edwardflory

A BIG Army hospital in Korat, several buildings. Ask for info at the MAIN building where to register - take PP as they copy your PP photo on ID Card OR Google for address, any Taxi should know address.

At 80, its impossible to get health insurance at a reasonable cost Here is a HINT for those that can NOT afford OR self insured because of age. I am ...REGISTERED... and use a Thai MILITARY Hospital for my needs. Many x-pats are unaware you can use. I am on a retirement extension. YOU MUST REGISTER 1ST and get THAT HOSPITALS ID CARD. Slightly more cost than govt civilian hospital, way, way, way less than a private hospital. I do NOT know if insurance or children are accepted. Many Military medical professionals speak English. 1st TIME Initial CLINIC doctor visit - took my medical history & quick physical, sent me for blood work...then to a 2nd doctor( waited about 30 minutes ) to read the results. PRESCRIPTION Blood Pressure meds ( as expected ) $28.00USD total cost including 1 months meds. FAST FORWARD: 3+ years later had a hospital stay ( NOT BP related ) 5 and 1/2 day stay. 5 days x-ray 5 days labs 5 days meds 1x1 & 1x3 3 GOOD meals daily 2 doctor visits daily in a 4 person ward, 3 Thai's and me - 2 nurses on duty 24/7 ON DISCHARGE, 3 months of meds 1x1 & 1x3 Cost UNDER $1000USD. EXTREMELY happy with the care I received. ( The 1x1 med in the US would cost me $128.00 monthly if paying cash )

"""needing to extend my 1 year Non Imm O Visa (based on Marriage) for 2 months""" Why just extend for 2 months? As per your posting, can you met the requirements for a YEARLY NON-O EXTENSION ( NOT A VISA ) based on MARRIAGE. If so, add a multiple re-entry permit if you will be travling, and you are good to go for 1 year with no problems. ( Remember TM-30 and the TM-47 <<= 90 straight days physically in INSIDE Thailand.)

"""went to The Army Hospital and paid only 4,900 Baht for the same exact test using....""" One of several reasons I am registered at the Korat Army Hospital, Use Thai Military Hospitals / Doctors as I have suggested via posts here before. Have been been using 12 years, before Army, was using the Navy Hospital in Suttahip.

"""its not my money, simply because it goes to my bank account first. It's 'our' money. Same as 'our' house........and etc""" I give my Thai wife 5000bt personal spending money monthly. When paying cash ( taxi, grocery, stores and etc) I hand the cash to her - she speaks Thai 100% so if any problems, she take care of them - 90% of the time she hands back the change if any. Works for me!

"""That he has no spare pages in his passport is a big concern ..... """ Why do people wait for the LAST SECOND to renew a passport. MANY IO's will NOT renew EXTENSIONS with only 1 or 2 blank page in PP's. It sometimes takes 4 to 6 weeks getting a new US PP. I applied 8 weeks before mine expired, edded up getting a 1 year EMERGENCY PP ( 2 days before my extension expired ). Then, 2 days after extension done, 10 year PP was ready - 2 trips 1) to get PP and 2)have stamps 'transfered'. Apply fo NEW PP 3 months ( to be safe ) BEFORE it expires, AND when you have only 3 pages available for stamps. A TRAVELED PERSON SHOULD KNOW THIS and also keeping the TM-30 UP TO DATE. Yearly, I buy a calendar and mark the 90 day and extension dates. Has worked 12 years for me. NOTE: Some offices will allow you to do your 90 day up to 5 days early. a ''EXTENSION" up to 45 days early - you loose no time on extensions.

"""get a SMS or push notification instantly whenever ...ANY...card transaction happens""" ANYTIME my THAI BANK card is used ANYWHERE for any reason, I get a message from my Thai bank within about 15 seconds. Other than the banks ATM, 90% of my card use is 2 places. ( Same 'type' of notification from my US bank within 1 minute via email flashes on my mobile screen. Be safe, set it up with your bank. )

"""....expressed frustration on social media: "I've run out of money....""" This says it all. How can a ligitimate digital nomad run out of money? Should be able to work anywhere a internet signal is available. Also, most Debit cards work in quite a few countries so you can get your monies, deposited in your home bank, from your sponsors in local cash. ( INTERNET HINT: MANY COFFEE HOUSES have INTERNET, AC and FOOD ) Is it possible this '''nomad''' was NOT going to do digital nomad work, but other type """"work"""" to stay and live in Thailand? I could be wrong!

A TM-30, in theory, is your ""normal"" residence - although hotels do TM-30's if you use your passport to check in. You should do a new TM-30 when you return to your home address. BUT as usual, find out LOCAL OFFICE POLICY. A TM-47 ( 90 day report) IS basically confirmation that you still live at your TM-30 address. MANY IO's are NOW cross checking ( mine does ) the TM's now.

A Thai wife ( orThai citizen ) can own the land ... One big exception, if the wife owner of land dies, and wills the property to a foreign husband, he can own the land for 1 year, then sell or the govt will sell for him - he gets the money. To complicat things, a foreigner can OWN a house anytime, but NOT the land it sits on for longer than 1 year.

FYI: Sections 37 and 41 of the Foreign Business Act B.E. 2542 (1999), prohibits foreign nationals from using Thai nominees to circumvent ownership restrictions. BUT For Americans, Check "The Treaty of Amity and Economic Relations" if YOU want to OWN a business for more information.

About every IO has their OWN policy on when / how / where to do TM-30's and TM-47's The best bet is to ASK AT YOUR LOCAL OFFICE what is their policy. My office is extremely strict on ALL paperwork - THEIR POLICY and every IO policy is almost different. Example: I moved from BKK, went to the local IO to do a TM-30 as required. I was also required to do a TM-47 (90 day) after doing the TM-30 ..... GO FIGURE, a TM-47 after TM-30 on SAME day???? Also my office compairs the TM's for the same address.

"""The allure of easy money or ... free travel (??? )... often drives individuals into smuggling""" Ya make your choice, and pay the price when caught. For some reason it seems that 'Brits' lately have become the people of choice for smuggling into different countries.

"""wonder how HE plans to stay here and for how long""" Hummm, not old enough for retirement, school is also out at 180 days at a time, maybe a digital nomad visa - whoops not enough money for 6 months. Allabout money --- and I could go on.... "''5,000 needed.""" Chump change wont go far. Will be needing AT THE VERY LEAST 20,000bt monthly to live some "sort" of life - a work permit in the future? If I remember new 'rule" most people now need 20,000bt on person to enter Thailand. Finally, how to pay for the wanted surgery?

The charge, """disrupting the functionality of critical infrastructure""" ought to be good for a "life term" in prison.

"Another xxxxxxx person smuggling cannabis out of Thailand?" Whats with ANYONES mind lately. It doesn't look like it is dumb "kids" on a free holiday trip, "If you do this little favor for me", especially with the weight transported.

"""yes, if you go out of Thailand, then return, the first 90-day report...... " Check with your LOCAL IO, their LOCAL POLICY might ALSO require a new TM-30 - my local IO does.

If you stay at a decent hotel, they do a TM-30 if you sign in with your passport. When you return 'home' a new TM-30 should be done at / with your LOCAL IO within 24 hours. A TM-30 is basically a "change of living address". TM-47 ( 90 day report ) basically confirms that you are still staying at the same address as TM-30 states. - some offices WILL compair the TM's - mine does, 1st hand knowledge. Different offices have their own LOCAL POLICIES on all paperwork, check with your LOCAL office.

"""falls into the really really crap part""" To a single or even a married Thai, making under 12,000bt a month, it was a godsend to be able to own ( via a mortgage of 1800bt monthly - that was BIG MONEY 18 years ago ) a place to call their own.

"""1800 a month mortgage is cheap.... really really crap condo or paying off over 99yrs ?""" Its a Thai condo, 1 large room, separate small rooms kitchen and toilet . 20 year mortgage in year 18. 12 condos' to a floor, 5 floors, 8 building complex, govt financed housing ( and I think possibly govt built )

""I'm bedazzled"' why you would spend that kind of cash on a casual girlfriend. On my 1st trip to BKK TH, I found a lady on a dating apk. She wanted me to pay transportation costs to meet me since she would travel to BKK...short story......480bt bus cost for the weekend visits. Dating apk again. Met another and she asked for transportation costs from BKK, I'm in Pattaya 500bt, lasted 2 years of weekend trips. Cutting to the chase. Met the ( NOW ) wife ( I'm in Pattaya ) she's working in a factory in BKK making 8 to 12,000bt a month. I moved to BKK within 6 month to her 'condo'. Paid all the bills including Thai 'condo' mortgage ( 1800bt monthly ) total expenses average 18 to 20,000bt +/- monthly - she quit her job 6 months later. We were in condo hell and decided to move to quieter area. Hello KORAT I give her a allowance of 5,000bt ( I gave, she didn't ask ) monthly for savings and etc, we still keep the condo - 1800bt monthly. We moved to a 2BR house. For my cash outlay ( around 30,000 +/- monthly now- ALL EXPENSES ) I get: 1) A great looking woman at 54 years of age I'm 79, 2) a $hix load of relatives, ( who do NOT leach ) 3) 2 BR HOUSE and yard with 3 trees, in a gated community. 4) 'Condo' to stay when we travel often to BKK, 5) 24/7 housekeeper, 6) 3 cooked meals a day, 7) Laundry service, 😎 Foot massage nightly. 9) A "warm" bed when wanted. 10) my back washed in shower 😆 11) and etc. You """pay""" 20,000 and get what??? BONUS: Immigration Office is 15 minutes from my front door

"""The biggest rip off for me is when I enter a National park and I am singled out to pay 5 to 10 times more than my wife."" Try entering showing a Pink ID car and Yellow House Book, I do and it works "most" of the time, recently, 2 weeks ago - just ID CARD shown when we entered a park .Its worth a hour of your time to get

Depending on .... LOCAL OFFICE POLICY.... You might have to file a NEW TM-30 since you were out of country - even returning to same address. As to 90 day reports, if YOU are PHYSICALLY in the country 90 straight days you must file the TM-47. Many offices will let you do up to 5 days early. You DID have a re-entry permit to keep your extension valid?

"""What connection does this have with the mission of the Tourist Police?""" Using your logic, 2 Thai's fighting in a bar should be ignored by Tourist Police on Pattaya Walking Street? ( Operative word POLICE) Since most folks do not understand, Tourist Police are a division of the RTP with full police authority / powers - ( HINT IMMIGRATION IS also division of the RTP ).

Grab in Korat After 20:00 the taxi drivers at the bus station wanted 300bt ( Thai wife with me ) to take us home. We walked to the coffee shop, called GRAB, cost 120bt. The average ROUND TRIP to center city 260 to 270bt with Grab. ONE way travel with taxi IF meter IS USED, 230bt. For some reason most taxi's don't use GPS and you have to show them the way - where to turn.. With Grab, usuallly the only transport question is "which house".