Here's a flight in April, LAX to BKK for less than $500. What's the problem? It's even a 21 hour flight, so very limited layovers and plane changes

@Eric *****

yeah if you like bouncing around that's a great way. Lots of great places. Check out kampot Cambodia during your travels

@Eric *****

generally the way the double tax treaties work is that if you are taxed in your home country that tax is a tax credit in Thailand but because the Thai tax brackets are lower you could potentially owe the difference between what was paid in the US and what was owed here. But if you're talking about 800k thb and all of that was taxed in the US and all you would owe at most is the difference between the two you're talking about a very small tax liability. Most people in your situation would simply bring the money in not file the tax return in Thailand and never give it a second thought. The purpose of the changes to the tax regulations are not to draw tax out of retirees living on 20 grand a year USD. Complicating matters is that these new tax changes went into effect at the beginning of this year so nothing has happened because no one has filed their taxes yet and won't until March of 2025. Most retirees will not file a tax return and will never have a problem. But if you are concerned about some ambiguity then you'll be best off consulting a tax professional. I recommend calling Ben at integrity legal

180 days in a calendar year. And if you are a tax resident at most you will be taxed on money you bring into Thailand. And then, only on money that is not protected by whatever double tax treaties your home country has with Thailand.

yes most people just walk in. Note that in bkk you must do your first 90-day in person, and after that if your address does not change, and you fill out your online form EXACTLY as your prior form, you can do it online going forward

@David *********

yes absolutely. My wife's brother paid a 7 million THB sin sod. His wife's family are all doctors, so 7 million was seen as an appropriate amount. Most of my wife's cousins are married to Thai men and they all paid sin sod.

If you are a man of means and her family is poor then I would not do the sin sod but would instead spend money to help them, before and after the wedding. Buy them a new refrigerator, put a new roof on their house, get her mom's teeth fixed, things like that. Improve the quality of their lives, be very generous with them, but always on your terms.

If for cultural reasons you need to present some cash/gold at the wedding, fine, but it must be understood that you get this back at the end of the ceremony. You have wealth, they are poor, straight up giving them cash is not going to help them as much as you being a leader in their family.

You are not a young man courting their daughter, you are a head of household and you should act like it. Marry her and then help her family, but remember always on your terms, you are in charge.

If the woman's family has money then it can be a much more complicated situation.

That's my advice anyway.

@Russell *******

The concepts are related. If you want a business you need a business visa. If you want to live here, without the ability to work, then you have many other visa options to choose from. LTR, DTV, Retiree, Elite, ED, Tourist.

Which is "best" for you depends on many individual circumstances including things like your age and economic situation. The "best" visa to live in Thailand without working, without respect for cost, is the Elite visa. That'll cost you like $20,000 USD for a 5 year visa. If you are over 50 then the retiree visa is best, assuming you can put the 800k THB into a Thai bank account. Most likely you'll simply need to come in on a tourist visa, stay for a couple of months, and then go elsewhere.

@Bonnie ******

takes a couple weeks

You need legal representation. There are a lot of complexities involved in business visas, work permits, company ownership, declared capital, taxes, and other subjects.

Call Ben at Integrity Legal, that's my advice.