Thailand Thread

[daboyz 36]

Yes, every time I think about this process it pisses me off for some reason. I was talking the other day about how unfair the entire system is to honest people.

I was clueless about the whole thing. I could have done DCF, but had no idea. Getting your wife over taking a year is just wrong. The K-1 folks have it even worse. It's pretty unbeliveable.

[anya-D 8]

Who said anything about coming here to just help out with no pay. You obviously don't know anything about my situation and to say the least my financial situation or personal situation so please leave your "weird situation" comments off the board.

Calm down there, I said nothing at all about with 'no-pay' or assume anything about your financial situation. I'm just pointing out how people like me would think of it if you want to bring your wife's friend for child care.

But you also said that idea is already got shot down so we'll just leave this be But if you actaully read my entire post I think I gave you some good idea about way to find help for your wife and child. I just had a baby and believe me, I tought of many ways to the cheap but good childcare (and I found one YEY!)

Aww.. Thanks daboyz and aaron you guys are sweet! I feel pretty bad sometimes, finished all my journey but still stick around ahahahah. I cant ever give advice on the process anymore since it's been 5 years and everything's already changed. I wish everybody luck though.

My trip to Thailand was wonderful and I got to eat almost everything I missed!!! my parents were sooo happy with 2 grandsons (my sister also had a son 2 months younger than mine) and Sam (my son) got to meet his great grandparents (3 of them! and one is 90 years old and super healthy) He also like durian.. that's my boy ahahah

we got stuck in NY on the way back on the 26th for 4 nights and being alone in a hotel in the middle of nowhere in a freaking cold weather with a 6 months old after 22 hrs flight was not fun but at least Sam was a trooper and he did great under the circomstance. But I will not be returning to NY in a long long time!

[Kimo3 3]

Got a question for the Thai regulars.

How hard is it for Americans to locate long term employment opportunities in Thailand?

I don't speak Thai now... but I am working with the Rosetta Stone and would gladly amp that up if it would help or seal the deal on a job opp.

Give a little back ground. I'm a power plant operator by trade and it's what I've been doing for the last decade.

I am also an information technology specialist for the Army Reserve (4 years). I am closing in on completing my degree in computer systems security at a well known college in my state.

I would love to spend some time working in Thailand and completely immersing myself in the culture and the land (with my fiancee of course).

Is this a "just forget about it" idea? I don't want to be an English teacher either... cause I've always had problems with those courses myself! HaHA.

Thanks for any input.

[SqdnGuns 21]

Got a question for the Thai regulars.

How hard is it for Americans to locate long term employment opportunities in Thailand?

I don't speak Thai now... but I am working with the Rosetta Stone and would gladly amp that up if it would help or seal the deal on a job opp.

Give a little back ground. I'm a power plant operator by trade and it's what I've been doing for the last decade.

I am also an information technology specialist for the Army Reserve (4 years). I am closing in on completing my degree in computer systems security at a well known college in my state.

I would love to spend some time working in Thailand and completely immersing myself in the culture and the land (with my fiancee of course).

Is this a "just forget about it" idea? I don't want to be an English teacher either... cause I've always had problems with those courses myself! HaHA.

Thanks for any input.

Are you on LinkedIn? If not, create an account and I know for a fact that there are some Thailand Expat Groups you can join. When I work abroad, it is usually from contacts I have had in the past.

http://www.linkedin.com/nhome/

Edited January 7, 2011 by SqdnGuns

[daboyz 36]

Got a question for the Thai regulars.

How hard is it for Americans to locate long term employment opportunities in Thailand?

I don't speak Thai now... but I am working with the Rosetta Stone and would gladly amp that up if it would help or seal the deal on a job opp.

Give a little back ground. I'm a power plant operator by trade and it's what I've been doing for the last decade.

I am also an information technology specialist for the Army Reserve (4 years). I am closing in on completing my degree in computer systems security at a well known college in my state.

I would love to spend some time working in Thailand and completely immersing myself in the culture and the land (with my fiancee of course).

Is this a "just forget about it" idea? I don't want to be an English teacher either... cause I've always had problems with those courses myself! HaHA.

Thanks for any input.

Not easy. I was lucky both of the companies I worked for there were US based so I was paid a US salary in USD. Starting salary for a Thai with a 4 year degree is around 20k THB a month. I've looked at multiple ways to get back there. The best I can come up with so far is to go live on the family farm and do the rice thing. I'm looking to go back as well, and the options are pretty limited.

When my last contract expired over there, we did the best we could living off of her 7k THB monthly salary. Wasn't fun especially trying to live in BKK on that salary.

[Kimo3 3]

Thanks for the information guys.

I am on LinkedIn. I'll check into that, thanks.

[lvriesling 11]

The Thai economy is growing at a very healthy pace - it's expanding at a 7.8% annual rate as of the first two months of 2010's fourth quarter (see generally http://www2.mof.go.th/index.php and specifically http://www2.mof.go.th/economic_report_detail.php?id=55). And Thailand's unemployment rate is currently 0.9%, according to the current issue of The Economist magazine (www.economist.com). The Thai economy is booming and jobs are quite plentiful.

[DaveTX 2]

The Thai economy is growing at a very healthy pace - it's expanding at a 7.8% annual rate as of the first two months of 2010's fourth quarter (see generally http://www2.mof.go.th/index.php and specifically http://www2.mof.go.th/economic_report_detail.php?id=55). And Thailand's unemployment rate is currently 0.9%, according to the current issue of The Economist magazine (www.economist.com). The Thai economy is booming and jobs are quite plentiful.

The vast majority of those jobs are sub 10k baht/month though. I doubt there are many westerners willing/able to live on that.

[daboyz 36]

The vast majority of those jobs are sub 10k baht/month though. I doubt there are many westerners willing/able to live on that.

Exactly.

[rsn 135]

The Thai economy is growing at a very healthy pace - it's expanding at a 7.8% annual rate as of the first two months of 2010's fourth quarter (see generally http://www2.mof.go.th/index.php and specifically http://www2.mof.go.t...etail.php?id=55). And Thailand's unemployment rate is currently 0.9%, according to the current issue of The Economist magazine (www.economist.com). The Thai economy is booming and jobs are quite plentiful.

Jobs may be plentiful for nationals, but I can assure, the same is not true for foreigners.

EDIT: Agree with DaveTX's post above too.

Edited January 7, 2011 by rsn

[rsn 135]

Also, I guess I'm kind of surprised that the economy in Thailand is strong given how unstable it is, and how much more unstable it may become.

[DaveTX 2]

It's exports and a huge dollop of money chasing returns driving up the baht.. so-called "hot money". It could all go away pretty fast if there is a loss of confidence or some other country suddenly looks better.

[daboyz 36]

Doubt it. Thailand has nothing to do with it. It's secondary. 95 percent of the time when dollar falls against the euro, it falls against the baht. I could show you graphs, but I'm at the bar getting ready to watch A and Ms demise. Go LSU!

[Kimo3 3]

I'm back with yet another question.

So it's rather easy to locate a round trip (or even one way) FROM the US to Thailand. I usually go to Expedia or even Travelocity.

I decided to do a little recon for the time when she would have her visa in hand and can accompany me back to the US.

On the above mentioned sites (and others alike) I am having difficulty finding a round trip ticket (for me) and a one way FROM Thailand to the states for my fiancee.

Are there other sites I should be checking here... or when the time comes, should I just pony up the dough for TWO round trip tickets so as to guarantee that we are on the same flight, seated together?

You guys are awesome BTW! Wish I would have found this site BEFORE I filed.

[DaveTX 2]

Doubt it. Thailand has nothing to do with it. It's secondary. 95 percent of the time when dollar falls against the euro, it falls against the baht. I could show you graphs, but I'm at the bar getting ready to watch A and Ms demise. Go LSU!

Yah.. I'm not saying it's Thailand. Thailand just happens to be getting the benefit of people looking for good short term returns.