Mover1

Thanks DFPhuket, you win a gold star

It's not rocket science to answer the question i asked. Blah blah cheers

Blah blah blah, cheers mate

I'm trying to find somewhere i can get a full body MRI scan with health check up and evaluation in Phuket. I've tried Bangkok Hospital in Phuket and they won't do it without a referral from a doctor for a specific illness, even though i'm paying cash and not going through insurance, which seems crazy. If there's nowhere in Phuket is there anywhere else that might do it, like Bangkok or Chiang Mai? I'm interested to see my visceral fat, fat in my liver and see if anything shows up. Please don't recommend a dexa scan or similar scan or anything else, it's only a full body MRI i'm looking for. I know there's other ways of measuring fat etc, but it's just a full body MRI i'm after. I'm also not looking for health or diet advice, just somewhere i can get a full body MRI scan. I hope thats clear enough before people tell me i don't need it, and go off on a rant blah blah blah, but up to you. This is the sort of thing i mean -

Thanks for the info and advice @scubascuba3and @DrJack54. I tested it out yesterday, clicking on 'Funds For Long Term Stay In Thailand' as the reason for transfer in Wise. Today its showing up in my Kasikorn statement as 'Trade Finance Deposit' with 'Ref Code GPS00002' in the Details Column. Still nothing about it being an international transfer. Looking back over my last 2 years statements, the transfers from Wise have a few different codes on there, even though i always selected 'General Monthly Living Expenses' every time. So i take it that means i have to go into the local branch, show them the Wise transfers somehow, and get them to put international transfer on the statements. Hopefully it will be relatively easy (555).

It's funny you mention that as i meant to ask. I got my statements from Kasikorn the other day, just in case i could use them. I've been using Wise for the last 6 years for all transfers to my thai account. The statements were printed out in Thai. At each international transfer from Wise it says 'ใอนเข้า/หักบัญชีอัตในมัติ' which translated says 'in the account/automatic debit' - no mention of it being an international transfer. Sounds like this has happened to you or others, does it cause a problem?

Thanks for all the replies on here, makes it more clearer on what i've got to do now. So my plans going forward are: - Fly out for a day and come back in on 30 day entry - Use an agent to sort out my first retirement visa - From now on send a minimum of 65k baht a month into my Thai account every month - Next year apply for new retirement visa using proof of 12 months payments of 65k rather than 800k in account Is this all ok or am i missing something?

Hi, Has anyone successfully got a 12 month retirement visa by going the monthly income route? I was told it's 65,000 baht a month but can this be figure averaged out over the year? I've paid in more than this amount per month if averaged out, but it was in 6 payments throughout the year, rather than every month exactly. Would i still qualify using this method?

For anyone interested in the same situation, i managed to get the 60 day covid extension with the PE elite visa. Despite being told i couldnt get it from the elite visa helpline, who just wanted me to renew the visa even though i'm 50 pretty soon. The farang helpers at the immigration office in Phuket Town also said i couldn't get it, but to be fair they said i was the first person they'd seen with the elite visa try to apply for a covid extension. I like those guys, they're always really helpful, they just wasn't sure this time. I'll try the covid extension again before 25th July. If that doesnt work i'll leave and come back on a 60 day TV and then apply for a Retirement Visa after i'm 50. Thanks for the helpful replies above.

Hi, thanks for replying. Just trying to understand you correctly - Do you mean skip the Covid extension completely and leave in June but come back on a 60 day tourist visa? I'm not fully understanding why you'd say to do that if i can get a 60 day extension with a Covid extension without leaving? Maybe i can do the 60 day Covid extension in June, then leave 60 days later in August and come back on a 60 day tourist visa plus 30 days extension if needed. That would work now that the restrictions are much easier for re-entering i guess. I'm sure i'd get the covid insurance somewhere. Thanks again for the reply

Now that the 60 Covid Ext has been extended to 25th July i'll be applying for it when my EV runs out in June, hopefully all will be ok. If i do that in June, can i do it again in July before the 25th for another 60 days? Effectively taking me up to 25th September (or thereabouts)...?

Thanks for the suggestions but i'm not looking for other courses inside Thailand. I already have plans to play some in Pattaya later this year and have some friends living up there to contact when i do, but i'm looking at a break outside Thailand around June time. I played at some Hua Hin courses last year, and Phang-Nga on the way back to Phuket, enjoyed playing at all of them. Sounds like no ones played Indonesia then, thats a shame as was looking for pointers. No worries.

I've been golfing 3-4 times a week in Phuket for the last 18 months and could do with a change of scenery. Seems like travelling restrictions might be getting easier for re-entering Thailand within the next few months at last, so i'd like to plan a trip away. I've never been to Indonesia or The Philippines for a golf trip, could anyone with experience in these places help me decide where's a good place to go and play a few rounds? Bit more interested in Indonesia if i'm honest, Jakarta looks pretty good. I've also never travelled abroad with golf clubs, but i've got a travel bag and am aware of extra charges for baggage. Is there anything else i should be aware of? Thanks in advance for any help.

Ok so it turns out i have exactly 100 days between my EV visa expiring and my 50th birthday. I could get a 60 day tourist visa + 30 day extension = 90 days. 15 days remaining when applying for the retirement visa. 90 - 15 = 75 days. Meaning a gap of exactly (100-75) 25 days to fill, but would do 30 for a bit of leeway in case of any hassle applying for retirement visa. Thanks for the info ubonjoe (and other guys who replied), you're a wealth of knowledge. Cheers.

Looking back, I initially entered Thailand with a 6 month multiple entry then switched to a 5 year PE visa. So i guess you can switch visas inside thailand, or maybe that only applies to EV's? I'm weighing up EV's offer to pay another 500k baht before March for a new 15 year visa, which would be hassle free. But it works out at 33,333 baht a year. or 4 months of messing around (Flights, temporary accomodation, visa applications, covid changes/uncertainty), but should result in a yearly retirement visa paying 1900 baht a year. 15 x 1900 = 22,500 baht for the same 15 year period - 477,500 baht cheaper in total - but i'd still be tying up 800k baht in a thai bank account. If we were in normal circumstances i'd be more than happy to go travelling for 3-4 months, but seems like way too much hassle going anywhere at the moment. Could be different come June i guess, but not looking good. Ahhh, decisions decisions.