Mike Teavee

He was responding to the comment… “ i don't understand why anyone with half a brain needs to use an agent.“ I use an agent for convenience & I drop my passport/bank book at the agents then go back 1-2 days later to pick it up complete with 1 year extension & multi re-entry permit… Cost me 12k all in so approx 35b per day which is well worth it (To Me) Understand that some guys prefer to do it themselves but let’s be honest, if the agent charged 200b for the service then a lot of them would use an agent for the convenience so it’s not about “Brains” it’s about the cost…

I think you mean Class 3 (not Class 1). I back payed 7 years at Class 2 & continued to pay monthly at Class 2 (up until last month, I should have the 40 years I need once they sort out 1 missing week which was their mistake) because I was working overseas, if you’re not working then you will be charged Class 3.

I was working in Singapore when I retired & could easily afford to live there so I guess (Visa Issues Aside) I could afford to live most anywhere Also had a Filipina GF of 8 years & we’d built a house in Davao. But at the end of the day when it came to retiring (technically 18 months before as I was already renting a condo in Bangkok) I picked Thailand because I love the place (warts & all). If I win the lottery (had a go on the UK one yday whilst visiting my parents, didn’t get a single number) I’d still choose Thailand

Lol, the correct answer is “Down there they do” (Harry Enfield, The Scousers) - funny enough I’m visiting my parents about 25 miles away from there at the mo ???? apologies I’ve taken this very interesting thread well OT so will shut up now… Back to topic I think the biggest threat to Expats here is Cost of Living (Loving?) increases (especially to Brits on a frozen pension) but there has been a report of agents no longer providing the proof of 800K in the bank for Jomtien IO which will be a more immediate concern for some.

They do though don’t they though…

Next …

I can only tell you what I saw in the shop window, as I’m here on a “retirement visa” (& Hetro) I had no interest in going in to find out the details. NEXT?

Wow, that’s interesting to learn as obviously the Agent helping with finances has been the way people have been living here for decades so it would be a massive shock if they really did clamp down on it. My mate did his Non-IMM O conversion with them last May & when he went in for them to do his latest 90 day report was told he could do his Extension 90 days early so he did it last Tuesday (23rd May). Again he doesn’t meet the 800K in the bank criteria

Yes Agent doesn’t seem interested in doing it on a xfer >65K per month basis so it’s either you have the money in the bank (8,000b) or you don’t (12,500b).

Non-UK resident Brits visiting the UK are charged 1.5X (150%) of the normal cost charged to a Non-UK Citizen… https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/visiting-or-moving-to-england/how-to-access-nhs-services-in-england-if-you-are-visiting-from-abroad/#:~:text=If you're not ordinarily,of the national NHS rate.

My mate got his annual Non-IMM O extension (finances facilitated by the Agent) at Jomtien last week. I was surprised not that he got it, but by the fact they were able to do it 90 days before it was due (normally 45 at Jomtien). Cost was 12,500b same as last year.

As an aside, There is a Visa Agent in Pattaya (Soi Post Office / Soi 13/2) that has a sign in their window saying something like “Visa for Man with Man” (it’s been a while so don’t quote me on that). Agency is a few doors down from Maneerat as you’re walking to the beach. Back to OP: I don’t think the Government per se will pose a danger to us retired Expats, but the general cost of living increases (which have been quite severe for the past couple of years) will… Especially for Brits living on frozen state pensions Obviously government policy can/will influence the rate of increase but any government that causes it to rise too high too fast won’t last very long here.

Also got the email this morning, I really like Netflix as it allows us to have Thai subtitles when I’m watching an English language program (though sometimes I could do with English language subtitles as actors seem to mutter nowadays) & English subs when she’s watching a Thai programme. Currently on the 419b pm 4 concurrent connections package, 2 are used by us in the same house, & 2 in Bangkok by my mate / her mate (different locations), if Netflix want to charge me an extra 2x99b for these 2 I’ll probably just pay it (at least for her mate, my mate is talking about getting his own subscription anyway). Well worth the subscription cost to me for the subtitles alone. PS Also a fan of the Korean series, for good British series I use my Android box, but very rarely (can’t think of once) can I get Thai subtitles

Good, news as there will be more confidence in UK economy so pound should stay the same or rise

The article says they’re trying to raise the final £4,000 but they’ve already raised £16,705 which minus the £12,500 paid would leave £5,205 so I can only assume the final bill is £20,705 (< 1Million THB), seems very reasonable (cheap) given his injuries

Philippines might be a good option as it’s easy to stay there for up to 3 years on Visa Exempt.

I don’t Think that’s correct as my mate applied for a new passport a while back & we travelled to UK entering via E-gates on 16th May. It’s my understanding that your old passport is only cancelled/ invalidated (corner cut off) when you exchange it for the new one Edit: Have to say I’m a little concerned now as we’re due to fly back on 30th May…

Yes you will need to file a TM30 at Krabi immigration office Docs required are (Normally)… Completed TM30 report. Copy of the landlord's ID/Passport. Copy of a household registration book (ทะเบียนบ้าน) or title deed (โฉนด) Copy of rental agreement or land sale contract (in case of long lease) Do note that filing a TM30 doesn’t (normally) reset your 90 Day reporting date.

https://www.forbes.com/uk/advisor/banking/best-banks-for-expats-in-the-uk/

I’m not sure if you’ve seen this thread but interesting post from a BM about using a UK mail forwarding address for his UK Bank Account & how he didn’t need any proof of address to switch to it…

No worries, hope you find something that works for you & (without banging a drum) Wise are a good solution in a lot of countries with pretty decent fees / exchange rates when it comes to moving it to a local currency ????????

Again, I’m just trying to help, IIRC when I opened my Wise account in the UK (had moved to Thailand & my account with them was previously registered in Singapore) I just needed my passport & 1 proof of address so maybe your UK Credit Card address (assuming it’s registered to a UK address) will do. If you have nothing registered to a UK address then maybe you can have your pension paid directly to your Thai Account (State Pension definitely, Private Pension obviously depends on you Pension company but you can’t be the only person on their books who doesn’t live in the UK so you would hope they have a way of handling it). I very much doubt that paying it to a Credit Card will work but good luck with it & hope you find a solution that works for you Edit: I see from post above you’re not living in Thailand, but hopefully your pension provider can pay it to your local bank account.

Actually I’m visiting family in the UK so it’s 9:04pm here just trying to help & offer suggestions, clearly you don’t need them so I’ll leave you to it…

So your Barclays account is registered to a non-UK address?

Which Bank do you have Sort Code / Account number for & which country is the registered address?