MOVING TO THAILAND
Are you contemplating joining the Pattaya - Jomtien expat community?You will find a wonderful cross-section of people here and making great new friends is easy.Pattaya-Jomtien has many quality clubs you can join ranging from expat clubs,a wine tasting group to Rotary Club and veterans organizations.Regardless of which country you are from,what gender your sex or what interests you have,you will find a group or organization that matches your needs.Now that you are serious about living in Thailand inexpensively year around while enjoying the beautiful weather,there are a few things best to consider before making the move.Prior to shipping your belongings,do a little research .
- To start with,read bangkokpost newspaperhttp://www.bangkokpost.com/040708_Realtime/04Jul2008_real010.php from front to back.you will discover pertinebt information about living in Thailand(in general) as well as Pattaya City .
- Determine the type of long-term visa you qualify for and whether you can obtain it here or if you must acquire it at a Thai Consulate or Embassy in your country prior to moving here.
- Do you need immunizations?Various immunizations are required or recommended depending on what country you come from as well as countries you have visited.
- Find out what items you may NOT ship into Thailand(like guns and certain substances).
- Considering the difficulty and liability of driving in Thailand,whether to drive or not is worth serious deliberation.It isn't necessary since Thailand has plenty of public transportation.If you must,importing any type of vehicle is expensive and not recommended.Check out custom regulations.
- For all family members;bring birth certificates,immunization records,driver's licenses,passports,naturalization papers,adoption papers,school records and any other important legal documents,either personal or required,and hand carry them with you.
- Converting an International Drivers Licence (IDL)is the quickest and easiest way to get a Thai Drivers Licence.Obtain an IDL in your home country before moving to Thailand.An IDL is for temporary driving while on vacation or business and is valid in Thailand for only one month regardless of its expiration date.
- Can you afford to live in Thailand?Rather than move here on a romantic whim and discover you are broke within a couple of years with nothing to go back home to,visit a few more years and get your finances in order.(i)If you are not retired,jobs for foreigners are few and difficult to get in Thailand.(ii)Be familiar with the currency exchange rate and be prepared if it changes downward.(iii)Determine the least expensive way to move your money to Thailand.(iiii)Set up a realistic budget based on Thai currency,not in terms of what things cost you back home.(iiiii)If you own a home,before you sell it talk with your banker about the possibility of a reverse mortgage on it.
- Check with Pattaya real estate companies about housing,know what is available and what housing sells or rents for let "Suphaphat Group & Travelling" to manage that problem for you contact:bpeter.p2@gmail.com website:http://pattayavariety.blogspot.com/
- There are many choices:shop houses,townhouses,condos and single family homes of all sizes both new and existing.Research the methods you can legally own,what it will cost and in what area of town you feel comfortable living in.
- If you have pets,do you bring them or leave them?If you leave them,be humane and find the critters good homes.If you bring them,check health and entry requirements as well as shipping costs.
- Many electrical appliances and equipment back home may not work on Thai 220 volt electricity plus you may have to pay customs duty.Appliances that need current converters are better sold and new ones purchased in Thailand.
- If you have school age children,they may need to go to an international school and health records are required to get your children enrolled?
- Know your health care options.Will your current health insurance cover you in Thailand?If you cancel it and later on become in poor health care,you won't be able to reinstate your policy.You must become familiar with the level of health care that is available and decide whether you feel this health care acceptable.This is especially true if you already suffer a health problem that requires medical maintenance,.
- Don't bring every-thing you own.Most items can be repurchased in Thailand at a very season able cost.You might be able to sell some of yourbelongings at a used price back home and then purchase it new in Thailand for the same or less cost.
- Ready for a smooth,trouble free move?There is one more very important thing.Realize that you will be changing roles from a native citizen to a non-citizen living in a foreign country.Residency is considerably different attitudes,a different than visiting.It can become tedious for some people when they have to constantly interact with different attitudes,a different couture,a different language and many other differences that require them to adjust,not the thais.Regardless of whether the Thais do things differently than how you do it back in your country,Thailand is their country and you,the foreigner,must adapt.Be honest with yourself and determine if you have the character and personality to accept and adjust.If you do,then welcome to your new home.
Sincelery Yours,
Sukij Boonplok
Pattaya Organization Co.,ltd.
http://pattayavariety.blogspot.com/2007_10_01_archive.html
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