scoutman360

Do holders of the LTR (10 year) visa get asked to show evidence of TM30? Ever? Maybe during the 1 year reporting? Thanks in advance. It is my first time. 

I don't think it is a scam. They must pay 7-11 for their labor, time, etc. So, they calculated the direct cost (the cost 7-11 charges them) + the overhead cost (the cost of their staff to work with 7-11 and make it all happen.) The problem is where those negotiators didn't convince 7-11 that people who come into their store usually buy other products while there. 

I have both Vanguard and Fidelity. Both through original company 401k matching programs and also private IRA investments. I find the Vanguard website much easier to navigate and handle my buys and sales. Fidelity always leaves me confused how to do things.

From Thailand, both allow me to take care of business over VPN. As for opening an account over VPN, I don't know. Best to do that next time you are in the U.S. and have a local phone number available. I used to use my sister's mobile for security code messages, but now have a Google Voice phone number which can receive texts. For Google Voice phone numbers, it must be paired with a U.S. mobile number. I used my sisters, but in the settings menu I disconnected her phone for receiving any calls or messages.

Just a few years ago, it was announced that anyone who takes a photo of a motorbike riding on the sidewalk is entitle to 50% of the fine. What ever happened to that? Do you know of anyone who got paid?

This may or may not help, but I noticed that if you look around Home Pro, Thaiwatsadu, Boonthavarn, etc., and find, say for example, a kitchen design you like, floor tiles you want, etc., they have their own contractors that will come and install it for you. However, this means a box fit and no custom features. You would need to know exactly what you want from what is in the show room. 

It's not a scam. It is just the best Lazada suppliers can do with the people they hire. I get the occasional same problems with Amazon.  Every time I get so angry from poor customer service somewhere, my friend always set me straight, "If they were any smarter, they wouldn't be working here". 

I woke up one morning and heard crying in the hallway. It was a Thai girl that said someone stole her purse and she cannot get into her room. I helped her, called security, they got the door open. The next day she knocked on my door and said she wants to take care of me. She did, for free. For many months I was her booty call. She said she has 5 foreigner boyfriends sending her money every month. She cried again to me when one left her for her friend. 

I have a good Thai female friend. She has been married 3 times to foreigners. The 2nd time she divorced him and kept the condo that was bought in her name. For the 3rd marriage, she hired a private investigator to follow her husband. Once she had the evidence he was sleeping with his massage girl, she divorced him and now has a lovely house for her own. 

Youtube university. Plenty of videos on how to build your own (cheep and ugly) air purifier. Standard box fan, 4 square filters, and a roll of duct tape.  Or, a round fan, and a round filter. Options. 

For most of my career, I used to work for a company that manufactured a critical component for the CPAP machines. We sold to the 3 biggest CPAP manufacturers, puting our component in 90% of the worlds CPAP machines. 

One year, I was invited to attend the annual supplier workshop day from the largest CPAP manufacterer in the world.  In one of the workshops, an expert in brain patterns and sleeping cycles gave a presentation. She went into detail on our brain's behavior when we sleep and how sleep apnia throws off the brain's normal healthy sleep cycle. Our brains are actually more awake when we sleep that it is when we are awake. It was eye opening. Before the lecture, most of us in the room thought sleep apnia was just not so serious.

There is a ~$300 billion trade deficit between the U.S. and China. This means that $300 billion dollars are leaving the U.S. every year so China can spend it as they want, including financing their military. The U.S. is basically financing their military on borrowed money.  The U.S. is in debt $36 TRILLION dollars because of crazy trade imbalances and government over spending. How many people know these facts?

I think it is too late for the U.S. to save itself, unless those protesters, the ones rejecting higher tarrifs so they can continue to buy cheap Chinese goods, and protesting the layoffs for a smaller government, understand what will happen if the country does not change course quickly and reduce the debt. The U.S. is far behind China and incapable of supporting itself at the moment. 

13 hours ago, JoePai said:

Strange, have never found the present 'system' difficult to renew ?

Failed the perception depth test the last time. This is my 4th license renewal in Thailand. Eye sight isn't what it used to be but good enough to drive without glasses. My glasses are set for optimum vision at a distance different than the test machine. So, people who wear glasses, beware. Buy a pair that is perfect at that machine distance. 

Compare to my U.S. license: Expired 6 years ago. I just need to come in for a new photo (since the last one was 20 years ago). I kinda agree with Thailand to do occasional checks, rather than keep sending the license in the mail.  But I think it is excessive at the moment. 

On 4/21/2025 at 12:55 AM, still kicking said:

So I am turning 78 shortly, I do not remember if I am vaccinated for chicken pox, I very much doubt it since my mother was impoverished, so is it advisable to get any vaccination? 

If you are 78, they didn't have chickenpox vaccine back in your day. It was created in the 1970's and didn't reach global availability until the 1980's. I remember when the chickenpox was a right of passage for children back then. The whole school population had to suffer through it.

Yes, I would get the vaccine. You don't want to go through that suffering at 78.

4 hours ago, eastbaybob said:

I have my appointment to pick my visa up I just want to confirm the documents that I need to bring.  I know I need the STM 8, the TM 94, the approval notice, the appointment letter and receipt, passport copy. Then the BOI asked me to bring all my marriage papers. Is there anything else I need?

There is a long procedure list on the BOI website which details everything. I missed a few things written there and send them an email with questions (using the Contact form on the home page). They were quick to reply.

4 hours ago, david_je said:

Did you switch from April to NOW? What did you see as benefit? How did cost and coverage compare? Thanks.

I never had April. I was previously covered by my employer's insurance. 

15 hours ago, KannikaP said:

Off topic. Why do these 'interview' guys use great big mics on massive boom stands, when newsreaders have small Lavalier clip-on mics, and sound just as good? 

The big mics you see are condensor mics. Expensive. They are used for most high-end professional recordings because of their quality and frequency response. Dynamic mics are 7x cheaper, mostly used for live events. As a musician, I can disagree and say those clip-ons are horrible. I have produced many videos. It takes me so much time in post production to get them to sound good without the speaker souding like an amateur. 

13 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

And yet Lard and Dripping have been vilified for years. !!  You are absolutely right the previous generation did know a thing or two.

Sadly that knowledge has systematically been erased by the food industry who, in practice, are as bad if not worse than "big pharma"

 

I remember the 1970's when there was an enormous campaign to promote margarine over butter. Butter was bad bad bad. Buy the cheaper margarine. Same with eggs. 

On 4/17/2025 at 3:21 PM, david_je said:

The General Conditions in my April portal also say zone 3, but the broker says that is outdated and the 2025 General Conditions (p.6) say zone 2.

I have Essential policy with $500 deductible up for renewal next month, when I turn 68. New premium is $4912, 18% increase from previous year (I have not claimed in the 3-4 years I have had the policy). Broker AOC (France) says that remains price-competitive compared with other insurers, but one called Now Health Intl may turn out to be cheaper and more stable in long term.

Would appreciate hearing from other April France customers what they are doing.

  

I have signed up with NOW Health Intl. No claims yet. But I got no replies to multiple emails when I needed to expedite my annual renewal for visa reasons. When I reached out to the broker AOC (France), he was quick to make things happen. Thumbs up for the broker, thumbs down for NOW.

On 4/17/2025 at 11:19 PM, Sheryl said:

 

 

https://www.medconsultasia.com/vaccinations/

 

You need to know which shingles vaccine you had. All if the above clinics have Shingrix but I think just the first 2 have Zostavax/SkyRoster

 

 

I can confirm Medconsult has Shingrix. I got both my shots there recently. Also, they seemed to have the best prices I could find, looking around. 

6 hours ago, placnx said:

Next question: There is a health insurance requirement, or alternatively a USD 100,000 sort of guarantee. Since I'm 79 years old, is this insurance obtainable? In the alternative, if anyone has done this, please explain the procedure of transfer (to BOI?) and are there certain specified investments such a Thai government bonds?

Yes. But at your age you may find it difficult to get insurance. However, there is a USD 100,000 option seasoned for at least 1 year. You will find everything here:

https://ltr.boi.go.th/

If you have any questions, send them an email. They are surprisingly alert and quick to reply.

For the "Wealthy Pensioner" option, see below taken from the website link above:

 A. Health insurance policy (travel insurance NOT accepted) covering the entire course of stay in Thailand and providing at least 50,000 USD for hospitalization and medical treatment in Thailand with no less than 10 months of remaining coverage

OR

B. Evidence showing valid social security benefits insuring hospitalization and medical treatment in Thailand

OR

C. Financial evidence or bank statement (Investment portfolio NOT accepted) showing a deposit of no less than 100,000 USD which has been held and maintained for no less than 12 months at the time of application Note: Documents must be in Thai or English only, translated documents must be notarized Item A. can optionally be submitted later, in which case the applicant must submit a signed Document Request Acknowledgement Form in place of the actual document If chosen to do so, insurance documents will later be requested by the relevant government authority once the application status has been updated to: Consideration By Government Agencies

10 minutes ago, Tomio said:

I received my LTE almost a year ago but I received mine through the Thai consulate in Los Angeles. I've entered Thailand twice using my LTE and both times immigration seemed confused. The second time I showed them my approval letter from the Consulate and it reduced the confusion a bit but I still foresee confusion in the future

 

Thanks! It seems the LTR is a great thing to have, but one must expect complications from Immigration officials that don't understand it. 

On 4/10/2025 at 12:51 PM, camper star said:

Lady does NOT have the rural life experience, what lies ahead of us.

Divorce and separation for sure. This is her country and I seriously doubt she will make such a sacrifice for very long. A city girl doesn't survive very long in the country unless her heart is there. 

On 4/17/2025 at 7:50 PM, Pib said:

RTV would work like a charm....flexible, waterproof, etc.....its temperature range is typically from around a -60C to hundreds of degrees C.    RTV is so good for many repairs. 

Many Youtube videos show professionals prefer RTV over construction adhesives. Both will do the job, but RTV adhesive is easier to remove with less damage in case of remodeling and removal. Marble countertops, baseboards, etc. They prefer RTV. 

Most buffets are from hotels. Use the Eatigo app. Get the food 50% off at certain times. 

6 hours ago, Presnock said:

Wou should contact the BOI prior to the date to get your LTR and ask them if they can arrange for your current visa to be cancelled at the same time.   I was on a retirement O and they set that up for me when I got my LTR and immigration at BOI cancelled my Retirement O visa.  Had no problems...just did my 1st year notice of address at BOI and spent less than 10 minutes total thee as it was a breeze too.  Congrats on the LTR, in my mind/case, the perfect fit!  My retirement visa was done in Chiang Mai but the Immigration at BOI cancelled it.

I sent them this question today, and they replied within the hour. They said my Non-O will automatically be canceled when the new visa is issued (whatever that means). I will ping them again after I get the appointment date. I am going to love this visa. No more stress at CW every year from section L. 

I have been pre-approved for the LTR Visa but was surprised to read the next step is to get my current VISA canceled and then get a permission to stay until the LTR VISA is issued. How do I do this?

There is no appointment category in the Thailand Immigration system for canceling VISAs.

Since my non-O extension was issued at CW, do I go there? What section? L or C?

Will the same officer who cancels my VISA be the one to give me permission to stay until my new VISA is issued? Or, must I book 2 appointments?

Is there a form for this?