rubadub77

Since I quit drinking its got a lot cheaper.....!

Probably best he clears his diary for the foreseeable.....

Bound to be a catholic priest involved somewhere.....

Chaos at Don Mueang airport?

When isn't there chaos at Don Mueang airport.....

Some of you just can't resist making unfounded remarks against all that is Thai! I use Don Mueng several times a year and have never found it to be chaotic. Even the long taxi queues disperse quickly. I remember the days of low cost travel from Luton and Gatwick, in the UK, with endless delays in high season and the only place to sleep being the floor! Don Mueng is a paradise in comparison!

Dont include me in the 'Always making unfounded remarks against all that is Thai' brigade. I happen to love living in Thailand, it's people and its way of life - I'm of the thinking I'm not from here and if I dont like it I can bugger off.

I say what I say as I use Don Muaeng on a regular basis and the majority of the time when I'm there it's chaos.

Chaos at Don Mueang airport?

When isn't there chaos at Don Mueang airport.....

I'm thinking there's a lot of 'losers' on this forum.

I most certainly don't hate Thailand or the Thais, I wouldn't stay if I did.

I think the positives out way the negatives many times over and certainly beat the hell out of living in the UK.

Oooh oooh, a chance to use the much underused phrase 'Another quality tourist.........'

"It may mislead foreign tourists who have never been to Koh Tao to think that Koh Tao is full of mafia who like to kill or exploit foreign tourists," Chaiyan said. "This is really what some foreign tourists think. I've seen them talking on social media."

I agree it it is misleading, mafia exploiting foreign tourists happens all over Thailand not just Koh Tao.

I have legitimate prescription (Bumrungrad) for Xanex which I occasionally use as a sleeping aid, long haul flights etc. As this is a member of benzodiazepine family and can sit in your system for around 3 weeks I'm wondering how this would play out should I test positive during a roadside piss test .

I have been more or less based myself in Thailand since 2007 working offshore in Africa on a 60/60 rotation. I have been entering the country using using 30 day visa exempt the entire time mostly through Bangkok and as yet I've never had a problem. If I find myself getting close to my 30 days I go visit one of the neighbouring countries for a few days and its always been ok when I return. As you can imagine my passport is peppered with stamps! Maybe as mentioned in some of the other posts it would be better to go through Bangkok.

Oxygen tanks?

These people are complete and utter scum.

As an offshore working 60 days on/off this is good news. (I hope)

Personally, I think the simplest thing to do is to just transfer in the THB 800k, then use it for the next year's THB living expenses.

In my case, the THB 800K won't even cover my (overpriced condo) annual rent, though for many it would probably be more than adequate for annual expenses, then the leftover balance could be topped up to THB 800k each year. Of course, for homeowners, maybe this process wouldn't be as ideal, but I personally don't want to bother with monthly incoming transfers. One and done is easier, and also provides a natural hedge against THB expenses if income/assets are in another currency (can't break away from my finance geek background). I could get the income letter from the US embassy, but haven't bothered (still on my first extension, tho).

BTW, I did the visa exemption (30 day) entry, converted to a 90-day Non-O, then to an annual extension...process was straightforward and stress free at CW Bangkok as of early this year. If I weren't married, I would personally go for the Elite card though, especially for someone that travels a lot and and could use the included perks.

I'm thinking more or less along these lines. I've just come offshore and will be here for at least 2 months, if I transfer THB 800k now by the time I get back and apply it will have been there for the required amount of time. It can then go towards expenses and be topped up again for next year.

OK, I have a question about this.

To qualify for retirement extensions in general, you can use Thai bank account, income, or combination

Obviously claiming income made in Thailand would be a problem, but is there any reason an oil worker could not use the income from that work, which occurs outside Thailand?

There is nothing in the rules specifying PENSION income only.

My impression is this income COULD be used.

But don't take that as the last word.

Hopefully, one of the super gurus will comment on that.

If income comes from outside Thailand I'm wondering if it matters at all where it comes from.

I must admit I do find the visa system somewhat baffling.

If applying for retirement visa within Thailand is it a fairly straight forward process? Im currently offshore until October so was thinking of going somewhere to obtain a multiple entry tourist visa and then entering Thailand and applying. I can transfer funds and have other required paperwork ready for then.

Thanks for replies guys, retirement visa is the way to go for me.

Jingthing, thanks for reply. I think retirement visa probably the way to go.

I am working in the offshore industry (West Africa) and have based myself in Thailand since 2008. My rotation is 60 days on 60 off but can sometimes vary and be longer. I use the word base rather than live as during my leave time I enter the country using visa exemption, stay a few weeks and then go on to a different country in the region for a few weeks holiday/trip and return. I have rented a house or condo for the last 7 years which I use more as a store for my stuff rather than home as I'm definitely over the course of a year out of Thailand more than in. I have never overstayed and never do visa runs as such.