BKResort

I  am helping a 82 years widow, partially disabled, without family in his own country, to find a better life here with just 70,000 Baht retirement income, and he his doing very well...even saving more than half of his income for "luxuries".

Because he is looking in find a female companion, I am also helping him in that mission.

That "adventure" can make a difference. I met my wife online, and I am happily married for 5 years, but I am younger and stronger than him. I posted his profile on a well known dating site, stating exactly his age and situation. Many women on their 50s responded with good possibilities, but surprisingly, many others in their 20s and 30s also did. That may explain why so many elderly expat get in trouble, tented by beauty and age, and not looking on the obvious intentions.

With common sense, and good friends, most very old expat can do very well here, sometimes better than ever, regaining health, hope, and happiness.

Others, without good help and advice, may fell from a balcony.

Can be done by mail?

Pop over to Caracas , Venezuela for a week, you will love getting back to the safety of Thailand.

And Brazil, Mexico, Africa, Middle East, Philippines, and many cities in the USA.

Considering that Thailand is a very small country with 80.000.000 population.... surrounded by others totaling more than a billion .... most in poverty, and it is one of the most visited by foreigners, this is the safer country in the world!

If you have a beautiful, and a lot younger wife, most Thai men..and some farangs, may believe that she may be a good target for seduction. That comes with your choice....

For you to worry about, means that your choice probably was not right

Come back to Thailand anytime, entry by an airport 30 days tourist visa, go to your Embassy here, and find out what you need to get the income verification for TH65000/month. If you cannot get it, go to a visa service office to find out how they can help you with the bank deposit if need it.

After all this resolved, start again with your NO visa and retirement extension process.

I hold 2 passports...One from the USA and other from Italy. Both valid. I am on a retirement extension with my US passport. Never used the Italian passport in Thailand.

Can I exit Thailand using my Italian passport?

If you are single...you will live where the soulmate of your dreams is living or its will likes to live. At your age...the only problem will be too many choices. Focus is mandatory.

The safest is not to bring the consulate certification older than 3 months to immigration. It is not a set rule about it on every immigration office.

Did I understood that one day overstay means leaving the country for 5 years?...... or I will have a grace period of 90 days?

No exceptions for retired expats and married ones?.... overstay after 90 days report, or after the one year extension?

I can mention many things, good and bad about retiring here. But one, in my opinion, it is MANDATORY.....

If you are not willing to learn the language...better retire where you can communicate better...or in your own.

Just look around for expats in their 60s.....and think about your future at that age, if now.... in your 30's, you are bored and overweight.

You may need a reality check.

Thinking in stay for a while in Cambodia or Laos. I will like to know what are the requirements for retirement, or long stay visa extension in those countries. I am 72 from the US and my Thai wife 47.

Passport change can not normally be made at a land crossing as both countries will check for exit/entry stamps - best to make a flight somewhere and return - or get an emergency passport from US Consulate (immediate issue).

Edit: but not sure they would be happy to issue for forgetfulness rather than actual need for travel.

In case I decide to fly..What passport I have to use to exit Thailand? Airports do not check entry stamps? Can exit with my Mexican passport? No stamps on it...and the US will be expired. Still confused about....

I have 2 passports from 2 countries, USA and Mexico.

My US passport is due in 5 days, with a NO Visa and not time to get a new one before my NO visa expire.

My Mexican passport is OK but not Thai visa on it.

Can I leave Thailand walking out the border with the US passport and entry again with my Mexican passport?

If I can. What border is the best to do that?. I live in Phayao, close to Mae Sai (Burma) and Chiang Kong (Laos)....

Thank you for your advice.

ENGLISH IS OK.

THE LETTER IS VALID ONLY FOR 3 MONTHS....SOME OFFICES SAID 6 MONTHS...

Looks like all these kind of problems and rip-off situations only happens in tourist spots. Thank God I live in a small town...peacefully.

with 300 $ you live better in Thailand than with 2000$ in the states.

in the USA you need at least 3000.

You must live in a high cost area of the US. $10,000 a year is easily possible(poverty line for 1) in much of the country. I can get a $325/month apartment in my hometown(aircon included). Add $150/month for food. Car is not required. Plenty live on even less. That kind of lifestyle would still cost less in Thailand though since you could find a decent apartment for $100 a month(1/3rd of us cost).

In some cheap areas of the US it is possible to live well with $1,500 if you are retired, single, not using and maintaining a car, and not paying health insurance. Many people, too many, have that kind of income in the US working full time and without benefits, and in need of a car. That's living on the edge.

In Thailand many single people can have a secure life with a $300 income. Out of tourist areas, it is very common to find nice small apartments under $70/month. I live in a nice town, and just cross street our home in Phayao, it is a new building with nice furnished studios renting for $50/month, with free WIFI and water. Most rented by young couples and students. Good enough, even for some retired foreigners and teachers.

Using Government hospitals and schools, a Thai working couple can live very well using motorbike for transportation. I know many, and with kids, even saving enough for short vacations, and some "luxuries" sometimes.

Like I said it is easy to live here, and well, spending not more than $300 US Dollars/month. I did.

But the reality is that if you have any costly addiction, you are a party animal, have a car, drive a lot, and like to live here like a mid-high class live in your own country, that is not possible. Specially in BK or tourist cities.

Also is not possible if you have a dependent GF or wife with kids, that also likes to have the same benefits, that many of her friends dating or getting married with "wealthy" foreigners.

Just having an expensive car, will make any Thai mid class woman believes that you will be a good "sponsor", and your dates will be not cheap, their families will like to have a part of your "wealth", etc, etc, etc....Only good if you do like to show off. You also will be surprised how many Thai women looking in date or marry a "farang", knows that you only can pay cash or with credit card, that you may need to have 800K in its bank account, or a good retirement or income to stay here...

Being at front with all Thai women expectations, will also be a surprise. Many of them, working and independent ones, do not care about your financial situation, are just looking for a good companion and a better relationship than before...and many..are very smart, very young, and very beautiful.

But...if you are an <deleted> .... no money will give you enough comfort and happiness.

Correction......I just noticed..I said 300thb/month Was $300/month....and that was when 1 dollar = 29 thb

I married a professional woman...if not, my budget today, was the same. Many Thai couples have a good life spending just $300/month living out the big cities, where many nice small detached houses are rented for 3000thb/month or less, and condos for 2000thb/month or less. Unfortunately they get in trouble when wanted to have cars. Cars in Thailand are a luxury if not used for work, even motorbikes. The risk to get involved in an accident is very high here, and insurances very expensive for Thai modest people.

By the way. I have few expat farang friends living well and happy with less than $500/month, and they share my feelings about some expats living here. Too many expats thinks that retirement in Thailand means to spend money to accomplished what they cannot do in their countries, date a lot of easy younger women in bars, get drunk without regrets, and living in "luxury"...and do not having any idea what good a different culture can bring for them.

Just stopping to work hard and to worry a lot with bosses and money, it is a priceless blessing.

When I was single, 2011 to 2013, at 63, I was living in 300 thb/month. How???

1) Renting a small furnished single new house with a beautiful garden close to Phayao, inside a gated community with clubhouse, 3 pools, and security, paying less than $100 thb/month, including gardener, and rarely using the AC. Free 3BB internet for free online dating, and one time paid PSI cable TV for few English channels.

2) Cooking for myself most of the times buying fresh food at the local street market. I do not smoke, no drink alcohol, not interested in bar life or costly women. Healthy and fit...even if I like to eat a lot. Thai food is yummy....my cooking too.

3) Using a motorbike for transportation around, using bus to visit my girl friends in other cities, staying in their homes or cheap hotels for the weekend, and doing that at least 2 weekends/month. Rarely will eat in expensive restaurants. Out the home, eating most of the times in Big C food courts or on street stands. Using 20 thb songtel for transportation, and walking and bicycling a lot for exercise.

4) Because my pension is a little over that, I even saved some to travel 2 times visiting girl friends out Thailand, in Philippines and Indonesia. Some still my friends in Facebook.....

5) No savings in my bank account, no enough income for retirement, no health insurance. I am an US citizen and my Consulate is "helping me" to keep my annual extension. Very good friends in the local immigration office too.

In 2013, I got married, finally happy with the right one, after dating more than 40 nice women I met online in just 2 1/2 years.

Now, I live in my wife's house, working together. My income improved and I spend more than $300/month, about $700. Our car likes to "drink".....and my wife likes to travel around and shop in malls sometimes.

Broke??? That is what having a very peaceful, interesting, and healthy life in Thailand for the last 5 years is called? Good to know...

I still "broke".

.

We paid 5000 for the rent of a small nice house, 2000 in utilities, 9000 for a car payment including the insurance, 3000 for AIA health insurance. We live real well spending no more than 30.000/month, cooking at home, few exceptions every month, and no alcohol. Because we travel around a lot, gasoline is a big expense. No kids, just a spoiled dog.

The same life in California will cost at least 4 times more.

If you are younger than 50....go and look..." Caminante no hace caminos...se hace caminos al andar "

Language a lot easier to learn in Spain...and a lot more useful around the world

Food a lot better and healthier

A lot better weather.... and not mosquitos!

Close to all European destinations and cheaper flights to the US and South America

A very busy and safe night life.

Culture...culture...culture...

Women are very beautiful and open minded....to the younger ones...Old guys.....who like younger women...better to chose Thailand...but..if you do like nice and intellectual mature women.....Europe is the place to be,

I am not living there because I need visa...and I got lucky with my woman here.....if not.

It is better to get your NON visa at the Thai Embassy in the US, and you will have to do the retirement extension at you final destination, Chiang Mai?..because you will need a proof of residence, like a rental agreement or similar. You will need to get an income certification from the US Embassy making an appointment online, and paying $50.00. With that certification, and any other document you may need to probe your income, copy of all stamped pages of your passport, 2 passport photos, the correct filled form, plus 1900 thb and up to 5000 thb for one or unlimited yearly reentries permits.

After that, you will get a one year extension, having to show up or send your info online every 3 months to the local immigration office, and to repeat all over again every year. That's all. You do not need any help or visa service.

Yes, this is basically the way it will work. A couple of minor corrections -- the U.S. has a Consulate, not an Embassy in Chiang Mai. If the OP is going to use a Thai bank account (instead of Consulate Income Letter) to prove financial worth, then he should open the account soon after arriving so his money can "season" for 60 days prior to his application for the first 12-month retirement extension. In subsequent years, the funds will have to sit untouched for 90 days prior to application for the annual extension.

The fee for a re-entry permit is 1000 baht or 3800 baht for multi (unlimited) re-entry permit. Not 5000 baht.

The major reason to use a visa agent in Chiang Mai might be to avoid the long queues, but perhaps now that the new Immigration office is opening next week at Promenada, the 4 am queue time for retirement extensions may become a distant memory. Let's hope Chiang Mai becomes like other provinces where us retirees can show up at Immigration at a civilized hour, say 8 am, confident that we'll get our extension applications granted that day and not be told we're too late, come back earlier tomorrow.

Thank you for the corrections.. You are right.

It is better to get your NON visa at the Thai Embassy in the US and not in Bangkok., You will have to do the retirement extension in Chiang Mai, and you will need a proof of residence, like a rental agreement or similar. You will need to get an income certification from the US Embassy in Chian Mai making an appointment online, and paying $50.00. With that certification, proof of residence, any other document you may need to probe your income, your passport and copy of all stamped pages and entry card, 2 passport photos, the correct filled form, plus 1900 thb and up to 5000 thb for one or unlimited yearly reentries permits. Bring everything in hand, go early, get your number, and you will get your yearly retirement extension easily.

After that, you will have to show up or send your info online every 3 months to the local immigration office, and to repeat all over again every year for a new extension. That's all and easy. You will not need any help or visa service.

Sorry. Double posting..