HappyAndRich

2 hours ago, sambum said:

Bull poo! You've been TELLING people to just put 800k in a bank to get their retirement extension as if it's the easiest thing in the world to do. In my neck of the woods back in the UK you would be a farmer - never seen a poor one, but they'll never admit to doing OK, just use words like yours!

 

I am doing more than great. Never been a farmer, but planned my life from start. That´s why I can stay here now without need to complain. It´s called planning your life in the right direction.

2 hours ago, sambum said:

Barely surviving? Bull poo!

Nice to see that you really understand sarcasm when you read it. You missed it!

2 hours ago, sambum said:

"small changes"? I would hardly call the withdrawal of "Proof of Income letters" small changes when it has such a drastic effect on so many people's lives!

Yes, small changes. Still 800K should be a micro amount when you make such a big change in your life as moving to retire in a foreign country.

49 minutes ago, Dan17 said:

is it possible to apply for a work permit without having to register my own company (or being employed at some company) if I am married to a Thai citizen and also staying in Thailand already on a Non-O visa based on that marriage.

No.

Never filled that one in, and got visa every time.

15 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

The 800k deposit is allowing guys with not enough income to live here.

That will easily get solved quick. If they scraped together 800K as the last of their saving, and as you say do not have enough income to support their monthly living.
That will only be a problem the first year, and solve itself when there is not 800K left to apply for the second extension. 

They must take the money for living from somewhere, right?

5 minutes ago, luckyluke said:

The approach of HappyandRich is certainly not a drippy one, at least in my opinion.

I sincerely hope they will solve the problem to satisfaction for all, and of course hope you and everybody else can continue stay as before.

2 minutes ago, rhodie said:

Some pretty insensitive remarks. Things change. The exchange rate changes. In the case of the Aussie dollar 33 to 23 in 5 years. UK, even worse over a longer time. Not always easy to predict 20 years ahead which is how long many expats have lived here. All I can say is good luck to those facing problems with these new rules. I hope there is a way out.

Then the choice of 800K in a Thai bank account 10-15 years ago would have been even better. That would still be 800K, and would not have been affected by any exchange rates. That would have been the medicine that took away the need of a prediction factor.

If you see that as insensitive, I apologize. However, it´s in reality only pure facts and planning that eliminates the unsecure prediction factor.

As of the good luck, I am all for that. Hope everything will be possible to overcome for everybody that made a choice to move to Thailand.

1 minute ago, Peterw42 said:

The 800k buffer, as you call it, actually has the opposite effect. You end up with a bunch of people living here with little to no income, the only thing they have in the world is the 800k. They will never spend the 800k as they then cannot live here. 

What makes more sense, a guy with 800k in the bank and 10k a month income, or a guy without the 800k but a 100k a month income.

The 800k ends up being what you do when you cant actually afford to live here.

 

I don´t really believe that you are aware of what is the meaning with a buffer or at all what that is. I am talking about that you must have the possibility to put aside 800K that you do not need to touch, because you have a monthly income besides the sum, that you can live good on.

Also you discussion technique doesn´t work well with reality. If a person have a 10K income per month that they must live on. How can that person have a buffer on 800K. The person that have the income of 100K a month, is the one that has the possibility to have 800K put away for security. That one you take as an example that not have any savings. That is purely ridiculous. As I said before. The relocate and retire in a foreign country, you need the security of a pile of savings and a good monthly pay check. Anybody else that goes on to retire in a foreign country is playing with fire and taking a risk, that one day will bite them in their arse.

I am not stating this to be annoying or seen as arrogant. I am stating this because it´s substantial facts that many people seems to forget about and complain later. I feel truly sad for all people out there that are going to have a problem if the opportunity of showing monthly income disappear. As of now that is not a fact, though, and I for one still believe it will be left as an option in the future.

End of this. Let´s just agree to disagree.

3 minutes ago, soalbundy said:

I saved almost 3 million baht for my son and his higher education, my estranged wife who lives 1000 km away caused an accident, 3 million baht damages, guess who had to pay, it wasn't to be, my favourat lines :-

There paths that guide our way

rough hew them how we may

I am truly sad to hear that. Here you are talking about a situation that you could not prepare for and at all control. You did all you could do for giving your son the best in life, and that awful tragedy landed in your life. Vey unlucky and I hope you could be able to do something for your son anyway. All looks very good on you, and you seem to be standing on the solid ground all of us should do.

However, it is not same as the proof of income. That because having 800K as a minimum buffer when you move to a foreign country should be a minimum requirement according to me.

16 minutes ago, Thaidream said:

The best placed plans of mice and men often go awry.  A quote by Robert Burns that is fitting.

 

Now a quote by me-  Shit happens.

 

Many people plan out their lives and bad, unfortunate things happen and while they had the means at the time to address those emergencies- it is difficult to start over again.

 

I was here in Thailand during the economic meltdown in 1997 when I saw millionaires become paupers  In 2008 when I was in America-  hundreds of thousands of people lost their homes and cars due to an economic  catastrophe.

 

Some of your comments have been rude. Taking any delight in the potential misery of another person is arrogance . A very wealthy colleague once told me- "Be nice to people on your way up, because you may meet them on your way down.'

 

 The majority of people just want to live their life and take care of their family.  

 

My comments are not made to be rude, as I later saw that one of them stepped over the line. I apologize for that.

However, what you are addressing is economic crisis. That have very little to do with a change of proof of income, and to have a safe buffer for dealing with a change that might lead to 100% increase in proof of income. If you today need 800K, then be safe and see to that you have the possibility to show 1600K to be on the safe side before you make life changing decisions without a way back or possibility to protect yourself. Same goes for monthly proof of income. If that possibility suddenly should disappear, then you must be prepared to meet the option to show the full amount. That is planning your own life and future, and have nothing to do with economic crisis and millionaires investing in the economic sector or their own companies.

2 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

That would be dependant on Thai immigration not changing the size of the rock pile.

I said a good plan. That is the one that is solid and not depend on small changes.

You could go to the revenue office and sort it out. I have no clue about if they can cancel it, but as above state you do not have to file a tax return as a private person if you do not earn money that you need to pay tax on.

1 hour ago, soalbundy said:

arrogance isn't a nice trait but it's human, try to keep it in check. We all have different destinies and nobody is really in control even though we may think we are, that feeling usually changes on one's deathbed.

Partly true, but with a good plan for the future, without climbing rocks unprepared, you will stand a better chance to control all that can be controlled.

9 hours ago, sambum said:

You are fortunate to be Happy and Rich - some of us aren't but have enough to live here comfortably - probably not to your caviar and champagne for breakfast standard, though.

Our problem is trying to ignore such unhelpful comments as yours. You are one of my pet hates here - a member of the  "if you don't like it - go home" brigade. I have a suggestion for you - if you have nothing helpful or constructive to add - don't bother! 

My comments should be seen as helpful. They are meant to provide a wake up call for future expats that might read this forum and wish to settle in Thailand. They might wake up and realize they need a plan and a solid platform to stand on before they make a bad decision.

Like my father always said. Don´t jump in the water before you can swim. It´s just a bad, bad, choice.

10 hours ago, Psychic said:

Sure, just leave the wife and kids.

 

You really are a piece of work.

 

Hope your wife loves all your money dearly because it seems to be your only redeeming feature,

I am actually not at all stating that anybody has to leave their wife and kids. Why would I really be a piece of work?

What I do not understand is how, seems like many on this forum according to all scared comments, people can throw them self into something they can´t handle.
Some just sell everything and move to another country? That´s plain crazy and includes poor knowledge and bad planning.
Others make marry and make children without the possibility to bring them to their home country out of sudden consequences.
A third part of the masses just can´t plan enough good so they are really safe with a buffer that make them can handle changes in the country they chose to settle in.

All the fine examples above didn´t have a plan or the common sense to build a secure platform to be enough for their own life. Sadly some made the bad decision to bring and create others into their life, which just creates a bigger problem and a true mess when the true and real shit hits the fan.

As for the statement of that my wife loves all my money, and that would be the only thing that keeps my family from falling apart. You don´t really get it, duh?
She married me and stays with me because we love each other and are a perfect match. That has been for 8 years. She was managing very well when i met her, so she didn´t need any rescue. Anyway, now we have a daughter, and another one coming in 6 month time. I asked her to stop work, and have more time in home. Created a home business for her that gives her a greater income than her work before. So, as of today she is still making it on her own.

The trick is to come here with a plan. Not take away what people already have without replacing it and create a final mess of misery.
 

10 hours ago, tropo said:

What are you on about? 

 

Even now, the monthly income method is not off the table, so take your personal baiting somewhere else. Maybe you could start a new thread: The "I have 800k on a Thai bank account party thread" and compare bank balances. Another member said he has 3 million on Thai bank accounts - can you beat that?

 

Only 3 million? That´s barely enough to pay for a simple operation at a descent hospital.

6 hours ago, OneeyedJohn said:

Your reply confirms exactly what I stated above.

Rolling Stones? Really? Now I do know why I disagree with you. You just put a bad name on the band.

5 hours ago, JackThompson said:

There is "insurance" for that.  It's something people get who cannot "self insure" with a pile of cash.  With "insurance", one only needs "cash" to cover the deductible.

 

I hope we are not confusing "total assets" one might have, with "spare cash to put in a Thai bank, because immigration won't accept our incomes, any more."

Take your BS somewhere else. It just don´t work with me. Hit the sack, Jack, and don´t ………..

5 hours ago, Kelsall said:

bragging, are we?

No, just barely surviving.

4 hours ago, jimn said:

If that is the case then fine. This could indeed be true, at this point in time everything is speculation without any clarification from Thai Immigration. However whilst it is true that the rule is 800,000 for the bank deposit method there is no guidence other then comments from the 3 embassies that bank transfers of 65k are acceptable. In fact the common belief from most posters is that people will need to show 12 x 65k transfers not 3  65k as you suggest. Great if thats the case but no one knows. Thanks for your comments.

Doesn´t matter! You will need 800K to live in Thailand every year, anyway.

5 minutes ago, OneeyedJohn said:

So you think £20,000 ( pounds sterling ) roughly is measly. 

 

Your arrogance is beyond belief.

What do you think you will need if you would come into problem, be responsible for an accident or get sick? It´s irresponsible to yourself and your family to not have it?

That is not arrogance. It´s called facts. And yes! It´s a measly sum for a person that considers them self rich enough to retire in a foreign country.

3 hours ago, jimn said:

I am sorry but you miss my point. What I am saying is the rules state 65,000 bath and this is GROSS income. In fact my pension is quite above that so my NET income is over 65,000 anyway so my point is about the rules being GROSS and now the advice is saying NET income so thats a change. I dont consider the peice of paper to be worthless. I had to give evidence of my income to get it. The reason I dont want to move 65,000 into a thai account is because I live on the money when I am not in Thailand which is 5 months a year. In addition I have expenses in the UK that have to be paid on my property when I am in Thailand. So its not as clear cut as you seem to think it is. I own outright a house in the UK and via my wife a house in Thailand. So its not about not being able to afford it but is about choice of lifestyle. Apologies to those Aussies on here. I know I am speaking about the UK but the same principles apply all the same.

Still simple and easy. Out of the reason that you go back and forth during the year, I can understand that you do not want to automatically transfer money to Thailand every month. However, you must have enough to can set aside 3 x 65000 baht.

If you start transfer those 3 month before renewing your extension every year as well as you manually transfer 65K every month you are here. I will think Immigration would accept that. That way you have all your money in UK when you are there, and enough money in Thailand for getting your visa and to live here.

The 3 month you transferred for visa, you bring with you back home when you go back, and do the same procedure with the same money next time. Immigration never said you have to spend the money, only show that you have them.

4 hours ago, JackThompson said:

It's not "petty cash" to people who retired to Thailand in-part due to it being a fairly low-cost/overhead location. 

So 800K baht is not petty cash? That is a low cost requirement!

How in the whole wide world can somebody even think about retirering in a foreign country without a minimum buffer like measly 800K baht?

7 hours ago, jimn said:

Its been discussed on the BE and US threads but I will post on here as its the latest topic. Currently I get an embassy latter for my retirement extension and I prove my 65,000 thai baht and its based on GROSS income. The situation now we are led to believe is that we should transfer 65,000 thai baht into our thai bank accounts at NET income. Now that is a major change from before. For me personally I only stay in Thailand for 7 months out of 12 so transferring 65,000 into a Thai account is a non starter. I prefer to keep my money in the UK. There are many of us who choose to transfer small amounts into Thailand when cash is needed and use a no fee credit/debit card for other purchases. This is the 21st century, cash is a dying method of payment. In the UK many people use a contactless card or a mobile app for everything and hardly ever use cash. 

 

I you prefer to do something else with your money, than the rules in the country states, then you will have to consider that you no longer qualify for a visa like before. If your income doesn´t net 65K, then you never had enough to qualify from start. That´s why they what to see the money know, and not a useless letter with an amount written on it.

If you want a country that lives up to you modern expectations of the 21st century, then Thailand has never been the right choice.

I am sorry if it sounds harsh, but this is the point we are at. The thing is that it´s actually, according to the rules, not a bigger change than that you have to show the real money instead of a piece of paper.

12 minutes ago, mrmicbkktxl said:

Everything wrong with that.I'm living here on yearly extensions,and who knows how long they let me extend.I still have a German address and a German bank account,if no money goes in the bank,bank will kick me out[Visa card gone,here I don't qualify for a credit card with 68000bt per month].Besides that with German bank my pension is on the last working day at 2pm in my German bank,with a thai bank my pension arives at 31st or 1st or 2nd or 3rd.,not reliableSo every months I  go to atm get money out and deposit it into a thai bank account.Every year I get a certified pension letter from German embassy or consulat.If you go there for the first time you need the original pension slip what is very difficult to forge,after that, copy is fine since pension is a monthly payment for life time they no need to check more.You should blame US,Brit, and other embassies who let their citizens telling them how much pension they have without a check.Also since pension is a life time payment I have no understanding why the immigration needs every year the same documents,They are either to stupid to save documents or they just want to bother us.As long I can't get a long term visa[10 or more years] I won't give up my German address

Easy. It´s just going to be a intl. transfer from your german bank to a thai bank account about the 5th every month to be sure. Fail safe, right?

Also, you have no understanding? Just give them what they ask for. You have enough 68K, that´s great!

No, problem with this. As already known all 3 embassies state the same information. Put your monthly income in a Thai bank. Nothing wrong with that, because you live here and use the money here.

I am pretty sure Immigration will make clear that will be the way to go. Right now they are only a little bit happy to put some scare into easily scared people.