scorecard

No the majority of Thais don't consider this a non-issue. Some members of my Thai family, my old work colleagues and many of my old students are discussing it regularly. My 17 yo uni student granddaughter tells me it's on the discussion agency for many kids her age and they know what they are talking about. MFP / K. Pita is very much on their minds as the only step forward.

Yes he is a common thief.

You might like to look back at the names the paymaster has used on others in the past. Just one example, at a press conference (when he was PM) an international reporter asked him an awkward question, the paymasters response was to yell at the reporter 'IDIOT SCUM' and walk away.

He's a greedy pig, all acceptabe English language.

Very much appreciate your post Your Exemptions and Considerations comments: "Most pensioners and retirees in Thailand need not worry excessively; they are required to declare their foreign incomes but should not be subject to additional taxation." Do you mean they will be required to declare their purely pensions income under the new rules or has this ben the case in the past? And how does the 180 rule connect into this? Appreciate any further comment you could share.

"He added that Thaksin returned to Thailand to face legal consequences because he is a ‘peacemaker’ who aims to foster reconciliation in the country..." I've never ever seen any evidence of that gem.

But seems it's not yet 100% clear what types of income will be taxable. At the moment I suggest it's not clear whether foreigners who receive old age pensions from abroad (and no other income) will be taxed and whether resident for 180 days is relevant at all. And not clear whether having a double tax agreement with the country providing the old age pension monies will make any difference, however perhaps this is a country by country puzzle given that double tax agreements are different country by country. Same question re foreigners who receive permanent war service disability pensions /compensation payments from abroad will be taxable and again whether resident for 180 days is relevant at all. And not clear whether having a double tax agreement with the country providing the old age pension monies will make any difference, However perhaps a country by country puzzle. And not clear whether having a double tax agreement with the country providing the old age pension monies will make any difference, however perhaps this is a country by country puzzle given that double tax agreements are different country by country. If other members have clear answers re the two paragraphs just above would you please share.

Perhaps the officials involved are going for a world record for the number of times this has been studied and re-studied. And keeping my fingers crosse the result WON'T be dedicate lanes on the existing road network. And if it's monorail system (which has been supported by the public), hope they come up with a much better plan of suggested stations, with easy access down to ground level (one previous plan had several stations in the middle of the superhighway, most not near intersections and therefore very difficult to get safely to the side roads. Oh well...

Personal experience?

I agree Rajavej is quite good, for me just 3 km from my house and through my Social Security fund membership (which Rajavej accepts) costs are free/reasonable. And they have a totally profession in-house ambulance service with trained staff, and quick to respond. Can you please share more details re Dr. Morgan, thanks.

"Some where that puts patients before profits ... " Good luck with that at private hospitals (anywhere in Thailand) especially for private room charges and the multiple add ons.

This is why some folks always use the plastic wrap service at airports to totally wrap their check-in suitcases/bags. They're convinced nobody would stal them from the luggage carousel. On the other hand thieves might well see these bags as plastic wrapped because they contain valuables. And thieves might well have studies exit doors etc., and know quick exit routes to get stolen bags out of the luggage arrival room very quickly. At Japanese airports you retrieve your check-in bags then join a queue with luggage and your boarding pass then take your turn for the luggage officer to check that the numbers match. And they do check the numbers carefully.

One bag stolen and therefore theft is rampant in China?

So from these reports 50/60+% are not that genuine. Do you really expect more on a dating anonymous website?

Boring.

Hi Jayboy, Actually I should add more detail to this point: - PR holders cannot ever get an Exit/Re-entry stamp at the airport. For PR holders this stamp must be obtained at an immigration office. Very easy, just admin. work, no interview etc., normally done within 30 minutes or so. - For other foreigners departing thailand and because of their visa type they need an Exit / Re-entry stamp they can get the stamp at most Thai airports and from my understanding these offices (near the departing passport desks) are open 24 hrs. I've never used this service because I have PR but, as you mention I would have concerns that the office might be closed for a while, too many customers, computer down etc., causing a serious delay to get to my departure gate / miss my flight. However it seems, from previous posts that many non PR foreigners do use this service. Their choice of course.

Fwd message to Donnie please.

Exactly, but no need to get an Exit / re-entry stamp until you need it: -could be the day before the travel, -could be at the airport - could be a few days before the departure date - could be months before the departure date

And meanwhile there's numerous incident with tourist boats sinking etc., 8 incidents in one week. In recent years there's been several hundred tourist drowned when tourist boats floundered, sank, leaked, tipped over, no / not enough safety vests, etc., etc., and lots of promises of new / updated laws and regulations, inspection processes about safety but these incidents still continue. Everybody concerned is asleep. In Pattaya there's incidents every day of tourists being robbed of gold chains, handbags etc. the katoeys on beach road get rounded up again and again, taken to the police stn., fined 100Baht and released. The authorities who should be doing something serious to stop this (it can be stopped if the authorities are determined to do so), but they are all asleep. Meanwhile Vietnam is attracting bigger and bigger tourist numbers there's a lot to see, and they enforce their laws and regulations. It's very easy to get visas on line, all done in 48 hrs. Step off the aircraft in Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City (well organized, clean airports) and go straight to a passport line, 15 minutes later money changed (good rates) and in a taxi. And several taxi companies guarantee there will be no cheating / no rip off.

And note: If you are late to get the 5 year update in your RED police book there's a possible fine but this is not relevant to the continuation of the validity of your PR status. Update of RED book means: put a new small photo in the RED book and update the residential address (if needed). There is no interview or 'approval', just an update of photo and address (if needed). - All PR validity matters are handled exclusively by the Thai Immigration Bureau and no other agency. And Note, PR is issued for life, there is no expiry date. PR is only cancelled if the holder gets a criminal record (any country), or does not have a valid re-entry stamp when they return to Thailand. There is no annual review of PR. In an earlier post it was mentioned that a visa agent told a PR holder he had to do an annual report to immigration. This is NOT true and the reality is that 99.9% of visa agents have zero knowledge about PR. An extreme example Visa agents telling foreigners that after 10 years of continuously being in Thailand that foreigner automatically qualifies for PR. This is totally untrue and has no basis whatever. The main criteria for PR (for 99% of PR holders) is proof that the foreigner has worked long-term in Thailand with a valid Thai work permit and proof the foreigner has submitted an annual personal Thai taxation report for the same periods of time and has paid all relevant personal tax. - All RED book matters are handled exclusively by the Thai Police and no other agency. The purpose of the RED book is for the police to have some record on file of your actual address. Nothing whatever to do with validity of your PR status. The Thai Immigration Bureau and the Thai police don't coordinate their their activities re PR / RED book at all.

True but keep in mind that both single entry and multiple entry Exit / Re-entry stamps have a maximum possible life of 12 months from issue, and: - The single entry Exit/Re-entry stamp is good for one trip only within the 12 months after issue. It's valid any dates (just turn up at the airport) up to 12 months after issue. But If used quickly it cannot used again and 12 months is not in the picture. If needed again, say 1 month later then it's a new application. - The Multiple entry Exit/Re-entry stamp can be used multiple times in the 12 months after issue (there's no maximum no. of trips). ******************** -Where the holder is travelling to is not relevant. -It's not compulsory to have an Exit/Re-entry stamp at all times but as SMUTCAKES mentions about many folks get a Multiple Entry Exit/Re-entry stamp just in case it's needed urgently for a quick meeting abroad or similar. -The dates on the Multiple Entry Exit/Re-entry stamp do NOT have to align to any other dates. (Some members seem to have the idea that the Multiple Entry Exit/Re-entry stamp must be aligned to the date PR was issued. That's not true at all. -I confirm that PR holders are NOT required to report to an immigration bureau office every 12 months. This is totally NOT true. PR is issued for life and never needs renewal or review. It has no expiry date, it cancels automatically when the holder dies. I've had PR for 27 years, I have NEVER reported annually. For many years I had a Multiple Entry Exit/Re-entry stamp, renewed every 12 months and I departed / re-entered Thailand several times every week (1 day trips to Singapore, KL, HK...). Never once did an immigration officer ask why or make any comment at all and never once was I asked anything about annual report - because it's not a requirement.

As mentioned this means 'abroad', and it doesn't interfere with (stop) accumulating the 2 years needed to gain portability..accumulation continues while the pensioner is abroad. Centrelink is deliberately non committal about how long the pensioner can be abroad, 3 / 4 weeks per time has been mentioned and several times during the 2 years. The C'link officer did mention that very long trips abroad, especially if repeated can raise flags and in extreme cases this could cause cancellation of whatever had been accumulated. The C'link officer did continue further and say 'perhaps 6 months' but I'm not suggesting that's a regulation. As said they are deliberately non committal on this point. There are some circumstances where trips abroad can cause suspension of benefits. This seems to be folks who are different circumstances. For someone already receiving OAP payments I suggest It would be best to call the 'Older Aussies line 132300' and ask on this question. You will need to give your CRN (C'link Reference number). This line is always answered promptly and the officers are good listeners, they are polite and give clear answers. I didn't travel abroad in the 2 years because it was the height of the Covid- 19 pandemic, travel out of Australia was possible but complicated and entry into Thailand was the same. I stayed put near Sydney.

It's called personal choice, everybody has different circumstances and requirements and options and it's not subject to your scrutiny.

Perhaps there's a lot entitled recipients who don't have the luxury of any financial cushion. They don't need your snide comments, especially if they are veterans.

Here we go, just your wild unproven assumptions, or are you personally acquainted with this family?