JB300

Be bored in 5 minutes.

Then you either don't know Singapore or can't afford to know Singapore

 
Why would anyone who is well off want to live in Thailand? Those with money can go to places without visa hoops, better infrastructure, service and facilities, freedom of speech, right to own land, less or no corruption....
 
I'm married and have been living in Thailand for nearly 25 years, but if something happened I'd be gone in a heartbeat. Living in a lunatic asylum is tough sometimes.

Simply put, I want to stay in the Region (have a Filipina gf of nearly 7 years who doesn't want to leave Singapore/Philippines) & want to be close to a decent airport hub where I can easily fly to where I want.

Doesn't hurt that the weather is great, love Thai (spicy) food & the women don't offend my eye [emoji5]


Seriously, if it wasn't for my better half I'd probably chance my arm in South America for a few years but to do that while I'm with her involves getting married, her a UK passport (min 5 years) so I figure I'll just visit on holiday [emoji4]

They want us here. I know it is odd. But, I hear Western countries are stricter for Thais going abroad to visit! No one complains about this on TV? It could be a tit for tat, losing-face, or trying to mimic the West. How many Thais cannot even go to the West? How many forms do they need to fill?
 
The banks do like us. At 800 K on a savings account for 3 months guaranteed, this is good bank business. Follow the money too.
 
We are spending good money to live here. Rimping is loving us. 
 
Odd to hear that the OP could not retire using his pension.
 
We are not insignificant.
 
 

Again, though being nowhere near what I would call "Rich" the retirement financial requirements are not a problem for me... what is a problem is if I buy a Condo, travel on a monthly basis out of Thailand & have to report to immigration every time I come back to file a TM30.

So again, I'd love to know whether #Officially# completing a TM6 negates the need for completing a TM30.

How to get them into mailbox?

Lift flap & insert... (sorry [emoji14])


You pay a guy a couple of hundred baht to either post them in the letterboxes in the lobby or better still, pop them under the door for you [emoji1303]

Removed a troll post with incorrect information.

Sorry, can I ask if you removed my reply to post #72 saying I understood the TM6 removed the need for the individual to file a TM30/28 or is the forum software playing up again?

I know the rule about commenting on mods actions but I only ask because the forum software has been somewhat less than stable lately.

Incidentally, I'm sure you have a wealth of IT experience in the membership here so couldn't hurt to provide a platform for them to do some testing for you (obviously FOC as none of us have a work permit for that kind of thing [emoji13])

Best Regards

JB

Which reminds me of another odd sales pitch...It was advertised that the unit was in a farang's name but could not be sold in same, had to be to a Thai or "company" name. I'd never heard of this going backwards, even in cases where some sort of fraud had led to the building being over the 51-49 percent rule. The cautious among us would wonder how their unit, in their(farang) name, could all the sudden become less marketable due to the farang ownership law changing ?

Not often but rarely, a "Thai/Company" name condo gets sold as Farang & so you cannot sell yours as Farang as the Condo allocation is above the 51%

Apparently there's nothing that guarantees your rights (it's based on square footage btw not number of units) & a shady lawyer can help somebody sell a Condo on the Low side as high side (price wise)

Hopefully his sizeable assets are earning some income rather than just lazing around in a bank account somewhere.

At the moment I'm working so no problem hitting the 65k income limit if I can use employment in Singapore as earnings.

Also have a passive income of approx £23k pa but approx 50% of this gets rolled over into being reinvested (mainly through the likes of scrip dividends) so no confidence that IM would accept it.

As I said, I'm by no means rich but meeting the financial obligation is not the problem,it's more the thought of having to visit Immigration on a more than monthly basis to report my address that's putting me off (honestly thought the TM6 would satisfy that requirement, now it seems you need a TM30/28 on top )

But I guess if I limit my accommodation choices to hotels & (well run) condos that will be somebody else's problem

Thanks for all the advice guys, I am here to learn so really appreciate it [emoji1303]

As far as the bank account, a friend of mine was planning to get a retirement visa. The banks would not open an account for him. I took him to immigration and told them the story. An immigration officer wrote a note (in Thai), and told my friend to give that to whatever bank where he wanted an account. I have no idea what the note said but when he gave it to the bank, he had a new account and an ATM card within 15 minutes.

 

When you have a retirement visa, you can get a multi entry permit and can come and go as you choose. It appears that you are really not serious about living in Thailand or you would find out the facts. The rules are strictly enforced but it is not that complicated.

Not sure which facts I've not found out (obviously [emoji13]) but can assure you I'm very serious about retiring when I finish the 2 years work I've committed to doing ( March 2018) so am trying to get Visa, accommodation, bank account etc... Set-up in the meantime.

Great tip about getting a letter from immigration [emoji106]

 

I'll politely disagree with you on this issue Joe.

I obtained my Non Imm O SE Visa from Liverpool (2014) before the Consulates were stopped issuing them earlier this year.

 

Since then I personally know of two friends who have obtained them from the London Embassy for the purpose of retirement in Thailand.

Neither married to a Thai or in receipt of state Pension. Both over 50.

Making it clear you want to apply for an extension in Thailand appears to be the key.

 

The other option is to get a TV and do a conversion in Thailand as you stated.

Strange as the London site clearly states you need to be receiving a State pension ("In the case of UK Pensioner (Non-immigrant "O"): a copy of UK State Pension") maybe your friends got in before they changed the rules (you obviously did as Liverpool stopped doing Non-Imm on 15/1/2014).

Then again the London site still says "Furthermore, foreigners who enter Thailand under this Tourist Visa Exemption Scheme may re-enter and stay in Thailand for a cumulative duration of stay of not exceeding 90 days within any 6-month period from the date of first entry." Which we all know got scrapped a long time ago.

The OP gave the impression his choice of residence would be in Bangkok.
Easy access to Suvarnabhumi for his frequent trips.

The link I posted (http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?/topic/960761-Notification-of-residence-fine%2E-Popular-thing-%3F) was a guy in Phuket who received a 5,000THB fine for not reporting his address (own condo) when he got back from a trip (obviously he would have completed a TM6 when he arrived) & a few other people (same thread) have said the same happen to them in CM & HH.

The idea would be to live within 1-2hr drive of Swampy though I tried an experimental month (long story, took 2015 off when my previous employee tried to move me back to the UK & went travelling) living in Central Bangkok (Soi 13) & lasted 10 days so it would be some ways out of city center.

You've got your knickers in a twist somewhere along the line.

Firstly if you intend to retire in Thailand the UK will issue a Non Imm O SE 90 day Visa, no problem.

Opening a bank account is easy without a WP provided you a) Request a Savings Account, and  someone introduces you to the bank.

Then transfer your 800,000THB asap.

 

Within the last 30 days of your Visa apply for an extension of stay from your local Immigration office. (1,900THB)

As long as you meet the financial requirement of 800,000THB in a Thai bank, an income of 65,000THB a month, or a combination of the two it's a cinch.

Obtain a multi entry permit for you extension (3,800THB) and you can come and go as you please.

 

There is no requirement to complete TM28's which are to notify a change of address.

There is requirement to complete TM30's by the housemaster each time you return. This should be the responsibility of your Condo management each time you return, it also depends if your local Immigration office are enforcing this requirement.

 

As in your words you exit/enter 12/15 times a year, then you'll never be required to do 90 day reports, which are only required if your staying longer than 90 days. Your 90 day count resets to 1 each time you exit/re-enter.

Knickers probably got twisted around beer #8 [emoji17] But as UbonJoe has confirmed, UK only issues Non-O (Retirement) to people who are receiving a State Pension.

Good point about getting somebody to introduce me to the Bank, I work for one & we have approx 300 people in Bangkok so I'm sure I could find somebody.

I really can't think of a better place to live (if you love to travel) than Bangkok (love living in Singapore but wouldn't if wasn't working here & spent a year using KL as a base for travelling but wouldn't want to live there) so guess it's jump through the hoops or accept the hassles of living somewhere where you need to add a(nother) flight connection to your travels (I do need to keep in mind I won't be travelling for work when I retire so less number of trips, but more time spent in each location)

Really enjoyed "In Plain Sight", thanks to all who recommended it [emoji106]

Each to his own really, your predicaments are unique to yourself only, every other
foreigner in Thailand has it's own reasons and calculations why he's here,
and many of them are still here year after year, asking other people to convince
you or give you a valid reasons why you should live or leave Thailand will only make
you more confused......

Very true sir & there are lots of good reasons to live in Thailand, high up for me was access to one of the best airport hubs (for flight choices) in the region[emoji106]

You don't need the money in a Thai bank to apply for the visa. Apply for the visa with overseas money, come to Thailand with non immigrant-O visa, open bank account and deposit 800k, apply for extension of stay.
Easy and painless process.

Sent from my ROBBY using Thaivisa Connect mobile app

Unfortunately UK only seems to grant Non-O "Retirement" visas to people receiving a pension, Singapore only grants them to Citizens & SPRs & any every other country seems to want money in the bank in Thailand (be happy to learn of one that doesn't).

But as I said (Probably slurred would be a better term) I can get around that & can handle the odd 90 day report, but can't get my head around the TM28 reporting each time you come back to the country.

I'm guessing most people either don't travel outside of Thailand very much, or leave it to their landlord to do (do you tell your landlord everytime you go away?) or simply don't bother with it.

you do whats best for you, but to say its all because of tm28, what a load of rubbish, most people never complete one, some posters are going overboard with their scaremongering views on the subject.

Maybe so, but apparently it is the "Rule" & it does seem like they're applying it more & more http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960761-notification-of-residence-fine-popular-thing/ so not "rubbish" to me (YMMV).

I thought of 3 good places (in Asia) to base yourself for travelling... Singapore, (somewhere near) Bangkok & KL so had planned on being in Thailand for 5-10 years (maybe even settle there if I could convince my Filipina to move over), but (to me) it just feels like it's becoming more & more of a hassle.

Hipflat  is the worst property website to look at. 

I recently saw their page for a small boutique condo in Sukhumvit with a total of 68 rooms,  hipflat said they had 145 rooms available for rent. 

When I asked the guy in the office of the same condo how many condos were currently available or didn't have a tenant,  it was 6.

I also saw an agent on hip flat advertising 38 rooms in one condo,  I asked to see all 38,  she had one single room available. 

Hipflat doesn't have an expiration time for any postings,  so prices and availability are waaaaaay off. 

I find it a good research tool for Condos in an area I might be interested in & the sorts of units available (or not).

Cuts down on the amount of time you need to spend "Boots on the ground"

But it's mute point for me now as with the ridiculous regulations around having to register at immigration that you're staying at your longterm accommodation (arrival card won't do) every time you arrive back in the country, I've completely given up on the idea of having any longterm accommodation in Thailand so hotels & Airbnb are all I need (TM forms can be somebody else's problem)

Edit: just one of a few recent threads impacting condo owners / longterm renters...

I have a condo on Phuket, live there and extend visa periodically and report 90 days regularly.

I made a re-entry to visit home country in July (1 month). When I came to immigration to extend visa they said I should have reported arrival (to my own condo) to immigration within 24 hours and fined me 5,000 baht.

In October I reported 90 days, but immigration said that 90-days and notification of residence are different things.

 

Is it only me ? Or everyone else reports their arrivals to immigration ?

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/960761-notification-of-residence-fine-popular-thing/

If your watching the latest season of the curse of oak island then last weeks episode was one of the best. If like me you can't wait for next week's episode then have a look at this link. Very interesting read.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.mysteriesofcanada.com/nova-scotia/the-curse-of-oak-island-season-4-episode-7-all-that-glitters/amp/

"All that Glitters" was the episode I watched earlier today (aired 27th Dec) & can't wait for next week's [emoji106]

[but I won't click on the link incase there's a spoiler in there]

 
Me too.
 
It was in black and white on the radio.

And for those watching in Black & White the brown ball is directly behind the pink...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portal:Snooker/Quotes

What's a "firewall" condo? I'm assuming you mean "fire sale"???

I did indeed (Damn you autocorrect)

These guys occasionally offer "Firewall" condos http://www.rightmovepattaya.com/

Though I think hipflat.co.th is better for seeing what's available

I bought my epileptic Brother a strobe light for Christmas, he'll have an absolute fit when he sees it


[sorry [emoji14]]

 
Am I the only one that does not like the new Star Wars films? I liked the original three - mostly because of Harrison Ford - but was not a fanatic about those either.

Nope, you're not alone, I've no time for the new films either.

From the Edinburgh Fringe Festival sometime back (just found them whilst clearing down old emails)...

My dad has suggested that I register for a donor card. He's a man after my own heart

Why is it old people say there's no place like home, yet when you put them in one…

I've been happily married for four years - out of a total of 10

Apparently 1 in 3 Britons are conceived in an IKEA bed which is mad because those places are really well lit

I went to a pub quiz in Liverpool, had a few drinks so wasn't much use. Just for a laugh I wrote The Beatles or Steven Gerrard for every answer… came second

Brexit is a terrible name, sounds like cereal you eat when you are constipated

I often confuse Americans and Canadians. By using long words

Why is Henry's wife covered in tooth marks? Because he's Tudor

Don't you hate it when people assume you're rich because you sound posh and went to private school and have loads of money?

Is it possible to mistake schizophrenia for telepathy, I hear you ask

Hillary Clinton has shown that any woman can be President, as long as your husband did it first

I spotted a Marmite van on the motorway. It was heading yeastbound

Back in the day, Instagram just meant a really efficient drug dealer

I'll tell you what's unnatural in the eyes of God. Contact lenses

Elton John hates ordering Chinese food. Soya seems to be the hardest word

Hi JB well I did contact Max Reg this afternoon and they did a remote access for 2 hours and were unable to find or remove Apple Bonjour in the end the guy got very silly and clicked on " Ignore Entries " and told me he had fixed the problem .
 
So looks like a format and reinstall and hope that the the backup has not been corrupted every week I make a full back up so I hope all goes ok .

Crazy!!!


Good Luck [emoji1303]