Thailand Expats

DaveRetiring · #1 26-04-2006, 04:02

Hi people,

I did a search and it returned about a zillion replies so thought I be lazy rather than read them all.

I am 62 and in November I am planning on getting a retirement visa to Thailand. It has been suggested that because of my engineering background and CNC programming skills I might be able to get work teaching.

Is the work permit something I can organize before arrival or does it have to be submitted by or on behalf of an employer?

Any suggestions where to begin looking for companies or Edus that might be interested in any of my skills. I don't really need the money so big wages would not be an issue, but it would be nice to pass on some of this hard fought and earned knowledge.

I have lived in Asia before, so no need for all the standard warnings of moving there.

Thanks

Dave

stevem · #2 26-04-2006, 05:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveRetiring

Is the work permit something I can organize before arrival or does it have to be submitted by or on behalf of an employer?

By your employer

DaveRetiring · #3 26-04-2006, 06:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevem

By your employer

Thanks Steve,

I guess I need to find training colleges or Universities that might need some CNC programming skills.

billpay · #4 26-04-2006, 08:36

I don't think you can get a work permit while on retirement visa.

Mabus · #5 26-04-2006, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveRetiring

I am 62 and in November I am planning on getting a retirement visa to Thailand. It has been suggested that because of my engineering background and CNC programming skills I might be able to get work teaching.

Dave, as far as I know a retirement visa excludes you from doing any work in Thailand. If you plan to work you should contact the Thai embassy in your country, they can tell you what type of visa you should get.

DaveRetiring · #6 26-04-2006, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mabus

Dave, as far as I know a retirement visa excludes you from doing any work

Thanks Bill and Mabus, you are correct. It appears I need an "O" Visa. More work needed here

Baz · #7 27-04-2006, 01:33

Quote
I don't think you can get a work permit while on retirement visa.

I think the clue is in the title "retirement"

Baz

LivinLOS · #8 27-04-2006, 13:16

Yes but retirement and marriage come under the same 'O' visa (O-A for retirement ??).. and you can have a WP on a non imm O it doesnt have to be on a B !!!

Problem with work permits is that there are min wage considerations which I dont see being paid by the schools you might teach at.. I think this is waived for English teaching as they want government schools to have the free ride of low pay to English teaching but I am not sure if thats teaching in general and I am also unsure how vocational training fits in with 'teaching' in the Thai systems..

This is definately a suck it and see thing once you get here but I suspect that if your benefiting them and working for low pay (to be generous) they may find a way to accomodate you within the rules.. Thai rules have a way of solving themselves if you are being good to Thailand in thier eyes.

sundancekid · #9 30-04-2006, 22:11

Ok I’ve never really understood the Work Permit stuff in LOS (my lawyer takes care of everything). Since I am on a one-year visa + WP, the minimum wages do apply: 50.000 for a European.

But I have been told that this can be waived (i.e. no minimum wage condition for foreigners) if you are on a 90 day entry permit. Then you just have to renew the permit four times a year (and do visa runs).

LivinLOS · #10 01-05-2006, 07:25

Yes if you dont fully qualify for a WP (not having 4 thais per WP, not making min wage, etc) you can still do visa runs..

I know divers with thier own company and no employees and hardly paying tax who have the WP and do visa runs..

Also I was 99% that it was 55k before taxes for a Euro now.. 60k for Americans.. do you mean 50k net ?? I thought at 12% or so it was a 6250 deduction on the 55k to be legal..

Now what happens if you are here on a retirement O style visa and meet the definition to not do visa runs (800k in the bank) but then get a WP (you can on an O but I doubt you can on a retirement.. Lets say for the sake of argument its a O based on marriage) that doesnt meet the long stay requirement.

Could you not do visa runs and extend your visa based on the marriage.. Yet work on the WP (without all conditions met) ?? Interesting angle..

DaveRetiring · #11 02-05-2006, 03:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by LivinLOS

Could you not do visa runs and extend your visa based on the marriage.. Yet work on the WP (without all conditions met) ?? Interesting angle..

Geeze guys, this is waaaaay too complicated for my tired old brain. I think I will wing it when I get there and see what can be done. I'll come in on a non-imm visa and figure out the retirement stuff later. Even then I think it will be smarter to use a local Lawyer too.

I particularly like the "Thai rules have a way of solving themselves if you are being good to Thailand in their eyes." made me laugh. I had seen that in other Asian countries. It seems the rules are actually only guidelines.

Thanks for all the replies. When I get there and do some on the ground research I will report back here with some first hand stuff.

stevem · #12 02-05-2006, 04:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by DaveRetiring

I particularly like the "Thai rules have a way of solving themselves if you are being good to Thailand in their eyes." made me laugh. I had seen that in other Asian countries. It seems the rules are actually only guidelines.

So long as you dont go into it thinking that this will happen.

Nicke · #13 02-05-2006, 14:39

Its 35k minimum wage (European) unless you want one year visa, then it is 50k as you pointed out.

My accounting suggested I made one year extension to my visa but I am happy to do my visa runs and leave every 3 months.

Quote:

Originally Posted by sundancekid

Ok I’ve never really understood the Work Permit stuff in LOS (my lawyer takes care of everything). Since I am on a one-year visa + WP, the minimum wages do apply: 50.000 for a European.

But I have been told that this can be waived (i.e. no minimum wage condition for foreigners) if you are on a 90 day entry permit. Then you just have to renew the permit four times a year (and do visa runs).

Baz · #14 03-05-2006, 06:15

To Nicke
quote
My accounting suggested I made one year extension to my visa but I am happy to do my visa runs and leave every 3 months.

Why not do the year visa extension but still do the 3 monthly trips without the hassel.

Baz

Nicke · #15 03-05-2006, 18:51

It is more hassle with one year extension, I have to pay more tax and and probably some tea money aswell. As i said, I dont mind my visa runs so I dont bother.

sundancekid · #16 03-05-2006, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nicke

It is more hassle with one year extension, I have to pay more tax and and probably some tea money aswell. As i said, I dont mind my visa runs so I dont bother.

Yes, lots of hassle. My lawyer took care of it but it cost me 25.000 baht. Guess because of the trips between Immigration and the WP office (three or four I think). Took me almost 3 months to renew (Nov 5 - Jan 27). Still, a bit too much though considering the actual govt. fees.

I saw a recent article in the Gazette claiming that a renewal can now be done in a couple of minutes. Anyone knows if this applies to the 1 year as well?