gcbruk

Wow, I've just opened this and what a surprise! The exact same thing happened to me. I got back to UK in July for a couple of months and within days started getting chest pains. Felt like I had broken a rib but knew I hadn't. Dr talked about pneumonia etc but a CT scan revealed a clot on the lung and the evidence suggests it was flight induced. So I'm on Warfarin since July which finishes end of this month. Dr says it's technically ok to fly back again after that although it is perhaps a little soon. So even with precautionary stockings and some exercise I'm a bit worried about the risk. However, it's too gloomy and cold here to want to stay any longer than I have to...

I like my porridge oats cooked in water with and little pinch of salt and pepper followed by a raw egg. Gives me an appetite.

Fell of my bike on Sunday and broke a rib. Feeling about a hundred right now.

Hi ubonjoe you seem very well informed. Yes, I am from UK and have to go back next month so I can apply from there. I have addressed this question to Hull but no reply. Can I expect to get a non-O visa and if so for how long? I am in receipt of full UK pension.

G

I never know what to do either. In Tachilek I once saw a man with no hands or feet. Another time I saw a man with awful sores on his legs rubbing them to make them worse. The other day in Vientiane a perfectly fit looking young guy with a whacked out looking one year old child came and sat practically at my feet with his pleading eyes indicating the child needed food. OK I gave him a little money but had the feeling someone in a Merc would come to pick him up later. Ah well I suppose 100B doesn't hurt either way.

In CM there are a group of blind musicians who really make an effort and it's always a pleasure to stop and listen to them and contribute a bit even though they are clearly raking it in.

I have no answer but I like to think that sometimes a little goes a long way.

Next year he turns 65 and he will have the necessary funds for a retirement extension

NON-IMMIGRANT VISAS

Category “O”

4) Visiting Thailand as Pensioner aged 65 and over.

Evidence required:

a) Current “DWP Pension Statement” showing receipt of UK State Pension (no minimum necessary).

Either a single or multiple entry visa may be granted in these circumstances.

Is this what you refer to?

I have not heard or read of anyone here on this type of visa. On the face of it I do qualify but it seems almost too good to be true. Anyone here on this type of visa? Any further information on this will be greatly appreciated.

Last year and the year before and the year before that I got a triple entry 6month tourist visa which I extended by one one month at CM immigration and then three visa runs to Mai Sai which adds up to the ten months per year that suited my purposes.

This year things suddenly changed after my first exit so I had to do a run to Vientiane which was ultimately successful but seriously gruelling, although if I ever have to do it again I know how to make it a little easier.

I don't know how old you are but if you are receiving a UK pension there is apparently a one year Non-O available from Hull with no 80K bank deposit required just proof that you are on the pension. (If anyone knows more about this please let me know)

That is my first option for next year. . My second option is an ED-visa which would actually make me learn Thai which seriously can not be a bad thing for anyone planning to live here long-term. After that I may have to join a monastery but whatever I never want to have to live in England again. Here I don't have to touch my small savings and live on less than my pension per month and have a nice life. There my pension would hardly pay the rent for a cold and uncomfortable life.

San-lak-thailand

g

I know, I went with my gf to her dentist recently. Very modern 'futuristic' building. The entrance up to the clinic was a two-storey ramp about 4ft wide with no handrail on either side. When we left it had been raining so ceramic steps slippery. Have to put up with this if one does not want to live in a nanny state, eh?. Take care ...

I had to take a visa run minivan last weekend. Driver certainly overdosing on M150's. Didn't think we would make it at times but... well we did. A twelve hour drive is going to push anyone to the limits. I once did one much longer than that but not day after day after day...

I was there Monday 26th. 6am - 8:30am queue at Laos border. 9:30 - 2pm at Thai consulate. Hot as hell.

Went through Monday. Horrendous queues though. Stayed the night in Vientiane. Picked up passport Tuesday came back Tuesday night. Many people including me dead scared at prospect of being rejected but nobody I saw had any problems. Tip: at Laos border pay in US dollars ... 36dollars or 1500baht

I'm looking for a non-touristy place near the sea. Someone mentioned Trat. Any thoughts out there?

Have to spend a couple of nights in Vientiane. Any experiences or recommendations? People to see places to go? g

Who would wish to be in General Prayuth's shoes, right now??

I have a trip booked for a Vientiane visa run on Sunday dep CM 7pm.. The agency just told me there is no problem with the overnight journey and the visa service/border crossing is operating normally. Just hope they are right.

Have I got this right? Three VisaExempt walk-in 30 day stamps now permitted but only until August.

My Tourist visa expired 27 April, went to Mae Sai and got 30 days up to 26 May. So can I now expect another two stamps at Mae Sai? That would be fine as I have to leave mid-July anyway. Can anyone give me peace of mind that this will be OK or where else I could get confirmation?

Thanks so much

Thankyou Walen and I will consider you, but that does not solve my immediate problem I think.

Can some kind soul advise what to do please, and/or, what are my options. I have only just learned about this bombshell, thanks to TV.

This is my third year of living here for ten months of the year. (I am one of those who find it far more pleasurable and easier living here than back home on a pension). I have an income of 40K+ a month but not enough capital to deposit for a Retirement visa. I have been coming on a 6 month Tourist visa in Sept/Oct then Mai Sai visa runs until July then back home to see people and get a new visa and start again. I have always stayed within the system; no overstays, no working, everything in order, I just love living here.

My most recent visa run stamp expires 26^th May but my flight is not until 10^th July and for various reasons I don’t want to have to go back before then.

For next year I have the options of a retirement visa of a (new?) type that apparently requires no hefty bank balance just a statement of pension income that somebody has told me about (anyone have experience of this), or, failing that, an (genuine student) ED visa. (Welcome PMs from reputable schools)

So, my immediate problem is what I should/can/have to do on 26^th May, please? ps I live in Chiang Mai.

Thankyou …

WHAT is this life if, full of care,
We have no time to stand and stare?—

No time to stand beneath the boughs,
And fuk around as sheep and cows:

TAKE ME OUT THAILAND OMG

Hello Alex

I'd like to have some lessons, something I always wanted to do but never had time before. Now I have time on my hands and it would be ideal. I'm in my sixties and an absolute beginner. Please contact me if interested thanks ...

Oh dear, thanks jj you paint a pretty depressing picture ... makes me wish I hadn't asked the queston

Understood ... but what if it's from formal lenders? And anyway would informal borrowing/lending show up in the statistics?

,,,sorry for double post I don't know what happened...