ginjag

4 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

In fact I think that 30k/m + 540k was already not acceptable - even with the letter - in many Immigrations.

Many reports of places wanted the "money in the bank" to be "small" compared to the income. It must just be a complement to reach 800k, not the main part of your money.

My only choice is to sell my car, or my condo to have 800k in the bank....OR pay out 500k to the Elite for a 5 year visa,  but as most people say---a waste.  but in my case after the 5 years I will be 82......who cares you cannot take your money to the grave  lol.  ( remembering not having the hassle to arrange transfers into a Thai bank) with an added bonus who knows what changes Thai Immigration will make in the next 5 years) The elite is safe of headaches for 5 years.   

18 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

Sorry I am not sure to understand. As someone said above the Combo method still exists, so 30k monthly + 540k in the bank should still make this person qualify for Retirement Extension ??

As I read it the 30k is insufficient in Thai Immigration eyes to live on, I scanned the 1 million replies and get this impression

2 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

Thai Immigration is helping by adding a method to qualify for a yearly extension (for those who can't have an Embassy Letter anymore)

For the rest of your message, send these complains to your Embassy .

 

You are skirting around my point, about pension income.  If it was fair Thai I would have said  your UK pension of 30k will be sufficient with the 540k bank deposit... you are clearly not bothered about people with adequate incomes that now fall short........because of your refer/complain to the Embassy.....TI are upping the pension income level sod all to do with the Embassy withdrawing their confirm letters.

4 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

They are not messing you around again;

They are helping you to stay despite the decision of your embassy.

How are they helping you stay, a good % had 30k and 540k in the bank,  how do persons get  more O/A/pension to cover the income ??     they are helping only the persons with bigger incomes/pensions..  BUT you are thinking of these more well off people.   Imagine a person living here 14 years ...all of a sudden he may have to sell a small condo to rake up the 800,000 baht,  then go and rent.....failing that sell his car.....FAIR  ??  helping  ?????

2 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

In more ways than one - like being more careful who they let in.  Stay safe and take pictures, so when your grand-kids ask, "What was Sweden like?" they can see. 

 

I think the current drop-off point is Spain (Italy now closed), then you work your way through the EU from there, demanding to be allowed to go to the location with the most generous handout-amounts. 

Yes and the UK nastily caps your pension you worked 50 years for because you live in Thailand and not normally live in the UK.   

3 minutes ago, moe666 said:

reading threw many of the post I canot believe how hard some people are making this it appears clear cut to me. From now you will need to deposit, 65k for retirement and 40k for marriage, monthly in a Thai bank account if you are using the income method. I have to ask how hard is that. of course a few are already figureing out how to scam the system or even wanting a lower bhat amount for the two options. The lower amt. will not happen you are probably lucky they didn't raise the amt needed.. Reading comprehension seems to be big problem with many who post here. 

Think my friend, when 30k was enough, (pension UK), along with 540k in the bank.   it has drastically changed.  Cannot believe those posters that say it really is not a problem. (i'm all right Jack) attitude.   so I will ask the pension department to up my old age pension to 65k and send it to BKK Bank   ha ha ha.     Some persons live here on 30k a month and accrue a little,  and live well, some do not need A bar girl, hotel food, alcohol, smokes,.......14 years here on 30k  and never a problem...3 bed bungalow Wi Fi, true vision, 2 air con, hot shower  big palmed garden.     Then posters on here say go home----low life---cheap charlie---Better this than a Pattaya or BKK penthouse ....

4 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Not wrong!

 

My comment was to someone saying that this change will stop someone with 30K income getting an extension. If they had 540K to put in the bank they didn’t have a problem then, and don’t have one now.

 

If all they had was 30K pm income before the didn’t qualify for an extension anyway.

But they DO have a problem now,  before it was accepted   540k  and a 30k pension.....NOW  as I read it your pension is not sufficient as an offset as they are asking a higher pension to be transferred to a Thai bank, if you only receive 30k you cannot transfer the now said amount.......what you not have you cannot give.......so my posts all along are saying a good % of ex pats only have 3ok old pension UK...so will be eliminated under the new rule.   so what does a UK pensioner do with 30k pension and 540k in the bank  ????  leave or pay 500,000 elite 5 years and live off his pension  but no worries about having to leave.

10 minutes ago, elviajero said:

If they only have a pension of 30K pm they didn’t qualify for the extension using the embassy letter either!

Wrong  560,000k in a Thai bank to verify, plus the pension of 30k verified.  I did not need agents as the pension and the 560,000 was what was then required.

13 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Because you are asking people spending 1,900 baht a year for "1 years freedom" to pay 60,000 baht. That does not make any sense. You need money to live on in Thailand so transfers need to be made or money held in the bank even if you paid 60,000. Yes you could get away with smaller transfers or less in the bank etc, but to pay 60K for the privilege would. IMO, be nuts. 

NO,  T.I. want 40-60k monthly,  Many not so well off can live comfortably here on 20-30k a month pension...They are stopping that...60,000 a year would solve most problems.

OK you like 800,000 stuffed  in a bank and can afford 40-60k a month pension  your 1,500 baht , compared with 60,000 is ridiculous.   My 60,000 suggestion is finished, clean.  It relieves the 800,000k in the bank, producing Thai bank entries of over the norm pensions.   BUT you are not looking to cater for all here.  A simple hassle free 1 year stay and   ATM, transfer money whenever you need from your UK bank. most of all not involving a dictatorship order to have your pension diverted from the pension department to a Thai bank....say what you like but the new rules are losing more than gaining ex pats.   I do care about the people with a fair bank balance and a pension that supports living here.  My lease here 6,500 baht for a 3 bed bungalow Air con 2, super gardens.Per month 2,500 pays true vision wi fi and sim package, Per month, water electric 1000 baht a month.

I am a home person, no smoke no drink no hotel meals, have a car,  Udon.  so 10,000 baht a month to live.     food local market Tesco, cooking at home. paid UK debit card.  YES people can live at a nice low price if outside of BKK  Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai etc........

Any ex pat on a UK old age pension maximum 30,000 baht a month will have to leave.    I wonder how many will be affected  ???   more than these so called wealthy on here realize.    

6 minutes ago, elviajero said:

Great idea if they want to get rid of most of the expats, which they don't. Who's side are you on?

Think no bank deposits here sitting for NOWT, no hassle from income as most expats only on UK Pension do NOT have the amount paid to them (40,000 a month, UK pension is only 30,000..  To think 1,500 UK pound to stay here hassle free no headaches about income...

Where do you get the idea that it would drive ex pats away,   Pay 60,000 baht and 1 year freedom,   why come out with driving expats away.??? 

6 minutes ago, elviajero said:

There is no "standard charge" for a one year visa. The fee is 1,900 baht.

 

5 year PE visa holders have to make 90 day address reports too. Immigration only receive a small fee from Thailand Elite to provide the PE visa.

My point being scrap the bank deposits /income.   CHARGE a yearly fee for retirement visa 60,000 baht.   with guarantee residence /deeds and maybe medical insurance.  think of the massed income Thai immigration would inherit and TAT more than happy with extra tourism

4 minutes ago, onera1961 said:

Nothing complex. If over 50, get an O-A and keep your money invested in your home country. Spend as little as 40K per month in Thailand and no body cares.

 

Or, bring 800K three months prior to your application and season it for three months. After the extension, start spending 40K/month and nobody cares. Top it up three months prior to Application.

 

Or, start sending 15K/week and 5K/month and keep spending 40K/month, nobody cares. At the end of one year, you have saved 300K. You can buy a used car.
 

Or hire an agent and spend 38K/month (2K for agent). No body cares. 

 

I don't see any complexity. Why should I donate 500K to Thailand? I can buy a nice new car for that price.

 

If you have few million dollars, you can waste 500K baht but I still think it's wastage of money if you're 50 years or more.  

Because I am 77 and my UK pension is capped as I not normally live in the UK,  in addition 20,000 a month is what pension I receive static for 11 years,  even the old age pension in the UK being 30,000  it is still not sufficient immigration thinks to live on here  ??   Do you understand that the 500,000 for the elite when your 77 does not really matter.  Because at 82 when finished your chances of survival are very slim....If you are much younger it is a very different equation.

1 minute ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Someone should tell the Brit Embassy that most banks ask for a work permit to open an account.

I do not understand this,  In Udon I have 2 bank accounts one debit  another credit, showing my passport only to do it.

Understanding all the complex visas for long stay is difficult.....elite 5 year visa hassle free 500,000 bht fee.   so why on earth Thai immigration have a standard charge for a one year visa of 60,000 baht, 90 day reporting.  verifying address/lease/deeds.   think about the income Immigration would get, and long term ex pats etc  content.

2 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

This relates to extensions. Easier not to get extensions. I just go over the border every 90 days on a multi-entry marriage O visa. No bank account details needed, no embassy letter (at Savannakhet anyway).

I had to get a retirement visa because The Thai Consulate in Laos stopped the Non 0 visa 90 day and only issued a 60 day one, and only 2 more after that..

4 minutes ago, Easy Come Easy Go said:

I'm not on a retirement visa as I am only 30, but do other neighbouring countries such as Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia make it this difficult for elderly expats to stay for a long duration? The money in the bank, transactions etc, seems like a lot of hoops to be jumping through 

Philippines, for the retired person is the best option because they have an agreement with the UK, your old age pension is paid in full and you receive increment increases.

6 minutes ago, DPKANKAN said:

Your Aussie government pension is 30% better than our UK one based on what my Aussie mates tell me!! Yours 40k plus a month ours 30k. And that is, at least mine is for paying in for 42 years!!

Mine is 20k, because it was capped 11 years ago, as I quote "not normally reside in the UK"...Pension department words

At 77 years on a retirement visa, 550,000 in a Thai bank, plus the pension income, looks a bit gloomy.    11 years ago my old age UK pension was 87 pound sterling a week, and because I lived in Thailand  and not normally residing in the UK the pension was capped.    if I returned to the UK I would receive about 165 pound sterling a week. Here is the problem when increment increases are stopped.   So at 77 years old and in my twilight years the 5 year elite visa sounds expensive, but hassle free.  We cannot take our money with us when we die so I am now considering switching to the 5 year elite.  After 5 years I will be 82   so who the hell needs to worry about trying to keep the deposit in the bank ??  only benefit is when younger you have options to withdraw and take your money back to your homeland. In your latter years why worry.

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

Not for getting a non-o visa for being 50 or over. No nearby location will issue one without showing the same financial proof needed for the extension you have been getting.

If your wife is Thai you can get a multiple entry non-o visa in Savannakhet Laos with no financial proof. 

Thanks Joe, So It is far in my interest to stay on my retirement visa in Udon (immigration)......So my stay as of old 90 day 1 night Laos consulate, return etc is over.   PS, at 76 I have no intention of marrying a Thai woman, for an easier visa  ha ha ha.   keep up your good work, thanks again.

11 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

No mix up. The financial requirements are the same as when applying for an extension at immigration whether you are 50 or or over 55.

 

You can still get a multiple entry non-o at the embassy in London if you are on a state pension.

The proof of retirement is required by by the consulates in Savannakhet and Penang if showing 800k baht in the bank. Most people have used an income letter from their embassy showing even a small amount of income on it to meet the proof of retirement requirement.

OK U.J.  I now have a retirement visa for 1 year issued by the Udon Immigration, 90 day reporting equiv 800k in the bank.

If I wish to stay here in Udon (i am 76 Years old) but think I will use monies 800k and stop the retirement visa and just go for a 90 visa run as of old is this possible ??  No talk of retirement  --wife here --  just simply lease a property, and travel around, but based in Udon home a single man.    Is it now not that simple.

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Yes it is possible but not easy as it was years ago. They have been asking for financial proof for a long time now.

Savannakhet will do one without the police or medical certificate but you also need proof you are retired if using the money in the bank option.

If married to or the parent of a Thai they are easy to get.

It seems to me then it is mixed up with the retirement visa (1 year Udon)... these 2 were completely different, the former passport and address,  (proof I am retired ??, I thought the 90 day was if you were of an age over 55.

I used to get a 1 year non 0 multiple from Hull, report every 90 day visa run....that stopped.      Query, bank option for a 90 visa proof of retirement ??

10 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You can get a single entry non-o visa for being 50 or over for retirement at the embassy in Vientiane if you have financial proof, a police clearance and medical certificates.

So a 90 day visa is still ok,  but different now. Before simple----filling in a form stating Thai address, no medical certs, or police clearance or financial proof.