cyberfarang

Sorry, but this is total mind-boggling confusion.

If this was not confusing then there wouldn`t be so many posters asking questions.

I have always and still do use the 800000 baht in a Thai bank yearly retirement extension method from my savings in a Thai bank here in Thailand. As for my living expenses I bring over money from aboard paid into my Thai bank joint account with my wife, if and when I need it. I`ve never been asked by immigration to show anything other than the 800000 baht in my Thai savings account that I don`t touch.

So now do these amendments mean this is no longer possible and have to show 65000 baht going into my Thai account from abroad each month to total 800000 baht at time of application?

Sometime this week I will visit my agent and ask if they could give me some clarification.

7 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I'd vote for that.  Some things just seem to have outlived their relevance and value.

 

Don`t agree.

It is the posters and those that actively participate on these forums and threads that Thai visa is all about. Without the active posters, TV would be no more than an information database that would fail to attract the sponsors and advertisers. Its members are all part of the mechanism that keeps TV ticking over.

Many really enjoy TV and to some is a mainstream of their online social activities similar to facebook. Must admit, I am one of those who has become addicted to TV. There are also those who take events like the poster of the year quite seriously. I`ve checked out some of the periods of time posters have been members and there are those that have been members right from the beginning and still active on TV. This is why I believe all members should have an equal chance to become a poster of the year rather than just a dominant few that I feel have been trying to achieve some kind of celebrity status on TV and why I for one won`t vote for these people.   

12 minutes ago, sipi said:

Nominate them. 

Not all members want to be nominated.

48 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

In the final round I see a total vote count of 134.............in a forum of 20.000 members ( can't find the actual number ) which should tell you something

As I said in a previous post, I know personally of several TV members that feel TV has its favorites and the same names keep appearing time and time again and therefore, this puts off many members from posting, including myself.

There are many TV members I have become to admire over the years, really love their posts that don`t even get a mention.

The only way to create more interest so that more members vote is to have more nominees other than those from the old friends' group.

33 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

I do understand your idea but creating more candidates is not necessarily the aim is it .
I think we already have more than enough candidates IMO.
If you allow posters to nominate themselves you are gonna get all the trolls and those who think only their posts carry any merit coming out of the woodwork and flooding the thread. Why bother ??
Allow the majority to vote and save yourself some time.

I have to disagree again.

Members are only going to vote for the posters they know, are credible to them and are who they consider, for whatever reasons, their favorite posters. I also doubt that thousands of members will suddenly nominate themselves, it`s mostly going to be those who are the most active participants on these forums and threads, like myself for example. 

Regarding the logistics and software, I do agree it`s would take some organising and involve additional work for the organisers. But it would mean that all TV members who would like to be in the running for TV poster of the year have equal opportunities to do so.

It could be stipulated that members only with a certain minimum number of posts can be nominees, therefore excluding newbies that maybe trolls or just time wasters.

Only throwing out some ideas that might spice this up a bit, my suggestion box.

38 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

That could work but likely would end up with some posters putting their own name forward only to be sadly dismayed at the few , if any , votes they get !!

 

Our own opinion of ourselves is not always shared by the general public !!

 

I still think that candidates should be nominated by the majority .

Sorry, can`t agree and has nothing to do with opinions of ourselves, whatever votes a nominee obtains still depends on the majority for majority votes, something like an election campaign.

In competitions, there are always going to be winners and losers, that`s what it`s all about, only the more candidates the less of a closed shop this becomes.

Many of my friends are TV members and their opinions are that TV has its favorites, especially in the Chiang Mai threads, that gives them an unfair advantage of being nominated for the POTY title. The same names seem to be mentioned time and time again and heavily supported by mates on TV that rather takes all the other members out the running completely. 

Would it not be a fairer system to allow members who participate the most on TV to nominate themselves, given a certain time frame to put their names forward and let all other members vote for them? For example; I wouldn`t have minded being in the running myself but not given the opportunity of placing myself forward and there are several more like myself. Also, there are those who prefer not to be part of the nominated few. 

Would this not make the POTY awards more interesting and give all members a wider choice of being part of the poster of the year?

On 12/9/2018 at 8:57 AM, johng said:

Add some bleach to the wash and hang out the clothes to dry in the open air so it gets full sunshine the UV and bleach will kill most things including bacteria that can make the smell.

Whatever you do don`t add bleach to the wash. It will destroy the colours and make any whites turn yellow. Also only hang out clothes until they are dry. If too long out in the sun, this will also fade the colours. Better to hang them out in a shaded area. This is Thailand and clothes will dry fairly quick. 

I use plain cheap washing up liquid with a about a quarter lid full of Dettol. After wash, rinse well with clear cold water, then hang out to dry.

On 12/6/2018 at 8:29 AM, Peterw42 said:

Of course it is money, 90% of us are here because we can have a better (or at least equivalent) lifestyle than back home. For less money.

I dont think anyone has ever moved back home because its cheaper. 

 

Coming to live here on a fixed retirement income makes perfect sense. Few would question or criticize how, why etc. The thing I often dont understand is when people start quoting monthly budgets and condo prices etc, far in excess of what they would spend to live well back home. That is the thing I would question, why come to live in Thailand for the same cost or in excess of what a comfortable life back home would cost. Maybe climate, beaches etc comes into the equation for Brits and Europeans etc but for America and Australia etc we have the climate options as well.

 

 

 

 

There is no such thing as a fixed retirement income when living abroad if pensions come from our home countries. Our foreign pensions incomes are determined by the bank currency exchange rates. If for example the baht rates are low, it could mean they have less value then if drawing the pensions in our own countries, even if the cost of living in Thailand is cheaper depending on how strong the baht and how weak our source currencies. For example UK sterling has crashed through the floor over the last few years.

It`s down to forward planning and not living for today. Unfortunately money is the number one deciding factor when considering living in Thailand and health should be number two. It has to be analysed how much minimum income is it possible to live on in Thailand that covers all expenses and immigration requirements, not oh well, I`m OK today and not worry about tomorrow.

One has to be realistic and realise we are all governed by financial circumstances and if don`t have, can`t have, which applies everywhere.

9 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

But it's just not true.

My UK state pension is double what most Thais earn (300bht/day).

And if I can't survive on double a locals wage, I deserve to be dead.

 

Sorry, but you just don`t seem to get it.

An average UK pension is probably more than the average wage of most third world countries, so does that give British citizens on average pensions the right to stay in any third world country long term? What about the reverse, should Thais be banned from living in Britain because their average wage is lower than the UK State pension? This thread has drifted way off topic. My point to the OP is and answering his question, is that if he can`t make it in Thailand probably one of the cheapest places on Earth to live, then he`s not going to make it in other countries either. And this applies to anyone in the same situation.

It would seriously worry me if knowing in old age I may fall seriously ill and destitute in a foreign land without any means of paying for medical care and not being able to meet the immigration requirements. If that were my circumstances I would never dream of retiring here.

25 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Totally agree especially regarding having adequate money for any health issues. But it would be nice of TI to give some consideration to any farangs who can prove they have spent 60-100k Bht on health insurance.

My parents always taught me to put money aside 'for a rainy day'. It is raining now for me! But I did heed my parents advice. 

I so totally agree.

As retirees having abided by the rules of immigration to the book for several years, the Thai government should provide some kind of reasonably priced medical insurance policies or health care schemes for over 50 year old expats. I believe the reason they are reluctant to provide this is because they believe many elderly westerners with maybe already having health issues will decide to settle in Thailand as medical refugees, to obtain cheaper health care than in their own countries. Again it`s all about money. So it`s really a catch 22 situation.

Another point to mention, I believe that if the Thai government did decide to provide health care schemes for resident expat retirees, that it should become a mandatory part of the retirement extension package. Good for the elderly expats knowing they have medical coverage and good for Thailand that elderly retirees won`t become a burden relying on charity for medical care. This I think is already implemented for expat retirees in Malaysia.  I would welcome this with open arms as falling seriously ill in Thailand is always a concern.

37 minutes ago, Rc2702 said:

I'm sure this chap runs a biz in Thailand and he's asking for handouts for professional wife. I like his style but what an absolute scrooge. I'd love to hear these audio files why don't you just upload them and someone may type it out anyway. I'd just like to hear them as I bet you anything my isan farm Mrs would understand 80% and be able to write it at the audios  pace and if she could not she certainly would never have the gall to admit defeat.

 

Op and Mrs have some balls tho

Certainly appears that way.

The OP seems to want those audios translated into text files wholesale. Suspect.

On 11/29/2018 at 10:29 AM, ubonr1971 said:

I just tested it with the audio and was impressed with teh start. After 3 lines it just stopped on me. I suspect the american accent is too slow. I tried slowing down the speed. but it didnt work

 

I think the only option is doing it manually. 

 

I would be incredibly grateful if someone can assist me

Not too grateful if unwilling to pay.

The fact is that unless someone is a relative or a close friend then I very much doubt if a complete stranger or strangers will offer to assist you for free.

Have you tried searching online a Google search to see if there are any text versions of the audios?

5 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I think you mean the Thai baht has increased in value relative the pound.  Thais can buy more in the UK now than 10 years ago. 

Yes, I stand corrected. I think this gives the OP a general idea of the costs involved.

13 hours ago, Clive said:

Basically I intend to live like a Thai as much as possible as I had to have a lot of time off work due to recent sickness so have been unable to save as much as I wanted but don't want to loose the holiday. My kids being half Thai are used to eating Thai food etc so this should cut the cost down a lot.
The only exception is a few excursions
At the end of the day we can live like a faring in faring land but the holiday is to experience Thai culture as much as possible 

I`ll point out the obvious that over the last 10 years the cost of living has increased everywhere worldwide, Thailand being no exception.

Regardless of the cost of living and inflation over the last 10 years the bahts to other currencies bank exchange rates have decreased dramatically, meaning the Thai baht has lost about a third of it`s value for tourists including add on another 30% for inflation over the last 10 years, which means you should calculate that this time around it`s going to cost you approx 60% more than your last trip to Thailand. 

55 minutes ago, balo said:

I don't believe this information at all. I have used that copyshop many times , to do copies. Never seen anyone certifying documents. 

 

 

Actually, on reading the OP again, I am having doubts about this story. I heard it from a fellow expat he said.

Sounds like a load of bull which I`m calling on this, heard it from a friend of a friend. Can anyone else substantiate this is true?

48 minutes ago, tropo said:

Did you ever consider that they may start making it hard for people trying to do it the cheap way... in essence enticing all to use agents. Wouldn't that be an interesting turnaround?

 

 

This has been happening in Chiang Mai for the last few years and has not improved. The system or lack of system at Chiang Mai immigration whereas obtaining a number slot for the queue has become like a lottery or every man for himself. Now it seems other regions have caught on to this cash cow and at this rate will soon spread to immigration offices nationwide.

So what next; have to see the old lady fruit seller at the local market for yearly visa extensions?

At the moment they are charging around 15000 to 20000 baht under counter fees. But once more or all immigration offices begin following the Chiang Mai example of making the process of going through official channels complicated and stressful that involves maybe hours or even days of doing a merry dance routine and corruption takes over, then as far as fees are concerned, the sky`s the limit. Next year it becomes 30000 baht, then 50000 baht and even 100000, who knows.

Therefore, this means that those who qualify under the immigration laws to stay in Thailand long term will end up being the minority, and for a price anyone can obtain a passport stamp. Imagine what a hub for criminals Thailand is going to become, fugitives running from justice from their own countries and foreign criminal gangs in Thailand. 

Now I have to wonder whether the discontinued embassy letters forced on them by pressure from Thai immigration has been deliberate policy to push those who can`t raise the funds for the money in a Thai bank option to use the under counter methods. Because it`s certainly looking that way. So it`s like 50% purging down on illegal stayers and 50% encouraging illegal stayers.

The amazing part is that this has become an open secret, people are not even trying to be discrete about this now.

I do hope those who are unable to qualify to remain in the country long term and are fuelling these corrupt practices by loan sharks and corrupt officials, do eventually get their asses kicked out of Thailand. Next year will be the crunch time if BJ is true to his word and has the support and power behind him to carry out his policies.

8 hours ago, JLCrab said:

And I can't help but think the talk at the IMM office at the end of the day as they are divvying up the spoils is what a bunch of chumps these farang are to pay 15-20,000 baht for what really only costs 1900 baht and a little leg work.

Chumps that don`t have enough funds to meet the immigration requirements.

Chumps using corrupt agencies run by corrupt officials and criminal gangs to be able to stay in the country illegally. The worst part is; those that are going via illegal channels to remain in Thailand are actually boasting about it. 

But if it were me using these agency/loan sharks to obtain my yearly extension, I wouldn`t be so smug about it, I would be afraid, I would be very afraid.

On 11/26/2018 at 7:04 AM, simon43 said:

Concerning my BIL and the kibbutz, he tells me that it wasn't a kibbutz, but a normal working farm.  He and his Thai co-workers worked for a reasonable salary (not beer money), but were 'shafted' by their Israeli employer when it was near the time to go home.  They worked hard, no drugs and no drinking (my BIL doesn't drink..)

First it was a kibbutz and then changed to a farm worker after I called you out of this.  RightyO I`ll believe you.

4 hours ago, Moonlover said:

What on earth has the internet account got to do with an extension at all?

 

If it ever reached this stage of craziness up here in sleepy Sakon Nowhere, it would be 'toys out of the cot' and off to Savannakhet for me.

Over the years it has become common knowledge that there are many marriages of convenience between foreigners and Thais for the purposes of property speculating, the running of businesses, criminal activities, human trafficking, drug cartels or to obtain visas for remaining in the country. There are Thai women that pay agencies to arrange marriages for them to westerners for the purposes of obtaining permanent visas to stay abroad. 

There are also cases where foreigners have separated from their Thai spouses, no longer living together or have never lived together, still using the address of the matrimonial home and pay their EXs to accompany them to immigration and continue using the Thai spouses addresses.

I have it on good word that soon immigration will be clamping down on westerners buying land, properties and running businesses in their Thai wives names without going via the correct procedures.

And these are some of the reasons why immigration are being so thorough now with yearly extension applicants. This has nothing to do with any particular officers attitudes, these stricter procedures are orders coming directly from the top. The days of when immigration would overlook many of the formalities and would stamp passports on face value if they considered an applicant appeared legit are over, the rules are going to be much more widely enforced from now on.

The only way is for yearly extension applicants to tell immigration what they want to hear and show them what they want to see, without the need for questions to be asked.

If not certain, it is advisable to use the services of a specialist Thai immigration lawyer or an agency to guide you through the process.