thomago

6 hours ago, JoeBloe said:

This thread started with a question about legal status (answered). It is always wise to know the basic law before entering into a negotiation or contract.

Many years ago, I had lived together with my girlfriend for about 4 years. At that time, I didn't think about marriage but, like you, became concerned that my GF might acquire some legal rights simply by living together permanently.

Therefore, I discussed this potential issue with my lawyer. He confirmed that there is no common law marriage in Thailand and that -- legally speaking -- my GF/Partner would not be entitled to anything. However, he cautioned me of the following: If there should be a legal dispute, the Thai judge might well rule in my GF's favor (at least partially). When I questioned him about the rule of law versus the application of the law, he mentioned that he is aware of cases whereby the concept of common law marriage has been applied in Thailand.

My advice for you would be to obtain legal council to clarify your current legal position.

PS 1: The previous GF/Partner and I have been happily married and we have 2 lovely children.

PS 2: You sound like a very decent and empathic person. My best wishes and stay the way you are.

49 minutes ago, richard_smith237 said:

 

 

200k for T3 - I’d be happy with some of it back. 

 

But, I’ve been extremely happy with the efforts my Son’s school have gone to to continue his education - his online learning structure and set up has been extremely impressive.

Clearly the online learning has not been as effective as it would have had my son been in school, nevertheless, in the absence of other opportunities I’ve been wholly impressed by my sons school.

 

That said: the school does nudge its prices up each year (for example: T1  for Y3 in 2021 is about 6% greater than T1 for Y3 in 2020) - this increase exceeds inflation which is something I’m not impressed and feel needs better explanation from the school - thus, if I get a 50,000 baht refund like last year, I’ll be satisfied. 

 

 

I've had the same very positive experience as you.

My 2 kids go to an international school in Phuket. As in 2020 (for 2.5 months), the recent online learning for 3 weeks was excellent in every aspect: timely and relevant communication between the school and parents, clear daily structure with well-prepared lessons from 8.00 AM too 3.00 PM, online homework, and engaging teachers. Under the circumstances, I couldn't have asked for anything more.

Financially, the school advised weeks ago that the time spent with online learning will receive a discount of 20%. Parents with financial issues were advised to contact the school so something can be worked out. For currently enrolled pupils, the school will not increase the fees fot the next school year.

I have been very impressed with the proactive school management.

Had to smile frequently reading the monthly forecast. Thank you.

1 hour ago, spidermike007 said:

Very difficult to say. If I had the finances, would probably spend four or five months of the year based in Spain or Portugal. Good weather, wine, culture, music, art, dance, and great access to the rest of Europe. 

 

Then, perhaps three or four months here. A month traveling in the US, and the rest of the time traveling around Asia and Europe. 

 

I do love it here. But, from mid February to about mid June the climate is brutal. And seems to be getting muggier every year. Good time of year to be away, and pleasant weather in Spain or Portugal. 

Thanks for clarifying spidermike007. Appreciate it.

It's obvious that you love Thailand for the reasons stated in your original reply. That makes two of us. With sufficient finances, you would simply expand your scope of travel for personal reasons rather than leaving Thailand permanently. Sounds very sensible to me.

BTW, I always enjoy reading your comments because they are mostly thoughtful, fair and balanced rather than a one-sided and biased Thai-bashing. Thanks!

3 hours ago, spidermike007 said:

I suppose if I had unlimited finances, I would probably leave. I despise the government and immigration here, and it does feel like the nation is moving backwards. But, considering the fact that I do not have a fortune, I will stay. There are many issues to consider. Going back to the US is not an option. I would not want to live there now, unless I was being paid over a million dollars a year, and then I would only do it for 3 years, and then leave. For me, it is about quality of life, and my level of fulfillment on a daily basis, which I seem to have here in abundance. A big factor here, is the relatively light hearted attitude of the people. You just do not find that in the US, where most seem bitter, disenchanted, unfulfilled, and heavy hearted. 

. . . I could go on and on, all day long. I live at a level here, that I would never be able to live at, in the US, in most of Europe, in Oz, or Canada. Yes, the higher baht is an annoyance. And yes things are more expensive than they used to be. But, it is very relative.

=========================================================

@spidermike007:

I read your post with delight since I mostly feel the same way.  Except for your dislike of the government and immigration here, your post -- to me -- read like a well-written and justified  "Declaration of Love" for Thailand.

Therefore, I was very surprised to read that you would probably leave if you had unlimited finances. Can you truly think of any country where you would feel happier when compared to Thailand?

2 hours ago, Anders W Ferslev said:

we got 20% discount

My two kids (Primary) go to an international school in Phuket which teaches the Cambridge curriculum in English. For Term 3 (April to June) the school voluntarily provided a 20% discount which I thought was very fair. I'm also aware that some parents complained that the discount should be much higher.

The quality of Internet-learning was very high with daily "classroom sessions" from 8.00 AM to 3.00 PM or 4.00 PM. The teachers were very well prepared, engaging, and the school communicated constantly and very well with the parents. Friends of mine with kids at other international schools in Phuket were not that happy with the quality of Internet-learning provided.

Since I was very impressed with the school's response to Internet-learning, I would not have asked for a discount. In the end, I think it boils down to if the OP received value for money under difficult circumstances.

22 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi,

No problem sending you the info, I actually sent it just now > so look in your PM-messages.

The main reason I prefer sending all of the Guideline documents I compiled PM is that it allows me to integrate any user-feedback when updating the document.  Having sent the info PM, it is then easy to contact me when users have questions or suggestions for improvement, and so when interested TVF-members contact me first time they always get the latest version of the document.

Hi Peter, please send me the TM 30 info too. Thanks.

1 hour ago, WorriedNoodle said:

I didn't think there was an OA based on marriage visa? Its just an OA visa for long term stay that needs insurance (or in your case not for some reason?).

 

You would need to change to O based visa and extend that based on retirement or marriage to avoid insurance.

Based on my limited understanding -- but with previous advice from Peter Denis -- I think that an OA based on retirement permission to stay can be converted to an OA based on marriage or dependents. No insurance would then be required and no need to leave the country.

21 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, did you have permanent residence in Sth Korea when you obtained your O-A

No, I only had a work permit for my role as President & CEO for a large subsidiary of a major international company.

23 minutes ago, steve187 said:

what length of permission to stay stamp did you get on the first ever entry you made, based on that visa issued in Seoul on April 7 2005,

i think the terminology you use to describe your yearly extension of your permission to stay, as you call it an OA extension based on retirement, is confusing other posters on here, you can not extend any visa only the permission to stay stamp that the visa gives you on entry.

My first permission to stay in 2005 was for one year and I have extended it annually here in Phuket.

18 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I thought a non O-A was only able to be issued in your own country. In your case Germany. How did you obtain one in Seoul?

I worked in Seoul at that time. Submitted all the required paperwork to the Thai Embassy in Seoul and was issued an OA visa based on retirement.

7 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

An OA is only available from your home country, if you got a visa from Seoul it would have been an O visa.(insurance not required)

That would certainly explain why you didnt need insurance, you got an extension from an original O visa, not an OA visa.

Not correct. My OA was issued in Korea. I'm just looking at my old passport with the OA visa in it. Believe me.

6 hours ago, PST said:

Are there seperate queues for 'normal' extensions, or do you need to queue in the same line as tourist/covid extensions?

There are separate queues for 'normal extensions (room 103?). Tourist/covid extensions are handled separately.

6 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

That's indeed a possibility.  It's also possible that the officer processing his application mistook his original OA Visa for an O Visa.  And the 3rd possibility is that Phuket IO does not require thai IO-approved health-insurance anymore for 1-year extensions of stay for OA Visa for reason of retirement (OPs before last sentence seems to indicate that that is the case).

>> Question for OP - Did you apply for the Visa you are extending in your home-country, or did you apply for it in Thailand or a neighboring country?

 

I'm a German national. From 2003 to April 2005 I worked in Seoul, Korea. My Non-Immigrant O-A visa based on retirement dated April 7, 2005 was issued in Seoul and I have extended it annually in Phuket up to now.

15 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

What to do? > Easy answer.

Convert to a Non Imm O - retirement Visa which does NOT require the bogus thai-approved health-insurance scam, and its requirements/conditions when applying for an extension based on that O Visa are EXACTLY the same as for your present OA Visa.  Problem solved.

I PM-ed you a comprehensive Roadmap with details/options on how to do it.

To access your PM-messages just click the letter-icon next to your profile when logged in to the Forum.

Thanks Peter, I have been considering changing to a Non Imm O retirement visa and might still do so.

My concern is that the current insurance requirements for the "Non Imm OA" extension of stay will also apply to all "Non Imm O" extensions in due time. Wouldn't be surprised if it happens within the next 2 years.

If my current in-patient insurance gets accepted by immigration and I only would have to pay a minor amount for the additional minimum 40,000 Baht out-patient coverage, then I would prefer going that way for the time being and just wait-and-see.

I will visit Phuket Immigration next week to get more clarity.

On 2/1/2020 at 12:40 PM, Tom F said:

I got it signed.   In early January.  Maybe I just got lucky.   My insurer is specific for retired state government employees.   The insurer touts itself for providing overseas coverage for retirees.   And, it competes with other insurance options for retirees.  It took some polite persistence, and explaining, to get it done.   On the phone, the first level contact said it was impossible.   I got kicked up to the next level, who said "sure,"  and went out of her way to help.   All done within a week, by phone and emails.

 

Ultimately, this time around I didn't need it for my January re-entry on my pre-Oct. 31 OA.   But, I'm sure that I can get another one for when I go to the consulate for my next OA.  I'm confident that the form will pass muster at the consulate.

 

Any lesson based on this experience?  Luck does matter.  You might better your odds by letting your insurer know that you're shopping around for a company that will sign the form.

I had the same pleasant experience with Allianz Worldwide Care, Irish Branch where I have in-patient coverage (worldwide excluding USA) worth GBP 934,000 since 2005. The premium for 2020 is GBP 4,310.

Excellent service: They send me the completed Foreign Insurance Certificate (signed and stamped) as well as a Confirmation of Cover within 4 days via e-mail -- arriving today -- and the originals will be sent by mail as I had requested. However, they could not confirm any out-patient coverage on the Foreign Insurance Certificate since I don't have any.

Since 2005 -- when I retired in Phuket with a "Non Imm OA" visa plus subsequent annual extensions of stay -- I paid all out-patient bills myself (e. g. annual health checks) and did not have an out-patient insurance. Due to the new requirements I will now need insurance with out-patient coverage of at least 40,000 Baht (about GBP 1,000).

My next extension of stay will be on April 18 so I still have enough time to figure out what to do. 

5 hours ago, Captain 776 said:

Soon TM 30 will be abolished.........don’t worry

I got similar information as "Captain 776" when I went to Patong Immigration in Phuket for my 90-days about 3 weeks ago. I advised the Immigration Officer that I will be travelling to Germany for 1 week in November and asked if I have to file a TM-30 upon my return. His reply: "No need, don't worry, changes are coming up". I asked again and his only reply was: "Don't worry".