On 10/24/2019 at 7:19 AM, Damrongsak said:

I do have Medicare  at low cost but I don't think it pays abroad.  Medicaid is free for the really poor.  Like my brother who seems to have developed a possibly fatal motor neuron disease.  Fun stuff.

I do pay for Medicare A and B, plus 100% VA Disability (three Purple Hearts) and abroad that does not buy me a cup of coffee

Same boat, different city … thanks for the post question many are interested in

Thailand is great, but I chose Viet Nam because of the visa rules. Asia is full of really great people and places. 

He tried to say "We did find a bunch of Bills cigars with DNA proof positive, but that would be endless investigations" 

Free to Immigrate is bringing the smartest, the most honest and the kindest people in from  the deep South, this article is proof positive

40 minutes ago, marcusarelus said:

I didn't get an advisory in my mailbox and I always do.  So I called an acquaintance at the embassy (not a big wheel so may not be accurate) but he said they didn't issue any advisory but there is an article that appeared in the news about

Have a Plan for Successful Aging

https://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/opinion/30368711

 

Maybe someone else could call an embassy contact to confirm.  Looks to me like someone is trying to stir the pot and motivate Immigration to make insurance mandatory - just my opinion. 

It seems something is wrong here, the US Embassy enjoyed the story, but didn't issue an "advisory" that the staff knows about

and how many "policy dollars" would the people conducting this poll stand to make off with?

Great information for those of us that want to remain in Asia but need to move on from Thailand. Thailand is my families first choice, P.I. is second and Viet Nam is third

I love my beautiful view of Koh Chang from my back yard, WOW, it is the 2nd largest Island in Thailand. My family loves to shop … so the trip back to Trat is a no go for us. But, Koh Change is great for a few weeks vacation … I never get over the monkeys running around, playfully ripping off our windshield wipers, I don't miss the adult monkeys … but never get enough of their kids … and the beautiful Chinese Temple. It is a fun place

I write checks to my Bangkok Bank account from my American Bank account every month and it shows up in my Bangkok Bank account just like clockwork … two months + later. I'm really at a loss why!

I wonder why Big Joke clamped down on immigration? Could it be he wanted to rid of the non-contributing members of the expat community. Nobody in their right mind likes chaps like this around

I left 100% VA Health care in America and my wife left 75% ChampVA in America … and yes it was well worth the move. We both pay out of our pocket … and it has been a great plan for us. Our bills here normally don't go much over 100,000 baht per stay at a private hospital and we buy our prescription drugs at a local pharmacy in town.  My family and I are "fans" of Thai Health Care 

It's hard to remain relevant when you only work for your self-interests 

I am all for the way Thailand handles it's borders … maybe the US Congress can learn something new … I lived in San Diego and have been through "Your Land is Mine … Give Me More … At Least Until My Family Is 100% Taken Care Of" .. or meet my pretty 45 cal girlfriend

On ‎5‎/‎18‎/‎2018 at 12:08 PM, AYJAYDEE said:

so where did his survey sample come from? bangkok and pattaya? lol

 

San Francisco

I find it healthy to be happy where life puts me, I don't understand the politics in my own country … so I don't waste my time with the politics here … sometimes ignorance is bliss

Best view in my life was California in my rear view mirror

Lets just do like they do in America, walk in and demand free healthcare, education, food, etc. its working there and it can work here. For details on putting it together, contact Nancy or Chuckles the Clown

Those who visit Disneyland with empty pockets are asked to leave … and don't let the door hit you on your way out

Do not go to Disneyland without money in your pocket. Easy solution

1 hour ago, Thaidream said:

While I am really quite tired of Thai Immigration continually changing the goal posts; different office having different policies and an imposition of constant reporting our whereabouts- I thought it might be interesting to compare Thailand's requirements to the US.

 

In Order to obtain a 'marriage visa' to the US- one needs to have a verified income of just over $21,000.  The average income  of an American is $58,000.    

 

In order to obtain a marriage visa in Thailand the male spouse must have the equivalent of 400,000 Thai Baht ($12,700)  in a Thai bank or  a monthly income of  40,000 Thai Baht for 12 months which is 480.000 Baht ($15.240)/   The average income of a Thai is $6,000.

 

In the US there will be no  90 day reporting to Immigration and the  admitted spouse has all the rights and benefits of the citizen.

 

In Thailand- an admitted spouse has to file proof of address; then refile each time they leave the country and return plus do a report to Immigration every 90 days.

 

Regarding a tourist who enters the US- they must show proof of having sufficient income to stay in the US for the period of their visit which includes proof of income.

If a tourist to the US overstays their Visa by less than 180 days- they are not blacklisted; they are not fined and can return with a new visa at anytime.

 

A tourist who enters Thailand needs only 10,000 or 20,000 Baht for their stay.  If they overstay for even 1 day and are caught they are blacklisted for 5 years.  In addition, they are charged 500 Baht per day.  Even if they turn themselves in and have overstayed  90 days or more- they pay the 500 baht per day fine up to 20K  plus are banned for 1 year up to 5.

 

For Thailand to even consider raising the amounts  for retirement or marriage shows a complete lack of understanding of the demographics;  the rights of  non citizens to marry and be accorded fair treatment under the  United nations  

 

If Thailand wants to rid the country of potential criminal aliens- it needs to concentrate on  those who enter Visa Free or with VOA.   These are the people who will overstay; come in quickly-rob a bank or steal from an ATM or set up a boiler room.

 

I would do the following-

 

1.  Stop free Visa entry to those countries that show an above  average level of  citizens involved in crime.

2.  Increase the level of funding needed to enter for certain countries that have many overstays or engaged in business scams.

3. Start regulating businesses  that are run by foreigners using fake nominees/

4. Reform the use of agents

5. Make IO's follow the actual published rules and stop  allowing them to make up their own rules.

6. Hire moire Immigration agents who are completely trained in the latest  techniques of AI and  understand how to quickly cross reference databases.

 

IMO the foreigners that are hardly ever involved in crime of any type are the retired and those who are married to Thais.  They do not fit the profile at all and are generally going about their business and respectful of Thai people and the law. As such, it's time for  those in power to stop  treating everyone as a potential criminal.

and with that said … I still have more freedom in Thailand

I have tried to change my address through SS Manila since Feb 6th. I wrote to BB and it still has not been done. The Manila SS Office is either asleep on the job or over whelmed with address changes. They do not reply back … except for an automatic reply that keeps telling me to give them 5 business days to reply.