SDM0712

On EXPAT TV it's all FOC, (or rather nothing extra), plus you can get quality British TV!

SDM

Done it a few times as a tourist, never had a problem either on exit or any subsequent entries and used to be out here every three months for a month. Don't worry about it.

Once over stayed for a week and both myself and my wife were fined 500B a day. Although my wife is Thai she was also fined because she entered the country on a British Passport. The Immigration officer told her that if she must enter the country on her British passport next time to show her Thai ID card and she would get a twelve month stamp. Never tried that though.

There is no fine for one day's overstay.

SDM

PS Never say never but in the 16 years I have been coming here ( a month for every third month) and the four years I have been living here, I have not been once asked to show my passport. In the day I usually do carry my passport and work permit, just in case, but have never been asked for it.

Spend their life on 3m chains!!!

What a life they must have! and i'm sure keeping them on 3m chains has improved their destructive behaviour???!

I don't understand why some people get dogs, how about being responsible and taking the time to train and exercise your pet. Are you going to do the same with a child if it turns out a certain way that you didn't want

Who said spend their life ?

When one of us are out there they're off the chains anyway and it's only until part of my land is fenced off.

SDM

Any English only lease is not legal. It would have to be Thai and English, with the Thai taking precedent!

Sent from my XT1032 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

If it's signed by all parties then an English lease is fine, however if either party wanted to challenge it in a Court it would have to be translated into Thai by a source recognised by the Court. Like many legal matters it's down to the Judge.

If we are dealing with an all Western tenancy we do an all English contract, but if a Thai is involved on either side we do a hybrid and since one language must take precedence it's Thai.

SDM

Are you serious about those money requirements? I aint even got that unless the baht nosedives.

Sent from my LG-P880 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I'm afraid so. Well that's if you extend or convert it when you are here.

From memory, so please someone correct me if I'm wrong, the process is that you get a Non O visa in the UK (£150). This has to be based on some reason to come, such as a wife here, you cannot work or get a work permit on it, and you have to leave the country every 90 days. They did tell me to bring bank statements when applying, but never looked at them, just the marriage certificate. When I arrived I then changed this to a "marriage " visa and at that point had to show the 400K in my Thai bank account and every year since.

I'm sure that someone (I'm in a different screen on my ipad so I can't remember who it was, perhaps Sandy) just gets the Non- O visa for a year and then goes back to the UK when it expires for a holiday, and then just gets another Non-O when he wants to come back. In theory that brings your annual costs down to £150 a year plus flights to and from the motherland, so not bad. Also a good opportunity to stock up on Marmite & PG/Tetley which are so expensive here or not available at all.

I'm not sure if there is a limit on the amount of consecutive Non - O's you can get , but I doubt it.

I can't remember, do you have property in the UK ? If you so don't sell it but rent it out instead, for additional income and a safety net.

I like Ao Nang, not as busy as over here and a lot of pleasant people.

Regards

SDM

Yes I know. I don't think it matters where you live in Thailand, you have to live somewhere, I'm talking more generally what to do.

I know the feeling so well. After a year of similar thoughts I came out of retirement and went back to work doing exactly what I did at home, but here. I've enjoyed it a lot more sense.

SDM

Is it necessary or desirable to get a thai bank account or is it just as easy and cheap to use my UK bank?

Why not, if you are living here it makes sense. I would suggest Bangkok Bank they seem to offer the closest standard to what we are used to at home. But keep the UK account and ATM card, it can be useful.

If I marry my thai g/f, what kind of visa will I get that does away with visa runs?

I can never remember the letter but yes and you will just have to do a 90 day appearance at Immigration. The income requirements are much lower than a Retirement Visa, 400K for over two months or 40,000 per month income.

Anybody got any links to insurance for retired farangs?

I use AXA for international cover but sit down before you call them!

Oh! and I'd just like to add, I aint got the money for a retirement visa and I'm already renting a bungalow in Ao Nang for 3,500baht a month.

That is cheap, over her in Phuket you wouldn't even get a room for that, maybe a miniature one !

S

I hear what you are saying but I am not going to lose any sleep over it. I qualified for my pension under the old rules, 44 years worth of contributions.

That's probably the best way to look at at and just hope for the best, but looking at the rules you probably wouldn't be accepted for free treatment at home and would get a hefty bill at the end. Personally I would want to know in advance just so if a situation just come about I would know what my options were in advance. You might even be better off paying for anything serious over here rather than jumping on a 'plane to find you probably have to pay more anyway. I suppose the other thing is if you were clearly ill it's possible that no airline would accept you for travel without a "fit to fly " certificate from a doctor, which you probably wouldn't be able to get if you were ill and in need of medical care. As a keen motorcyclist in a part of the country not known for road safety (is anywhere !) my fear has been being hospitalized following an accident.

In any event I hope you don't have to find out for sure !

SDM

PS Obviously when I say "you" I mean any of us that don't have private cover and have been living outside the UK for three months.

It seems that you lose eligibility for treatment on the NHS if you live abroad for more than 3 months of the year...

"Britions who live overseas for more than three months of the year currently lose their right to free health care at home, unless they have a medical emergency ................. Expats of state pension age who have lived in the UK for a continuous period of 10 years remain entitled to some cover even if they permanently live abroad", which may explain how some people are fully entitled to continue to receive their Meds etc...

" Expats of state pension age who have lived in the UK for a continuous period of 10 years"

This seems to mean that if the expat lives in the UK from the state pension age (65?) for ten years continuously (more than 9 months of the year ?) then they are free to live from the tenth year permanently abroad and retain some entitlement. If I have read this correctly that would mean that the person would have to live full time in the UK until the age of 75 and is then free to move abroad and retain SOME entitlement. When I read this initially I thought that the ten year period could be at any stage, but the clever wording makes it clear that this is not the case.

Also " "Britions who live overseas for more than three months of the year currently lose their right to free health care "

Although this seems pretty clear and not open to interpretation.

I'm really not happy at all that I seem to be proven correct and as still a UK Tax and NI payer, and a UK employer find this a disgraceful state of affairs.

SDM

An hour I can deal with but several is too much. I know a British sparks on the island and will see if he can give an idea of cost ! I wonder his noisy these generators are? I'm going to be popular !

SDM

SDM0712 What a wonderful life your dogs must have chained up most of the time.

Pity it is them and not you.

Another member for my ignore list for such an ignorant comment.

Why just suggest that I be chained up in their place, why the such half measures?

Why not speculate more about my bike sliding off the road in the example I gave due through hydraulic fluid all over the back wheel. I would be in the morgue now or no doubt with a few broken limbs.

I adore my dogs but until I can separate them from the car and bikes I am left little choice other then leave them in a field somewhere.

It's not a punishment, but I can't have them causing damage like this.

SDM

I have two similar dogs, who now spend most of their time on 3m chains.

Some of the more interesting things they have mauled, destroyed or completely eaten so far;

Half a table

All the bumpers of my parents hire car ( 8,000 deposit lost)

A Burberry umbrella

A Nokia mobile phone

The rear hydraulic hose of my Ninja, discovered going round a bend at about 45 degrees.

The electronic ABS cable to the rear brake on my Ninja

Too many shoes to mention

A leather collar

My neighbors spectacles, which were in his house ( they escaped)

A cuddly toy

SDM

First thing I would do is put a new tyre on the front and see if that improves matters.

SDM

What are the Thai prices at Siam Narimit?

Normally written in Thai script ( & numerals) at the pay desk at these places. Just get a Thai to telephone them and ask the price for Thais.

SDM

What you are quoting is aimed at people who have been out of the NHS for some time. I have never left the system, my prescriptions have been virtually continuous since I left the UK.

No time limit is mentioned, the relevant quote is " People who do not normally live in this country are not automatically entitled to use the NHS free of charge " and the relevant word " normally "

Would you say that you "normally" live in the UK or "normally" live in Thailand ? I suppose the acid test that they might apply is out of the last 12 months, how many did you spend in the UK. Really I have no idea how the NHS would quantify "normally" but clearly if you spent more time in the last year living in Thailand than the UK I cannot see how it could be claimed to be "normally" living in the UK.

Now this part is my opinion, so feel free to shoot this down in flames (!), you say you have a repeat prescription and you have " never left the system". I believe that your GP has just let it ride since it is an existing arrangement and just turned a blind eye to it. However lets say you need an operation, it's a new condition, something expensive like that, these days the NHS is very underfunded and will scrutinize every situation. This would be new and authorised by the hospital and not your GP.

This was a great concern of mine and I looked I to it at some length and concluded that it was not anywhere near a certainly that I would be treated for free.

SDM

Point 2 is your interpretation of "resident". I am a UK tax resident, domicile does not come into it. I receive a repeat prescription from my GP every 6 months.

Hi Sandy

It's not my interpretation, I was quoting verbatim from the NHS link I gave. All I am suggesting is make some investigation, just in case.

Regards

SDM

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

To be clear are saying that the income requirements of a Thai Retirement Visa of 800, 000 baht in a Thai bank account for over two months, or an monthly income of 65,000 baht become redundant if the person ireceives a State Pension of any amount ? I find this hard to believe since these pensions depend on contribution history so someone could be on a reduced state pension, which might be a very small amount.

SDM

You are talking about the O-A visa, not the same thing.

Im not "talking" about anything. I was just asking a question based upon the post of course.

But I have my answer now, thank you.

SDM

Not really on a real street, but the noodle bar in the basement of Terminal 21!

SDM

.....Be certain not to volunteer money to a charity either unless you have a work permit.

They can do what they want with their money, but they should not break the Law, which is extremely specific on this point. It's not the charities fault of course either.

Just because I have highlighted the Law on working for free it doesn't mean I agree with it. I'm sure following the 2004 Tsunami which saw thousands of foreigners coming over to help with restoration, the immigration police weren't lining up to deport them.

My concern is different, I do not want to give the authorities an excuse to fine us.

But to be clear, anyone working, whether for free or a wage without a work permit, has broken the terms of their visa and the Law. They are liable to be fined or even deported if the immigration authorities decide to do so. It's not a matter of my opinion, or a lawyer's, the Law is absolutely crystal clear.

SDM

.......... I have no insurance and pay for treatment as and when. If anything serious were to arise I would have to consider returning to the UK for treatment .

I have two observations, my second assumes you would wish to use the NHS;

1. This is all very well but does not allow for an accident or illness that would prevent you from travelling.

2. "People who do not normally live in this country are not automatically entitled to use the NHS free of charge - regardless of their nationality or whether they hold a British passport or have lived and paid national insurance contributions in this country in the past. This includes British Citizens who are no longer resident in the UK. "

For the full text please see ; http://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/Dept.asp?ID=365

SDM

The OP has indicated that he will be in receipt of a state pension. That being the case there is no visa problem, he is eligible for a multi entry Non-Imm O visa with his state pension, irrespective of the amount.

To be clear are saying that the income requirements of a Thai Retirement Visa of 800, 000 baht in a Thai bank account for over two months, or an monthly income of 65,000 baht become redundant if the person ireceives a State Pension of any amount ? I find this hard to believe since these pensions depend on contribution history so someone could be on a reduced state pension, which might be a very small amount.

SDM

Actually you need working permit for non payed volunteer work. There is also a special visa for it

So our management company that operates 150 condo buildings in various parts of Thailand was in error registering me with the land office (or I was) to have served my building? I therefore endangered my retirement visa with unpaid volunteer work? They with a full legal department at their disposal don't know as much as you?

Sounds like an excuse to die on a barstool. I do hope you clean up all those lawbreaking Rotary Club Members!

This may add information to expose this myth. Work for Father Ray or something won't you?

https://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/forums/asia-thailand/topics/canadian-thailand-for-volunteering-visa-questions

Mai pen rai!

A link to Lonely Planets question as a proof you have the right Visa and WP That's funny. Since when is Lonely Planet experts on WP & Thai visa?

I believe that visas which do not allow for the applicants to work prohibit all kinds of working activities, even if it is unpaid such as volunteer work.

Here is the relevant text ;

"The term work in Thai law is defined very broadly, covering both physical and mental activities, whether or not for wages or other form of compensation. Even volunteer or charity work requires a work permit in Thailand."

Here is the full link, and it's not from Lonely Planet; http://www.thaiembassy.com/thailand/working-thailand.php

Therefore if you are doing any sort of work for your condo building without the correct visa/permit then you have breached the terms of your retirement visa. You won't be deported or executed, but you might be fined. The fact that they have registered you should really be reason for you to be concerned. In terms of the knowledge of their legal department they either don't know about regulations concerning foreign visas since their legal department would be more concerned with corporate Law, or more likely they don't really care.

The link I have posted is from a source which is aware of the Law and what is acceptable.

Personally I was once approached by a big firm to do some work of this nature as a volunteer and was assured that I didn't need a work permit, they had cards printed and all sorts. I've been here long enough to never trust what I am told and got my lawyer on the case. I found out that I had been told complete rubbish that to do any kind of work paid or unpaid is illegal unless you have a specific work permit.

I also despise bar stool experts but this is from the horses mouth and you should deal with this as you feel appropriate ! Good luck.

SDM

I don't really deal with this end of the market but many Thais I know that rent in this kind of range don't expect to or receive a lease. If you have paid a deposit that's probably the only thing you might lose.

Have you discussed electricity rates ? The apartment management will normally charge you more than the government rate, probably about 7/8 baht per unit. There should be a meter outside your room, make sure the readings are on your monthly bill, and that's probably the only documentation you will get. Also water and cable TV costs. Personally I wouldn't be worried in this range.

SDM

PS Keep your receipts and I'm sure you will be fine.

Please go to bed

I am actually in bed, my back went earlier on and is killing me. Can't seem to get comfortable though.

SDM

PS I saw the pre-edited version of your post. You should have stuck with it!