Patriot1066

I’ve just used the key guy ground floor at the back of Tesco Lotus Kamtiang.

made us a flip key for our Vigo instead of the Toyota one that snaps.

good price and good service.

On 3/12/2020 at 4:32 PM, Kwasaki said:

Only know about car/truck, fill out a book as said of destination and you can't drive after dark. 

Remember something about toll ways but that don't apply to bikes anyway.

 

We were told no travel after dark and every journey has to be recorded

On 5/11/2019 at 1:44 AM, pegman said:

True, most Americans are wearing gear with the Maple Leaf on it.

Why would an American wear the Maple leaf?

22 hours ago, watcharacters said:

 

Two factors answer your question.

 

1.     Using dollars clearly implies he's from the USA.

 

2.     He's indicated he's considering a relocation to Cambodia.       Cambodia uses the reil as well as USD.

 

 

And he was an NCO so suggests some time in the millitary so does the OP also have a military pension as well?

On 4/2/2019 at 5:09 PM, Jim7777 said:

All my bills combined here in Thailand including rent are less than $600 US dollars a month and we live in a big house which is pretty modern and we live very comfortably and we have American cable TV through AIS with great iPhone service and everything here is really cheap.  If you live modestly your bills here would be a lot less than mine and my bills aren’t much even as comfortably as we live.  You have to ask yourself can you afford to retire?  You said something about being an “old NCO” are you retired military?  Because if you’re receiving any types of pensions 800K is not the only option, if you are on a retirement extension you have to at least make 65K Baht a month and 40K Baht a month for a marriage visa extension.  I don’t know what your financial situation is but if you make less than their minimum required monthly income then it’s kind of on you, just because you were writing in whatever income amount you wanted on the Embassy income affidavits for years doesn’t make it right just because they closed that loop hole and did away with income affidavits.  That’s actually why they made the changes but the specific income requirements are actually still the same as they have always been.  

 

Although I do think immigration should lower the income requirement at least a little bit for people like you who make enough money to live here but maybe not as much as what immigration requires but unfortunately that’s not up to me.  That’s why you have to at least know what their basic immigration rules are for everything especially financial requirements before deciding to retire here.  Good luck.  

A succinct post very much correct.

On 9/19/2016 at 12:04 PM, elviajero said:

I agree if entering with a re-entry permit, but if it's a visa entry (new entry) then it is supposed to be done every time.

I didn't know that I have the receipt if the last TM30 two years ago stapled in my passport, but not had an issue so far as was told if I owned my condo and was living there notification only once as no change (by io at Promenada)

12 hours ago, icare999 said:

555 another forang who knows it all place ios full of forang who tihnk they are still in west and rules in west apply here im totally fed up with them but they eventually learn its Thais who make rules not them 

As they should it's their country, they should decide immigration rules not any one else.

Better than our own countries opening borders to everyone.

1 hour ago, elviajero said:

Then leave it wherever you want and transfer 65K to Thailand every month and use the income method.

 

It’s not an investment visa/permit. It’s based on retirement so they want to see the money you live on in or coming in to the country.

 

A retirement extension is meant for retirees that have a monthly income or cash in the bank. 

 

If you receive income less frequently you’ll have to juggle it and send it monthly.

 

Of course it’s legal. 

 

Immigration law gives the Immigration Commission, Director General of the Police and Minister of the Interior the necessary powers.

 

Maybe some, but not many. 

 

Why would someone already with the required 800K plus living expenses need to leave because of these changes?

 

Very few retirees that met the previous criteria should have to leave. So this will only in practice affect those that fiddled the system so in fact had no genuine entitlement to have a retirement visa in the first place. 

13 hours ago, BobBKK said:

I can't understand anyone using the first option. Rate changes, letters and all those issues?  put 800k in your saving account and LEAVE IT there. Simple?

Yes very simple and fair! And at least you get some interest unlike the UK.

I am not sure what the fuss is about actually it's such a relatively tiny amount in any case a couple of months work. And the rule change is so very very small, you were suposed to have the money available in the bank not borrow it for the day, so what's the real issue here about?

In fact the big question people should be asking is how many people have been fiddling the system giving the rest of us a bad name and effective lying to immigration about their financial status? 

On 1/31/2019 at 4:48 PM, Jingthing said:

You don't know that.

It's a valid question.

For all we know immigration is going to cooperate directly with banks and report people 

Potentially a concern based on the recent announcement. We don't have all the technical details yet. The recent HORRIFIC announcement. 

They do need to clamp down on the illegal ways people get their visas with no funds. If they are in fact breaking the rules then they should not be able to stay in Thailand as not fair on those that follow the rules fully.  In other words actually have the available funds to stay.

It is not hard for them (immigration) to monitor bank accounts and have an alert if the funds drop. And they could check in a retrospective manner. However, what will they do if you reduced below 400k, but paid in the minimum amount each month to meet the overall yearly amount. Or change banks?

Your right this does raise a lot of questions yet to be answered and hard to guess how it will work in practice.

2 hours ago, mlkik said:

800.000 baht is not very much if you genuinely have retired and have committed to living in Thailand.

Maybe the people getting worried do not really have enough to retire here? I know many people worry about the exchange rates,if that is the case again maybe they are not financially ready for retirement here?

I am far from being well off but I have put enough money in a Thai account to ensure a worry free retirement.

Interest rates here are no worse than my home country. I am not wealthy enough to speculate and possibly lose on the investment of stocks and shares . Therefore I see no reason not to have savings here.

 

I agree even at the UK poor exchange rate it is a small amount if you are a genuine retiree that can afford to live abroad.

The interest rates are better than the UK in fact much better at the moment.

The rules are virtually unchanged in fact you need the money in the bank so you could move most of it out if you wanted for 7 months, instead of 9 if you can prove it came from abroad when topped up.

This should stop a lot of the fraud with retirees, which perhaps they should prosecute for using false declarations?

On 7/17/2008 at 9:44 PM, apetley said:

Possibly didn't detect it as this could have been one of the new style laser detectors. I used to work in the UK for the Police and these things have an incredible range compared to the previous radar or microwave units and are hard to pick up before they have you tagged.

Very unsporting!

My detector seems to pick up more 7 and shop automatic doors opening than it does anything else when in town. They also won’t detect the variable average speed cameras as they work on number plate recognition and a fixed distance between two or more points so don’t send an actual signal out as such.

You can get jammers that stop the signal as it hits the car, they do work but they come up with error message on their guns so might pull you if they know the signal is jammed. I have a detector that detects laser but not a jammer in Thailand as not sure if legal here?

3 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

Guys,

I do recommend reading this;

 

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2019/01/14/worse-than-you-thought-inside-the-secret-fitzgerald-probe-the-navy-doesnt-want-you-to-read/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Navy Times 1-14-19&utm_term=Editorial - Navy - Daily News Roundup

 

what is revealed here is way more than average interesting,

here many of the deficiencies and shortcomings re destroyer Fitzgerald are highlighted

 

Quite frightening really

 

There is no easy and no speedy way for the US Navy to sort this one.

Very informative post Thankyou 

19 hours ago, melvinmelvin said:

 

good link, thanks

 

must say though, not much impressed with what is uttered

 

Yes I agree with you, interesting. I wonder if there is something going on, they are not actually releasing?

I would respectfully defer to your better knowledge of the rules and protocols though, rather me reading internet articles!

5 hours ago, Tug said:

Fitzgerald is at fault the damage is on her starboard side if someone approaches your starboard side you are the (give way vessel) also the merchantmen is a much larger vessel and falls under the restriction ability to maneuver class plus her damage is on her port bow 

Yes in normal circumstance that is correct but they have identified several issues with the civilian vessel including it on autopilot and lack of supervision.

https://foxtrotalpha.jalopnik.com/why-the-destroyer-crash-that-killed-seven-u-s-sailors-1796462864

This is an older post which sort of makes some sense.

6 minutes ago, johng said:

Brilliant ...I wonder if it'll work in the UK too 

8 minutes ago, johng said:

Brilliant ...I wonder if it'll work in the UK too ?

No

Thailand licence can not be exchanged for UK anymore, you could before but if you get a Thai international driving permit you can use in the UK until it runs out.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/law-on-driving-licence-exchange-tightened-to-improve-road-safety

When I ‘lost’ my UK bike licence I used my Thai one and insurer accepted fine a bit more expensive.

2 minutes ago, orientalist said:

I called and they said "test everything." Unfortunately I am at 177 days after the licence expired, so I have only 3 days I think (not sure if it is 180 days or 6 calendar months) before I'll have to do the theory test for renewal.

 

My gf called and explained I have a problem with the peripheral vision test. They said just get a doctor's letter saying he can't do the test and it will be OK. Makes no sense to me.

I would get the doctors cert as the cost is so low and if is a get around then would seem better to have it there. Doctors are quiet respected so that will help.

Not sure what happens if they refuse to renew based on failed test but imagine a lot of work and effort to resolve.

However, I am a bit cautious on documentation so probably take do more than required?

3 hours ago, orientalist said:

Is there a peripheral vision test for renewing a 5-year motorbike licence? When I renewed my car licence a year ago I don't recall any of the various tests they apply in Bangkok (peripheral vision, colour-blindness, depth perception, brake reaction time). I think I just watched a road safety video.

I had to do the colour blind test last time, but my doctors had also made me do it. Never done the brake reaction test in Thailand. They seem helpful at CM though, but never sure what to expect in terms of tests etc.

 In the UK the DVLA lost a lot of motorbike test records from those who did the test in the 1980s my licence went over the ten years renewal and when I renewed and I had lost it, so couldn’t prove the entitlement so when came back no motorbike entitlement. I had to re set the test including the reaction tests, which were harder than trying to ride to test standards. Somehow I avoided the two year 30bhp period though, or would have had to get a new bike. Found the lost licence when moved house I had put somewhere ‘safe’

Just now, Patriot1066 said:

2 hours ago, SammyT said:

 

I'm able to change my Thai motorbike licence (which I got so I could ride my 125cc moto) for a full motorbike licence when I return to New Zealand, completely bypassing the 18 month graduated licencing system they have there for motorbikes. Seems a bit ridiculous that I can go and ride whatever I want in NZ with no limits, despite my Thai moto driving test only being about 60 seconds long, conducted by a disinterested official who went inside and got a coffee while I did the test.

Brilliant!

2 hours ago, SammyT said:

 

I'm able to change my Thai motorbike licence (which I got so I could ride my 125cc moto) for a full motorbike licence when I return to New Zealand, completely bypassing the 18 month graduated licencing system they have there for motorbikes. Seems a bit ridiculous that I can go and ride whatever I want in NZ with no limits, despite my Thai moto driving test only being about 60 seconds long, conducted by a disinterested official who went inside and got a coffee while I did the test.

17 hours ago, Hugh Jarse said:

Report it to the Headman/woman of the district who will know how best to deal with this very serious problem . Social services will need to be called upon to prevent further threats to human life and threats to the woman who is ,it seems, is likely to be attacked herself by other disgruntled neighbors. Good luck ; a most ghastly situation for anyone to have to try and deal with.

That’s good advice

My experience of the RTP has been quiet good when there is an issue, sometimes people complain but do not want to actually put in writing, so you can often feel on your own dealing with it.

We had an issue on the development two years ago, not with an actual resident, but a very drunk local farmer who has access across one road with a small canal that is gated, and they carried out patrols (driving through) every few hours until they managed to find the offender and he has not come back since, so they obviously managed to stop him.

Neighbour issues can be really frustrating though and in your case she sounds potentially dangerous, so hope you can sort it out.

On 12/25/2018 at 1:04 PM, khunPer said:

I think OP is asking for extension of stay based on retirement, and not a Visa, and in that case the funds need to be deposited in a Thai bank and matured for three month; i.e. have been in deposit for three month before applying for extension of stay, or before the date for extension of stay (can be different in some immigration offices).

The one before last time I moved money out and back in for three months, the immigration insisted I proved it originated from abroad as was a BB to BB internal transfer.

Easy enough as the bank did me a letter and and the immigration were dealing with lots of ‘visa helping companies’ at the time, last time they didn’t ask.

One of the guys on our development has virtually no funds here but seems to get away with using a visa service still, who I think transfer in and out on the same day but not certain.

On 11/29/2018 at 5:33 PM, factseeker said:

Thnxs for reply.

 

Looks like going to be same as for Car License - just a colour test plus all documents - was not even a 'reaction test' thing.

 

As they used to say in the Adventure Comics when I was a boy - "In one bound Jack was free".

My wife had a UK licence for a moped you used to get it automatically if you got a car licence, when she changed her licence at Chaingmai she got her full bike licence which sort of made me wonder, as she’s never ridden a bike, but now Mrs J is an expert on big bikes! But still hasnt fully realised a hundred KMH isn’t fifty MPH he he

last time. I renewed no colour test, but they made me for no explained reason watch the video on road safety, it was in English but quiet old, good if you like semi classic cars! I never ever had to watch it before???? Maybee they saw my pick up parking skills?