Mover1

5 hours ago, DFPhuket said:

 

Here is a place in Bangkok that will do a full body MRI. The minimum cost would be 45,000 baht. 

Thanks DFPhuket, you win a gold star

6 hours ago, KhunLA said:

Try an ultrasound, though, depending on your wt/ht, do you really need to know how much.  Just assume you have a fatty liver, and adjust your diet.

 

It's not rocket science

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

17 minutes ago, gargamon said:

Too much time on your hands? 

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). 

3 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

the 65k has to be shown as International transfer otherwise application will fail, if you use Wise be careful

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. 

On 5/27/2022 at 3:51 AM, Onerak said:

You only need 3 months before you can apply for retirement at 50. If I were you, I would try in the following order. 1. Try to get a covid insurance for 60-day. Can decide for another 30-day once the time comes. 2. Get a TV for 60-day and extend it for another 30-day to reach age 50. Once you reach 50 and you don't have 15-days time to apply for a Non-O conversion, just make a land crossing and come back with 30-day exempt. Then you can apply for a retirement at 50. 

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

On 2/2/2022 at 7:37 AM, ubonjoe said:

The Thai Elite PE visa is in a category of its own but it is close to being a tourist visa and not a non immigrant visa.

Whether or not you can apply for a covid 19 extension will depend upon the immigration office where you apply.

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.

37 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You could do it either way. You would need at least 15 days remaining o your 30 day visa exempt entry or the 30 day extension or with a 60 day tourist visa entry or the 30 day extension of it.

You could apply for a non-o visa at immigration on your 50th birthday.

Requirments for the non-o visa application is here. https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/8-1.pdf

 

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.

22 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You are wrong.

It is your 50th birthday not the year you turn 50.

Just so i've got this clear:

 - I'd have to leave when my current visa expires in June

 - I can come back in with the visa exempt entry maybe 2-3 weeks before my 50th birthday in September and apply for a retirement visa once i turn 50

or

Can i leave in June, apply for a tourist visa as soon as i get back to the UK, then come back in on a tourist visa and apply for a retirement visa when i'm 50 in September - or would i have to leave the country again and come back as a visa exempt entry to apply for the retirement visa?

Its sounding like i can't switch visas once i'm inside Thailand regardless whether i qualify or not, which i didn't realise was the rules. 

4 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Your choices to change to any other visa with a entry from a Elite visa or extension is about zero. People have been able to get a 60 day covid 19 extension but it probably will not be available in June.

About your only choice will be to leave and re-enter the country with a visa exempt entry.

Wow. Thanks for the reply ubonjoe, looks like i've got some arrangements to make then.

Can i ask what the 'visa exempt entry' means? Is that coming in on a tourist visa or something? Sorry i don't understand

I emailed the Member Service at Elite and they said i'd have to leave Thailand in June and apply for a retirement visa in September when i'm outside the country, which sounds ludicrous but doesn't surprise me too much. Surely i can be staying inside Thailand to apply for a different visa? 

This seems like so much hassle, just for a three month gap between visas. Even just leaving and getting back in sounds like such a nightmare due to all the <deleted> going on. 

There must be another way...? For info - I'm 49, from the UK, not working, can show 5 years of over 800k baht a year via Kasikorn bank statements, and intend to stay in Thailand a lot longer. 

Maybe i can go the NON-IMMIGRANT VISA-ED route in June, and then apply for a retirement visa after i'm 50 in September? 

6 hours ago, ed79 said:

See 2nd paragraph...

Thanks ed79, i've just realised i had the same thing sent to me in an email from Elite Visa yesterday, but i totally missed that part. So that clears that option up for me, haha.

Now i've got to find a 3 month visa solution for June to September this year. Could anyone point me in the right direction? It's been 5 years since i've had to check so i'm a bit rusty about where to start looking for the correct info.

Hi,

My 5 year PE Elite Visa run out in December 2021, but i managed to get the free 6 month PE extension due to Covid. So now i'm valid up to June 2022.

Before any of this Covid hit i was aware that if i left Thailand and re-entered just before my visa expired last December i'd automatically get another 12 month stamp taking me up to Dec 2022, all being i'd have to stay in Thailand for the following 12 month period without leaving which was fine. But with all the uncertainty and hassle i decided not to go this route in case it didn't work out for some reason.

So now i'm in the 6 month PE extension period, but does anyone know if i'd get another 12 month (Or even 6 month) stamp if i left thailand and came back in before it expires in June? 

I'm turning 50 in September so my plan was originally to get a retirement visa before the PE visa (inc the extra 12 month stamp) expired in Dec 2022, but now i might have a gap between June to September this year where i need to find temporary solution up until i can get a retirement visa sorted out. 

Any visa experts in here have any pointers at all? 

Cheers,

Mover1

4 minutes ago, dodgybros said:

Could be worth giving this guy a call.  https://www.golfhubpattaya.com/

 

Alternatively spend the money on lessons, not clubs..........greater improvement.

Thanks for the link.

Already had lessons and having more, now i want to upgrade the clubs and treat myself but thanks for advice.

1 hour ago, scubascuba3 said:

I would buy off the shelf regular shafts, Callaway, Taylor made, Ping or Mizunos. I bought my Mizunos in UK. Often there are clubs for sale on Facebook Marketplace, sometimes good second hand sets come up. As you know golf equipment is overly expensive here, I can't recommend anywhere in Pattaya. I'd probably recommend either buying second hand or buying when you go back to farangland for a holiday

Yeah i've already said i bought my current 2nd hand set from facebook, but now i want a new set. Also most 2nd hand clubs i see come up are at least 5-15 years old, which i've already got.

I'm not visiting the UK again for another 2 or 3 years, which is why i'll be buying in Thailand but i hear what you're saying about being cheaper there. It's not an option for me right now. 

1 hour ago, topt said:

Not that I am aware of mainly because most golf shops/pro shops would not have the right equipment to measure all the variables. Some places will have a bay where you can try hitting different clubs and that is useful to see how you feel about the club over the ball.

I agree with @scubascuba3observations. Read some articles about game improver irons for example to make sure you are not looking at buying something that may not be suitable - EG. an extreme example but you don't want blades.......

Here's why i said fitting is free if buying clubs - https://www.andycombe.com/our-facility/titleist-club-fit.html this is the guy i know of in Phuket.

I understand blades are for experts, so don't worry i won't be buying them haha. I'll take your advice and have a read up on improver irons before buying, thanks.

5 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I wouldn't waste your money on fitting unless very short or tall. Check swing speed maybe but generally best to buy regular shafts, although egos make people buy stiff shafts then it's just hard work. 

 

I had my Mizunos lie adjusted by 1%, no difference in performance to my next set of Mizunos with no adjustment , of course you'll get the hard sell

Yeah i've heard other people say the same about fitted clubs, but when buying new it's usually thrown in for free as far as i'm aware? I'm a pretty average size, 5'11" and 90kg so maybe i could just buy what i want off the shelf.

Did you buy your Mizuno's in Thailand?

I'm looking to get a new set of fitted clubs within a few months and wondered what sort of price i should be looking at? I've only been playing for 18 months in Phuket but i've got the bug. I've been using a set of old Calloways i bought off a facebook group for 1500 baht and now i'm looking to upgrade to a new set. 

I live in Phuket and only know of one place here that does fitting, which is a guy at Blue Canyon golf course. I'm currently waiting on him to get back to me with a rough price for a new set of Titleist clubs.

I don't mind traveling to Bangkok or Pattaya if there's a better deal to be had, can anyone recommend anywhere?