Brit female/thai male married - non imm 'o' visa/work permit advice please
Hi,
Thank you in advance for any help and please accept my apologies as I have been sat in front of a computer for what seems like hours - days - some time trying to get decent easy to understand information and may be found to be repeating previous questions.
I am British and my husband, Thai. We are both 35 years old. We got married nearly 7 years ago in Thailand and the marriage is registered at the amphur (I kept my own name) and in the UK, where my husband has travelled and worked with me previously...albeit brief...he has been here working whilst I have been away a number of years undertaking a degree and studying/working in another country learning new skills I shall utilise in future business.
I have therefore not been in Thailand for a number of years and each time I was here (to a total of approx 3 years I had never had a work permit - it was this time that me and my husband also met) and aside form once having a non-imm b visa I have always been using 1 month visa runs.
I would now like to stay and attempt to do things as correctly as possible (which I hope is not in the end to my own detriment!!). This year I would like to open a business and undertake a PhD however initially would like to apply for a non-imm 'o' visa as a dependant of my husband (of which I believe a change of country is necessary as i am too late for applying for a change of visa - I am on the 30 day get it when you arrive at the airport visa and arrived back from Philippines on NYE). His salary is currently less than 40k p/m however he is a land owner. I used to have a thai bank account here of which there may have been a small amounts of funds left in to try and keep it open but I currently just use his ATM if I need to access his account and his salary (our money, not that I pay in to it). This would entitle me to apply for a work permit as far as the immigration office have stated, however they have also informed me that the freelance work permit I have read that is available in Phuket does not exist and I have no firm offer from an individual company as would be usual. I also understand that it is usual to have a letter from the work and labour office when you make the non-imm 'o' visa to show that you have placed an application for work - I won't have done this I don't think as I have no firm offer from an individual company. We currently do not live at his parents house which is where his house book refers to, nor rent anywhere just the two of us, we live in the office of a family member where my husband works.
So I have a few questions as I do want to F$^*K it up and get all the way to a consulate office/embassy in another country (probably Malaysia) and be turned down for some reason!
1) if I am a dependant do I have to have a work offer in the same way to secure a work permit?
2) Does this holy grail - the freelance work permit - actually exist? I have read that in Phuket it does, I have been told by immigration that it does not.
3) If I am applying as a dependant via marriage on the o visa and want to work - do I have to place this letter with the work and labour office before I apply for the visa in Malaysia?
4) I read of men having to prove their ability to financially support their wife - is this the case with Thai husband/foreign wife? I read it was a joint income which we would satisfy if I were allowed to work however without the work permit I can't assist in us reaching the total required of 40k per month.......as an aside is money tied up in land the same as it is a seeable and utilisable asset? (who believes in banks these days?!)
5) Does it make any difference if I have not taken my husbands name? (This is changeable if necessary).
6) can anyone explain for me the tax and therefore true total amount of a visa/work permit for a year past initial set up of 1900 bht, extension 1900 bht and work permit set-up (which although having spoken to others who have them have told me they pay 30000 per year I have been told by the immigration office (IO) that I will pay just 3000 per year).
For the future -
Assuming we receive the visa and then I have to apply for an extension at the end of 90 days at the IO in Phuket town -
1) Is it then that we have to prove where we live and have a rent book or house book together or whatever, photos etc etc?
2) When we get interviewed I presume they will ask questions on how we met etc...how well do all the computer systems hook up to eachother as we previously were at the same company together . . . . I'm nervous of trying to do the right thing and shooting my self in the foot at the same time! So which is better - more honest (see real emotion) or less honest (and perhaps see two people a little shifty unsure of what they're supposed to say)?
3) I have read that post marrying me my husband is not freely allowed to buy land in his own country - is that really true?
4) In regard to land - can he not gift me land officially?
5) Does anyone have a quick opinion to guide me in whether a business should be opened here or in England? For example tax advantages etc - and if so my name, his name etc. We are both trust worthy.
6) In regard to business and living here more permanently than England but still also in other overseas locations....am I better to look at permanent residency?
7) So far all info I have found requires me to 'give up' my British passport which I will never do - in regard to citizenship - is this the case?
If anyone is still awake after reading this then I thank you for that alone, past that I am very grateful for any advice anyone can give. I am hoping to go tomorrow to the IO (although I'm already panicking about only having flipflops to wear) and then to leave asap for Penang.
Apologies for the wordiness - I'm sure I stopped myself from thinking of other questions I still had....and I am not lazy or stupid and promise I have been researching this topic before posting. Clarification of any points will obviously be given to aid answers wanting to be given. Thank you ka.
