meechai

19 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Foreign retirees who qualify for an LTR visa must be at least 50 years old, have invested in Thai government bonds via FDI or in Thai real estate totaling at least $250,000. They must also have annual income of at least $40,000, or receive an annual pension of at least $80,000.

$80,000 pension per year? What is that per month...Oh coincidentally $6666 ????

On 2/17/2022 at 8:43 AM, Jingthing said:

 

Is it any wonder that for many or even most American expats in the world, repatriation is a LAST RESORT?

Like I said if actual US citizens are looking to return I say come on home! The water is fine as many who have returned can attest to

No need to obsess over the sensationalized media that is often posted here.

There are always great deals to be had & while I am not saying I don't enjoy our life at our home in Thailand the safety net in the US is something to be proud of too.

You will always be medically cared for (Medicare or Medicaid) You will NEVER be refused treatment

You will always have food on your table & you will if you try at all have a roof over your head despite the sensationalized claims

Yes there are homeless too but to be honest most of them choose it

Jobs are available everywhere if you so choose...Minimum wage in the USA is quite good in most States with most menial jobs now offering much more than that as workers are scarce

(partially due to the benefits given to those who don't work)

So while repatriation to the USA may be last resort for some<sic> truth be told by those that did is....quite nice with so many benefits available to those in need

On 2/15/2022 at 4:40 PM, webfact said:

65% of Expats in Thailand say unvaccinated passengers should sit in separate areas on aeroplanes

#1 most expats in Thailand cannot afford Health Insurance so they may be covid-shy

#2 Ask them if all beer manufacturers in Thailand should close if not vaccinated?

#3 Ask them if all working girls should not work if not vaccinated

I think your results will show an opposite opinion

28 minutes ago, jerrymahoney said:

You can talk to the broker; I will deal with the statement of the underwriter.

Good Night....Maybe buy a vowel too as you need a clue

https://aseannow.com/topic/1249986-retirement-in-thailand-for-low-and-mid-level-budget-expats-is-the-party-really-over/?do=findComment&comment=17186012

Listen it was a post that showed many international insurance examples & a compare to Thai based insurance examples also

I used April as an example because it was first in list...ok? The example I gave also used age 61 again AS AN EXAMPLE

Secondly many on Thai Visa including Sheryl a respected health care worker in Thailand recommend & use them

That is all period it was a post... not a guarantee April INT specifically would fit you personally.... Go thru the list if your serious about or need health insurance

12 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

That was straight from the April International website.

 

Up to you as they say ????

Many international companies do not sell direct to some age groups yet brokers do

Maybe some have entry age limit maybe some dont...Call & talk to a broker...or not

April was an example from a sheet of many International Health Insurers available

DYODD

From AA's site
 

Quote

 

27. Until which age can I apply for a health insurance?

 

Almost all plans know a maximum entry age. Until the age of 75 you will still have enough choice. After 75 only a few Companies will still accept you.

 

3 hours ago, jerrymahoney said:

We can accept applications from people 65 years or younger

Just call AA Brokers ask for Wim

It is not a problem to apply after 65 & no waiting period is what I was told

20 hours ago, Jingthing said:

So given all that I can make a stab at guestimating rough levels.

 

Others would legitimately come up with very different numbers.

 

Monthly income

 

Under 800 USD  

Be afraid.  Be very afraid. 

 

LOWER

800 to 1300 USD

You're very vulnerable to life events, immigration changes

 

MIDDLE

1300 to 2500 USD

Still vulnerable but less so

IMO...Under $800 was never reality not for those who wanted health insurance & a better than 3500 baht a month room

Under $800 a month would be hard pressed to even visit Thailand for a month

(remember now you need 50k USD insurance to visit)

800-1300 USD possible but Thai style more than falang style

250 insurance + 250 rent leaves $800 or 26k baht ...do-able for many

1300-2500 should be fine for almost all who are not addicted to drinking/smoking/sexpatting

As to Immigration changes that is the true unknown

A few months back Malaysia my second home program had a real shock when the quadrupled their income requirements from RM10k to 40k

https://www.mm2h.com/new-rules-2021/

(there may have been updates but I have not looked as not interested in Malaysia...we have a home in Thailand)

But Yes Imm moving the goalposts is always a possibility in any foreign country that is not generous like the USA with their 2 then 10 year green cards allowing folks to live & work with a sense of security in that regard

As to Health Insurance....I 101% believe it will soon be mandatory as part of any long term visa extension

The writing was on the wall for some time & C19 just gave it the final push it needed

But it is not all bad...Folks rightfully are wary of Thai health but...You can buy International insurance for nearly teh same & they do not cancel you or have a waiting period or cut you off after 75

Here are two samples to compare Thai to Int insurance given to me by Wim at AA Insurance Brokers

April International $2400 starting at age 61 to $3200 till age 75 per year is not bad at all is it? For $500k USD coverage

18 hours ago, Chris.B said:

I didn't. ????

Well I think you would be in the minority on that ????

But at the end of the day common sense suggests most who complained never had the funds

Because it was no big deal when Imm said prove it yourself without the get out of showing it paper from the US consulate

Those folks just said oh ok here...Was not a big deal then or now

19 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Stop insulting me personally!

Your attacks are both disgusting and WRONG. 

Again the topic is stated in the OP.

I AM NOT THE TOPIC.

Never said you were the topic nor did I attack you. I am just agreeing with many who knew & stated here that the US Consulate raise your hand & swear you have XX money was mostly BS & abused to the hilt.

I think you forget we had this conversation years ago before the income verification ended. I said the loop hole would be closed you said never

I even said the US consulate should simply give the sworn to have income every month to the IRS then see how it would go. There would be a lot of tax penalties suddenly appearing on unclaimed income...tho it didn't exists anyway...But I think you have forgotten that conversation?

In any case it came true & loophole was closed

18 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Agent can handle the Ins proof as well. When I had an agent do my 12 mos extension for OA it cost 3000 tbh for health ins.

Probably as TIT after all ????

57 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

So according to your theory the applicants that were actually getting the income were lying under oath to their own embassy or perhaps you think no Americans actually qualify by income.

No I think some did qualify & for them it was not a big deal when the swear to have it ended instead they just brought in 800k & parked it or did what they claimed all along & brought in 65k a month with the transfer papers to prove to IMM simple.

But for some perhaps like yourself maybe? there was a great weeping & gnashing of the teeth as they felt they were being treated unfairly yet  these same folks were ultimately to blame for the ending the golden fleece of the "claim" to having x amount of $$ without ever having to prove it themselves in the first place

As for the US refusing it was their refusal to guarantee the nonsense most provided as proof period

Again end of day no ticket no show.

Hear me now or believe me later...anyone not able to put up the funds they previously "claimed" to have

will have a much bigger problem soon when the required health insurance becomes a  part of any yearly visa extension

Plan ahead ????

10 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

False. 

In your mind I'm sure it may be ????

21 hours ago, Jingthing said:

 

So then Thai immigration pressured the US to start demanding proof and to take responsibility the proof was valid.

 

Well there you got at least one line correct ????

Give it up everyone & their brother knew it was 99% BS

Quote

 

The compulsory insurance net is slowly closing – howbeit with multiple loopholes for now –

whilst the assumption that third parties and visa agents will be able for all time to arrange

extensions of stay for those unable to fund themselves is speculative at best.

 

^^^From Article^^^

I said this a few years back when the US Consulate got wise to the BS claims of income & stopped providing the letter for Thai Imm

I knew next step was mandatory insurance & it is coming soon. Folks can claim what they want about self insure but it will not be allowed

Folks can claim they are not insurable at age xx but that is just Thai insurance...

Everyone can but International coverage that works well in Thailand & Thai Imm knows this.

Plan ahead as this is coming sure as sunrise

22 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Any idea the limit for a dual citizen sending out of Thailand?

I do not think there is a limit ( for Thai/dual citizens) but in my wife's case i think the most she sent was 3 million baht

....But as OP stated his dual citizen Thai wife transferred out 300k USD or roughly 9.8 million baht

But for folks such as myself US citizen I have always heard under 50k USD will raise no questions & that is what I followed & never was questioned

On 2/10/2022 at 9:07 PM, Jingthing said:

 

You actually don't know the specific details of my personal finances.

The topic was started as a GENERAL discussion about one of the hottest topics in the US now.

 

U.S. Housing Prices Explosion Making Repatriation a Less Realistic Option for Many?

There is a question mark at the end of that sensational title & I answered saying not in my opinion & most that complain about this is as other have also said those that made choices that left them without a chair when the music stopped/changed

That aside it is in reality usually sensationalized by folks who have not been back in the US in years if not decades yet they want to pontificate over the so called USA "problems"

Yet the truth is boots on the actual US soil do not all find it so difficult

In many States even the ones with the highest cost of living there are still many great deals for rentals

I know this as I live in such a place

Yet those who in reality have no intention what so ever of returning to the USA always post topics such as these with so much doom & gloom but it is not  completely accurate

But these same gloom & doom posters frequently slag off the USA as a form of sour grapes because they will never return

8 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I don't believe there is a one size fits all plan. In fact I totally REJECT that.

 

There are good reasons to sell up:

 

Great timing for large profits

 

How has that worked out for you & your topics like this one?

This is Thailand & the guy was wrong...the girl was more wrong to continue it beyond the beyond

As others said she made her point with a kick or slap etc...but no she had to stretch her 5 min of fame

She is lucky her Muay Thai didn't meet 9mm not to mention again this is Thailand home of frail male ego's

Would not be surprised at all if this girl has an accident in her future...TIT

5 hours ago, EVENKEEL said:

Renting out the US house and retiring in LOS is a much smarter option.

Head of the class comment !

People who do well never sell they leverage ????

16 hours ago, higgy88 said:

meechai,  what exactly does your wife use for the reason for the transfer, and does she transfer it directly into her own account in her own name?

She says the same as I do..."repatriating money". The account she sent it to was actually our joint account back in the USA, but that was never questioned

as form just asks acct number routing etc & she gave her name on account

(although that account as I said has both names as it is a joint account)

The only question they ever had for her was to bring her US passport to show she was in fact a dual citizen US/Thai

At no time were either her or I ever asked for inbound proof of funds originating in US etc

But if they do not have a dual citizenship then yes they will question why they are sending money out of country

Usual answers for Thai only citizens are things like supporting family abroad or child in school abroad etc

No Surprise

It was never a problem for a Thai to trans out any amount period

That she has dual citizenship is irrelevant

Which is why this was suggested to you folks by BKB

Quote

We initially were going to do it into a joint account, but the head office recommended doing it in her name only, to an account that's only hers. 

My wife who is also a Thai/USA citizen has also transferred more than 50k USD at a time no questions asked

In any case even a US citizen living in Thailand can transfer out up to 50k USD without any questions with Bangkok Bank as I have done it many times  & all you have to say is repatriating the money. I usually kept it under 1.4 million baht to make sure it was easy

Lastly, As to them suggesting all at once in her name was just to save her the 1400 baht fee for each transfer