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I got an OA Visa in 10 days from the LA Consulate.  Most know an OA requires a lot of documents to be uploaded. 

1 hour ago, Tom100 said:

In many ways, I think that Tokyo is cheaper on a quality-adjusted basis. 

First, the air, water and streets are very clean. This is important & valuable to me.

Second, Japanese food is cheaper there and better. For example, MaxValue is better there than in BKK.

Third, the city and national rail transport networks are fantastic.

Fourth, the climate is cooler & better! 

 

If Japan creates a retirement visa I will move there. 

I doubt the Japanese Government will. My favorite country is S. Korea and they have no long term visa’s except for marriage, employment or education visas at actual universities. At this point both Japan and S. Korea have enough wealth and income from exports of actual products that they are not in need of old foreigners to live there.  If Korea offered anything like Non Imm OA or even O Retirement I would be there fast.  I do believe both countries offer long term visa’s to certain wealthy foreigners.  My guess would be investing something like. $500,000 in real estate would be a start.  Now back to reality in LOS. 

The main issue for Japan is low birthrate.  Many working people truly cannot afford to have children. The number of homeless, hikikomori (people who have withdrawn from society) and people who have simply disappeared are growing.  I have distant Japanese relatives and they are some of the saddest people I have known.  One can eat cheap but to get a somewhat decent place to live in Osaka or certainly Tokyo is very expensive.  Just look at the cost of a decent hotel in a major Japanese city.

For me i prefer Seoul or Busan. 

To all thanks for the replies.  

I am in Chiang Mai and looking to move soon. I have found a place that i like but a few things have me concerned:

1.  The electricity is charged at 8 Baht per unit.  This seems rather high?

2.  The common area maintenance fee is 500 Baht per month. I have never heard of this before.

3.  21 Baht per unit of water.  What exactly is a unit of water?  The office did not give me a clear answer

4.   Residents have to pay 50 Baht to use the swimming pool or 1000 Baht for unlimited use.  Then what is the 500 Baht common are fee for?

Has anyone seen similar conditions on an apartment or condo that is for rent?  At this time I am inclined to look somewhere else.

42 minutes ago, NoshowJones said:

Don't tell me that you were not rude back. I always start off with showing people respect, but if they are rude in any way I give them it back full blast whether they are car park attendants, policemen, IO's or anything else you would like to mention. That was whether here in Thailand or back in the UK though much more likely back in the UK.

In the beginning I took it and put up a fake smile.  But then I realized it did not matter if I was courteous or considerate.  Now I mostly grin, shake my head and walk out.  Here in LOS the passive/ aggressive style of response seems to the norm?  I have learned through experience that a loud and emotional response to a Thai person is not acceptable.  Therefore, I do not respond like that.  I did a couple times in the early days and learned that it is not the way here.  Also, I never said I never returned the rudeness favor to anyone. I just learned to avoid that kind of response. 

If one is veteran USAA or even Navy Federal Credit Union might be an option.  Both are geared to serve active duty, retired and veterans.  Some in these categories live overseas like myself.  USAA in the past was a great bank but no so much anymore.  Having an overseas address with USAA has not been a problem (at least not yet).  I have heard good tings about Navy Federal and the next time I am in San Diego I might visit a branch there.  

Millions of tourists in a 10 day span?  Logistically that seem like “mission impossible”.  Even if every international and domestic flight was packed along with buses, trains and cars “millions”?  Based upon my experience of living in CNX for over 7 yeas the people here are not as friendly as the image that is portrayed.  The main draw of CNX are 3 things:  1) It is cheap 2) It is cheap 3) It is cheap.  

14 minutes ago, Martin71 said:

 

The immigration officer could have asked them ''Are you going to be naughty in Thailand'?

Depending on their answer he could then decide to admit them or reject them...

"Slippery Slope"?  ff an IO at a port of entry does not have an objective reason to deny entry then this type of discretion could impact all of us who enter LOS. 

17 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

 

Apart from their mental capacity of these two delinquents, since when has a 36 and 38 years-old ever qualified as being 'kids'?

 

Mommy and Daddy had to speak for them on this as well.  Will Mommy and Daddy now pay for a lawyer and pay the fine as well?  

4 hours ago, HappyExpat57 said:

 

No, man, they're white.

Then 40 rounds only.  

1. Why are these Kiwi's not in a hospital?

2. At first I thought these guys were Americans

3. I used to carry a small Walther 380 as a backup for scenarios like this.  

4.  The "police were attacking me" defense is already in motion. 

Would you consider a tablet with  keyboard.  I was skeptical at first but my IPad with a keyboard has met most of my needs.  I plan on buying a new IPad this year.  Samsung makes soon good tablets with keyboards and the Chinese brands are even cheaper. 

11 hours ago, mstevens said:

 

It keeps things easy for the Thais - don't like what a foreigner is doing, simply play the no work permit game with them and Thailand wins every time.

 

Given that it seems there are new YouTubers / influencers starting up channels all the time, I wonder whether they will take a wider look at foreigners with a YouTube presence in Thailand? Very easy to catch them given that most love nothing more than pointing the camera at themselves. Evidence aplenty. "You make video in Thailand! Where work permit you?!"

Only if it makes LOS look bad. 

This is not the first time a story like has been published in LOS.  Thai medical personnel are getting good at this type of procedure.  

Depends on the airline.  Some like   Korean Air let you pick your seats at the time of booking.  

It's really up to the people in you circle to embrace you or not. Good luck. Have you mastered the language?  I mean can you pronounce Thai words with the proper tone?  Yesterday I was told by a local in Chiang Mai that when I said "Niman Soi Hoke" I was completely wrong.  It is "Neeeemaaan Soeeeee Hooooook".  I will never master this language.  I hope you are successful in your attempt at assimilating. I tried and failed miserably. As a native English speaker I do not use tonal inflection to speak but it is important in speaking Thai properly. 

2 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

Indeed.

 

I was trying to show the comparison of using an agent for a 'straight' application (8,000 Baht) and a 'no money' application ay the figure of 39,000 Baht that was quoted. The long-standing, respected agent that I use charges 12,500 Baht for a 'no money' application.

Then 12,500 is a bargain because I have yet to find an agent in Chiang Mai that can match that price for "no financials" application. I have spoken to a person who has been using an agent in Pattaya for years and he has always said 15,000..  This agency is well known by many.

10 hours ago, Lemsta69 said:

 

Why would you say that he's lucky? You've been a BM long enough to have seen multiple threads about the cost of using agents. 

 

12.5K has been the price at a well-known and trusted agent in Pattaya for some time now. It's only recently that they've started to add an extra charge if your BBL account is not "from PTY" as my friend's agent likes to say. 

 

Also, I'm not really sure what you mean about "the first year is more expensive". The first extension is the same price as subsequent extensions. 

 

Seems like you don't know too much about agents and the services they provide. Perhaps read over some of the old threads so you can get up to speed.

I have been quoted 38,000 Baht for a Non Imm O Ext of Stay based upon Retirement without providing financial documents.  So based upon my experience, 12,5000, very low.  I do not need to get up to speed about agents because I have only used a Visa agent once in 7 years.  So on that point you are correct.  

9 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

 

Read my post above that you commented on...

 

I have 800k, I was quoting that as a comparison.

I have.  I am talking about the circumstance when a retiree does not provide any financial documents in order to obtain a Non Imm O Ext of Stay for Retirement. 

10 hours ago, Lemsta69 said:

 

Why would you say that he's lucky? You've been a BM long enough to have seen multiple threads about the cost of using agents. 

 

12.5K has been the price at a well-known and trusted agent in Pattaya for some time now. It's only recently that they've started to add an extra charge if your BBL account is not "from PTY" as my friend's agent likes to say. 

 

Also, I'm not really sure what you mean about "the first year is more expensive". The first extension is the same price as subsequent extensions. 

 

Seems like you don't know too much about agents and the services they provide. Perhaps read over some of the old threads so you can get up to speed.

This is what I have been told by the agents in Chiang Mai.  I have never spoke to an Agent in other parts of the country. 

1 hour ago, Lemsta69 said:

 

My friend pays only 12,500.

He is lucky and I would call that a bargain. Normally the first year is the most expensive.  I know someone who was quoted 55,000 Baht.