Presnock

15 hours ago, fredwiggy said:

It's impossible to understand what it feels like until you try. I'm really referring to weed and derivatives and not harder things, as they are dangerous in even small amounts. The ones selling the drugs are the rich ones, and they'll do anything to stay rich, which leads to violence. This is why weed should have been kept legal all along. As far as immigrants, you either work, are bringing money into the country you can support yourself with, or you don't come, as it isn't any country's responsibility to take care of anyone besides citizens or those who take care of themselves. I understand asylum seekers fleeing danger, but they can work also.

I agree with you except the drugs bit as I was raised and worked in an absolute "no drug" policy but did also see that eventually some restrictions were allowed due to the excessive numbers of people trying weed.  But like always, we each have our own opinion based on our life.  Best of all worlds for you too as I feel I am still in paradise.

26 minutes ago, fredwiggy said:

People who buy things to expand their minds and escape from a screwed up world, at least for awhile, aren't stupid. Some of this is necessary to keep your sanity in a world run by morons. Overdoing it or doing certain drugs is always a stupid thing. Yes, we must first help our own citizens before helping others who are escaping poverty or danger in their countries. Firing people to cut back on some things is letting people, Americans, go from earning a living. This is being done by  billionaires who care only about power and staying rich. A very dangerous , for them, thing to do, as taking a person's way of living away is a one way ticket to meeting God. Yes, there are jobs many Americans don't want to do, and immigrants will, but it isn't the immigrants to blame but the Americans who are hiring them illegally.

do not agree on your take for illegal drugs - if it was only a minor escape from reality but didn't affect one's life and others that might be okay though I still don'tg understand the "thrillS" as I have never indulged and will not during my life.  In many cases they aren't even working, just milking the cow free.   Some resort to crimes too.  I see that many countries in Europe facing the same problems.  Meanwhile we continue pumping monies into those S&%thole countries from which many are fleeing to Europe or the US.  But 60K CHinese males of military should not have been allowed to mingle into the US with the other crowds.  Scary situation.

On 3/4/2025 at 1:13 PM, riclag said:

I assume this is about our neighborhood , North America!

We are literally getting killed by drugs and illegal migrants.

No mention of that Right,Mr.Buffet.

but the problem as I personally is that drugs are bought by stupid (in my opinion) users and illegal immigrants continue to be wooed, coddled, housed, school'd once they get in and this by the democrat cities that often take tax monies away for citizens' programs including schools to provide for those immigrants.   I realize that the US has needed and continues to need legal immigrants for many jobs.  But unless those immigrants become productive citizens then they need to return to their original countries.

48 minutes ago, scoutman360 said:

 

Thanks for the replies everyone. I followed the advice above and got a reply within the hour:

Dear XXXX,

Wealthy Pensioner category only requires one year of income.

BOI wanted two years for mine when I did it last March.  also, last year they dropped the "visit the BOI office for questions" instead asking folks to call or send email.  But they always answered immediately either way!  

21 hours ago, oldcpu said:

 

If less than $80K US equivalent income/year (but more than $40k US equivalent), for an LTR-WP you need to prove at least $250k US$ equivalent investment in Thailand, and simply having the money in a Thai savings account is NOT IMHO adequate.  I believe just money sitting in the bank is not considered an investment.

 

You need something like $250k (or more) US$ equivalent in real estate purchase in Thailand (such as a condo purchase) or $250k US$ equivalent purchase of Thai government bonds, or possibly some specific Thai mutual funds or a mix there of. 

 

In my case I used the 50% of the purchase price of my foreign freehold condo (1/2 was in my condo deed/chanote, and hence ownership, is in Thai wife's name - so I could not claim 100%) and I made up the remainder (to reach the $250k US$ equiv) by purchasing 2-million THB in Thai government bonds.  I purchased a 7-year term bond.   When I go to reprove my finances in 5-years (which will be year 2028 for me), I will either go the proof of $80k US/income per year, or buy another 2-million THB Thai government bond.

 

If you are unsure if your 'investment' will qualify for the $250K US$ equivalent investment in Thailand, then simply phone BoI and ask them. They have many employees who speak English language.

 

 

Someone else may need to answer this. 

 

I went the self health insurance route (with $100k US$ equivalent in a Thai bank as my proof of health insurance finances). 

 

Possibly in 2028 I will go with a letter from my European Health Insurance company.  I think thou you simply need to have to prove another year left in your coverage - but again, you can check with BoI on this.

Health insurance must have at least a  50K USD hospitalization.  MY insurer brochure said for hospitalization " unlimited" but BOI couldn't accept that so a fellow insurer said to ask the company for an email response saying that the hospitalization was at least 50K USD and BOI accepted it immediately.

3 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

March 17th.

oop!  memory must be going!  thanks for the correction!

39 minutes ago, Felt 35 said:

 

 

Ok, then at least I should go clear of that requirement.

Felt

 

yeah my US govt sponsored health insurance sent  15-page coverage for 2024 and said for hospitalization was unlimited coverage but BOI said that wasn't sufficient and someone else with the same health insurance told me to send a note to the health insurer to get an email back stating that hospitalization coverage was more than 50K USD and BOI accepted it immediately and within a couple of weeks I was stamped in.  Now I go for my 1-year advising of my current address.  Really easy as anyone could take the completed Form 95 to the BOI office with my PP but I will go since it is so easy on the trains.  Heard that BOI will be moving from Chomchuri to 1 Bangkok on 25 March.

7 hours ago, Felt 35 said:

This thread seems to have several people with mostly good experience with LTR visas, so I allow myself to ask a few questions!

If as a retired person with under US 80K annual income but well over US40K but the rest of the finances back home, do I then have to invest / deposit the money in a Thai bank or is it enough to prove that the finances are available? Btw, the insurance US 50K requirement is that totally cover for a year?

 

Thanks

Felt

The health insurance or 100K $ must be able to cove 50K USD hospitalization.

23 hours ago, BKKKevin said:

This thread is for US citizens who have a Charles Schwab Brokerage account.

 

I am considering notifying Charles Schwab that I live in Thailand.

My reason is long term I don’t want to keep skirting the rules and use a family members address.

 

I would like to hear peoples experiences at the ramification of such a change?

If you made the change, how did you go about it?

 

I also have a Fidelity account that I slipped up about 10 years ago and told them I lived here….

The only thing that happened was I was restricted in what I could invest in… 

 

I was hoping it would be the same with Charles Schwab… But have read where they closed people’s accounts…

If any problems occur, consider the State Department Credit Union.  Do not have to be a US govt employee or state department  affiliated at all.  They gladly provide one an account even  though one has a home address telephone number from a foreign country.  They provide varied credit cards.  keep a regular eye on charges and advise you of anything suspicious.  I had my BOA account of 50 years terminated as I had not US address or phone.  They provided great service now for 5 years.  No problems with them at all.  You can contact them at "sdfcu.org".  Best of luck

On 3/2/2025 at 11:03 AM, CharlieH said:

C5 Nerve Root (C4-C5 Disc Level):

Can cause pain in the shoulder, lateral upper arm (deltoid region), and down to the elbow.

May also lead to weakness in the deltoid and biceps muscles.

Commonly affected by cervical disc herniation or foraminal stenosis.

C6 Nerve Root (C5-C6 Disc Level):

Pain can radiate from the neck to the shoulder, outer upper arm, down to the thumb and index finger.

Weakness may occur in the biceps and wrist extensor muscles.

Can be affected by degenerative disc disease, herniated discs, or cervical spondylosis.

 

Gentle Neck Stretches & Mobility Exercises (if pain allows)

Chin tucks: Tuck your chin in slightly while keeping your head level. Hold for 5 seconds, repeat 10 times.

Neck side bends: Slowly tilt your ear toward your shoulder, hold for 5 seconds, switch sides.

Shoulder blade retractions: Squeeze your shoulder blades together and hold for a few seconds.

 

Manual Therapy & Professional Help

Physiotherapy: A therapist can guide you with proper exercises and posture corrections.

Chiropractic Adjustments (if safe for you): May help realign the cervical spine.

Massage Therapy: Helps relieve muscle tightness around the nerve.

 

Check your pillow! How you sleep and correct nexk Support is always worth checking.

great reply! as usual with varied suggestions.  Pillow can be a big problem, especially if your sleep position doesn't match the pillow and mattress.  Best of luck.

15 minutes ago, Desmond77 said:

Thank you very much. 

 

Certainly no regrets for us. Enjoying the tax free, hassle free life of being a LTR holder. Just filed my taxes for last year with the TRD. They have given me a tax refund and informed me that I am no longer required to file any taxes till my LTR expires in 2035.

 

LTR may be a little challenging to apply, given the number of documents you need to upload but once you get it, you will love it.

basically it all comes down to how simple one's finances are in my case tax forms (2years and just the 1st page), one letter from my health insurer providing proof of at least 50K coverage and my passport pages.  DId all on my computer at home, within 3 weeks had the LTR.  I wasn't concerned with the taxes on income as mine is a US govt civil service pension but do like no 90-day reports, getting bank letters, etc plus yearly visit if necessary for address confirmation seems almost too easy based on all the years of retirement O.  Glad they came out with the 50% cheaper too.

1 hour ago, Desmond77 said:

Thank you so much, Presnock.

 

I have gotten the LTR visa stamped in on to our passports on the 27 Jan this year. All good now. 

Congrats on that.  I hope it is the best fit for you as it is for me!  I do my 1-year address report to BOI within the next 2 weeks.  Seems really easy based on their note of the visit.

On 2/25/2025 at 8:44 AM, OneManShow said:

It is not one way, it is 2 way. The government ask for tax then they must provide services for tax payers equally. In the US I'm a tax payer ant I receive government support in different ways, especially free medical care. 
 

but is that medical care free from the US here in Thailand or overseas.  I have hospitalization free too if I am in the US but I am not so I pay for myself and my family full coverage here in THailand from a US health insurance company.  If you want to avoid taxes here on remitted income then get a a visa like the LTR.  Even ifyou work here you can get that and pay less tax.  But this is all part of the OECD plan that 136 countries I guess figured this was the only fair way to get their share.  

1 hour ago, frank83628 said:

So where does bin laden fit into all that, because it was due to 911 that the US went into iqau and Afghanistan?

so where did they finally catch him?  Pakistan a supporter of some of the tribes in Afghanistan.  

1 hour ago, frank83628 said:

What are you babbling on about, zelensky said back then it was a normal phone call and trump didn't ask for anything.

 

You really need to change your news sources

Trump wanted dirt on Hunter in 2019....check it out

8 minutes ago, Harrisfan said:

Canada is a tinpot nation. Downmarket Americans.

Oh that can't be true as Trump wants to make it the 51st State.., Guess he wants to improve it?  Always been a friend but he has a way with that too.