For condo, there are some banks that can cover up to 90% of the house value for foreigners, as long as you are working here in Thailand. Try going to the property show, there is one now in BITEC. The banks are willing to help as long as the project is under their scope. For second hand housing it would be rather difficult.

Thks. My new company now I in, will have projects in thailand. Hopefully I can get early bird rates next time

SC

Originally Posted by singrakthai

Can u intro ur friend to me? I'm interested in a 4-6k 2nd hand Honda jazz/mitsubishi colt! Actually.... 4-6k 2nd hand pickup also not bad! Thanks!

wah, got such lobang. I also want. will get one for my tirak.

[singrakthai]

Originally Posted by bangkoktonight

wah, got such lobang. I also want. will get one for my tirak.

first time heard also.. so cheap.. no wonder Bangkok always traffic jam! *LOL* I think i'll buy 20 2nd hand cars now and start my own renting business! *LOL*

[bkkguy]

Originally Posted by Cat Man

Legally, foreigners are not permitted to do retail business under the Alien Business Law. If you want to do retail business, you must set up a Thai company, i.e. 51% owned by Thais. Otherwise, your business must be quite big and in approved industry, then you can get a Alien Business License and your company can be 100% foreign owned.

But I'm sure some people just go ahead and open shop in LOS without proper legal registration. The question is whether you will kena disturb by the tamruat and gangsters. I don't have much real experience in this area. But I ever heard my LOS lau chiau S'porean customer say that when he start business in LOS, he will go and pay respects to the local mafia boss who operate in the territory. I don't know whether you need to pay any protection money.

Maybe bkkguy has more experience and can advise?

No need to pay ANY protection money one unless you are dealing with illegal business like no license pubs, massage parlor,pool games or cafe etc.....

The best and safe form of retail business is food business.
Everyone has to eat right.

Registration for a company for any retail business is not required for the thai.
All they have to do is register their business to the local district authority for 50 baht for a 'kom ter bian kang ka' certificate will do. No tea money will be involved (don't be con by some tiraks excuse) In facts; you can get it on the same day you apply for it.

Under the retail business ruling, no tax is to be paid if whole year earnings is less than 1.8 million bahts/year.They only need to self declare an 'estimate' annual personal earnings under the por mor dor 91 to the local tax dept will do. Some pay 1000 baht/year, other even pay 500 bahts and many don't even have to pay anything.The form por mor dor 91 is just like our sg IRAS income tax form. It is advisable to at least do a bit of declaring for personal income tax instead of zero earnings.This way, it will make her borrowing/loans from the bank much easier in the near future.

Retail business needs a lot of hard work and long working hours.If you can, try to be a landlord instead of lessee.