wwest5829

I have observed the, "over the top" and the "total disregard". To each their own but if you are not wearing a mask here in Chiang Mai ... stay the hell away from me. What has worked for us to date is staying fairly close to home but ... we usually are out of the house every other day. We go food shopping at Rimping or Tops, visit country cafes. Usual activity curtailed only our going out for an occasional evening for music and avoiding Sunday outings around others. Everywhere has the temperature scanners, we always wear masks outside where there are other folks (not in our car or on motorbike). Coming home, I take a quick shower, as much for sweat but serves the purpose of getting rid of road spray if on the motorbike (usual transport). Me = 2 shots of Pfizer. Stepdaughter has had her 1st shot of Pfizer. Wife = awaiting access to Moderna. Oh, no, I don't usually do the repeated hand spraying ...

Wow! 30,000 on the first day of reopening November 1, 2021. I wish the Kingdom of Thailand well but, it would seem to me that making such a forecast, if 30,000 do not arrive at Swampy, the statement might be construed as embarrassing to the Kingdom.

I have gone through the same thing with Bangkok Bank. Went to the PEA Office … very helpful setting it up. Stopped working. Went to a mall payment kiosk … very helpful setting it up. Stopped working. So, I go to Promenada and Central Festival Malls regularly and just make my payments there at the PEA kiosk. Not worth my time …

18 hours ago, Captain Monday said:

Well I cant get past uploading Photo and passport Data page page. Applying for O/A, from US. Trying different browsers. It says the system will delete incomplete applications after 2 weeks

 

I would like to know ideally before continuing 

• What file types and size they require
• A complete list of required docs and what docs need to be notarized

Not questioning your decision to apply for an O-A Visa but curious. I have been here over a decade on an O-A and looking to change to an "O Visa" ASAP.

18 hours ago, night_rider said:

I did see a Liberty Mutual policy to cover the requirement for B6000 but with a 200k deductible 

I pay 11,400 baht a year footprint the required insurance at age 74. 200K deductible and pre- existing conditions so that this equates to an additional cost without benefit.

I certainly could not recommend anyone to apply for an O-A Visa for reason of retirement through the Royal Thai Embassy in their own country.

On 10/24/2021 at 4:05 PM, Peterw42 said:

There is an unofficial reason floating around. Supposedly our Russian friends. Many use an OA visa, and they have no concept of non-state provided healthcare. insurance etc. For them, healthcare is always free resulting in lots of unpaid bills.

 

All developed countries have a national healthcare program, excepting the USA. So, this reasoning could be applied to all from these assorted countries.

When I arrived over a decade ago I was told Expats here were either, "Mercenaries, missionaries or misfits". I don't think I make that particular cut.

1 hour ago, cdemundo said:

Maybe it would be best to get the motorcycle endorsement here in the states.

I was gonna take scooter lessons anyway and they prepare you for the license test.

I will probably do that.

Agreed. In my case, I was retiring to Thailand and so got both a car license and motorbike license here which I have now held for a decade. My Kentucky license expired since they required I be physically present to renew.

48 minutes ago, Kwasaki said:

IDP you mean. 

Yes, agree, it is often erred to as an International Driver’s Licence but it is not a license at all. Sorry for repeating the misnomer.

11 minutes ago, flexomike said:

I am in the same situation as you, next extension is in April of next year, I don't think there is any way that I would be able to afford a three million baht policy, was going to do a border run when all this Covid <deleted> started and just missed out on doing one, My biggest concern about switching visas is at some point I think they will make everyone have insurance. At least I have a little time to think about it. 

While we cannot exclude the possibility, I do think there are obstacles for Thailand in implementing a blanket coverage. I also give some credence to the idea that we are being caught between a political power struggle.

1 hour ago, IAMHERE said:

America doesn't have money for aid; Biden trying to raise taxes now.

No USA money for aid, thus the reason for global distribution of Covid vaccine donations (as a result I received two shots of the Pfizer vaccine). Yep, in full agreement with rolling back the 2017 tax cuts having gone to primarily the wealthy and corporations.

Ah, methinks your situation varies from my own. Not Swiss but American working middle class. My situation is more like making lemonade out of the comic lemon. You see, I cannot afford to retire in my own country on my $2400.00 USD a month retirement budget ($1320 of that from Social Security). OK, perhaps I might if residing in a rusting trailer in Florida or Arizona. Millions of Americans and others of the working middle class are retiring Baby Boomers who can have a better standard of living in a lower cost of living country. Compared to the USA, you can understand there are several that meet the economic need. I view it a symbiotic, spending my million baht a year benefits Thailand and my Thai family, I can get world class healthcare, a comfortable life, etc. The only real fly in the ointment is at age 74, with pre-existing conditions and an O-A Visa holder the health insurance requirements are not doable and so I must find alternatives.

1 hour ago, JHacker said:

That is because you, (like myself) are not of the top 1% or top 10% or whatever it is! They seem to be able to move tens of millions around the world freely. Check out the Pandora Papers!

And the Panama Papers preceding the Pandora Papers.

On 10/19/2021 at 3:29 PM, Fat is a type of crazy said:

I assume there no zoning laws for residential or businesses or industrial like in other countries.

Maybe make him an offer to buy the business or to keep sound down. I can't imagine he'd get much business in the middle of nowhere so maybe it will stop of it's own accord.  

If he isn't cooperative is there something you can put nearby on your side of the land to dissuade him. Some waste or something. 

My first thought was an equal sound system playing Bach or Wagner …

13 minutes ago, skatewash said:

A very good description of how it worked for the last couple years up until about October 6, at which point people (who made their Wise transactions exactly as you stated) found that their transfers did not get coded as FTT in their Bangkok Bank accounts.  Wise has been apprised of the situation but no "fix" has been announced.  Watch your Wise transfers closely to see that they continue to be marked FTT.  By the way, because your transfer was marked correctly as FTT doesn't mean the problem is fixed.  The problem is that not ALL transfers (made in the correct way) are being marked FTT, even though SOME are.  The problem can't be considered fixed until we see no reports of transfers being made without the FTT label (again, for the ones made in the correct way).

I certainly will be keeping an eye on this. My last transfer was at 14:00, Oct. 5. 

1 minute ago, cauldlad said:

Yes this is the option I used and for the very first time they did an internal transfer.

Then I would say they messed up and the news is most worrying. Depends on your local Immigration Office, maybe a statement from Wise citing it was their mistake that the money went through an intermediary bank?

2 minutes ago, cauldlad said:

This is the option I used yesterday to send the money to my Bangkok Bank account. Unfortunately for the very first time, Wise did an internal bank transfer via Kasikorn Bank

And you had "checked the box" citing for purpose of long term stay in Thailand as to the reason for the transfer?  If so, I certainly would get in touch with Wise as to their mistake. I would think they are very aware of the Immigration income requirements we face, I believe that is exactly why they have us check the long stay box on the transfer order.

I only address the Wise transfers. I use and have used Wise for my monthly retirement income transfer. I authorize Wise to withdraw $2200.00 USD from my US bank and deposit in my Bangkok Bank Account ... as Baht. On the Wise transfer I am asked the reason for the transfer and one choice given is for long term stay in Thailand. This assures a direct Bangkok Bank transfer and the bank notes the deposit as FFT (foreign funds transfer). If you do not chose this reason, your transfer may first enter Thailand through an intermediary bank ... then transfer to your account ... in that case it would be a Thailand internal transfer and not be designated as coming from outside the country.

On 10/17/2021 at 1:41 PM, Leveraged said:

 

What exactly are you so scared of that would compel you to look over at a stranger and make demands of them? 

 

 

A documented global pandemic?