edwardflory

Pattaya is what YOU make it to be. You can be lonely or a drinker, or explore the area I started my Thai experience in BKK. I was meeting Ladies via the apks available on the net. ( since COVID, the "professionals" are using the apks - beware!!! ) Found a lady that was a secretary at a shoe factory - I went there to meet her, and started the romance at 67 - she in her 50's Went back to USA, returned 3 months later to Pattaya because it was closer to her. 1st "room" was smaller than a shoe box, lasted 1 month there had my own entrance to the room and a friendly Soi dog that guarded the steps to the room at night. Rented a motor scooter ( monthly ) and went looking for a place. Found a Thai residence hotel, in the downtown area, for LESS cost than the mini shoe box. A corner roomn that contained 2 sofas, table, refrigerator, TV, and a queen bed, monster shower and a balcony, 1 big window with black out drapes. Transportation, restaurants, convince stores almost at the door. 5 farang residents - 1 lived there for 12 years, out of 70 residents. Farang were of mixed nationals. Girlfriend stayed on the weekend with no management problems. Since I had a scooter, I would go to Chon Buri to pick her up on Friday, (or holidays), take her back on Suunday. Otherwise I explored on scooter all of Pattaya, some of Chon Buri and Suttahip to keep myself busy.

I'm lucky I guess I give my wife 5,000 personal spending money, she is a housewife, doesn't work outside the house. As to "family" support, on occasion, help out with 500 to 1000bt, usually her daughter with 2 rug rats - insists on pay back ( not required ), or niece in college - a gift. I pay all housing, utilities, food and etc for us.

Navigate the TM-30 waters the easy way. AS ALWAYS, Depending on LOCAL IO POLICY, YOU can do your own TM-30's as: House Master - most common, Possessor, or tenant. ( Have proof of where you live, rental agreement, deposit receipts, etc. ) Ref: Immigration Act, Sections 4 & 38 I have done 5 so far this "retirement extension year" due to holiday hotel stays, due to "returning home". I live 15 minutes from my local office so I do in person.

DEPENDING on LOCAL IO POLICY, a person CAN DO their own TM-30 as House Master, Possessor or Tenant. ( Immigration Act Sctions 4 & 38 and revisions - I do at IO. Have your lease or rental agreement and any monthly bills as proof of residence. My LOCAL IO is very STRICT on paperwork, I have done 5 TM-30's so far this retirement extension year since I have stayed at hotels on holiday - Check in a hotel with a PP, they do a TM-30

When you stay at a hotel, use your PP to check in, the hotel does a TM-30 as required by Immigration. When you return "home" you should do a NEW TM-30 ( within 24 hours ) so it matches with your next TM-47. You CAN DO your own TM-30 as House Master ( most common ), Possessor or tenant. As usual, it DEPENDS on your LOCAL IO POLICY if you can do. I have done TM- 30's, so far, 5 times this extension of stay year

Rule #1 for living in Thailand: Find out your LOCAL IO POLICY for ANY paperwork. Thanks to a immigration Officer friend ( drinking buddy ) 12 years ago, I have never had paperwork problems at the border or LOCAL office after he told me to ALWAYS follow Rule #1. I do my own TM-30's after holiday hotel stays as House Master ( a legit hotel does a TM-30 on you if you check in with your PP - some IO will NOT let YOU do a TM-30 ) and crossing the border - LOCAL policy, even returning to same home address - 5 TM-30's this year. TM-47 done up to 5 days early - just to get it done. My IO is 15 minutes away via bike, 7-11 stop on way home for daily junk food so I do a office visit. My LOCAL office is very STRICT on paperwork, BUT, EXTREMELY helpful assisting with any questions / problems. My longest time at MY LOCAL IO has been 15 minutes - NEVER go on a Monday or Tuesday, I usually go after 13:30 on a Wednesday.

"""Include Lazada on that too""" Lazada is a market place for VARIOUS vendors from SEVERAL countries. I would give purchases thru their interface at about 85 - 90% of the EXACT order - about the same as ordering in the USA. There IS sometimes a problem translating English to Thai or Chinese or ?. Occasionally I have received a double order, but charged for only for my single order.

"""The only thing I would be concerned about if it's a scam,I probably wouldn't take the risk""" Just about everything my wife has purchased on Facebook has been a mess, especially fruit and clothing. I would be concerned because of all the scams the Thai police have uncovered and arrests made.

It all depends on LOCATION. Have lived in Pattaya ( 2 years ), BKK (3 years ) and KORAT 5 years. MY look at BASIC MONTHLY it in detail, LAST MONTH 2 Mobile phone's 440 Internet / cable TV 445 Water 147 Electricity 1650 ( fan day AC night ) Food 8000+ Transport 260 round trip 1 time a month to bank. Mortgage ( Her condo in BKK) 2200 Rent ( 2BR "now" furnished in Korat ) 4500 ( Furniture / stuff taken from BKK condo and new 16,000 on move to Korat. Electric tricycle 10,000 ( saves 3000+ monthly for transport ) Locally: 4 MAJOR stores, FARMERS market, free fishing lake, many mom & pop stores. & 7-11, Immigration ... 15 or less minutes from my location via tricycle - now, 10 new strip mall stores opening. .....If I take away 2BR house COSTS, Remove tricycle COST, and MOVE back to condo outside BKK, under 20,000 WHY NOT: No money down on a LARGER condo purchase and NEW LARGER mortgage - I'M 80 Years old, QUIET neighborhood in Korat and services are close. I could do if I was in my 50's and single, depending again on LOCATION where living, and have monies left over. BUT I DO bank monies for FUTURE medical services - INSURANCE is impossible. Oh, no pool, I have to swim in a natural lake - thus save 20,000 a month for pool cleaning. 😁 Side note: Today wife went to farmers market, bought 10+ days ( 2 daily side dishes ) of veggies for 460bt. 😀

It was a snake doing what snakes do, eating. Leave the snake alone, the people called people who are qualified to remove the animal to a safe location for snakes. I've seen a SMALL snake(s) several times traveling thru our yard - "Thanks for the visit, good bye."

80 year old Yankee, married 2 years Pattaya 3 years Bangkok ( We have BKK condo also ) 7 years in Korat now Renting a 2BR Unfinished house, indoor kitchen, fenced yard, veggie garden (4500bt a month ) in gated community - 3 years. Living expenses including 2 mobile's, 5g WiFi and cable TV, electric, water, garbage, AVERAGES under 10,000bt a month - FOOD NOT INCLUDED. 4 major stores within 10 - 12 minutes on electric tricycle ( Bike cost 10,100bt ) 7-11 and 6 mom and pop stores, 2 restaurants, laundry 3 to 12 minutes. Truck delivered drinking water when called. Immigration 14 minutes away, usual visit under 5 minutes after 13:30. 7-11 stop ( munchies ) on way home. Fishing lake 2 minutes from front door. ( Free ) 20 minutes from center city and Korat bank, 260bt round trip via grab, 1 time a month to bank. 2 foreigners in area ( married to Thai ), basically a 30 house Thai community, friendly neighbors, 1 great friendly female Soi dog, several Soi cats. Couldn't live in BKK for this kind of lifestyle.

Go to. TextNow.com Free USA in / outbound calls using their APK on WiFi, if using local data, data charges apply You can choose state and phone number. Landline's and mobile's supported. VOICE and TEXT only. Have been using for several years - I can do MY US mobile banking also NOTE: Will NOT work on SOME mobile's and tablets. You must USE the apk, or you will LOOSE the service

Just for the record. Maneerat ( in Pattaya ) has been in business over 22 years that I am aware of.....

As an AMERICAN I sent my PP for renewal 8 weeks before expired. 5 days ( including a weekend ) before my extension expired I got a EMERGENCY ( 1 year ) PP from my embassy. Used it for my extension. 2 days AFTER extension stamps in EMERGENCY PP, I received my 10 year. NO problems transferring stamps to 10 year PP.

12 years ago you could live in comfort ( DEPENDING ON LOCATION AND LIFESTYLE ) on $600.00 to $800.00USD a month. Today you WILL need $1200.00USD MINIMUM to live a decent lifestyle. It all depends on LOCATION 1st, then LIFESTYLE. I live in a 2BR UNFURNISHED house - spent $2000USD to furnish on move in, yard with veggie garden, gated upper class community, 15 minutes from 4 major stores and the IO, many mom & pop stores in area, fishing lake 2 minutes. Rent averages $129.00USD ( 4500bt ) a month for last 3 years. Our ( 2 people ) monthly costs range from low end $1500USD to $2000USD+ a month for everything including: 2 Mobile's, fiber WiFi and TV, Mortgage on her BKK Condo and food. Many Thais live on less than $500USD a month. Holiday trips and travel NOT included. Over time we have furnished the house completely.

You can USALLY do 30 days before, ( some offices 45 days early ) it expires. It is NOT a visa, it is a 1 year "extension of stay", reason being retirement. READ YOUR STAMPS FIRST LINE. Make sure your TM-30 is up to date as well as your TM-47 ( 90 DAY ) NEVER do a overstay, you have a 30 day window to do your extension. My extension is done in less than 15 minutes, I do my own TM-30's when returning back home from hotel holiday stays NOTE: EVERY IO has their own LOCAL POLICY on all paperwork. Learn what yours is. Follow YOUR LOCAL IO policy.

TIME: It all depends on the LOCAL OFFICE traffic. I have done a TM-30 several times this year - will do one in a few days due to hotel stay. The shortest wait IN a line has been 4 minutes, the longest 17 minutes - so far. For the TM-47 it's usually 2 to 4 minutes and DONE. once was 14 minutes 2 years ago. I live 15 minutes from the immigration office, I hit the 7-11 on the way home, 2 birds 1 stone. KORAT IO has their together, VERY SERVICE ORIENTED and NORMALLY SPEEDY.

"""would add that I only spend between 4 to 6 months each year in Thailand""" "ONLY" 4 to 6 MONTHS ""EACH"" YEAR is NOT a tourist trip, You are part time residing here, part time somewhere else - maybe your home or other country. Immigration sees you as someone trying to "work" the system and you are using Thailand as your 2nd home WITHOUT a proper visa or stay extension.

""Oh please have a heart These poor people need help and we should embrace them with open arms"" Arms so open that the taxpayer pays for the ILLEGALS 1) housing , 2 food, 3) medical care, 4) cell phone, 5) air transport ( many without any ID.) MY Great Grandfather came in legally. He was on the list for 12 years BEFORE he was allowed entry. No free housing, medical, food or transport. His 1st job was street sweeping for pennies a day.

"""That's why I still have 5 yr old TM6 on my passport too""" Mine is 12 years old.

My opinion: LOCATION Have a older Thai condo in BKK area, mortgage & fees ( 16 years and still paying ) total 2050bt a month. around 3000 people as neighbors in 8 buildings of 5 stories Have house in wife's home village, old, on stilts, and village in the middle of nowhere - 1 hour to a major shopping area the OTHER side of the mountain. LIVING in KORAT, 2 BR house with indoor kitchen, fenced yard, veggie garden, gated community. 4 MAJOR stores within 10 minutes, with Immigration 15 minutes away, can't count mom & pop stores and 7-11 under 10 minutes. Fishing lake 2 minutes -20 minutes from center city Korat. 4500bt a month.

"""Some folk say terminology not important. This thread shows it is.""" I have been saying the above for years and TOTALLY agree how important. All to often, I hear or see something posted about " my retirement / marriage visa", especially about renewing my retirement / marriage "VISA", AFTER the person has been here several years. To compound matters I have been told, IN THE PAST, when visiting a PAST IO ( after living and renewing my "extension of stay" based on retirement 3 times at that office ) "I had 1 ( or 2 ) months left on my """retirement visa""" by a Immigration Officer ( assuming being a helpful reminder ) usually while doing one of the TM's I love terminology!

""He doesn’t say the average price, he said what he paid. Egg prices are different all over."" I went for groceries, November '23, when I visited at the SAME store. when I lived in US. Gravy mix was 4 for $1, when I visited $1 each. Bologna ..16.. ounces was $.99, when I visited ..14.. ounces $2.49. To add to the OVERALL craziness, I remember my mother's MORTAGE PAYMENT for a 4BR HOUSE ..In 1964.. was $63 a month. My X 1 BR apartment now rents for over $1000 What a great economy!

"""As I'd stayed in Thailand 1 year and 7 months they said I'm not a tourist so he's refusing the visa waiver.""" Now the POSSIBILITY: Just because you have a VISA - doesn't matter WHAT kind, you CAN be REFUSED entry into Thailand by a Immigration Officer based on 1) Your history on the computer OR 2) any reason thought of by the IO. It happened to a friend of mine who was really WORKING the system for 2+ years in every possible way. He got bounced ( see next paragraph ) on his appeal. If this happens, tell the IO you want a IMMEDIATE APPEAL to your entry refusal, a process unknown to most people. Good Luck.

""15 hours awake is nothing much"" My flight TRAVEL TIME to USA run between 28 to 34 hours. I manage to get sleep in tourist class because the last LONG legs are over the Atlantic to Chicago OR over the Pacific to Chicago and then a short hop to Cincinnati.