AussieBob18

dont. they break easy. cheaper to buy bread made in shop - better too.

unless you import specialist breadmaker machine and pay heaps for best ingrediants.

up to you.

3 minutes ago, metempsychotic said:

Reading over this thread, it really is a good indicator of how many "expats" in Thailand actually live in ignorance and fear. 

Even after the op updated the thread informing us that he did get the majority of his possessions back with the unpaid aid of the police (gasp), the advice to roll over, give up, walk away, be careful etc still flows in. 

No wonder there is so much bitterness on these forums, you have all given up. 

One crazy Thai woman does not have power over you, your visa, or your freedom. 

They do not have pull with the police or immigration. 

Be preemptive, file a report, document communications and grow a set. 

Why would you be willing to simply walk away from what is yours? 

The mind reels. 

 

Looks like I am late.  As metempsychotic said - be preemptive and be prepared when living with a Thai, and never give up so easy.

Get her to put it in writing (email/line) what she wants for your property.  Get in writing exactly what she will return to you for what amount of money - get a list of every itewm.  Agree to pay that amount of money and agree what day/time you will be there to pick it up.  Then when you have it in writing get a Thai lawyer and both go to the Police and show them what she has written. This proves she is blackmailing you to return your own property that she has stated in writing is your property.  You and your lawyer convince the police to attend with you on the agreed day/time and take back your property.  Your lawyer (not you) negotiates what if any 'fee' is required to cover the police costs involved while you take back your property.  That is a plan - maybe work - maybe not.

49 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

All standard non immigrant visas only allow a 90 day entry.

Only those with a additional letter after after the O, ED and etc allow a longer entry. For example a non-oa visa allows a one year entry and a non-ox allows a stay of 5 years. A non-la visa for migrant workers allows a 2 year stay.

Have a look here under non immigrant visas. http://www.mfa.go.th/main/en/services/4908/15398-Issuance-of-Visa.html

"5. PERIOD OF STAY 

 The holders of this type of visa are initially granted a period of stay in the Kingdom not exceeding 90 days unless otherwise instructed by the Office of Immigration Bureau."

 

Thanks ubonjoe - fantastic !!   Many thanks - and I must say you do a great job keeping us uninformed and confused well informed ????  

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

A multiple entry non-o visa only allows 90 day entries. You have to leave the country every 90 days to get a new entry.

The 90 day reporting is only required if you can stay in the country for more than 90 consecutive days. 

You can apply for a 60 day extension of each 90 day entry to visit your wife. Then you have to leave the country for a new 90 day entry.

If you do not want to leave the country every 90 days you can apply for a one year extension of stay based upon marriage at immigration. You will need 400k baht in a Thai bank account in your name only for 2 months or proof of at least 40k income.

After getting the one year extension stamp you have to apply for single or multiple re-entry permit to keep the extension valid if you want to travel.

Thanks Ubonjoe - what they said and is on their website is confusing (how unusual).

Perhaps you can clear up the confusion for me.

I cannot see anywhere on their website that there is any difference in permitted length of stay in a Non-Immigrant Visa types O, ED, or B.  It is clear that the Non-Immigrant Visa Types O-A (Retirement) allows for up to 12 months stay.  But there is nothing stating that all the other Non-Immigrant Visas are also for anything other than for an up to 12 months stay.  This is on the website :

Non-Immigrant Visa:

      - Single entry / validity of 3 months            110 AUD

      - Multiple entries / validity of 12 months     275 AUD

Can you advise how long each different Non-Immigrant Visa allows? Is there a website link or something?

I thought those with a Visa for business/work or for teaching can stay for up to 12 months at a time?

On 6/20/2019 at 2:31 PM, ubonjoe said:

At this time the only visa mentioned for needing health insurance is the OA long stay visa and that has not become finalized yet. It appears that it will be the same insurance needed for the non-ox visa.

No mention of it bening needed for any other visa or extension of stay applied for at immigration.

I have contacted the Thai Embassy in Australia and have obtained 'informal confirmation' that the Health Insurance proposal is only for the Non-Immigrant OA (Retirement) Visa, and it has not been proposed (yet) that it will apply to any of the other Non-Immigrant Visas. There is no proposal to include the 12 months health insurance requirement for any of the Non-Immigrant O Visas (Spouse/Family Visit, Business, Education, Employment,  Volunteer/NGO, Working Holiday, Thai national visiting Thailand). 

Therefore, I am now looking into the Non-Immigrant O (Spouse/Family Visit) Visa so that I can visit Thailand for up to 12 months at a time (still with 90 days reporting) - and it has the option of multiple visits in that 12 months - it sounds perfect for what I want.   

The requirements to get a Spouse/Family Visit Visa in Australia are far less onerous than to get a Retirement Visa. There are no medical tests, no police records, no personal data form, no 800K Baht PA or 65K Baht per month - only need 20K or 40K Baht in a bank/investment account.  The downsides are that it looks like it is not automatically extended for 12 months if you leave and re-enter before the 12 months expires - but I will check that out further - anyone know either way?

This is backed up by the Embassy's new website information structure and content - it was not like this before:

22 minutes ago, Tarteso said:

...in “the long and winding... stair”

Been up those stairs - hard work - but well worth it

15 pages and I didn't see a troll comment - that says a lot, and is more than I can put in words.

Best wishes Colin - when I grow up I want to be like you (I am 60+).

43 minutes ago, ba ba said:

brer could you tell me the the all up cost and was the papers signed by a JP THANKS 

 

When I did mine a few years ago (before moving back to 'qualify' for the pension) I rang the Embassy and was told they did need to be 'notarised' - so I got all the documents signed by an official JP at the council office (one with the stamp) - no problems.  I organised my mate's first one (the one in the OP) and we did the same (official JP) - no problem. 

There seems to be a few Aussies thinking about this option (and others) so I thought I would share my research.  These are just my opinions and are only relevent to my situation - and is obviously subject to whatever is eventually implemented.  The Thai wife and I plan to be travelling back and forth between Thailand and Australia when I am 66 (get the pension) - living for 6-9 months a time in Thailand each year. 

If this compulsory health insurance goes ahead, then it will be mandatory to have Thai based from a Thai company health insurance to be able to get a ‘retirement’ or ‘marriage’ Visa (anything over 90 days). Right now it is mandatory for anyone who gets a 10 year Visa - https://longstay.tgia.org/

 I have checked out what looks like the most reasonable of the insurance companies listed.   https://www.viriyah.co.th/en/longstay-form.php#.XQr-eDAzYkI

I have costed for the health insurance to start when I am 66, and that I will live on and off in Thailand for 15 years as planned (until 80 at least).  The total premiums (at today’s rates) over that period for me, add up to 1,362,000 Baht ($61,909 at current exchange rates - $4127 per year).  And that is for a health insurance coverage that is totally inadequate should I be admitted to a Private Hospital for anything serious, or have any need for any ongoing medical costs.

Compare that with Travel Insurance (which includes a once only unlimited$ medical emergency in a Hospital and repatriation back home if needed) and which costs about $600 for each single trip.  In Australia all Public Hospital medical coverage is free, and everything else is heavily subsidised, and most medications and blood/MRI etc. tests are free or cost bugger all, for anyone on the Pension (and his/her Partner).

Unless this proposal and/or the costs are changed, it looks like in the future we will be travelling to Thailand for 3 months at a time.  I know the Government is trying to drive the 'bad guys' out, but do they realise they will also be driving out the good ones? And stopping many good ones from living there?? 

My Thai wife has no problem with not living long in Thailand once I showed her the costs - she would rather have that money spent on her/us.

Thanks all - looks like he (and I) will need to keep an eye on the health insurance requirements.  I wonder what the 'UN rules' are about mandating only Thai based medical insurance coverage for Non-Immigrant Visas for Citizens of other countries who have no residential rights in Thailand.  I can understand that for new Immigrants a country can mandate to have in-country health insurance, but for Non-Immigrants or Tourists I think that would be in breach of some UN rule or two.  Fat chance of telling the Thais that though. 

Has anyone got any idea of what happens when the person is over 70 or 75? I understand normal Thai based medical insurance is not available for anyone over 70 or 75.

Thanks for the advice elviajero - I amd glad to hear that and I will pass that on.

Regarding the health insurance, because he travels back and forth every year and still 'resides' in Australia, he gets a new Travel Insurance Policy each time he visits Thailand and he will continue to do the same going forward.  You can get Travel Insurance for up to 12 months at a time, which includes more than enough Medical Insurance, as long as you reside in Australia and have both a departure and return ticket etc.  

At the moment the wife and I only visit for a month each time and we do the same, but in the future (after getting the age pension) we will be doing the same every 12 months or so too.  I am assuming that Travel Insurance issued in by a recognised company Australia would comply with the Thailand requirements, but if you think not please let me know.

After my old dental bridge breaking and two extra teeth needing to be extracted back here in Australia, I have been quoted a very large amount of money for a replacement bridge using implants.  The previous bridge anchor teeth were both rotted and had to be removed, so implants are needed if I want to have another bridge.  Currently I am using a quick/cheap denture that is just awful and I cannot see myself ever adapting to a denture after so long with a bridge. 

I am keen to visit a Dental Clinic in Bangkok the next time we visit Thailand and get a quote for a bridge with implants, and I am after any recommendations for Dental Clinics that do implants from anyone that has had experiences with - the good ones and also the bad ones.

When we lived in Chiang Mai a few years ago I had several teeth crowned and the clinic was brilliant - and the prices were very good.  The bridge replacement procedure will require several visits over about a week, and then another series of visits after the implant 'screws' have 'settled' (some months later). I would rather take the opportunity for us to stay with my Wife's Sister in Bangkok, than have to travel to CM and stay in a hotel while the work is undertaken.

Can anyone recommend a quality dental clinic in Bangkok?  I am happy to pay a decent price for quality work (not after cheap Charlies), because even the more expensive ones in Thailand will be way cheaper than here in Australia. 

PS - If you have a dental bridge and it has been in place for over 20 years, then get it thoroughly checked out by an experienced Prosthodontist.  The dentist I first saw when the bridge became a little loose said it is not unusual for Hospitals to find broken dental bridges stuck in the throat of older people if it breaks loose during their sleep. She told me to quickly see a specialist, and the Prosthodontist said he was amazed mine had not broken loose - both my mounting teeth were dead and rotted away down to the bone - removing the roots required minor surgery. 

Because of the complications of keeping a minimum certain amount of funds in Thai banks, a mate of mine is considering getting a new Retirement Visa next time he is back in Australia.  He has gone to the local Immigration Office (Khon Kaen) and has received all the information about the complications with the money in bank (etc etc) when he will be up for Extension later this year.  He has decided that he does not want to go through that process (likewise for Extension for Marriage), and given that he goes back to Australia for 2 months over Xmas and New Year, he wants to just get a new Retirement Visa and use that for the following 12 months, and then another 12 months permission to stay under the automatic extension, and then do it again (every 2 years).

Has anyone got any experience or advice with regards to ongoing renewal of a Retirement Visa every 2 years when he is back in Australia?

I am assuming that the automatic 12 months extension of permission to stay, via a trip out and back into the country, is still valid - please let me know if this is no longer the case.

BPay is the best method to use - but you must setup a VPN on your PC before you access the Bank or Super account.  The internet in Thailand can be extremely unsafe for banking transactions, especially if you are using a WiFi service provided by owner/hotel etc.  Even if you have your own internet connection direct from supplier (ToT, 3BB, etc), I still recommend using a VPN.  There are several posts on TV about what is the best one to use.

As Peter recommended above, I would use a family/friend mobile number, but the problem you are going to have is that right now the bank already has your own mobile number and will not use another number unless you change it - and that means verifying via your own mobile number (catch22).  Can you set your Aussie mobile to roaming as mentioned above?   Maybe best if you call (via Skype etc) your mobile provider in Aust. 

IMO the best method is to implement some changes to diet - but extreme exercise is over rated - the issue is metabolism.  Thais have a naturally high metabolism, but when they either eat too much or get older, it slows down.  Best way to lose weight permanently for an 'older' Thai woman (over 40) is to eat less carbs (including much less rice and nil bread or buscuits etc.) and drink a lot more water - a lot more.  If consuming any alcohol, then stop that completely - and get a lot of sleep (long sleeping reduces weight).  After doing that for a month her diet will 'adjust' and she will be used to not eating as much rice, and staying away from all other 'grass' based stuff like wheat, corn, etc etc.  The largest mammals on earth eat 'grass' - humans can do it, but when they do it a lot their bodies tend to store the grass based carbs for 'later'.  After a month she will have lost a little bit of weight, but the body will start to 'find' the ideal weight as the loss of 'excess' carbs and fats becomes normal.  It will seem to stabilise at a weight, and then all of a sudden she will be 1kg lighter, and then it will stay there.  Putting on weight is easy, losing weight (properly) takes a long time as the body has to be re-adjusted to what is the ideal weight given the diet and daily use of the body.  She should use a set of scales and weigh herself every morning and before going to bed every night.  Once the weight stabilises, then it becomes a matter of the occasional 'treat' (ice creams, alcohol or whatever) and what impact that has on her weight. Some things she can eat heaps and her weight wont change - other things will cause an immediate weight increase. And remember, sometimes for no apparent reason the body will either drop weight or increase weight - no one really knows why.  But having said all that, if she is over 60 then it is a good idea to have a few kilos of extra weight - available for when she gets a serious sickness or accident.  Same for blokes too.

If she is younger the issue of exercise comes into it as she needs to maintain her metabolism (if not already lost). So in addition to the diet change and a lot more water, a younger Thai woman needs to also do a lot of frequent minor 'eexercise' - that does not mean jogging, running, gyms, but it does mean being 'active' for most of the day - no sitting on TV too much - do gardening, cleaning, fixing things, etc. - and night time exercise helps too ? 

If it is a male Thai (or any male), then the issue of exercise does come into it a lot more than diet. Males still need to cut down the grass based foods and drink a lot of water, but 'heavy' exercise for 10-20 mins twice a day over 2-3 weeks has a big impact on weight, and then males can eat more.  If a young woman starts a regime of heavy exercise over a period of time, then any food that is consumed will be mainly put into 'long term' storage - there is a whole industry out there telling them different, but it is a lie for the vast majority of women once they pass early 20s.  Older blokes should also walk every day or other mild exercise as that has a stabilising or lowering affect on their metabolism.