wwest5829

21 minutes ago, DrPhibes said:

The US promised that every American would be vaccinated.  Other countries have been able to vaccinate their citizens here in Thailand but the US says "we traditionally don't provide medical assistance to Americans living overseas".  To top it off, there is a bunch of different kinds of vaccine sitting in Guam but it is so hard to get there (but not hard to bring it here) and the quarantine there and here means 3 weeks total sitting in (and paying for) a hotel.

We, no doubt, have a mutual ground on which to agree but I think you go a bit overboard lying all responsibility on the US. Yes all two countries ... China and France have moved to get vaccines to their citizens in Thailand but ... only two. Ground to agree? I note that Americans who have earned US veteran retirement have been told that their vaccine costs in Thailand will be covered while those Americans who have earned, and paid for Medicare retirement are told our costs will not be covered. As an American retiree living in Thailand, in part, due to not being able to afford an equal retirement in my own country this inequity is the most grating. I extend my criticizing a bit more ... as a matter of US policy, military retirees have global medical care coverage while those covered by Medicare are not covered outside US territory. The Pfizer/Moderna not being ordered and made available in Thailand is the direct responsibility of the government of Thailand. The US is currently taking an active role in sending vaccines to poorer countries.

My last move from Sannameng to Sansai Noi (not so far) with a house full of furniture cost me $1000.00 USD. I have one more year on my 3 year contract. While I do not look forward to moving and would like to renew for another 3 years, my 15,000 a month is at the top of my budget for an unfurnished home. I figure the owner gets a good steady rental payment from a good renter who takes care of the property. If he agrees to another 3 years, I will stay. Raise the rent and I will have another property lined up.

9 hours ago, TooMuchTime said:

oddly enough this is what California suggested and the libs thought it was a great idea

Ah, yes. I recognize your cited creditable information source.

We live in Chiang Mai where, I hope, critical thinking is being applied. I do not look for any confrontations. I would explain my reasoning to the officer, his supervisor if necessary and then to a Thai courtroom if needed. I do not wear in my house, nor in my yard for that matter. Not in my car with all windows up, no matter if alone or just immediate family as we live together. Not under my fullface helmet (worn without fail) on my motorbike. Anytime I step out of my car, off the motorbike … the mask goes on …

On 6/23/2021 at 12:59 PM, OliverKlozerof said:

 

A friend recommended that. But, I currently have a few 100k baht in that acct. Say someone pays me 100k baht. I'm not going to withdraw 300k baht just to see if his pmnt went through. Also, I think limit for ATM withdrawals is considerably lower than 100k per withdrawal.... ? So, not practical.

Another friend also said, 'nothing more certain than cash.' So I recently sold something for a few 100k baht. We went together to guy's bank and got cash. Then I went to my bank next and deposited it. So this way certainly possible, but not very convenient.

That is the way I sold my condo. Cash was brought by the buyer to the land office and paid to me, then I signed over the Chanote. Directly went to the bank and deposited the payment in my account (1 million baht).

14 hours ago, WhiteBuffaloATM said:

they shouldnt do it because its not their business

individuals outside their country must surely organize their own healthcare... or return home

France are the only nation doing this ......at home -based French taxpayer expense no doubt.......

perhaps they are offloading those millions of perfectly good unused AZ vaccines , before expiration, a stockpile that Macron created, stupidly & jealously saying AZ was no good........

 

 

Just a note. France and China ...

10 hours ago, RJRS1301 said:

Singaporeans were trained by their government decades ago to follow the law. I well remember flying through Singapore many years ago, and having hair cut by immigration officials before allowing me to enter as it was below my collar, and chewing gum was banned, that was confiscated as well.

An obedient and compliant population

Ah, yes a very old question ... what, as a society, do we accept in the name of living in peace and with justice acceptable to the vast majority of us? Polio shots and on sugar cubes when I was in school (although this was my parents decision). A US Draft law when I graduated from high school, some refused by going to Canada or jail (Muhammed Ali).. Then there is that tax thingy. Walt Whitman and others, for stated reasons, refused to pay and went to jail. For me, I am a reasonable, educated individual ... make the case as to the need for the benefit of the mass majority. On the other hand, as a matter of social control, as currently being practiced in the Peoples Republic of China, and I would be breaking laws without question. Hell, I have already found myself in Facebook jail for challenging US copyright law (in addition to government control there is corporate promoted law). This is presented only as a matter of consideration.

13 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

As he wrote it is needed to apply for a 90 day non-o visa entry at immigration unless the 800k baht has been in the bank for a long time (but some office may still want the proof).

 

Hmm, I must have missed that I will not be allowed to continue the 65K monthly transfers that I have used for my O-A Extensions for the last decade. I’ll have to look for a “work around”. Cannot see selling stock, paying the capital gains tax to park 800K in Thailand.

On 6/17/2021 at 6:23 PM, Surelynot said:

I would feel terrible/ashamed only paying that much........I think at least 300 Baht would be fair for an hour.

Standard rate here in Chiang Mai is 200 baht. I go to a shop offering 150 baht for 1 hour standard and tip 40 baht on top. Determining what is fair is also balanced against how many time I go (3 times a week) and my retirement income. At 300 baht ... can't do, 100 baht ... can't do. As my wife also goes ... double the amounts. 

6 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Nothing is set in stone yet. The cabinet only approved it in principle. It is now up to the health ministry,immigration and MFA to finalize everything.

Maybe immigration will agree to accept foreign insurance coverage. Tricare for US military retirees for example. 

I will continue to support your global medical coverage for retired military personnel. You will understand, I hope, that I will ask your support for equity in extending earned and paid for global Medicare coverage (I continue to pay a monthly premium) for civilian personnel.

8 hours ago, smedly said:

 can you not convert to an O visa, tourist visa can be converted, let your OA expire, yes I know it makes little sense

In order to currently switch (O-A Visa on Extension of Stay), I would have to leave the country, re-enter visa exempt (in my case) and apply for the O Visa in-country. The insurance would be required to re-enter, plus other requirements.

Sold my 18.4 acres in Western Kentucky and retired to Thailand in 2011. I figured on a sustainable retirement budget of $2400. USD a month ($1320.00 of that currently in Social Security - that is after the Medicare premium is deducted … earned Medicare is not useable outside US territory). I just could not see a working middle class comfortable retirement on that amount in the US so I joined millions of other Americans facing the same reality.

The proposed land ownership, surprise, surprise would affect only the wealthy investing substantial funds in Thailand. As such, not a concern of mine. I can document only the spending of a million Thai baht brought into the country for the past decade. As to a care for equity, I do think that my own country should have like restrictions on Thai citizens in the US as I am to fulfill here in Thailand.

22 hours ago, pgrahmm said:

It's not fun to re-chase everything down....

Makro does do this semi regularly.....

There's probably a reason for it - maybe....

While I agree, I do recall working US retail while in college. We changed the aisle end shelves to see what worked best for sales. I’ve lived in Chiang Mai for a decade, I have learned to expect change in life, inconvenient as it is at times.

Vivo Bene, Swiss run comes to mind. Soi Saket .

Sorry charlieH. You lost me very quickly as I experienced most in the 1960s (were you referring to the 1860s?). OK, Yank growing up on US East Coast ...

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

my Bangkok Bank app had to be activated by the woman in the bank while opening account.  

 

same SCB. 

 

Do you remember doing anything like that? 

Afraid it was too long ago. Kasikorn account opened 2010 on a Visa exempt entry (friend here in Chiang Mai let me use his address). Bangkok Bank account opened 2011 upon retiring here (O-A Visa).

10 minutes ago, n00dle said:

 

but enough about me, lets talk about you.

Cute

I wish them well!

5 hours ago, Surelynot said:

Agatha Christie would be struggling with this one.

Send in Poirot !

7 hours ago, DLock said:

What we have here is a clear lack of understanding of what a digital nomad is, and why they chose to work from Thailand in the first place.

 

Good thinking, but as most things in Thailand...poorly executed.

You know, while I do not blame Thailand for reaching for those who are wealthy, I have a hard time imagining these proposals will be appealing to those who could afford the requirements and have any international living knowledge. Seems to me, the “sweet spot” is in attracting the larger pool of retirees having the ability to sustain at least a million baht a year to be brought into the country. And a nod of recognition might be given to those who are supporting Thai families (perhaps no more foolishness of 90 day reports and equal pricing as Thai full-time residents).