scorecard

A few points: Yes, after your OAP is approved you can do short several trips out and return to Australia (short trips is not well defined, as an example say 3 weeks) during the next 2 years: - If you do a 'short trip' out your OAP payments are suspended (Centrelink has a 24/7 live link to immigration records (passport records) and if you depart and return Centrelink knows instantly and instantly stops / reinstates any payments. - The 2 years is calculated from the date you arrived back in Oz (after a long absence), It's NOT calculated from the date your OAP application was lodged or approved. - Short periods out of Oz do NOT impact the accumulation of the 2 years, even if you do several short trips out; the accumulation continues unaffected by any short trips out. In Other words the accumulation of the 2 years continues uninterrupted by any short trips out. I returned after a long absence, I applied for the OAP and it was approved. I called the older Australian line several times (132300) and asked about the bullet points. During each call I asked a 'new' question and looked for confirmation of the previous answers to other points. All confirmed. In reality these bullet points are a direct result of my calls to 132300. Then COVID- 19 happened and I stayed put in Oz. All of the above has been previously shared on this site by many Australians.

"...beacon of hope..." How's that?

Infantile but true.

How could Thailand accurately know how much 'world wide' income a foreigner receives? Could ask to see bank accounts but perhaps easy for anybody to conceal one (or several) bank accounts. And perhaps another person (Thai or foreigner) is holding the funds?

"As I understand it, you HAVE to be in Australia on the date you become eligible for the pension." Not quite like that... You can apply anytime after the minimum age. (Not specifically on the date you become eligible. I applied < physically in Oz> several years after the minimum age, the date I applied not connected to / not aligned to anything. No questions asked). Regardless of all configurations you must physically be in Australia on the date you lodge your OAP application. You do need to have a CRN (Centrelink Reference Number). to lodge your OAP application you must physically be in Oz, application docs can be lodged: at a Centrelink office by Australia Post as at attachment to an e.mail

"Donald Trump left us the worst public health epidemic in a century." The cause of the edicemic is a different point.

Also, scan / photo all the documents and e.mail them to yourself as a back up.

Agree, call the older Australians line (part of Centrelink) 132300 and get a clear answer. If you feel the officers answer was confusing then tell the officer you're confused and ask him/her to claridy. If you're not convinced you're getting an answer specific to your questions then wait a while and call again. 99% chance you'll get a different officer.

Lots of very big assumptions without evidence.

Yeah yeah, seen all that before. Talk to a few Thais across the country from different backgrounds and you'll get a different answer. A Thai lady accountant I worked with (in Bkk) was outspoken and regularly told the staff that she was very proud of her very high ranking red policeman father. She had no hesitation to talk about how vote buying works and talk about the cozy relationship between thaksin and her father. She also mentioned that the locals in her fathers 'domain' wouldn't dare to vote for other candidates / parties and they were convinced if they did they would easily be identified and punished. One punishment was to put flyers in all the letter boxes of numerous nearby houses saying that the target house / family were not supporting the paymaster, resulting in the errant family being ostracized refused service at local shops, kids harassed beaten up at school etc.

Keep in mind that there's plenty more ruthless and powerful generals who are waiting to exert their power.

"One day" is not correct. During the 2 years you can leave several times and for several weeks. But note: If your OAP has been approved and you have been receiving fortnightly OAP payments then these payment stop for the time you are outside of Oz. Centrelink / Service Australia have a 24/7 online link to the details of all Australian exiting and entering Oz, all computerized and that how they gain the info to quickly stop / start OAP payments during the 2 years.

And they have no clue how to spot arrivals who have overstayed before in Thailand or in other countries.

You're naive if you think thaksin can purge the old military dinosaurs.

'Won elections fairly.' He won elections by open massive vote buying and he broke several other serious laws and plenty of evidence was made public and he was convicted and sentenced to jail. And fled. He made it plain that he didn't like foreigners. One young foreign journalist asked him a pertinent and awkward question that he didn't like. Thaksin responded with the comment 'idiot scum' and the journalist was deported the next day. At local press conferences he had 2 table tennis bats, one had a big YES on it, the other had NO on it. If he didn't like the question he held up the NO bat which meant not answering that question and also meant next question...

Thank you.

Dr. Sheryl, thanks for your post which, as usual, is very informative on this subject and I have gained some valuable knowledge. Soon I will get some further exploration. Is there a specific 'test' / investigation I should take and can you please recommend what hospital to visit in Chiang Mai. Thanks again.

A twist of this, 3 years back in Australia I had an annual check, professional qualified dr. then commented: - your eyes have different numbers. - I suggest you get 2 sets of spectacles (all free) both with slightly different lense capabilities: One pair of spectacles for reading and computer work. one pair which will come with the capability for the glass to become tinted in daylight, for watching TV and for driving. Also dulls the brightness of street lights etc., at night time. All works well.

And make sure you have originals or copies of all documents for the child and the marriage all under lock and key.

Makes me suspicious of the actual reporting quality.

Perhaps OK if the pardon specifically says he cannot comment further, not one word, on the court result, on the judge, the jury etc. And not one word on the election results. A total gag and if he breaks that gag instant mandatory 30 years in jail.

Extension of that: - Biden realized he was too old and fragile and passed the baton. - Trump is quite old / too old and more and more showing signs both physically and cognitively that he's now not capable.

Had blood test at Chiang Mai hospital. Result came from hospital lab. Went into Dr's room and he gave me the report (photo below) showing 2.46. Dr. commented 'you have no problems in regard to this test because 2.46 is just a little low for your age.' No other comment from the Dr.

Thanks for sharing. I am 79 years old, my blood pressure is well within the range for my age so no blood pressure medication. And I have no other issues with my heart. Recent comprehensive blood tests for annual health check (at a Chiang Mai hospital) showed my prostate to be just under the level for my age. (Also confirmed that I have no blood pressure issues.)