moto77

58 minutes ago, colinneil said:

Fining the rental company 2000 baht just shows how cheap life is here.

Only thing that matters is money, and getting more money.

Nah. If the bike had been defective in some way, I could see a larger fine. But that's the fine for renting to an unlicensed driver. What that driver does afterward is on the driver. I agree with the fine in this case. 

18 minutes ago, Lacessit said:

You can't be skimmed on a savings passbook. It's only the people who have debit/credit cards with a Thai bank who get scammed.

Thanks for clarifying that option.

2 minutes ago, sirineou said:

The way I understand it, after 2008 there was  a deposit insurance program implemented, If I understand it correctly For the first year deposits up to 25 million bht are protected , the second year only only 15 million reduced progressively until after five years only 1 million bht is covered.

Not sure if it has being changed, I don't keep more than a couple of million in Thai banks so I have not really paid much attention and I am now out of the country to check. 

I would appreciate the input of someone who knows more about this than me. 

The last one I knew of lost the money in 2015.

The program seems to apply to bank defaults, not fraud. 

On 2/2/2019 at 2:08 AM, sirineou said:

Why would I lose the 800K?

As far as I know Thai banks are pretty safe.  I agree that there is a small chance that for whatever reason I might lose the 800k but I guaranty you are not getting your elite visa money back. 

That's not true. I've personally known people who lost their funds (likely because of skimmers). Thai banks did nothing. If they'd kept the money in a US bank they'd have gotten it back. 

19 minutes ago, moto77 said:

Get on Kayak, choose "Sousse, Tunisia" (or wherever, but not Tunis) and select something like March 1 - March 30 and check the "all inclusive" box. You can find beachfront places for 50K-60K (baht). 

If someone needs a cheap option, the retirement requirements in Tunisia are really minimal. Fly in and apply. No minimum bank balance. You need 400 euro (less than 15,000 baht) per month in incoming transfers (which tells you how cheap it is to live there). 

Once you are on the spot, you will have to apply for a visa and resident card at the Tunisian Ministry of Internal Affairs The following documents are to be produced:

• a lease contract

• a copy of your passport

• two passport-size identity photos (it is best to get these done in Tunisia according to local standards)

• 2 tax stamps (costing 10 dinars each)

• proof of regular deposits on your Tunisian bank account.

Note that these documents have to be certified in Tunisia.

You are advised to open a dinar account in a Tunisian bank. Moreover, it is best to keep your bank account in your home country open so that you can make bank transfers. A minimum bank transfer of 400 euros per month is required.

https://www.expat.com/en/guide/africa/tunisia/14302-retiring-in-tunisia.html

5 minutes ago, gentlemanjackdarby said:

I've dug into all the options in SE Asia and, IN MY OPINION, there's no question that the PI REALLY WANTS Western retirees, so my plan is to pick up an SRRV Courtesy, which as a U.S. vet costs essentially nothing, and simply be a tourist in Thailand.

Yep. I agree.
I spend more time there than Thailand now (in fact I mostly only go to Thailand when I need to go for business). 

18 minutes ago, Golden Triangle said:

If that's true I may have to consider relocating, I have sufficient funds to get the 800K and leave it in a bank account, but why the F should I, I have spent a hell of a lot of money here, looked after more than just my GF of 8 nearly 9 years this just smells of xenophobia, a bad day for all of us honest but not mega rich retirees. 

Get on Kayak, choose "Sousse, Tunisia" (or wherever, but not Tunis) and select something like March 1 - March 30 and check the "all inclusive" box. You can find beachfront places for 50K-60K (baht). 

6 minutes ago, ocddave said:

My wife asked me if I had ever been to Thailand (and been to Pattaya) when we started dating in the US, if I said I ever went to Pattaya she would have dropped me quick. I think her and her friends/family look at Pattaya like a cesspool that attracts the "bad guys" that Immigration wants out of the country.  

It kinda is, yet they haven't closed walking street yet. 
What do they call it when you're running a brothel and complain about how many customers turn up? LOL

34 minutes ago, BestB said:

I would keep away from thinking, It is not your forte

...says the clueless dude. ????

21 minutes ago, BestB said:

Food is crap and every girl thanks god while being screwed. Otherwise all good ????

The food in Phils is getting better. You do need to know where to eat though. You won't be as lucky as in Thailand if you just choose a place randomly, but if you do a bit of research or have some experience, the food is excellent. 

17 minutes ago, Genericnic said:

And they [Philippines] have a president that is even crazier than ours.

 

David

 

You must be an American then. ????

6 minutes ago, Khaeng Mak said:

Hmmm

 

So I have 800K in the bank and a valid retirement extension in my passport.

 

But I am fed up with Thai immigration and decide to move to Vietnam.

 

I therefore transfer my 800K back to my bank in my home country.

 

I then grab a taxi to the airport to leave Thailand once and for all.

 

But I am arrested for overstay at the airport and put in the IDC because my extension is no longer valid (Because I don't have 800K or even 400K in a Thai bank).

 

Am I missing something?

This is kinda silly. You wouldn't be arrested for overstay if your visa was still valid when you left. Immigration isn't going to check your bank account balance. LOL.

5 minutes ago, Wake Up said:

Good guys in, bad and broke guys out. 

 

Immigrants should have IMO 25,000 USA dollars worth of baht in savings if they are retired. Or 65 K baht a month. 

 

Doubt seriously the guys screaming they are leaving will be missed. Some exceptions exists but you should not be able to live here if you can’t pay for yourself and any medical bills you may incur. 

 

Not meaning to judge others but this is not your country and they don’t owe you a cheap retired life. Retirement is something you work for and save money for or obtain  a decent retirement pension. 

I kind of agree. The problem is the constantly changing rules and the requirements to keep the money in the country and the reporting all the time (which is silly--I never had to do it as I never stayed more than 90 days, but I'm sure it must be annoying). Why does the money need to be in a Thai bank if the income is sufficient? This seems like corruption in cahoots with the banking industry.

I dropped my visa about a year ago before the new rules were even announced so this is not sour grapes. But when I used to have a retirement visa there, the officer doing mine paused and asked me if the amount on my income verification form was per month or per year (it was per month, but it would have been enough either way, and apparently she was curious). Based on her reaction, it must be enough that they don't see it very often (and it was at Chang Wattana, not somewhere in Issan). Nonetheless, if I still wanted a retirement visa I wouldn't be eligible under the new requirements. 

3 minutes ago, MrPatrickThai said:

Could you repeat that in a comprehensible way? Are you talking about International Unis here? One of my sons went to ABAC. My other kids went to Unis in the UK. 

I think he doesn't know that international universities and foreign universities are two different things. 

1 minute ago, BestB said:

Thailand has foreign university? which one?

A foreign university by definition would be one that is outside Thailand. 

1 minute ago, MrPatrickThai said:

Do you think it is easier for Thai pensioners to live in your country?

 

The US requires a $1,000,000 investment for any similar visa treatment. 
But if you have that, there are no reports or anything else and you get permanent residency.

22 minutes ago, ocddave said:

All I know is that when my wife came to the USA for 5 years to gain her PHD, she didn't have to do anything but enjoy her time there on her Visa, no hassling every year or 90 days. So Like I stated, we should hammer the Thai's back with tit-for-tat immigration hassles, maybe then we will get better treatment. Enough of them head to the US to further their education, and even military travel there to visit, or train with our military.....hammer them with hassles, then see how quickly things change.

So... that means the US would have to completely stop requiring visas of Thais coming for tourism. I'd love to hear what the orange idiot in chief thinks about that idea.

Thailand has been pushing for being on the VWP for years... I think the US will have to start there and then see what it can negotiate. But for now, the US isn't even matching tourist visa policy so you really can't complain.

41 minutes ago, unamazedloso said:

let retirees work then no strings attached. All my thai neighbours sit around all day and have nothing to show for it. seems farangs bank interest is the only possible reason for this lunacy. Is Thailand actually poor and so lazy they can only put farangs to work without actually being allowed to....?

No country in their right mind would do that without a substantial investment on the part of the foreigner. That's all Thailand needs is a lot of poor guys showing up to drive Grab cars, etc. 

10 minutes ago, zydeco said:

Reading from your post, then, you are not already retired, here, and you haven't even come here yet. So, you don't know what you're talking about, do you?

You don't know that. Maybe he was using the embassy letter method in the past as I did.