The Fugitive

Agree. Even the websites that only give you strange characters to read give me gyp. However, if you keep clicking they seem to give you an easier one to read! Only yesterday I was made aware of shopping website; www.DHgate.com You might find it interesting?

Interesting, many thanks. I'm probably going to soon be in the same position. I'm in UK until further notice with my Retirement Extension likely to expire before I can return. Applying for a DTV whilst in UK would be a good solution. However, I have no diagnosed medical conditions, don't take regular medication and have no appointment history or planned forward appointments in Thailand. I'm assuming your circumstances are different?

That's the way it goes unfortunately. My mother's scan was cancer negative, gastro endoscopy (visual and biopsy) both cancer negative and blood tests normal. She died four weeks later of metastatic disease.

Prepare yourself for some serious trolling!

Many thanks for your report. I'm sure the decision was correct.

Sorry for the circumstances and credit to you for your humanity and ingenuity. Never would have thought to try an Indian travel agent when not travelling to/from India! The proprietor sounds top! I wonder, had you not purchased that London flight on British Airways, whether it would have appeared online on British Airways website and/or online third-party travel agents sites? Could be the airlines have special relationships with travel agents?

Not everyone would qualify under (medical). There are no treatment plans for natural degenerative changes although they can substantially restrict mobility. An OAP is hardly likely to sign up for a Muay Thai boxing course when they need a hand getting into and out of a vehicle. I'm looking for an agent to provide the necessary documents and, ideally, financial proof as they do for Non-O Retirement Visas and extensions thereafter.

You use the word 'properly'. With regard to DTV, you do actually have valid reason to apply. Incidentally, processing doesn't appear to be administered 'properly' by Thai Consulates. There have been reports of applications being 'cancelled' or 'rejected' with no reason stated. To prepare my paperwork, pay course fees and also risk $400 USD which might then involve more work asking my bank for a chargeback on my credit card isn't the way I wish to go. One agent charges $150 USD to verify applications and guarantee success or your money back. I would rather save what I would have to spend on course fees and pay an agent for the complete application process.

As am I. Celsius pointed out why the medical route wouldn't apply to some/many and his aversion to signing up for courses. I agree with him. Would love to hear of any reputable visa agents who can provide supporting documents and/or certify the financial requirement as necessary (similar to retirement Non-O visas and extensions?)

Same here and I agree. Consider myself fortunate not to have any medical conditions. Hence, no hospital appointments or regular medication. Studying doesn't interest me nor does paying for courses that I'm never going to attend.

When I first moved to Thailand my Thai wife enquired at our local police station that we understood police maintain their own records of foreigners in their area. Therefore, did I have to register with them and/or do anything else? The officer replied that they don't involve themselves with immigration matters and that everything is dealt with by our Immigration Office. Maybe that is Province specific because there have been reports of local police visiting farangs.

I'm presently in UK for longer than planned due to an unforeseen change in circumstances. This will mean my retirement extension will expire before I can get back. Another reason to consider a DTV in future!

I wish you all the best! You sound positive which is, perhaps, the most important thing. I worked for a doctor who was head of a clinical research company. He joked that he only had to think about food to put on weight. Unfortunately, although he wasn't unduly overweight, he died of a stroke aged 57.

Me too. I have seen it happen where a patient was terminally ill and asked to die. Palliative treatment (12 tablets reviewed and tweaked daily by a doctor) were discontinued and IV fluid drip disconnected. Death occured 10 hours later. Unfortunately, what went wrong was the hospital ward was short-staffed and no pain pump was installed. RN was attempting to pour soluble paracetamol down a patient who should have been receiving pain relief and also rendered unconscious by that point.

One of my worst fears is to suffer a stroke and be left paralysed yet fully aware. I don’t know if it could happen that you were also unable to breath or swallow and still remain fully aware? In that scenario, if you left written instructions (thinking similar to ‘Do Not Resuscitate’) that you wished for medication, food and fluids to be withheld so that you quickly passed away, would your doctor be able to comply?