gk10012001

I lived in California for many years. I recommend the small Wat Thai in Escondido California on a Sunday. Small food court. Pretty little temple in a quiet residential neighborhood. Of course in the Los Angeles area the big Wat Thai is worth a visit. The Wifey may enjoy it. As you probably know there are many Thais in Los Angeles and of course take a visit to Thai Town.

I understand you are separating the membership from the visa validity, however the Elite folks tell me that when the Membership expires, the visa validity also will expire. So people can sort out what they think really happens.

yeah. I got several emails on it as I have corresponded with the Elite folks. So if one gets the Ellite, just be aware of when time starts

I think you are confusing things. If you have a Thai Elite, you apply once a year for an extension. But you also have to do the 90 day reports/ but the 90 day reports are not permissions or extensions of stay

He was the last elected PM. Good, bad or indifferent, continually having coups, throwing away constitutions is , well, not the way democratically governed states are run

How was she staying in Thailand for so long? Valid visa? And apparently did not have any medical insurance? Just asking

Having had various security clearances for over 40 years now, continuously and contiguously without any breaks since I first started in the Defense Industry when I joined the US Air Force, I find the allegations disturbing. The various news sources have used words such as Special Access Programs, and the even TS/SCI. And then I read about some documents were de-classified locally or something like that. Classifying and declassifying documents is not done by just anybody. If TS (Top secret) things were taken to the house, that is a serious violation.

No shirt guy.. I thought it was Putin for a moment

actually, it turns out that many if not most advantage plans, you get to supplement medicare and get things like D coverage for drugs and a few other things, they cover emergency treatment overseas. I have medicare A and B, and then got the AARP advantage plan which covers "D" drugs and adds a few other things. No additional cost. I had a nice chat with them on the phone, and also read the plan details. quite good actually. They may or may not deal directly with the Thai hospital. If they don't then you file the reimbursement claim. These advantage plans end up being the processing agents for most medicare claims and usage of any sort. All that Medicare does is bill you and you pay medicare, but the advantage plans administer all your medicare stuff.

no. j the 5 years starts before you get the visa in the passport. I got emails specifically saying the 5 years starts as soon as you get final approval. You could be sitting on the couch in your home country and the clock starts ticking.

yeah I read that too. It even used the word consulate which makes me wonder if one of the honarary consulates, not the embassies could do it.

I know all that. But the timeline of when things expire or start is what I was asking

The CDC is being a bit sneaky and some companies are requiring one be Fully Vaccinated. But, the CDC is implying that Fully vaccinated really means initially vaccinated and then "up to date", which means having all the recommend booster sequences. I just ran into this with a client that wants me to work for them. Even they are now not sure what their own policy really means. Just a word of caution. And several European countries are saying fully vaccinated if one only had the proper initial vaccination is no longer valid after 7 months. So read the fine prints.

Reminds me of the movie "The Sting". Delaying the radio broadcast of the horse races, so they could place bets on the actual winners they got slightly ahead of the taped broadcasts

Inspections are not a guarantee. First one must do proper inspection. Second, one must fix whatever is broken or missing. Both a bit suspect when independent agencies that can't be bribed are rare, or if ignorance and not training, or standards, or experience exist. Station club fire in Rhode Island is a good example. A comedy of errors which were not funny that led to 100 people getting killed

well, I am going to see Blondie this Friday August 12 at Foxwoods casino in CT, USA. I hope it is the real Blondie with them. The website seemed vague as to whether she is still touring or not

well I always planned to retire or certainly semi retire there right after my first trip in 2004 I was hooked. There have been so many changes that I don't like, but still, I am on my way soon for some extended stays. A full expat? Not likely as I have to pretty much pay for USA medicare and I am not going to give up my full USA presence.

well, sometimes going out for a night, seeing new people, meeting new people, can be fun. I admit some casinos are incredibly stinky and smokey. One thing COVID did here in the USA is many casinos banned smoking during and some still ban it Foxwoods in CT for example is actually pleasant to go to. In California, many if not most card rooms where you can play Poker and table games such as Pai Gow and versions of black jack are non smoking (Ocean's 11 in Northern San Diego) is the best place for Pai Gow. now commissions. Players can bank at almost any time.

I have seen some hotel staff working many years at the same place in Pattaya also (In Town Holiday, Flipper Lodge or House (that never smiling lady). Also in bangkok seen a few of the same at Nana hotel over the last 10 or more years. Domocile restaurant in Pattaya had the Thai fellow that spoke German, now moved over to Brauhaus a few years ago. Not saying it doesn't happen. Needs the right circumstances, friends or relatives of the owner or his/her wife, etc. Or sometimes they are compensated OK and prefer to stay. For non skilled over the counter type of jobs, well... catch as catch can

I won't qualify for any type of waiver. At the moment, will just cross the fingers and return to USA if something happens. Medicare site keeps saying some or all emergency treatments can or will be reimbursed if the foreign hospital is closer than a USA hospital, and one maintains living in the USA, or something like that. The part about living in the USA is kind of mis leading or definitely ambiguous. I will not be making Thailand my permanent residence, but will be spending a lot of time there. So if anybody has any experience getting emergency treatment in Thailand and then successfully getting reimbursed by USA Medicare, please post. Thanks

Follow up questions. 1: After getting the application approved, how long do you have to send payment and get things finalized? One month? two months? 2: Once you send payment, and the entire elite package is approved and confirmed, how long do you have to use the Visa? I am guessing 90 days or else it expires and you lose everything? 3: A corrolary to 2, when does the 5 year clock start (assuming I get the basic 5 year version)? Does it start when you arrive in Thailand and get the stamp applied? Oh I really did just free up 25k in cash, in case I really do punch out of my gigs in the next few months. My work ethic is diminishing, along with dealing with moving around the USA, dealing with stupid landlords, etc. I like the idea of some long stays in Thailand the next 5 years while I am young enough to enjoy them, more than just sitting around when I turn 70. I am 65 now. Thanks

Horrible sensationalistic article headline. It purports that recriminalizing is a fact, when in truth it is just this guys's desire and request.

well, not all used car business owners are smart. Some see a deal, a great price and go for it. Or, some are aware of things, but figure: 1: once they sell the cars, they will not get in any trouble. "we thought the cars were legal. Not our fault". Or they know it will be hard for them to have to give back the money they received, especially since nothing will happen until the new car buyers lose the car, if the leasing company somehow gets them back, and then those poor owners would have to sue the used car guys to get their money back. Quite a complex process all this can be in Thailand

oooh boy. Didn't the buyers get the Car fax report?

yeah. not many other options. If reasonably healthy and have not chronic recurring conditions, go for the largest imaginable deductible to reduce your premiums. My goal always was just to insure against the bankroll busting major illnesses. Knock on wood, now at 65 literally have never been to a hospital when I was paying for medical. In the Air Foce they yanked my wisdom teeth and that's been about it. Broke an arm as a kid.