PunkRockerGuy

On 3/11/2020 at 6:21 AM, Kadilo said:

For your information I asked Kasikorn for this and they said they didn’t provide it. 

I don't get  Insurance form requirement.  Are you an OA Retirement Visa holder?  I still find my Thai SSF insurance card covers nearly 100% of my medical expenses and Thailand and have almost zero out of pocket expenses.  I pay into the Private Fund after I stopped working. 

2 hours ago, bluesofasaid:

If you have a yellow book, you're temporarily staying in the kingdom, not permanently.

 

I've been here temporarily for over twenty years.

 

Me, too.  My yellow book refers to a hefty sum of luxury house that went into foreclosure after she decided to leave my house in America for some secret onliine romance alcoholic American bf who was jobless and abused her physically and emotionally.  I was able to get all those debts swept under the rug with a little documentation change, but that yellow book has come in handy numerous times since the mid-2000s. ????  As for her, last I knew she had overstayed her U.S. visa for almost 10-years.  God knows what she's doing these days. 

13 minutes ago, Jingthingsaid:

I agree that it's looking at this point that extensions based on O visas will noteffected(at least for now) but that extensions based on OA visas may be at least at some offices and perhaps much more widely. I don't think you need to be any kind of lawyer to have noticed that at this point in time. But still,people need to keep an eye onthisgoing forward. 

 

BTW, and correct me if I'm wrong, my understanding is that Ubonjoehere thinks the police order means that NO extensions should have the insurance requirement. Yet some major offices are sayingthat extensions with an OA base are compelledto have the insurance. So if that's true, in that sense,the Integrity Legal lawyer would be at least HALF right. His read is that it will apply to both O and OA based extensions. So if it "only"applies to OA based extensions he would then have been on to something if not everything. 

You're right.  No need for a lawyer for IMO, simple Immigrationissues.  Even when I was just a 24-year oldengineer, I did all the legal work for my Japanese ex-wife's Green Card in the U.S.  It's not rocket science. 

I don't know what UbonJoesaid, nor do I bother to listen to lawyers in Bkk.  Most lawyers in Bkk overcharge, don't provide deliverables, etc. That's one reason I closed my law firm in 2009.  Just tired of the infighting between Bkk law firms.  I still do legal work freelance, especially for my wife's companies and Japanese business partners, but I really don't follow any advice of Bkk lawyers.  I can determine most legal matters that require a legal mind with my own from my own Law Degreeand business experience.  

So, I am not qualified to affirm or not affirm what other lawyers are saying. 

37 minutes ago, PunkRockerGuysaid:

My wife called Lopburi Immigration 2-days ago and spoke to the upstairs lieutenant we've known for 5+ years.  The officer said 1.) Myself being a Non-O and merely extending it yearly, there is no insurance requirement for my current Non-O.  2.) She implied in the future, my payments into the Private SS fund would likely cover any insurance requirement.  

 

In some odd way, I was "lucky" to almost die after that superbike accident broke my femur, tibia, broke both shoulders and dislocated one that destroyed the soft tissue in the right shoulder over time, endured 1-month of a coma, 4-months of renal failure or insufficiency, requiring dialysis for 4-months, and when the top ortho surgeon could not repair my tibia break/fracture in 14+ places, he referred me to his professor (supposedly the top orthopedic trauma surgeon in Thailand, who has also done extra work at Mass General Hospital & George-Washington Uni Hospital), that specialist then referred me to the pain clinic for morphine and other expensive treatments, the Psychiatric Dept. for PTSD and anxiety/sleeping problems, MRI's, CT scans, etc., all at NO COST to me.  Only recently, one of my meds has fallen out of the SS Approved Pharmaceutical list. 

 

I roughly calculated what 1-month in the American ICU system, 15+ surgeries, experimental therapies on my right shoulder, ambulance costs from the accident site where my heart stopped, etc., and I came up with figures close to $550,000 USD.  My cost in Thailand for saving my life: 12,000 baht for a surgical steel plate on my tibia that was not covered by SS Insurance.  It was actually about 68,000 baht for both surgical steel implants, but I had BBL Bank accident insurance for 50k that costs me 300 baht/month and it covered all but 12,000 baht for implants in my body. 

 

I might dislike many things about living in Thailand, but that kind of medical treatment that is 95% covered every 3 months would have bankrupted me in the U.S.

 

PRG 

Sorry, an important missing part of the story was the top ortho surgeon at Kasemradcould not repair my tibia properly, so he referred me to his professor (top ortho doctor in Thailand) at Ramathibodi, and after that, every doctor will refer me to another specialist dept., all covered under the Private SS Fund I pay 650 baht/month for.  Best health insurance plan I have ever had in my life.  Better than my Health Insurance at Sikorski Helicopter (United Technologies) Senior Engineer insurance plan. 

On 10/15/2019 at 3:24 PM, TallGuyJohninBKKsaid:

 

I believe the explanation Tanoshihas--whichis different than Joe's at this point --goes like this.

 

--If you're already here on already-issued retirement extensions of stay based on some past O-A, whether it be two or three or 10 years back, your future retirement extensions would not require insurance as things stand now.

 

--But, if you....

a. receive a new O-A issued from Oct. 31 onward or

b. make an entry on an O-A permission to stay on any date from Oct. 31 onward, including on a previously issued O-A, then you would be requiredto have insurance then... And on all future retirement extensions stemming from that O-A.

 

That, I believe,is the interpretation he has...  How that will work out in real life...remains to be seen.

 

 

From my perspective, the O-A Visa holds no appeal.  When I took a year off in 2009 to work for the US government back in the States, I let my Non-B and Work Permit, which by virtueof owning myown law firm and previously working in the old Thaksin admin, had always done them myself. So, when I decided to comeback to Thailand in 2010, I asked my then gf to sign and stamp a Non-B Invitation Letter to invite me back to Thailand, which I did at the Thai Embassy in Washington, DC.  After a couple ofyears running my wife's companies, I nearly died in a superbike accident, and one day during my 3-year rehab recovery, the Lopburi Immigration Officer pulled my now wife aside and asked her why did I pay taxes on my mandatory reporting salary of 65K baht when I could just retire and finish rehab more easily and pay no tax on a Non-O. 

Why are people applying for Non O-A's in the first place.  I don't get it.

PRG 

On 10/15/2019 at 4:04 PM, Jingthing said:

So it's a conspiracy thing then, huh? I'm not saying he's right but I'm not as cynical as you are about his videos. I think he tries to sincerely givegoodinformation just as some of our experts here do. I can understand people hating on him because they don't LIKE his interpretations. I don't LIKE his interpretations. But even without his videos, I would find it unethical to broadcast total CERTAINTY about what these already done changes actually will mean until enough time passes so that we can SEE in real life what has changed.

Well, I don't come here often, only when I find something of interest in Thai Visa Headline articles or an issue that may or may not affect me.

Just because he's a lawyer and people pay him money for his advice,does not make him correct.  We all have our credentials.  Me?  I'm a Yale Doctor of Law who ran a rather famous law firm in Bkk from 2004-2009 and I did Thai and US Immigration.  People paid me and I worked with DSI, Thai Immigration, etc.... blah, blah.  I'm saying my read of the regulations and Order, my and my wife's discussions with Lopburi Immigration, ALL point to a Non-O Extension does NOT require any medical insurance, and if it does in the future, I am very likely to be covered under my Thai Private SS Fund Coverage.  

On 10/15/2019 at 6:07 PM, Sheryl said:

No process for doing so at present. I doubt it even occurred to the people who developed the police order.

Now, someone could certainly try presenting proof of SS cover (a letter from SS office) instead of the mandated insurance certificate. Depending on the IO, this might or might not work. You would likely need to discuss with the senior officer (who have some discretionary powers) and it can be hard in many places to get past the gate keepers/ front office staff.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

My wife called Lopburi Immigration 2-days ago and spoke to the upstairs lieutenant we've known for 5+ years.  The officer said 1.) Myself being a Non-O and merely extending it yearly, there is no insurance requirement for my current Non-O.  2.) She implied in the future, my payments into the Private SS fund would likely cover any insurance requirement.  

In some odd way, I was "lucky" to almost die after that superbike accident broke my femur, tibia, broke both shoulders and dislocated one that destroyed the soft tissue in the right shoulder over time, endured 1-month of a coma, 4-months of renal failure or insufficiency, requiring dialysis for 4-months, and when the top ortho surgeon could not repair my tibia break/fracture in 14+ places, he referred me to his professor (supposedly the top orthopedic trauma surgeon in Thailand, who has also done extra work at Mass General Hospital & George-Washington Uni Hospital), that specialist then referred me to the pain clinic for morphine and other expensive treatments, the Psychiatric Dept. for PTSD and anxiety/sleeping problems, MRI's, CT scans, etc., all at NO COST to me.  Only recently, one of my meds has fallen out of the SS Approved Pharmaceutical list. 

I roughly calculated what 1-month in the American ICU system, 15+ surgeries, experimental therapies on my right shoulder, ambulance costs from the accident site where my heart stopped, etc., and I came up with figures close to $550,000 USD.  My cost in Thailand for saving my life: 12,000 baht for a surgical steel plate on my tibia that was not covered by SS Insurance.  It was actually about 68,000 baht for both surgical steel implants, but I had BBL Bank accident insurance for 50k that costs me 300 baht/month and it covered all but 12,000 baht for implants in my body. 

I might dislike many things about living in Thailand, but that kind of medical treatment that is 95% covered every 3 months would have bankrupted me in the U.S.

PRG 

On 10/14/2019 at 12:50 PM, blackcabsaid:

 

Work permit holders that work in businesses and pay Social Fund contributions are coveredby the Thai Social Fund system, the same as Thai citizens.

 

I would imagine that work permit holders in this category world be the last tobe requiredto have insurance as the Thai government already covers them.

 

I'm not entirely sure if teachers with work permits are covered in the same way however.

I am fully covered by the Thai SS System as a Non O Retirement Visa holder.  My medical costs run in the $1,000/month range after a severe motorcycle accident in Thailand in 2013 that forced me to stop working full-time.  There is a PRIVATE SS fund you can make the SAME payments you did as a WP holder and it covers me just as it did when I was the MD of my companies.  I do not know if they will allow SS system fund coverage tobe used, but if it doesn't, looks like I am gone from LOS next June 2020.  Even my mother-in-law only has one problem at 73 years old, slightly high blood pressure.  She is Thai, and CANNOT obtain Thai healthcare coverage.  Another crazy demand from us retirees that makes No sense. Prayutdoesn't know how to create an economy, so he just increases taxes and rates on everything. 

I have been covered for 6+ years under SS Private fund.  I'm not going to go out and buy more insurance.  I have a Thai SS Insurance card, and it pays far more than any healthcare plan would. 

On 11/28/2018 at 11:38 AM, onera1961 said:

Yes, what was the standard procedure in those days and when did embassies start issuing income letters?

Maybe things have been too easy for me and I follow the rules whenever possible.  I currently use the 800,000 baht rule 3 months prior to renewal for the Non-O, although sometimes just keep 800,000 all-year-round.  I don't know why people have problems with Imm.  Here in Lopburi, they are friendly, don't bother much with exactly 3-months prior, I would think 800,000 baht should be no big deal for any farang looking to stay here year-round and I never have to report for my 90-day report.  They always mail and email me my slip for stapling in my passport.  

Back in the mid-2000's when I was certificate married to a Thai girl I just went to the US Embassy, filled-out a form that said I earn [whatever amount I put down in the application form] and I printed a letter from my dormant old Japanese company that I had "such and such retirement benefit income yearly" and the US Embassy printed a letter for my income signed by the Dept. Ambassador.  That was around 2006 for my Thai Wife Visa at that time. 

Not sure why people have so many problems with Imm.  Here in mid-country, it's easy-peasy and I show my face once a year except when I bring back souvenirs when I travel abroad.  I have quite a few academic degrees, so they call me "Dr" when I go there in person, but I have always been friendly with them and never had to go the bribe route and everything is as smooth as silk.

PRG

4 minutes ago, seminomadic said:

 

Thanks for answering and thanks for sharing this. By far the most useful point made on this thread... Your investment could well mean an instrument for shaping things up over here what with the imminent sprawl of the automated traffic-violation-fine-issuance-matrix, and for that, you should be thanked as well!

Thanks for your kind words.  I do indeed, look at it as an investment to disrupting the automated ticket "guilty" assumption, despite the fact the police are very corrupt and purely lazy on the government side to keep their law enforcement tools updated and calibrated.  The 2 fines were only 500 baht, and my Thai wife thought I was slightly crazy for taking it to court, as we were going to sell our previous Fortuner since we had just bought a 2018 Fortuner Sportiva.  However, since I do have enough money to survive and am fortunate to have found a little financial niche in life, I just could not let them get away so easily with clearly inaccurate camera readings.

And, we had no problem renewing the registration when we gave the previous Fortuner to her brother for driving around Lopburi, as he is Pooyayban in his Amphur.  

11 minutes ago, seminomadic said:

Well done, PRG. Now this next question will sound smarmy but is not meant that way: How much did you have to pay the lawyer, soup to nuts, in service of the cause? And how did you decide upon the lawyers you did?

Fortunately, I am a well-known foreign lawyer in Thailand and have worked for previous PrimeMinisters.  I have many Thai friends who are top lawyers or government lawyers.  

I did most of the prep work myself but had to hire a Thai lawyer for the court appearance.  I paid about 15,000 baht to 2 of my Thai lawyer friends.  I was told the normal fee would have been closer to 30K-40K.  I didn't worry about the money, as I had a point to prove.  However, I understand some or most people would not take it upon themselves as a "world citizen" to try and change Thai legal proceedings.  It was my choice to pursue the ticket after watching numerous time erroneous speed indicators on the highway.  

On 6/14/2018 at 6:21 AM, kannot said:

What was the outcome?

I won, both times.  It was difficult and the Judge first refused to allow camera calibration dates, but in the end, the tickets and fine were dismissed.  I am trying to set a precedent against poorly calibrated and inaccurate speed cameras in Thailand.  

You obviously don't understand trajectory, momentum, inertia, or launch angle.  Was NOT head first at 20kph, which is a slow speed. 

Just now, tryasimight said:

I work with both radar and laser instrumentation. Radar has a relatively wide beam angle and can be successfully 'detected'. Laser is very narrow. I think by the time your detector has 'detected' the laser it is pointing directly at you and you have already been speed checked.

I find it much easier to stay within the legal limits rather than drive around paranoid about speed cameras.

Yes.  Laser will only help you if directed first at a vehicle in front of you.  I have not received a ticket since around 1998.  I think I am using the equipment correctly.  I was caught by laser in South Carolina going way too fast in my Porsche in 1994.  Sheriff across the median head me dead to rights at 3am one night.  I might have got lucky and outrun him, but decided not to evade him.  Took the ticket and thanked him after he screamed at me for about 10 minutes straight.  

32 minutes ago, tryasimight said:

I've managed to have a very successful life as an engineer, including riding large motorbikes for many, many years. I've never managed to leave a 2 meter blast hole in a reinforced concrete wall on a motorbike though. I understand the basics and some quite advanced concepts of physics, including the laws of motion.

In your mind, you think you led a successful life as an engineer.  You obviously do NOT understand any of Newton's laws and how a 300kg bike, falling 4 meters at a speed of about 15 kph could cause such damage.  I have 2 engineering degrees, with a lot of other fancy degrees, worked for numerous aerospace companies and the Space Shuttle Program before leaving the field.  Go back to your textbooks.  I do not believe anything you are saying either.  Therefore, no need to discuss your inane assumptions.   

13 minutes ago, tryasimight said:

My thoughts exactly. Seems the top of the line helmet and everything else wasn't much good. But seriously.....low speed accident and going through 20cm (8 inches) of reinforced concrete? I don't think so.

 

I think someone is dreaming - how does the laser speed gun detector work?

Laser vs. Radar.  Read up.  

1 hour ago, lust said:

Oh, dear lol. What would be the advantage of holding a license?

Obey the law. Simple.

54 minutes ago, impulse said:

 

That's great in an ideal world.  But where I'm from in Texas, (and the USA in general) a lot of the traffic stops are done simply to justify snooping on suspicious looking cars and drivers, and the evidence is, let's be generous, less than overwhelming.  And the point is that even being found not-guilty is no guaranty that it's not going to put someone in the poorhouse.

 

I agree that in Texas when I have driven through on cross-country road trips or reports in the news, lots of senseless "Citizen status" stops.  Waste of taxpayer money and police need to be doing some real work.  I was stopped in 2016 near Austin for passing 2 State Police SUV's who were way off the breakdown lane and far into the grass with a broken down vehicle.  I was in an A Class Motorhome doing about 50 mph and the troopers chased me at about 55 mph for another mile.  Reason: State law requires slowing down to under 20 mph when passing ANY State vehicle stopped even on the grass or change to the passing lane and speed up.  What?  Go over 55-60 mph in a huge motorhome/RV?

Just now, impulse said:

 

I'd prefer they focus on the violations that put innocent 3rd parties at risk.  Like me.  Not wearing a helmet is a victimless crime.  No victims, just volunteers.

 

 

Plenty of victims ... puts a strain on Fire and Rescue, ties up ER rooms and staff,  increases insurance rates, etc.  Stop riding w/o helmets!

10 minutes ago, lust said:

 

Bro, you need a hobby or what? If you read my initial post and thought I was worried about 200baht, you should just go to bed. I’m asking if holding a license for 7 days is normal. 

 

 

Bro?  What are we in? College?

This is Thailand.  They can hold it for as long as they want.  Up to 30-days hold when riding without a helmet is allowable under Thai Road laws. 

If I had my way way, anyone riding without a helmet would lose their license to ride for 1-year, as it is in Massachusetts.  

Sorry, but if people are going to lecture me about condoms, I think I have the right to call anyone who rides a motorcycle (that means 450cc and above) or 125cc mototoy, without a helmet, an absolute moron.  You are asking to die and 200 baht is what you are worried about???

1 minute ago, lust said:

Today I was stupid and rode my motorcycle without a helmet on and got stopped. The officer wrote me a 200baht ticket and held my license and said 7 days I can pick it up. Is this normal? 

Now, this is a post that truly deserves a "WoW", not my post about a reply to speeding, etc. 

When I was riding my bikes (Ninja 650R, 1000SX, and Z-14R), I wouldn't even CROSS THE STREET without my helmet and Kevlar gloves on ... I was in a low-speed accident with a top-of-the-line full-face helmet, Kevlar vest, Kevlar riding boots and Kevlar gloves, but slipped on some poorly landscaped and poured concrete at my condo in Bkk and crashed through a rebarred 20cm+ concrete wall.  Result: 30-day ICU comatose stay, 6 major structural bones broken, renal failure, 4-months of hemodialysis, 1 year in a wheelchair, 1 year with a walker, and finally learned to walk normally after 14 surgeries and experimental surgeries/therapies.  To this day, still suffer left tibia bone pain, right leg femur problems and a shoulder with no soft tissue left.

Amazing you folks lecture me about HIV nonsense, but you'll ride a mototoy in Thailand without a helmet????? <deleted>?  Are you asking to die?