onera1961

3 minutes ago, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

i don't feel comfortable transfering money into thailand, after some horror

stories i've heard, that happaned to people with "TOO MUT" money in their

thai bank.

a recent story that was published on this board was that of a dutch man

who was sentenced to 100 years (!!) in jail for "money laundry" by thai court, while

his crime was only tax issues in this home EU country.

his mistake was transfering hundreads of millions of baht to thai bank accounts,

the thai banks allowed the payments no problem, and years later he lost it all.

 

just like any senior immigration officer can issue or cancell visas as much as he likes, 

so the authorities here or in other countries can, for the right amounts, arrest

you or confiscate your bank money , with and without the help of this or that agent.

so better keep your thai bank account thin and slim.

Unless he is really laundering money, there is no way somebody can be accused of laundering money and put in jail. I simply don't beleive the storey. And if the person had hundreds of millions of dollars, why did he bring all his money to tthailand? Did he plan to buy 100 brothels (aka bars)?

10 hours ago, uzynkotak said:

If 1m baht for elite visa is about 6% of your net worth, your net worth is less than $600k. It's quite a lot but how do you manage to spend time in Spain and the US in addition to living in Thailand most of the year? I'm not saying it's impossible , just curious because normally a person needs more money to afford this kind of lifestyle.

 

What kind of medical insurance coverage do you have that includes overseas coverage? Is it an ACA (obamacare) plan with united health care? How much do you pay for it out of pocket?

I have a one bedroom apartment in Benidorm rented on AirBnb through an AirBnb management company. I also have a 2-bed 2-bath house in Las Vegas rented on AirBnb through a management company.  My expenses are 30-35K USD/annum. I have airbnb income and passive incomes from investment. I also have a 400/500 dollar/month passive income from a website. I live comfortably without any financial problem or worry.

I have a catastrophic insurance with an HSA (Health Savings Account). All ACA compliant insurances have  no limits after you hit out of pocket expenses. HSA has a master card where I have accumulated close to 15K in the last five years before  when I was working for microsoft (pre tax). The oversees coverage is only for emergency visits. Catastrophic insurance has high out pocket expense and for me it's $7600. That means for the first $7600, I must pay from out of pocket which I can pay using my HSA master card. The card can only be used for medical expenses. For example, if I want to buy a flight ticket using the card, it will be rejected. After 65, I should be able to use it for anything. The card was accepted in Bangkok Hospital (70K BHT for blood in urine) and in Amsterdam (3K Euro for chest pain after smoking weed). My two yearly doctor's visits in the USA cost $320 ($160x2) for primary doctors paid using the card. Once a year, a complete lab and physical is available for free as mandated in ACA. 

2 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

bad news for those with O-A base visas.

Get out of Thailand. Get a tourist visa (or visa exempt). Enter Thailand with a Tourist Visa (or visa exempt) and then convert to Non-O and extension eventually. Problem solved if they really want to create two classess based on Non-O and Non O-A

39 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Once you enter the extension system in Thailand, it never makes one bit of difference. Is he right about that? I don't know. The party line here is that he is wrong. All I know at this point is UNCERTAINTY.

If they create two classes fo extension (one based on O and another O-A), what prevents a person from changing to O class by leaving the country and entering on visa exempt and then changing to O class extensions subsequently? 

30 minutes ago, rabang said:

Yeah, the immigration doesn't but I bet the condo owners of the places I stay at, owners of the coffee shops and restaurants etc. that I frequent, usually at times when they aren't exactly busy with other customers, would probably accept my money.

Everybody will accept my money in any country but that does not give me the rights to live in abother country on tourist visas. 

Whatever immigration has implemented, I think they would soon find out it is not adequate and loophole exists to avoid it. Then they will start making more changes.

1. Assume it only applies to O-A and no extension at all.

People will start changing their visa type by leaving the country and entering on a visa exemept and then changing to Non-O/extrnsion inside Thailand. It is a no brainer. And if Thai immigration has indeed assume the law to be same as 1 above, then it will reinforce my beleif that Thais are least inteligent people on earth.

They should have high deductible health insurance like 250K BHT. Put the money in the bank and then buy a meaningful insurance with at least twovmillion coverage. Coverage does not begin untill you have used up your deductible.

In the USA. it is called catastrophic insurance. It comes with a tax deductible HSA account  with its own master card. You tax deductible money in HSA account within IRS limit. The ACA laws mandated no limit. Hopever, recently Trump has removed the no limit mandate but those insruance cant be sold in ACA exchange. 

It does not have any restirctions about US residency. But Outside USA one can only visit hospital for emergency only

6 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

The advantage is/was that one could easily return to Thailand and stay for many months remaining on the visa/extension without having to file SETV type paperwork again.  Some people have unusual work or life schedules so they just like to have things prepared for when they can travel/depart.  I know one fellow here in Los Angeles California who for years did exactly that.  He made money doing, well, let's just say his income was not on a firm schedule.  He kept his retirement visa/extensions active and would jet back to Thailand for many months.  No insurance hassles, no Thai embassy applications or paperwork.  Now with the more stringent 800k baht seasoning requirements, the looming medical insurance, etc.  long term stays using the retirement extensions are getting challenging.  However, must getting SETVs, even with a 30 day extension are getting challenging.  And using METVs seems to be getting challenging as posters have been reporting being denied entry even after getting the Visas. If the Thais get a sniff that you are living in Thailand and not "Touristing" some officials are taking a hard line approach.  So from that point of view, somebody that thinks they may stay for many months during a year, keeping a retirement extension alive even while not in Thailand has some merit.

To add to that, I can be in/out multiple times when I'm in Thailand for 6-months for short neighboring country visit without bein in fear of entry denial. Also, in the present climiate there is alwasy a risk of entry denial; on any TV or visa exempt. 

5 hours ago, Fore Man said:

This might be the real sticking point here.  I appreciate this response, kingofthemountain.  It seems I need to look into this aspect in more depth.  I normally obtained a multiple re-entry permit each time I extended my visa and in some years only used it once, making it a poor investment. But then I spent most of my time in Thailand.  My idea for the future may not work if a visa holder is compelled to return within 90-days after traveling abroad. 

If you're not sure how many times you would enter, it best to get a single re-entry permit at the airport before leaving. It superfast and only takes max 15-day. Hand over 1200 baht and your passport and they would give you a rentry permit. That's what I do during my 6-month stay in Thailand. 

9 hours ago, trainman34014 said:

Meanwhile; dangerous Criminals walk the corridors of power in Bangkok !

Dangerous criminal work the corridors of power in every country, inclduing the President of the most powerfull country in the World. However overstaying is an attitude problem like "don't care", "i spend money" etc. 

Do more of the same and hope the country can escape middle income trap.

1. Open more brothels and promote Thailand as a land of sex (LOS)

2. Allow farangs sexpats for mass entry to oggle poor young girls in brtohels (aka bars)

3. Pimp poor young girls to old sexpat farangs for marriage to lift them up from poverty. 

4. Allow farangs to open brothels (aka bars) and give them WP for pimping. 

5. Allow farangs to live in 6K hellholes and 20-baht unhygenic pork soups by giving them a sexpat visa good for forever.

The reason I was being pedantic is that the OP is totally confused. He thinks he has to obtain new non O-A. He thinks he has been extending it for last several years. He can obtain non O in usa and return to los then obtain 12 month "permission of stay based on retirement". Heck he could even return with setv or visa exempt and obtain " conversion" at imm. 
This has been pointed out several times. Now the thread has morphed into discussion about insurance and what it covers etc. 

Better read your insurance policy.  My large US insurance company, Anthem, only covers 6 months out of the country in a calendar year and only for life threatening treatment for my policy (good coverage in the US, not cheap).  Already had to use it once here in Thailand 3 yrs ago for hospitalization due to severe dehydration and it was a bitch to get them to settle.

I still don't understand what section 4 means. I'm lost in muta mota tindis ???? . Can somebody please find out what Order of Immigration 115 (2010) and 79 (2014) say or post it here? If they don't allow entry but give a 30-day visa exempt entry, it is still OK. One can immediately pay 25K to an agent to convert the entry to a yearly extension. 

I don't think reporting to media will have any impact. It is not like people fleeing war zones, violence, rape, and economic misery are denied entry enmasse. Even in that case, media report does not have any impact unless genocide is occuring. Moreoever, media personnel in UK and Europe are all very familiar with why people visit Thailand multiple times in a year. Million of tourists are coming to Thailand every year and most (99.9%) don't have any problem. It is only people who are trying to live in Thailand are having problems. 

People who are trying to live in Thailand should fly to Kuala Lumpur and try to enter through a land border (like Penang). Penang to Hat Yai by bus is a good no hassle option I would think. They will pick you up in your hotel in Penang and cross the border. If I were in OP's position, I would only use the land border. Yes it is expensive and little inconvinience but it is for now the only safe way to enter. 

Getting an ED visa just to live in Thailand is not a prudent move, in my opinion. Buying an Elite is OK if the money does not make dent in a person's savings. Use land borders as long as possible. 

Hello,
I've been reading this forum for a few days now and I really regret not following the thai visa development on social media/forums for the last months.
 
So just a few days ago I've been denied entry and I can get why: I've had a METV for more than 2 times, never had problems with it and thinking that it gets me through this time. Paid €175 for it, had to go to Frankfurt two times (alreday quite the hassle) and really didn't expect to get denied and send back to Germany. I was very confused, they let me wait for 2-3 hours without saying anything until I realized they actually want to send me back. I wanted to argue a bit, but the answer: you are not a tourist, what do you do here? - I explained I'm just a tourist, have savings and wanting to visit my girlfriend. The answer seemed predefined, already made the decision to kick me out but with the comment I should try again with a non-immigrant visa.
 
Very frustrating, costly and emotional breakdown experience. Well, I get that, IO's aciting arbitrary, rules have become more difficult.
 
Two more notes: my passport was filled with lots of stamps, my dress was just normal: good-looking shirt, jeans. I guess that was both a bad alarm for the IO.
 
Just wanna report another denied entry, and I have to say it scares me a lot. Now I'm a bit indecisive about what to do next. getting a non immigrant ed-visa? - What if they can even deny that again with my current history? What about getting a new passport? - Mine is already almost full and looks "used", so I guess I really increase my chances doing it, allthough that costs 4 weeks more where I can't get back to my girlfriend. Hard decisions.

19 hours ago, Stevemercer said:

And why are all of Thailand's ASEAN competitors growing at nearly twice Thailand's rate? Because Thailand has shot itself in the foot and the policies of the central bank over the last 5 years are to blame. And the problem won't be fixed unless/until the government or central bank actually admit there might be a problem!

The reason is that Thailand has a unique problem of middle income with aging population like China. This is the problem of the developed countries with low growth rates. But Thailand being a developing country, it will be hard for Thailand to escape middle income trap (per capita GDP more than 12,000 USD). One way to solve this is allow migration of young people from neighboring countries like Laos, India, and Myanmar. Instead, Thailand is opening up brothels (aka bars) all over the country and pimping their poor young daughters for marriage to 30-years old farang sexpats. No country in the World has escaped middle income trap by opening brothels and pimping their young daughters to farangs and also no country in the World has more sex workers married to older farangs who come as  sex tourist and to find a parner for marriage.

On 10/10/2019 at 8:17 PM, topt said:

So what is your definition of "full recession"?

Becuase he thinks so. May be he can get a job at World bank as a futurist.

Although I am a US citizen I agree with the poster who said make the Thais pay in the UK & EU instead of being freeloaders.
Anytime I've ever had a visit to Bumrungrad for any reason I've always had to pay up front. I have no experience with other hospitals so can't comment on their methods of being compensated.

And then there's pre-existing conditions which will never be covered. Personally the chances of me needing a long term hospital stay would pretty much be related to pre-existing. 50kbht + pa wasted on a health policy that I couldn't use. If 'risky' persons, of which I'm one, are to foot these so called unpaid bills how about letting me legally pay into the Thai health system as a requirement for my long stay and of course have the use of the service as a Thai.

8 hours ago, wasabi said:

I have decided to expedite purchasing a Thailand Elite Visa since our next move to Thailand is expected to last several years and that is presently our only long term visa option.

Just curious why Thailand? Why not Malayasia or Singapore? You seem to have enough money. Malayasia will be better for you. I think they have some kind of visa for under 50. 

3 hours ago, mngmn said:

My Thai partner was suddenly denied entry to Singapore on about the fourth trip. Put on a plane and sent back to Thailand. Hint. Singapore IOs think all Thais come to Singapore to work in Geylang.

Because of excellent reputation Thailand has gained by opening brothels (aka bars) all over the country. 

Can somebody explain what does section 4 mean in the above @Lovethailandelite's post? I'm lost in muta muta tandis (:))and two IB orders. 

No not ethical approval and yes it might turn out to be the best option. I just resent doing it really, because it is so easy to do yourself. The OA was going to be so easy. I take out insurance anyway but just not expensive Thai insurance. From memory I think you use OA visas so its going to affect you too.