OzinThai

As a long term Non O-A who also would like to change to a Non O based on retirement I have a question.. I was under the impression you had to enter as a tourist then apply for a retirement non-o here in Thailand.. and this could not be done unless you enter from overseas as a tourist.. has this rule been changed? I would be very appreciative of some guidance on this. I know in Phuket they automatically changed long term O-As to Os.. but I am in Chiangmai they do things differently here.

Gsxrnz you forgot Strange Attractors which in Thailands case would surely be about getting money from foreigners.. ????

Thanks Aussieroming I thought that was the issue.. very hard when you have commitments here. I cannot even take my cat back with me.. 

Sorry it was meant to be Chok Dee.. damn auto spellers.. ????

Choi Dee did you have any luck in your astronomy adventures yet? I am based in Chiangmai and have been bitten by the Astro bug.. as for Telescopes be careful.. many of those you see on Lazada are just toys.. not serious Astro gear. Depending on your needs I am happy to advise you. Cheers and clear skies..Greg

Thanks so much Ubonjoe.. great help .

Oh and one more question for the check out date what do I put there as I have no idea when I will be leaving.. I am on a Retirement Visa.

Hi I have question about the TM 30 online form. I am successfully registered and can log in no problems but my question is once you complete filling out all the fields on the online TM30 (below) how can you upload this.. or send to Thai Immigration.. I cannot see any button to say SEND or UPLOAD.. and can you check after to make sure they have the info? Hoping someone who has done this can help me out. Cheers.

There seems to be varying accounts to gaining an Aussie Pension here.. I worked in Oz for over 35 years lived there for 55.. I should have been eligible for the OAP but was refused on the basis I live overseas. I even presented myself at my eligible date to centerlink. So those getting the pension consider yourself very lucky indeed. I know it’s not a lot but it would have paid easily half my monthly living expenses. To get a pension would require me to go back live in Australia for 2 years and then only then I may be granted a OAP. Unfortunately I am not prepared to make such a huge move at this time of my life.

Finally out at 16.10...a long 13 hr day...

Sorry no tickets will be issued in the afternoon as they have no places in the queue left. You would simply be told to come back on a Monday.

A further update.. only 60 tickets where issued for education, medical and retirement.. they reached 30 by 10.50am then stopped.. the IOs just chatted or played with their phones... asking they said they will process the other 30 when they come back from lunch.. no rush, no consideration for the fact we had been there already 8 hrs. Please if anyone has a good agent they can recommend please let me know.

I am at CM Immigration this morning .. got here at 3am .. already 45 people in front of me. I managed to get number 57 and with some small miracle I may get my retirement extension done today.. but it’s been 1 hr and they have only processed about 10.. they turned away over 100 .. they have to come back Monday. And another heads up.. now you need to wait outside on the road curb till 5am.. they will not let you wait inside on a stool. It’s getting worse every year.. the main problem is all the agents .. I guess next year I have to find one .. enough of this torture.

I am unhappy to have 10 to 12 of these things right next to my homes car port.. I think they are an eyesore and a danger on such a narrow soi. I told the company no more than 3 bikes please but the yoga class next door wants as many as possible.. probably just to piss me off. I think they should not be allowed in residential areas.

Thanks sceadugenga... my point exactly.. sorry I did not use the correct terminology in my letter.  I feel we are simply not given a fair go.

Just to clarify.. I have been living the past 10 years in Thailand. I took the option of early retirement at 55 yo. and used my superannuation to find this.. I and living on a self funded retirement package at present. Prior to moving to Thailand I was working for 36 years in Australia. 

Ps. Sorry for the large fonts.. it was cut and pasted from another format.

Expats and the Australian Aged Pension 

Firstly, I know I will get a lot of knockers and those.. why don’t you simply go back to Australia types. But I feel I should as a mater of civic duty express my frustration and disappointment in the Australian Governments position on granting the Aged Pension for those choosing to live overseas.

I recently reached the magic 65 and went back to Australia to attend to my usual fiscal and medical matters. While there I went into Centerlink to apply for the Aged Pension. A lengthy and somewhat convoluted process. I studied the criteria for qualifying for the Pension. I thought even though I lived overseas I may qualify for a small part pension. Well that was certainly not the case. My application was rejected on the grounds you need to have lived in Australia for 10years. Well when the 10 year period comes into play is anyone’s guess.. but having worked for 36 years there and paying tax I thought that would suffice .. not so. Even if I was to return and live in Australia for a lengthy period my pension application could still be rejected. Just to clarify one issue here.. I am not super rich and I do fit the profile of receiving a decent part pension. 

My choice to live overseas here in Thailand was a personal one based on numerous factors, climate, the cost of living, the great people. In the years I have lived here I have invested in my local community, have great friends, loved ones and my hobbies in order to have a full and meaningful life here. 

I am not a burden on the Australian tax payer as I still pay tax there. Plus medically I am well insured here in Thailand. So I small token of appreciation from the Australian Government would have been truly appreciated.. but alias, not to be.. once you leave Australia you are forgotten.. they simply do not care. I wrote to the federal Minister concerned and not any of my letter was read I simply got a standard generic reply.. not addressing any of my questions or concerns. To be treated which such distain is very hard to swallow and just plain rude on their part.

I have noted many nationalities here in Thailand receiving their Aged pensions without the drama. Their counties seem to have not forgotten their citizens and even encourage their expat lives. Australia is not a poor country and has in my opinion severely undermined the quality of life of those expats living here. Australia has become a mean, self-centred, inward looking country, which I am not proud to be a citizen of. I feel all expats should contact their respective members of Parliament and voice their disapproval of this obnoxious treatment of its overseas citizens. The Time to take action is now. It may not affect you now but it will in the future.. I can see a time when even our superannuation which we saved hard for will be taxed if you do happen to live overseas. They are always scheming new ways to get more money from us. We are even taxed differently even if we are over 65 years old simply as a penalty for living overseas.

The fact is thousands of people in Australia get various government pensions and support who have never contributed anything to the Australian society.. something is indeed wrong here.. often they do not have to even wait 6 months to get our tax dollars.

This letter will be forwarded to The Australian media as well as as many sitting members of parliament as possible. 

Forgotten Australian Citizen