@Bob *********

You are American, so come from a strange country, which levies taxes on all US citizens, whether resident in the US or not. You question is irrelevant to the topic which is about UK-Thailand taxation. You should start your own thread, though I suspect the reason why you are not facing a Thai tax bill in the tens of millions is buried in the tax treaty Thailand has with your country. I don't know why you have lived in Thailand for 15 years. I don't know why, despite being registered with the Thai tax authorities since you are a law abiding resident of Thailand, they have not approached them about the subject. Maybe you should ask them.

@Bob *********

What hasn't happened? A Thai tax system. Why has there been a tax treaty with the United Kingdom since 1981. Why am I answering a query? Why are you answering my answer?

You will pay CGT on a business sold in the UK if a tax resident, but not if you are not. So picks your poison if wanting to be taxed by HMG or Thailand. You can't be double taxed due to UK-Thailand tax treaty. I suppose there might be some scam to pay tax nowhere. UK CGT rates are better for businesses worth more than £81,000.

@Dave ********

Parts of Thailand aren't great. My wife wanted to show me the factory zone outside of Bangkok where she used to work. It's mile upon mile of factories and crumbling worker dormitories. Quite a few shuttered factories, and I gather it's getting worse as the car makers pull out. All countries have their ups and downs. My wife was impressed by even the most mundane parts of the UK. Many things are a similar price. Thsiland needs to sort out its water and sewerage system. Thai people also suffer from high rates of heart disease. It also has a lot of issues common across Asia and in common with the UK.

@Dave ********

These posts are predictable, and off topic. It was only difficult for you and the ones who get turned down. For the ones who get accepted, it's pretty straightforward. UK government statistics indicate a 77% success rate, down from 86% the previous year, largely down to increased refusals for Russian and Chinese applicants.

@Leo ******

The UK and Thai government are both working towards visa free travel between both countries, so is the EU. Syrian applications, as of 2 days ago, are all suspended. My wife had been imprisoned and deported by Malaysia, and we got a visa no issue. Possibly its your circumstances or your invite letter that screwed things up, not her. We used an agent, but that was good value by the time you factored in travel to Bangkok, a hotel, taxi costs etc. The agent showed me some of the covering letters from some of his English clients, and I found them to be borderline illiterate.

@David *********

My wife has her own massage shop. She does the books. Got a 6 month visa 2 weeks after application. She made sure her shop was registered and inspected by Public Health. Most aren't. There are thousands of visitor visas issued the Thais each year. It's easy to work out how much time VFS take. Not a lot of time. Likely the letter from the boyfriend/husband ruins things, because they don't understand you need to keep to the facts, and keep it concise. No one is going to read 4 pages of A4 from some bloke begging. Also, first time don't say she is coming for a 6 month holiday. Keep it to no more than 6 weeks. It doesn't make any difference on the length of the visa issued. And if she says she is coming for 6 weeks, make sure she goes home after 6 weeks.

@Dave ********

My wife couldn't wait to go home. She liked England, thought it very beautiful, but too cold and the food was terrible. She knows it would be hard for her to get a job in the UK, and she'd have to give up so much in Thailand

@Paul ******

I agree. Not that hard. My wife had been previously deported from Malaysia, years ago. She hawked her gold to get 100k in the bank. She rents a little shop that makes no money, but is properly registered as a business. 1 page letter from me, short and to the point, and full disclosure of prior travel history. I don't live in Thailand. Visa issued.

@Randy *****

Get lost