Wars of Aggression. Hyperinflation. Big Brother Domination. Unjust Taxation. Or maybe you just don't friggin' like it here anymore....
No matter what your reason for abandoning ship, there will come a day in every American's life (& you Canadians too!) sooner than you think that you're going to want to go live in another country. The decision of which country you choose to live in is one that we've talked about hundreds of times here on WF; and usually the country of Thailand comes up most and has the strongest proponents among us. If you're still trying to figure out why you'd want to do that, then please use the search function here and see one of the other threads where we talk about exactly that.
So I'm taking this, my 4K post, to write a comprehensive guide on moving to Thailand. I wish I could make it about every country, but I've only got enough experience in Thailand to write a useful guide for you today. More of you will need it than you think. So I advise you all to print this out to a PDF of something and keep it handy for that day in the not-too-distant future when the Stars and Stripes start to resemble searchlights and Prison bars all too much. It is coming.
Keep in mind that this guide is about how to move there from the USA or Canada, and assumes you don't want to go back to the USA too often. (If at all.) Rules may be slightly different for other Western nations like the UK, but in general this should still apply to you too. I'll try to cover issues with money, immigration forms, travel, language, customs, and some other fun stuff. Anything at all that would come up during a Move. If any of our Thai residents here feel like Adding to this information, I'd be honored to get your additions in here. I'll be using a lot of this stuff myself soon.
Phase 1: Financial Planning
It's not all about the Benjamins; It's about how to access those Benjamins while you're overseas, and not paying fees when converting them to Bhat.
To start off, make sure you've got a worldwide bank like Citibank, Chase, BofA, or HSBC to hold your monies in, with a card that you can withdraw from teller machines in Thailand. Here's a list of Thai banks, both local and foreign. Assuming you're making your monies online like any self-respecting gay webmaster does, have it directly deposit said monies into this account. If you're afraid that US Banks themselves are going to fall too, choose HSBC... They're based in HK & are all over Thailand.
You'll still very likely be paying taxes on all your earnings for years, so don't try to hide any of this cash. All withdrawls outside the USA are logged and noted anyway. The companies paying you will still tell the IRS where they sent it, and you will be liable until you're no longer a citizen of the USA... Which is a whole different can of worm we won't open here today.
So expect to pay a ~1% fee every time you withdraw money there from your bank card, which covers the conversion fee too. -Just make very sure to choose a bank in the US that doesn't have additional withdrawal fees and of course set your daily limit there as high as you are comfortable with, so you don't have to make so many withdrawals overseas.
You can take up to $10k with you when you fly over, but when you arrive with US Bills those will be more expensive to change than a mere 1%. (If you do this, take them over time to a SuperRich booth.)
Now, how much will you need? That depends on your lifestyle choice. I'll go over 3 types of Thai lifestyles in the next phase but for the financial planning of them, take the monthly dollar amount I estimate below and multiply it by 48 to ensure you have enough cash for the first 4 years, which is the minimum for how long it takes to get a permanant residency.
Going over before you have that 4-year buffer is more risky but of course not impossible. You could technically even get a job while there if you know someone with a big company. (Ask Kiopa_Matt about that if interested.)
Phase 2: Designing your new lifestyle
Thailand isn't like a single neighborhood or anything, you can live in TONS of different places there, from deserted Islands to luxury penthouses among the worlds' best malls.
As a non-resident there, the one thing you really can't do like a local is own land... But you can rent it easily enough and these things are available everywhere, for cheap, complete with other expats for neighbors, too. So first thing's first: Pick one of the three major lifestles:
Final note here: Wherever you live in Thailand, expect to pay 1/4th as much as you do now on food, but 4 times as much as you do now on your vehicle.
Phase 3: Checklist for departure
This phase will overlap the others but I thought this would be as good a place as any to stick it in: A complete checklist for departure.
(cont...)
No matter what your reason for abandoning ship, there will come a day in every American's life (& you Canadians too!) sooner than you think that you're going to want to go live in another country. The decision of which country you choose to live in is one that we've talked about hundreds of times here on WF; and usually the country of Thailand comes up most and has the strongest proponents among us. If you're still trying to figure out why you'd want to do that, then please use the search function here and see one of the other threads where we talk about exactly that.
So I'm taking this, my 4K post, to write a comprehensive guide on moving to Thailand. I wish I could make it about every country, but I've only got enough experience in Thailand to write a useful guide for you today. More of you will need it than you think. So I advise you all to print this out to a PDF of something and keep it handy for that day in the not-too-distant future when the Stars and Stripes start to resemble searchlights and Prison bars all too much. It is coming.
Keep in mind that this guide is about how to move there from the USA or Canada, and assumes you don't want to go back to the USA too often. (If at all.) Rules may be slightly different for other Western nations like the UK, but in general this should still apply to you too. I'll try to cover issues with money, immigration forms, travel, language, customs, and some other fun stuff. Anything at all that would come up during a Move. If any of our Thai residents here feel like Adding to this information, I'd be honored to get your additions in here. I'll be using a lot of this stuff myself soon.
Phase 1: Financial Planning
It's not all about the Benjamins; It's about how to access those Benjamins while you're overseas, and not paying fees when converting them to Bhat.
To start off, make sure you've got a worldwide bank like Citibank, Chase, BofA, or HSBC to hold your monies in, with a card that you can withdraw from teller machines in Thailand. Here's a list of Thai banks, both local and foreign. Assuming you're making your monies online like any self-respecting gay webmaster does, have it directly deposit said monies into this account. If you're afraid that US Banks themselves are going to fall too, choose HSBC... They're based in HK & are all over Thailand.
You'll still very likely be paying taxes on all your earnings for years, so don't try to hide any of this cash. All withdrawls outside the USA are logged and noted anyway. The companies paying you will still tell the IRS where they sent it, and you will be liable until you're no longer a citizen of the USA... Which is a whole different can of worm we won't open here today.
So expect to pay a ~1% fee every time you withdraw money there from your bank card, which covers the conversion fee too. -Just make very sure to choose a bank in the US that doesn't have additional withdrawal fees and of course set your daily limit there as high as you are comfortable with, so you don't have to make so many withdrawals overseas.
You can take up to $10k with you when you fly over, but when you arrive with US Bills those will be more expensive to change than a mere 1%. (If you do this, take them over time to a SuperRich booth.)
Now, how much will you need? That depends on your lifestyle choice. I'll go over 3 types of Thai lifestyles in the next phase but for the financial planning of them, take the monthly dollar amount I estimate below and multiply it by 48 to ensure you have enough cash for the first 4 years, which is the minimum for how long it takes to get a permanant residency.
Going over before you have that 4-year buffer is more risky but of course not impossible. You could technically even get a job while there if you know someone with a big company. (Ask Kiopa_Matt about that if interested.)
Phase 2: Designing your new lifestyle
Thailand isn't like a single neighborhood or anything, you can live in TONS of different places there, from deserted Islands to luxury penthouses among the worlds' best malls.
As a non-resident there, the one thing you really can't do like a local is own land... But you can rent it easily enough and these things are available everywhere, for cheap, complete with other expats for neighbors, too. So first thing's first: Pick one of the three major lifestles:
1. Beach/Island Bum. Got the ocean-front hut with a palm tree lifestyle in mind? It can be great the further away from Bangkok you go. (Otherwise there's too much water pollution.) The assortment of vacation-type villas out there blows the mind, all for rent between something like $100 per month up to a world-class resort lifetyle in the $1,500 per month range. Pros: Awesome views, nature, & nightlife. You'll get a tan for sure. Cons: Not too much real luxury out in these places; too touristy. You'll need to learn Thai sooner than in BKK, too.
2. Provencial Panda. Can't stand the city and don't need the beaches? You can live CHEAP in provincial Thailand. It's still just as hot but not nearly as polluted as BKK is in most of the rest of the country. Pros: Rent so cheap you might rent an entire apartment building. Lots of interesting nature, history, and culture. Not a bad place to ride through armagheddon. Cons: It's a LONG trip in to buy nice things, and you'll need to learn Thai sooner rather than later.
You can literally grab a nice rental house for less than $100 a month here. You could likely live on $250 a month just fine.
3. City Dweller. For those of us with a taste for luxury, there is no substitute for a nice penthouse near the megamall strip in downtown Bangkok. The best of all cultures at your fingertips... Luxury you can't buy on US soil at all. Pros: Incredible luxury in everything you do, shopping that can't be had elsewhere, always 4000 things to do at any hour, a great internet connection, and never having the same (awesome) meal twice. You can also take your time learning Thai when living here; all businesses will speak some english. Cons: Truly scary Traffic, near-deadly Pollution, and higher prices than elsewhere in Thailand.
Even still, the rents in town go from $150/month for a tiny, older flat up to $5,000 a month for an awesome 5-bedroom penthouse on top of one of those skyscrapers. I'm grabbing something closer to the latter. I've estimated my likely budget in such a penthouse within walking distance of the Rama I megamall strip, including full-time building attendants and maid service, and all meals to be around $7,000 a month. -Owning a car however raises that amount significantly.
2. Provencial Panda. Can't stand the city and don't need the beaches? You can live CHEAP in provincial Thailand. It's still just as hot but not nearly as polluted as BKK is in most of the rest of the country. Pros: Rent so cheap you might rent an entire apartment building. Lots of interesting nature, history, and culture. Not a bad place to ride through armagheddon. Cons: It's a LONG trip in to buy nice things, and you'll need to learn Thai sooner rather than later.
You can literally grab a nice rental house for less than $100 a month here. You could likely live on $250 a month just fine.
3. City Dweller. For those of us with a taste for luxury, there is no substitute for a nice penthouse near the megamall strip in downtown Bangkok. The best of all cultures at your fingertips... Luxury you can't buy on US soil at all. Pros: Incredible luxury in everything you do, shopping that can't be had elsewhere, always 4000 things to do at any hour, a great internet connection, and never having the same (awesome) meal twice. You can also take your time learning Thai when living here; all businesses will speak some english. Cons: Truly scary Traffic, near-deadly Pollution, and higher prices than elsewhere in Thailand.
Even still, the rents in town go from $150/month for a tiny, older flat up to $5,000 a month for an awesome 5-bedroom penthouse on top of one of those skyscrapers. I'm grabbing something closer to the latter. I've estimated my likely budget in such a penthouse within walking distance of the Rama I megamall strip, including full-time building attendants and maid service, and all meals to be around $7,000 a month. -Owning a car however raises that amount significantly.
Final note here: Wherever you live in Thailand, expect to pay 1/4th as much as you do now on food, but 4 times as much as you do now on your vehicle.
Phase 3: Checklist for departure
This phase will overlap the others but I thought this would be as good a place as any to stick it in: A complete checklist for departure.
1. Is the validity of your passport long enough? (at least 1/2 year for Thailand) If not, extend it.
2. Got Children? Learn a lot about schools there and apply for your pick of school before you go. Thai lessons for them would be good too.
3. Cancel any insurance and other subscription services you use here. (Health, legal & Auto. If you have life insurance, continue payments in Thailand or take a pay out now with loss.)
4. SELL the car/motorcycle... Exporting that is a nightmare in taxes alone.
5. Sell or store your furniture/possessions if not shipping by freight. (More about that in next phase.)
6. Cancel Utilities, like electric, telephones, internet, cable, water, etc.
7. Redirect your mail. If a relative can't hold/forward it, try a service like virtualmailcenter.com or usglobalmail.com.
8. Sell your house or give notice to the landlord
9. Get quotes from freight companies if considering moving more stuff than 2 suitcases full. (More about that in next phase.)
10. If considering a Student visa, apply at your local Thai embassy after picking a school. This is not possible at a later date!
11. Buy your flight ticket. (More about that in next phase.)
11. Make a Packing list and grab some sturdy luggage to pack it in.
12. Get together all important docs like your birth certificate & medical records, and pack them safely into your carry-on luggage.
13. Talk to your Financial advisor or tax advisor about all investments you own.
14. Close any bank accounts you can't access from Thailand.
15. Notify credit card companies of your move, if you can't change details online.
16. If this is your first trip to Asia, visit a doctor and asian cocktail vaccination.
17. Give friends and relatives the goodbye speech.
2. Got Children? Learn a lot about schools there and apply for your pick of school before you go. Thai lessons for them would be good too.
3. Cancel any insurance and other subscription services you use here. (Health, legal & Auto. If you have life insurance, continue payments in Thailand or take a pay out now with loss.)
4. SELL the car/motorcycle... Exporting that is a nightmare in taxes alone.
5. Sell or store your furniture/possessions if not shipping by freight. (More about that in next phase.)
6. Cancel Utilities, like electric, telephones, internet, cable, water, etc.
7. Redirect your mail. If a relative can't hold/forward it, try a service like virtualmailcenter.com or usglobalmail.com.
8. Sell your house or give notice to the landlord
9. Get quotes from freight companies if considering moving more stuff than 2 suitcases full. (More about that in next phase.)
10. If considering a Student visa, apply at your local Thai embassy after picking a school. This is not possible at a later date!
11. Buy your flight ticket. (More about that in next phase.)
11. Make a Packing list and grab some sturdy luggage to pack it in.
12. Get together all important docs like your birth certificate & medical records, and pack them safely into your carry-on luggage.
13. Talk to your Financial advisor or tax advisor about all investments you own.
14. Close any bank accounts you can't access from Thailand.
15. Notify credit card companies of your move, if you can't change details online.
16. If this is your first trip to Asia, visit a doctor and asian cocktail vaccination.
17. Give friends and relatives the goodbye speech.
(cont...)
Check out 
