AAArdvark

11 minutes ago, Captain 776 said:

Taking a Thai girl to any country........99% end in disaster.

 

They NEED their family, friends, food.

Absolutely wrong.  It is like 90%????.  Except for Filipinas, who seem to do really well.  Their parents are problematic.   

1 hour ago, bronzedude said:

It doesn't matter what the law descriptions state. What only matters is what the immigration officials say at your local IO. If you're searching for logic-don't bother. TIT

Exactly

3 hours ago, kenk24 said:

And you? Is this the same girl you had known for 4 days? And you decided to bring her into your life? Next time wait 6 days before making a travel commitment... or maybe 6 months?

Does it matter?

Is GRAB still charging a surcharge in Phuket?  Is it worth using it from HKT to Patong?  Are taxis readily available around patong?  No bus or minibus for us.

1 hour ago, Bruce404 said:

   I'm not quite sure where long-stay foreigners heard or how they came to believe that they and/or the Thai person who owns the place in which they stay must report physically to Immigration to "update" their TM.30 each time they arrive anew in Thailand.

   

   Some years back, when moving to a new residence, it is true that the Thai owner of the property where I stay was required physically to come in to Chiang Mai Immigration with Tabien Baan book and Thai ID card to register the first time and apply for online internet access to do future reports. 

   

   At that time, we received the bottom half of the white form entitled "RECEIPT OF NOTIFICATION", appropriately signed by the immigration officer, dated, stamped in red with the Immigration seal, and with my name, the owner's name, address, and online-reporting account number assigned to the owner written in ink by the Immigration officer onto the form.  Since then, I have kept that form tucked into my passport, although never again asked for it.

   

   Since then I have left Thailand and returned many, many times.  Of course, each time I am reported to be here via the online system (currently, I believe, still at: https://extranet.immigration.go.th/fn24online/), always within 24 hours of such international arrival, as well after returning from stays at hotels elsewhere in Thailand.

   

   Never has the owner ever been fined or required to come in again, at least after being registered for the convenience of online reporting, as above-board cooperating hotels/guest-houses use routinely.  Never upon my once-per-year, in-person visit to extend my permission to stay has that form ever been asked for.  [CORRECTION: To avoid any problems, I now remember I did xerox that RECEIPT OF NOTIFICATION and submitted it along with all the xerox copies at my last renewal of permission to stay.  Whether it was needed or not, or they would have asked for it if were not submitted, I do not know.  But the next sentence remains valid:]  Its existence from years ago is obviously in the Immigration system's database, as is the most recent online report filed after any returns, international or domestic, to this lodging.

   

   So I wonder why this is not the experience of others who return to the same place, again and again.  Perhaps in such cases, the landlord or householder has not bothered to enroll in, or has been unaware of, or just refuses to use the relatively easy-to-use online reporting system maintained by Immigration.  It was undoubtedly developed primarily to make life easier for the hundreds of thousands of hotel/guest-house establishments in the country.  But non-commercial household owners can use it, too.

  

You have apparently not read the hundreds of posts on this matter. Basically, it all depends on which IO you see.  The law is there, it is the implementation that is quite random. 

33 minutes ago, shady86 said:

Yes it works. I have used it during my trip to Japan last year. Depending on country, its much cheaper than getting a local sim.

 

I didn't know you can sign in from phone. I got it from ais shop.

They have a web page that seems to say that if you already have AIS, you add on the service by typing in a series of numbers.  It is supposed to be activated automatically when you arrive in the new country and can be added on up to 60 days in advance.  This makes it super easy, if it works.

https://www.ais.co.th/roaming/sim2fly/en/

Has anyone used the AIS SIM 2 Fly Asia add on service?  I have a current AIS plan and from what I can gather, you can get an add on of 6GB 4G data  for 8 days for ฿299.  Looks like it is possible to sign up from your phone.  I was just wondering if it actually works.  Some countries require a passport for a SIM to work.  In particular, I will be using it in the Philippines.  Yes, I know SIMS are available all over the Philippines but this is a reasonable price and much more convenient.

When filling in the TM-30 form, either manually or with XLS importing, can someone tell me what is actually accomplished?  There does not seem to be a place to put the really pertinent information.  Such as date departed and date returned or maybe even where did you go.  Or, is it just that it confirms that you are back to where you started?

Also, I noticed the below statement today.  It may have been there a while or not.

" 

This is like using Android 2.0 on your phone and expecting Google to still take care of it.  I have done all Windows updates since Windows 3.x and have only had minor glitches. Those glitches could always be fixed with update rollbacks or manual update downloads.

When you look at the sheer number of hardware and software variations, it is hardly surprising that some glitches will exist.  That is an issue that Apple does not have to worry about since they control all of that (at a cost).

Everyone should get a good uninstaller which will actually look for remnants that the programs built in uninstaller does not have.  Whenever an program/app is installed, if it is not useful or behaves in an odd manner, the program should be uninstalled with a proper uninstaller. 

The only drivers that should be installed are the ones released by the manufacturer unless it is a home built model.  Windows update usually does a good job of not updating drivers over manufacturer version.

But windows 10 is the way to go.  Linux is good but not for the novice.

6 hours ago, grumbleweed said:

Over $1.3 million each for used vehicles. Not exactly the deal of the century.

At least someone's gonna be safe on Thai roads

$5.3 million new.

Is Devil's Island still in operation?

I don't see how this is a scam.  53K divided by 20 bell rings divided by 25 ladies and customers.  Seems like a fair price to me.  I have personally witnessed several men who rang the bell many times and they knew.  It this guy didn't know and if his gf did not tell him that should be mostly on him.  There was a previous post about Muslims not being allowed to drink.  I guess the plane loads of Arab men coming to Thailand are for the to look at the Buddhist temples.

It was settled for a lower amount because there was no proof one way or the other.   And like most settlements there is give and take. 

1 minute ago, lopburi3 said:

Guam is a nice option to have but believe insurance for where located is to be preferred.  Have no knowledge on medicare so can not comment on that.

Agreed.  Most american retirees have medicare but it cannot be used outside of the United States.  Local quality insurance is good but sometimes you need more and for someone who is already paying for medicare, Guam is an option.

23 minutes ago, oznomad said:

The SRRV - Expanded Courtesy is particularly attractive to ex-servicemen.

If not to live there, just as a backup residency.

 

Application Fee USD $1400

Deposit USD $1500 (which they hold on to unless you want to use it for real estate purchase or leasing of a house.)

Annual fee. USD $10

 

https://pra.gov.ph/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/SRRV-Info-Guide-04.14.15.pdf

 

 

I see this but what are the exact requirements and how do you prove them.  Does simply being assigned to Clark or Subic qualify?

"Retired military personnel who have provided military aid and training to the Philippine Government via a defense treat or any other similar agreement."

5 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

 

Was not saying no advantage but most are not required by the majority of expats - dual tax treaty normally covers pensions and would not want to live anywhere without health insurance and one flight every 3 years seems to be possible for most.  Living in boonies can be an issue (but that is true anywhere - including USA - the newer six month extensions option seems to help that a bit).

Agreed.  You also quoted my quote on Guam but did not comment on it.  Did you mean to comment.

4 hours ago, Pib said:

 

The conditions/qualifications/requirements (whatever you want to call it) to enroll during the special enrollment period usually without a Medicare late enrollment penalty are listed in the link and partial quote I gave earlier.  Here they are again. 

 

But i think you will see about the only condition/qualification/requirement that would apply for most folks, like a person living in Thailand on a retirement or marriage visa/extension of stay, would to be the qualification/condition of already being covered by an employer-based medical program or the spouse's medical plan providing group-coverage for the person.   Now when drilling deeper (not covered below) a "self-employed" person might also meet the qualification requirements if they can prove medical coverage and usually tax returns also have to be provided to prove they are paying required medicare taxes.

 

https://www.medicareconsumerguide.com/moving-to-us-and-enrolling-in-medicare

 

 

I think that we will need to agree to disagree.  There are special conditions that apply to people who resided in the US at the time they turned 65 and then moved overseas.  However, I still see no special conditions that apply to people who resided overseas at the time of turning 65.  That rule appears to be totally separate. 

"If you turned 65 while living overseas and you didn’t sign up for Medicare when you were first eligible, you may qualify for a Special Enrollment Period that starts when you return to the U.S. and lasts three months. You generally don’t need to pay a late-enrollment penalty if you enroll during this three-month period."

Special enrollment period not special conditions.

15 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

SRRV is not needed by most expats but real attractiveness would appear for those with previous service in PI (military/diplomates) where special category is available without the financials of the normal application.  Well worth a look for some.  Those married get a free year stay by just arriving in country with spouse.  Those not married can pay for extension of about 30/60/180 days up to 3 years stay on any entry and then exit for a day and repeat so most seem to use that system.  

"not needed" is correct however there are advantages to SSRV.  In addition to the list below, if someone lives in the bundoks, traveling for extensions and leaving every few years can be a pain.  Also, the decision does not need to be made immediately. 

Permanent non-immigrant status with multiple-entry privileges through the Special Resident Retiree's Visa;
Exemption from customs duties and taxes for the importation of personal effects;
Exemption from Exit Clearance and Re-entry Permits;
Exemption from payment of travel tax provided the retiree has not stayed in the Philippines for more than one year from date of his last entry into the country;
Conversion of the requisite deposit into active investments, including purchase of condominium unit;
Interest on the foreign currency deposit is tax-free and payable to retiree in Philippine Pesos;
Foreign currency time deposit can be converted into Philippine Pesos deposit, but interest is subject to withholding tax;
Pension, annuities remitted to the Philippines are tax-free; and
Guaranteed repatriation of the requisites deposit including invested profits, capital gains and dividends accrued from investments, upon compliance with Bangko Sentral rules and regulations.
Access to the better than nothing Philhealth system.

Relatively short flight to Guam for Medicare coverage.

No requirement for the ACR I-Card 

11 hours ago, connda said:

I had no problem accessing it via Firefox.  Plus https://pra.gov.ph is the legitimate site for the Philippine Retirement Authority.  You may wish to try another browser. 
Consider Google as suspect as they have placed themselves in the position as being the gatekeepers of the Internet.

That worked.

4 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

That seems proper.  Just being out of country would be a huge loophole.  Otherwise many people would or could just go hang out in some other country and then come back at their convenience and not have to pay a penalty that millions of others would have to pay that had stayed in the USA but did not sign up. 

There are two categories.  If you lived in the US beyond the age of 65 and did not sign up, you would pay the penalty.   However, if you left the US at age say 63 and moved to Thailand, you are allowed to sign up without penalty after returning to the US. 

Twice, the term "special conditions" was mentioned but I have been unable to find a mention of "special conditions".  This could be accurate but I cannot find the "special condition" information anywhere.

4 hours ago, Pib said:

 

Yea, but that option is only under "special conditions."  See full details at the link below (which is probably where you got your partial quote above).  I include a partial quote from the link below...see link for full details.

 

https://www.medicareconsumerguide.com/moving-to-us-and-enrolling-in-medicare

 

 

Sorry, I don't see "special conditions".  I just see "special enrollment" period.  I still believe that the point is that if you are living overseas and then turn 65, it is possible to return to the US later and enroll without penalties.  If you turned 65 prior to moving overseas and did not sign up prior to moving, penalties appear to be unavoidable.  Or am I missing something else? 

3 hours ago, coppywriter said:

Just use the services of what they call "A Marketeer". Its a free service accredited by the Philippine Retirement Authority (PRA). An agent will guide you through the process from start to finish.

Do you have a legitimate link for them.  The only one I can find, https://pra.gov.ph/marketers-agents/, gets blocked by Google as a phishing site.

The real problem with this is that the "art" looks like it was done by a 12 year old.  The "artists" should go to Mecca and try there.

1 hour ago, AgMech Cowboy said:

And if during her 2 week stay she never goes to immigration, who is going to fine you/him/her?

The only possibility would be if the Thai Immigration super computer actually tied the TM-6 to TM-30s. Once the submarine is paid off they may then move on to the super computer (and people who know how to program it).