Mike Teavee

24 minutes ago, Small Joke said:

I remember walking (stupid I know) from my digs, up near the golf club, to that little clutch of decent restaurants nearby IT park, and seeing the dust/fumes so thick they rendered opaque, the headlights of the oncoming traffic, and made me want another shower by the time I got to my table.

 

I remember dining at the delightful and seriously good bistro run by LA trained Chef Jane, next to the Mactan Yacht Club, and the unexpected deathly stench of Cebu City's answer to 'smokey mountain' wafting across the sizeable seagoing channel so frequently, it eclipsed the world class food being served.

 

I remember spending 15 days in Mexico City, (the one in America) that same year, often condemned as a pollution hell hole, with no such issues, granted, it wasn't the alps, but it was cleaner than Cebu!

 

I stand by my condemnation of the filthy city that almost killed me.

 

Stayed in IT Park for a couple of weeks, no problem there... Certainly no problems at one of the resorts on Mactan Islands or away from Cebu City, e.g... CarCar-to-Tarlac & around the horn to Maolboal....  Beautiful beaches, stunning seas & great air quality 

12 minutes ago, Destiny1990 said:

Hmmm you make it sound very dramatical and in Pattaya all was top notch for you or?

I can't speak to Pattaya (Have been several times & spent 1 month there once, never noticed any problems with air pollution) but 4-5 years ago I paid for a 30 day stay in a Condo (Trendy on Soi 13) & lasted a week before I felt like my chest was collapsing so jumped in a Taxi to Don Muang, spent the night in an airport hotel (Amari) & went back to Malaysia (Outskirts of KL) next morning.

NB I've since got a Condo in On Nut Bangkok & have no such problems in this part of town, which just goes to show that 1 area of a town may be bad, but another area perfectly clear. 

14 hours ago, Peterw42 said:

Some more information would be great, when does it start, does it include marrige extensions (it appears not in the OP).

 

I predict some very creative insurance policies, 400k coverage for 1,000 baht with a 399k deductible.

It depends how you read the OP... 

One way of reading it is that it only impacts people applying/renewing (By this I'm assuming they mean extending) their Non-OA Visa..... The other way is it impacts people applying for a Non-OA & anybody over 50 that is extending their long term "Visa" for 1 year which would obviously include people > 50 on Non-O Marriage Visas... Unfortunately the 2nd option is the only one that makes sense, fortunately TiT so when does common sense come into the equation... 

I apologise I've only got through the 1st 11 pages so far & these questions may already have been asked/answered but what are peoples views on whether:-

1. Non-O Visa (Retirement) would be included
2. Non-O Visa (Marriage, Over 50) would be included
3. Thailand Elite (Over 50) would be included... 

12 hours ago, ExpatPH said:

Philippines best beaches.

 

https://www.philippinebeaches.org/30-most-beautiful-beaches-in-the-philippines/

 

https://www.detourista.com/guide/philippines-best-beaches/

 

https://usa.inquirer.net/20262/our-top-picks-best-beaches-in-the-philippines

 

Thanks for the pics, I think anybody who doesn't agree that the Philippines has much better beaches/cleaner waters than Thailand or the neighboring countries simply hasn't visited the real Philippines (AC & Manila don't count).

I remember my 1st trip to Cebu 12 years ago, stood neck deep in the water & could see my toes and all of the fish swimming around...

Really am tempted to give up on the Thailand Dream (only 1/2 committed at the moment as I'm still working) & retire to somewhere in the Visayas or Palawan...

Queue comments about the food sucks (I love Japanese & Korean food so no worries there), personal safety (a risk where ever you live) etc... 

4 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Should have walked, domestic is only 1Km from the two international terminals.

I usually walk from the international, to the bus station (Pasey City), and walk past domestic.

I'd be happy to, but I was meeting my Ex-Filipina there (She was flying in from Davao) & going on to Coron.

Filipinas like to walk about as much as their Thai sisters ???? 

5 hours ago, onera1961 said:

Can I get indefinite stay visa? I have an US passport and I stay 3-month in Benidorm with a visa exempt entry. Would like to stay 4/5 months. I also stay 6 month in Thailand using an O-A visa.

Sent from my JKM-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

I believe the OP is referring to "Freedom to Remain" "Indefinite Leave to Remain" in the UK for which a US Citizen would have to marry a UK Citizen.

NB... Following is as it is now, post Brexit things may/will change... 

Nothing to do with Schengen Visas, his wife only needs one of those as she is not resident in an EU country, once she has UK residency she should be able to travel across Europe as though she were a Brit.

In fact, it would be easier for the OP to move his wife to a different country in the EU as there would be no financial/English tests and much faster to get residency.

On 5/10/2019 at 3:10 PM, cerox said:

Is Dumaguete still safe to go with what happened in this small city Marawi?

I like smaller cities like Chiang Mai in terms of size. Cebu might be too big and polluted. How is the Internet in Bohol? I need to be able to do some work online. The small islands unfortunately are too slow with Internet - maybe the new Borocay is nice - you mentioned there is good Internet.

 

Marawi is no where near Dumaguete & the troubles there were very localized (was in Davao City at the time & no problems there).

I prefer the Visayas (Davao/Tagum City, Moalboal/CarCar & Bohol) but did really like Coron and would love to spend more time there.

Used to love Cebu City 10 years ago, but last couple of times I've been the traffic was terrible and it felt like there was a lot of pollution because it - Still has the prettiest girls though ???? 

34 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I quite liked Manila airport, had a special lane for the over 60's so I didn't have to queue.

Toilets were clean, food court was cheap.

Cheer up, when you hit 70 you'll also be able to use fast track in Thailand ????

Not a fan of MNL since it took me 1 hour to transfer to the domestic terminal (yes traffic really is bad in Manila) for an onward flight, much prefer flying into Cebu, Borocay or Davao 

To the OP: Is a Thailand Visa still free in Manila and by "Sponsorship Letter" was this a letter that you wrote or an official Red Ribbon document certified by DFA?

3 hours ago, AlexRich said:

Looks like a Labour/SNP coalition. 

Truly Terrifying... 

I guess it's one way to curb immigration, turn the country into a 3rd world poverty stricken place then nobody will want to live there...

20 hours ago, Nanglon said:

I have:

"This is the list of how much money people actually have"

 

Collectively perhaps but it has nothing to do with an individual's "actual" possession, but rather the economic and social wealth of the nation split by the number of inhabitants; inequality has everything to do with it. Look at Thailand @ $1000 per capita.

No, it's a list of Country's Gross Domestic Product which isn't a measure of how much people have, it's how much "Wealth" the country produces divided by the number of citizens... 

Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced in a period of time, often annually.^[2][3] GDP (nominal) per capita does not, however, reflect differences in the cost of living and the inflation rates of the countries; therefore using a basis of GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) is arguably more useful when comparing differences in living standards between nations.^[4]

 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gross_domestic_product

Out of curiosity I did a Numbeo comparison Colombia & Thailand... 

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in Colombia are 39.34% lower than in Thailand
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Colombia are 40.84% lower than in Thailand
Rent Prices in Colombia are 45.57% lower than in Thailand
Restaurant Prices in Colombia are 10.91% lower than in Thailand
Groceries Prices in Colombia are 52.05% lower than in Thailand
Local Purchasing Power in Colombia is 15.76% lower than in Thailand

Then compared specific cities starting with the capitals...  

You would need around 34,868.78฿ (3,621,292.03Col$) in Bogota to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 65,000.00฿ in Bangkok (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). You can change the amount in this calculation.

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in Bogota are 42.78% lower than in Bangkok
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Bogota are 46.36% lower than in Bangkok
Rent Prices in Bogota are 54.70% lower than in Bangkok
Restaurant Prices in Bogota are 14.46% lower than in Bangkok
Groceries Prices in Bogota are 56.77% lower than in Bangkok
Local Purchasing Power in Bogota is 22.02% lower than in Bangkok

Index	Bangkok	Bogota
Quality of Life Index:	91.44	94.04

And then 2nd Cities... 

You would need around 41,745.92฿ (4,335,516.89Col$) in Medellin to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 65,000.00฿ in Chiang Mai (assuming you rent in both cities). This calculation uses our Cost of Living Plus Rent Index to compare cost of living. This assumes net earnings (after income tax). You can change the amount in this calculation.

Indices Difference
Consumer Prices in Medellin are 37.27% lower than in Chiang Mai
Consumer Prices Including Rent in Medellin are 35.78% lower than in Chiang Mai
Rent Prices in Medellin are 29.76% lower than in Chiang Mai
Restaurant Prices in Medellin are 6.94% higher than in Chiang Mai
Groceries Prices in Medellin are 50.09% lower than in Chiang Mai
Local Purchasing Power in Medellin is 7.12% lower than in Chiang Mai

Index	Chiang Mai	Medellin
Quality of Life Index:	124.19	122.85

There's not actually much difference between the 2 

On 5/5/2019 at 9:37 AM, faraday said:

Last episode of Line Of Duty tonight (tomorrow)

 

I looked at some clips on yt about Steven Graham in "England". I'd forgotten the ending of it...

 

He really is an outstanding actor, who is able to show grief, inner turmoil & rage so fluidly.

 

 

 

Here's the clip from yt...

 

 

I've enjoyed a few things he was in but think the latest series of Strike back is dreadful (previous series was bad but this one is truly awful so I've given up after 1.5 episodes).

Whoever mentioned Jane the Virgin deserves a medal, just finished the 1st series & after an episode or 2 really got into it - Brilliant 

7 hours ago, luckyluke said:

What's an average net result of 18600 ???? gross income? 

 

I ask because 40000 ThB has suppose to be net here in Thailand. 

Tricky question as there are various tax reliefs you can claim but assuming your only income was the 18,600 GBP & you had no additional reliefs then your take home would be 16,186 GBP (approx 670,000 THB) or 1,349 GBP (approx 56,100 THB) per month... 

From https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/tax-calculator/ "Over the year you'll pay £1,218 income tax and£1,196 in National Insurance." (NI will go towards your State Pension when you hit 67).

6 hours ago, Jip99 said:

 

 

It doesn't have to be 'net'.... it just has to be transferred from overseas every month - what you do with it after that (including transferring it out/back) is up yo you.

It is Net Income as you would be transferring it after paying any Tax/Deductions, obviously once in Thailand it's your's to do with as you see fit (including transferring it back to the UK to send again the next month when it would be the original Net Income - charges, you obviously don't pay Tax on it again - Yet!!!)

13 minutes ago, transam said:

So if there was another vote and leave won AGAIN, what would your comment here be...?

And if Remain won by a considerable margin (Let's say 65%:35%) what would your comment here be...?

17 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

So, in theory, if you use the income method and SS messes up for a couple of months you would be in breach also.  Do you have to sign any forms for the income method? 

No, for income it’s the previous 12 months that count, if you fail to xfer 65k+ any month after you’ve got your extension, you won’t get one on that basis next time.

Having said that, it wouldn't come as a surprise if somebody reported being told to come back in 3 months with their Bank Book to prove that they were still recieving the 65K per month ???? 

3 hours ago, Henryford said:

Is that in line with the new regulations. They only state MONTHLY transfers of 65k, nowhere does it say on the same day. I do monthly transfers but i wait until the exchange rate is at a high in the month so maybe not always on the same day. Am i wasting my time?

There have been Multiple (but not many) reports of people saying that their IO has suggested the 65K should be transferred on more or less the same date each month to demonstrate regular income so if I were you I would check with your local Immigration Office to get their views.

Last thing you want is to be following the published rules & finding that you've fallen foul of the local interpretation of these

10 more months until I finally retire but my plan is to live of Savings & House rental income until I'm 56 (I'll be almost 54 at that point) at which point I'll stop re-investing my Dividend Income & take cash to tide me over until my private pensions kick in at 60 BUT "Man Plans, and God laughs", I retired at 40 & the GFC hit (Dividend Income was blown away more or less totally) then retired at 48 & Brexit screwed up my UK Income streams (20% drop in FX rate), so just wondering what is going to mess me up next year ????  

My biggest quandary is when to start selling down my assets, I don't really have anybody to leave them to so the ideal would be to liquidate everything & spend it all before popping off this mortal coil...

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You do not have to wait for your visa to expire to apply for the extension of stay. You can do it during the last 30 days of any of the 90 day entries.  Perhaps you could do it now. When does your current entry end?

There seems to an error in this part of your post.

If you get a re-entry permit it would depend upon what the officer stamping you into the country would do. Normally they would use your visa since it allows a longer stay. You could tell them your wanted to use the re-entry permit.

Thanks Joe, unfortunately I'm still working & normally visit Thailand for 4-5 days (x2) each month so always have >80 days remaining on the entry stamp when I'm leaving, hence me trying to time the last entry so I can get a re-entry permit, come back a few times in the following 60 days then come back 30 days or so before it expires to do the extension.

I think safest is to get the re-entry permit on 28th June & make sure I don't come back until after the visa expires on the 15th July

Thanks again

MTV

My Non-O Multi is due to expire on 15th July & I plan on getting a Re-Entry Permit on 28th June (Enter Thailand on 27th June), but what would happen if I returned to Thailand before the Visa expires (Say on the 11th July)?

Would the IO stamp me in for the remainder of the Re-Entry Permit (To 25th Sept) or would they give me an additional 90 days per the Visa (To 9th October)?

I know most people would want the additional 90 days, but I'm trying to plan for my extension application & it's more convenient to me to do it at the end of August than in September/October (it's even more convenient if I get the re-entry permit on 5th June so I can do the extension early August but I have already booked a trip at the end of June so won't risk it if I'm likely to get an additional 90 days).

On 4/3/2019 at 10:43 PM, Johnthplumb said:

As I said, I placed £20,000 in my cash account, I then asked for a bank statement ( they insist it is a official statement ) not down loaded and printed at home or a copy. The money was returned back to the Isa in three days.

That bank statement, was the only one I took with me, to the embassy showing proof of funds, with my application for the "O-A" visa, and was accepted as proof of the equivalent funds of Baht 800,000.  

The only way you could put the money back in your ISA is if you haven't used the ISA allowance for that year, people who have already utilized their ISA allowance would need to wait for the following tax year to be able to put the money back

4 minutes ago, transam said:

The local elections showed how pissed off folk were with the Conservatives and Labour parties regarding the UK walking on March 29, nothing else.....

If it was a protest vote then people would simply not bother voting or put NOTA, but instead they chose to actively support the parties that support having a 2nd referendum.

If it was purely the fact that UK didn't leave on March 29, UKIP would have done better, instead they also lost seats.

On 5/4/2019 at 8:53 PM, Jingthing said:

Thanks for sharing.   Nobody travels or moves only for a cup of fruit security risks or not.

 

As the cup of fruit you refer to was in. Colombia perhaps you will find this item of interest. Or maybe not. It's all good.

 

 

7 Reasons Everyone Should Consider Retiring In Colombia

 

 

 

https://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/us_8098436

 

 

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Interesting article, especially the point about healthcare... 

By the way, the World Health Organization rates healthcare in Colombia as better than the U.S. or Canada and far more affordable. Colombia’s healthcare system, in fact, ranks as the best in all of the Americas. Four Colombian hospitals are listed in the top 10 in all of Latin America. That’s the most top 10 rankings of any other country in the region.

Colombia’s healthcare is so good, in fact, medical tourism increased by more than 60 percent between 2012 and 2013. Hospitals and clinics have modern medicine, trained doctors, and up-to-date technology and equipment.

On 5/4/2019 at 8:38 PM, grifbel said:

Very little incentive for any country to offer permanent residence to retirees, in their final non income-producing years.  In most cases, they are not paying income taxes and are using social infrastructure free of charge.  It is a net negative economically.  Why would any country offer this?  Better hit your economic text books! A long term visa is more than sufficient.

If you accept the argument that Retirees are a good market to try to attract as they bring in foreign currency & provide employment for locals then PR is just one of the carrots to dangle to attract them.

I think Panama has been very successful in doing this & maybe the surrounding countries are following their example.