JAFO

Not bashing Bob here but in my many years of travels around Thailand those 4 reasons above really set the stage for the foreigner to become jaded, especially location. Tourist locations should be considered just that" Tourist" and with that influx of visitors comes the scam artists that feed off ripping off foreigners. Nature of the beast. Thailand is not exclusive in this as we all know. I have met quite a few really negative foreigners in my years here and when I learn where they live or frequent, how they live it paints a pretty clear picture of why they are like they are and have the views that they do.

WE ALL?....Really? That is funny but I guess to be expected by some foreigners. I work and live here and happen to have a lot of Thai friends and acquaintances and honestly I have never felt that they only give me the time of day if I am paying. In fact many dinners we all meet up for, they pay. In the end its all about the company you keep and the environment where you live.

Understood. Of course the thread subject makes it appear that expats can now have acquire a WP with a retirement visa and until any of us see a revised govt official update I think this is a one off mistake or the information isn't complete.

Back to the OP. While I question the accuracy of the content, the only way this can be validated is a post of the WP and the retirement Visa in place. I was curious enough that I called my admin as she does all the WP updates for the expats at our factory and asked about a retirement Visa and a WP. She said No. An expat cannot have a retirement visa and a WP. The requirements for a retirement visa and extensions are very clearly defined. Now being fair, there is a good chance that the said individual who told the OP is confused or didn't look close at his Visa extension stamped in his Passport "IF" the person really has a WP. Quite honestly acquiring a WP is not just go apply and receive it. The initial application has a pretty long list of requirements then annual reviews require medical and employment confirmation etc.

Odd then you really didn't need a B visa, unless your meetings were for months. For years I would come here from the US for 1 or 2 week factory visits to check on our products being manufactured. Arrived on a tourist Visa and left. All my current visiting colleagues do the same. However if you are earning income here you have to have a WP. I'd have to go back and look at how many days one is here for business before they should what we would call "Officially" apply for a B visa to be on the up and up. Like all these Visa's, there are gray areas and little loop holes and quite frankly the Thai govt doesn't have the bandwidth to monitor it at all. Not even close. The Thai govt is not going to blacklist or kick out visiting business people if the stay is short even though theoretically they are "Working". ????

Just a comment Always check the receipt. If there is a service charge applied, they already built in the tip. Look closely. If not, tips are at the customers discretion based on service, food quality provided etc. I never ever tip a flat % rate. Never have. Tips are "earned" in my opinion, not just a hand me out.

Let me add to my post. Sometime back I was here on a retirement Visa extension. As it turned out, I was offered a position by a western company and had to change my visa to a B Visa which then allowed me to have a WP ( actually they go together ). That said, one can reside in Thailand, be married to Thai national and have an O Visa extension and a WP. I am currently living here under those circumstances and have been for the last 8 years.

Bare essentials....indeed. But that is just a survival list. Who in the hell just wants to just survive? Good Lord, Live big and enjoy everything you can. If its junk when you die, so be it but you had it when alive and had some fun.

Understand Tuvoc. Of course a quick trip into BKK for a weekend for some R&R, an agent can be located. Again this all depends on ones personal disposition and life status. I fully understand that if an individual cannot travel or doesn't want to, then this Elite Visa option might be the best avenue. For me being married and here on an O marriage extension, my annual cash outlay is 1800 bht for a 1 year and my wife usually does my 90 day check in's so my POV is heavily skewed that an Elite Visa is just tossing money out the window for what appears to be a little convenience. I would rather take that cash and go rent a top class Villa on an island for a bit and reeeeeelax. I do appreciate everyone's point of view and situation. We all do what's best for ourselves and our situations. Cheers

I think that is fair Tuvoc. I am surprised at some of the other posters who can't seem to find an agent to make it work for them. I know half a dozen expats 40 to 60 who use agents. Price ranges from 12k to 15k bht. X 5 is 60K baht over 5 years. Math seems pretty simple to me. I understand those who are under 50 and not married to a Thai national might want an easy path. While in my current position I could comfortably fund the elite Visa pkg, It just doesn't make good financial sense. If I was single I would probably use an agent but I think a lot would depend on where I lived in Thailand and the access to an immigration office. I am not that busy that once every 3 months I can stop by and say Hi then go have lunch somewhere and with the money I didn't cough up for the Elite Visa I could enjoy a lot of really good lunches all over Thailand. ????

Is it really worth the cash outlay? I guess if you are not working and under 50 and do not want to make border runs then maybe this offers a benefit. Of course a good agent can set you up for a heck of a lot less over that 5 year period. I mean they really fluff it up with all these "Incredible" benefits but just do not see it being worth it. Its like paying up front for a long term membership to some posh club but you never go and seldom use the amenities.

I enjoy country living. My wife and I chose it because like the tourist beach areas and the big cities, they are fun to visit but we are happy to leave and return home to our mountain retreat which is very quiet and the locals are extremely easy going. I grew up in a major US city and its all hustle and bustle. Always on the go. Never quiet. Great for conveniences but the trade off is traffic, noise, cost, stress and people congestion. I am far more relaxed and peaceful up in the mountains of northern Thailand.

Fun stuff. Like Pgrahmm having been around boats both power and sailing my entire life, I might have chose a different approach angle but without being in the captains chair hard to make that call. All in all, it's just rough seas and you can't idle along in them because that makes the back and forth longer and worse. People need to suck it up. What do they expect, its a boat ride in the ocean. ????

I always laugh about this Thailand Elite Visa. I almost drank the Kool-Aid thinking it was really going to make things transparent and one can come and go as they want, have a list of special perks and but its the farthest from the truth quite frankly. Sure there are some perks but most I would never use. Now, I live and work in Thailand and have the VIP express Immigration so its a cake walk when I land, but even that said, the immigration upon arrival has improved dramatically and you zip through without issues. I guess maybe for some who live in areas where immigration is always crowded or live far from it, this Visa might be upside but what a steep price. I prefer being here on my marriage VISA extension. Keep 400K bht in the bank is simple. 90 day check ins are always easy, in fact my wife does them for me when she heads off to see her aunt. I really only go in once a year for the annual extension. I would really like to hear from people that have the Elite Visa and what they feel they really get from it and of course their decision to sign up.

I have always said, NEVER move and live in a tourist destination. Best to live away and visit when you want. Phuket, Pattaya and Samui are awful places to spend any time nowadays.

I have a Sharp model KC-G60TA. Works incredibly well. Filters are re-useable which is perfect being I only use when this smoke madness hits the area. Money well spent. Night mode and quiet. If you look for sales you can find one for 12k baht. I tried the cheap ones early on years back and like anything, you get what you pay for.

Just another study of a small subset of people and we have the answer for all. Next study please....... ????

The mask thing is long gone. TIme to move on. I am amazed at the conformist Thais that will not only wear them but mandate that others do. The recent outbreak in Korat stirred up a frenzy but then when you dig deeper the people dying were all above 60, in poor health and not vaccinated. I do not wear a mask anymore. IMHO, Its up to the individual. If you fear Covid, wear a mask. If not vaccinated, wear a mask. If still afraid...stay home. The fear mongering has to stop. Today I was out and about and every single Thai I saw was wearing a mask. I told my wife GOOD on them. If they all wear a mask and I don't then we are all protected in our own way. Its not western arrogance. Its reality.

I saw that in the manual and laughed. Thinking ahead. I went to YT to check a few vids based on their link out of curiosity and didn't see one for that mower.

Hey Crossy, I am getting close to having to replace my long standing mower. I was thinking of doing it soon and keep the old mower for those ugly chores and keeping the new one for the main lawns. The mower you linked has some nice features. I am a big proponent of the large rear wheel for quick turning and tighter turning radius. The motor power seems OK but not sure what brand. Many come with Honda Motors but this appears to be Korean and they do make very good stuff. Overall It looks good. I didn't download the manual so I'd check on blade and deck height adjustment options.

Amen to that. I regularly see them rake the trimmings or leaves all up against the trunk so they rot and termites and bugs attack the tree and usually either kill it or it creates fungus and diseases that cause it to grow poorly. Proper arborists are very hard to come by here. Not a bad thing, Just what it is.

Agree, The USD is the better performing currency at the moment. I will say that I am sure enjoying the USD to baht conversion. ????.

While we do not know, ^ this seems like a fair guess and what I thought as well. Could have been resting after a run, was resting on the rail, stood up, got light headed and lost his balance and fell. People can drowned in a few inches of water if they are unconscious so doesn't matter if it was 2 feet of water. When I run and mountain bike ride, I only carry my Thai license and a couple hundred baht and usually my smart phone. I do always find it a bit disturbing that the audience here always suspects foul play and think their posts are witty and clever on every death that happens here. Look at the age of most of the foreigners that pass here. This seems like an unfortunate accident but one that happens everywhere in the world. RIP

CH is right. Why let this bother you? I see the news and laugh. In the end it really does not impact me at all. I am still enjoying an outstanding life here and WAY cheaper and no noise. I always laugh when people whinge about dual pricing. So to enter a park cost you double. What is that like $5. ????

Apparently so. Clearly a vacation he won't fail to remember.