wwest5829

10 hours ago, georgegeorgia said:

Go on admit it !

Who now has  NO residence ,no house back in farangland where they came from 

 

Some of you sold up to come to Thailand, Philippines or wherever your based in Asia didn't you !

 

So whether you retired from Australia,UK ,USA or bloody Belgium you have nothing to go back to if <deleted>e hits the fan !

 

You sold it ,so if you get very sick ,if something happens like visa issues or legal matters or whatever you have nothing to go back to , your in the <deleted>e !

 

So unless your say over 75 you took a  big risk in selling your house in farangland

 

How many of you regret it ,admit it ,yes some if you wished you kept your house 

Sorry to disappoint you (actually not). Yes, I studied five potential countries in which to retire. Thailand got the nod but not before my visiting and traveling during four separate monthlong stays in 2009 and 2010. Sent in the retirement paperwork to retire as of July 1, 2011 (academic year contract, aged 64 1/2 years). Sold my 18.4 acres, motorhome, 3 cars and went to cash. And the house? Took some memorabilia after allowing Sons to walk through and take what they wanted (neither had a place of their own at the time). So, left the basement shop, furniture but arranged four crates to be shipped to Chiang Mai (two crates were books ... one I kept, one was 298 books in English of American History I donated to the CMU Library. So, I have no real property in USA. My residence has been Chiang Mai, Thailand. But, but ... what happens if all goes belly up? As they say, I will cross that bridge when I come to it ... stress over potential disasters is a killer. After all, as you point out, I can move anywhere ... as my Aussie acquaintances would say ... "no worries, mate".

1 hour ago, chickenslegs said:

List of countries having Double Taxation Treaties" with Thailand,

https://www.rd.go.th/english/766.html

Thanks for posting. Should ease the minds of those who are inclined to "skittishness".

When I was, “casing” Thailand on my four monthlong visits in 2009 and 2010, I traveled around to see where I would like to settle. As I prefer the mountains over seashore living, I was drawn to the North. From the cities I visited, it seemed that Udon Thani, Loei, even Mae Hong Song were doable but … well, Chiang Mai had five universities and I thought I might continue working with students having retired teaching undergraduate history courses. Perhaps conversational English. As it turned out, I found I was happily retired and so donated the suits, dress shirts, ties, etc. Uniform of the day remains sandals, shorts, polo shirt.

7 hours ago, bignok said:

I saw that story. Looks a one off. They lined up a bus trip.

That might have been a good day with a tour group while other days might be very slow but … the fact that they still operate says there is enough to sustain the business idea. In my home country, I would not be surprised if tourism authorities were not supplementing.

Mainland Chinese and Twaniese Chinese ... OK, just curious if traveling together will result in any political dialogue.

In a related taxation action, Americans, please note: 

We are excited to announce that H.R. 5432 Tax Simplification for Americans Abroad Act has been introduced in the U.S. House of Representatives. Join us for a webinar with the sponsor of the bill, Congressman Don Beyer (D VA-08) on Wednesday, September 27 at 12pm ET to find out more!

Click here to RSVP

The Tax Simplification for Americans Abroad Act will:

• Create a simplified tax return form to help make it easier for Americans filing from abroad who owe no U.S. tax
• Eliminate double taxation for pensions and retirement distributions (including Social Security benefits), scholarships, fellowship grants, disability benefits, childcare expenses, family medical leave, and unemployment benefits
• Consolidate the FBAR into FATCA, increase the filing threshold, and eliminate the requirement to report separately to FinCEN

Please call your House Representative today and ask them to co-sponsor the bill. Click here for how to call and what to say. 

19 hours ago, Boatman37210 said:

I retired to Thailand 12 years ago on a retirement visa.  Never had a visit to my home by immigration during that time.  We just got a call from immigration saying they will visit on Thursday to confirm that I live at my reported address.  

 

I married a Thai lady 12 years ago and live in a house and on land that she owns.  She has gone with me for each extension of stay over the years.

 

Since I retired my income has almost tripled.  Maybe they are suspicious of that. 

 

Also, since the doing away of the income letter I have opted do income rather than money in bank.  The last two extensions I got angry because they did not know what they were doing and it was obvious.  Before you just handed them an income letter.  Now you have to confirm your income and reconcile your disbursing bank in the U.S. to your receiving bank in Thailand. They do not know how to do that.  Maybe this is their way of getting back for my anger the last two visits.

 

Anyone on retirement visa ever have immigration visit their home afte such a long period of time?

 

Thanks in advance.

In this case, fortunate that different immigration offices vary in their demands. While I use the monthly income method, the Bangkok Bank record of monthly deposits from abroad (FTT) is accepted by Chiang Mai Immigration.

16 minutes ago, placnx said:

Interesting. So Article VI (3) reads: "3. Companies of either Party shall not be subject within the territories of the other Party, to the payment of taxes upon income not attributable to sources within such territories, or upon transactions or capital not attributable to the operations and investments thereof within such territories." But Article VI (1) reads, in part: "1. Nationals and companies of either Party shall not be subject to the payment of taxes, fees or charges within the territories of the other Party, or to requirements with respect to the levy and collection thereof, more burdensome than those borne by nationals of all third countries."

 

So as an individual, this treaty does not help. You should read the Thai-US treaty on double taxation. You can probably get a credit on your US taxes for income taxes paid to Thailand.

You cite exactly the article in question. As a National of the USA and taxed there, I would not be subject to the same tax again in Thailand. This citation is currently being used by some Americans in Thailand on the argument that they are subject to Thai taxation and thus not the U.S. taxation. Currently this does nor affect me, I file my income tax fo4 s annually but am below the level where I owe any income taxes.

19 hours ago, MJCM said:

Look for Studio 7 they are authorized resellers

 

https://www.studio7thailand.com/en/store-locations

 

On their site (for Chiang Mai) they list 4 locations

 

Studio7- CentralFestival Chiangmai

Studio7- KadSuanKaew

Studio7- CentralPlaza Chiangmai Airport

Studio7- MAYA Chiangmai

 

 

Please note that Kad Suan Kaew Mall has been closed for some time.

22 hours ago, rubyjuan said:

In a month, I will be looking to purchase an Apple Watch Ultra 2 in Chiang Mai and I am looking for a real Apple shop.  Thank you.

The only Apple Store in Thailand is in Bangkok, as far as I know. However Studio7 is an authorized reseller and I have bought my Airlock, iPad, iPhone through them. I have been quite pleased with service. Repairs can be had at iCare or through a trusted local shop.

I recall years ago, when faced with this dilemma, a Mayor of a city in the Czech Republic  made this offer. Free stay in city hotel, romantic dinner to encourage childbearing aged couple to come and get pregnant ... I do not know the outcome on the birthrate.

Perhaps cockwobble. Well ... it jumped into my head while reading AseanNow.

Not this particular wart issue but, with the aging I have had warts appear on shoulders, back. Thing is, and the reason I am commenting, the cryro treatment can lead to bleeding if you are on blood thinners. So, the Dr. At RAM skin clinic zaps them with laser which seals off the blood vessels affected.

On 9/13/2023 at 6:11 AM, Dogmatix said:

When I was 17 I got my first real girlfriend who was 19 and had her own flat in London where I was studying at a crammer away from home. I moved in with her and did some growing up being around her friends who included a few older than her who had already graduated from university and were working. They were nice to me even though I was a long haired kid to them. Then I went to university myself and broke up with her and got  a gf my own age. Now my wife is 25 years younger. Theres a lot to said for an older gf when you are a teenager but do you want a 95 year old wife when you are 70?

She was 4 years older. We were together 4 1/2 years. Maggie May, 1971 …

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Cool big?  Huh?

Would work as big cool, cool but … yes. Misspelled as it should be jai yen, yen.

2 hours ago, Moti24 said:

I shouldn't have read this post; it's started me off again!

 

If I hear the words, "American English" again, I swear I'm going to burst a blood vessel.

 

There's only, "English".

Yai yen, yen … not worth your time laboring over … oops, labouring over

55 minutes ago, mokwit said:

Likely also criminal record check IMO. Maybe medical insurance also.

 

We now have Anutin as Interior Minister, who as Health Minister pushed through insurance on OA visas and Government hospitals charging farangs more and specifically retirees the most. He didn't call us AY Farang because he likes us. I had a one hour meet with him once. His company is SINO Thai Engineering and Construction.

 

Doesn't bode well.

I recall on my original request for the OA Visa in the U.S., they required health, police and financial statement. I found that justifiable and reasonable. Then they changed the requirements to include health insurance (should have “grandfathered in those who met the requirements at the time they were admitted IMHO). Why change the requirements for those already here … unless you are purposely encouraging them to leave in opposition to increasing the number of visitors to Thailand?

1 minute ago, Gottfrid said:

Easy to blow a big hole in your not the end of the world story. Here you only point your topic towards single retirees. There are many, that already have problems reaching todays minimum income level. At least if you read the complaints on this forum for a couple of years.

 

There are many of those who are married, have children, bought car and motorbikes as well as bought land and built a house. All for the reason to live in Thailand with the family in style and comfort.

The wife don´t want to sell, as she was never told there will be any problems. Neither does she want to relocate and nor will the children in school. Here we are talking about a lot of people living in Thailand, and you just start a topic that it´s not the end of the world. What do you think these people have to say about that?

My hope is that, due to the family reasons you cite ... Marriage Visas will not be changed as it would be too detrimental to Thais married to retired foreigners.

2 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

deserting my 16 yr old son in the middle of his studies isn't something I could even contemplate.

The "middle way" might be to move the family to another SE Asia country. Bottom line is I have a limit to financial resources.