Dickp

I have to paid for 3 back surgerys and 1 Knee replacement . The first Back surgery was at Bumrungrad Hospital 2006. It failed two weeks after surgery it was a parishell disk removal in which the remaining disk pop back in against my neve. Scheduled for 2nd surgery, but one hour before the surgery had a plumery blood clot and almost died. Had the 2nd back surgery in 2018 at Bangkok General, but had a lot of problems and spent over 30 days in the Hospital. Those 2 were covered by insurance and the hospital did all the paperwork. The knee surgery was at Bangkok General also covered by a different insurance, I had to pay first and file against the insurance after paying the hospital first. The Hospital what 100% up front on est cost, I said no and just put 100k down and paid the rest on discharge. Same for the 3rd back surgery. the last two were for my wife not me.

I was married and divorced two time to the same western women. Was single and had three kids to take care. One day my best friend wife (Thai) asks if I would ever get married. I told her when I fine a lady like you who takes so good of care of her men, when yes, I got just the lady for you. She wrote her a telling her about me, we then wrote back and forth for about a year. I wrote to her in English and she would reply in English. She did not read, write or speak English her younger sister did all translating. They what me to go to Thailand and meet the family and get to know each other. I could not go outside the US without permission that was never ever given by organization. So finely convinced her to come to the US, got her the F 90-day visa and within a month she was here. We got know each other but then I got notified that I was being sent overseas. I what’d to have come with me we needed get married right away due the paper work needed for her new Visa. So after just 6 weeks of knowing each other, we were married and on overseas. That was 44 years ago. Now retired and living in Bangkok. In our early 80’s and still happily married.

I bought Xiaomi 15T Pro two weeks ago, had to order at SeaCon 10 days to get. Before I have use Samsung Galaxy A71 was the last one about 6 -7 years then the screen gave up. I have a draw full of used phones all brands. My first ph was a Clam Shell Motorola, then Nokia, LG and then my frist Samsung one of many, used Samsung until now. Getting use to it so far it's doing real good now the learning cruve starts. Got it for a little over 20,000 Baht, they also gave me a Redmi Pad 2 with cover and glass screen cover.

I have Mostly used Bangkok Gerneral Hospital for 34 years. You do have to ask for them. They put it on a CD along with the run program and insturation on how to use it. Also get a paper copy of the Doctors report that read the scan. Just go to xray department but you must ask. All for free and show you hospital card and if not a regular maybe your pass port. I have file cabnet draw full of reports, and have used them at another Hospital to get a second opinion.

I open my first BBK account in 1986, use it deposit money based on planning on building a house here. House was build and the account how just takes care of just the monthly house bills, water, TV cable, Internet, electricity and land line phone. Just keep enough to last about four months of bills. Open 2nd BBK account fixed for the 800,000 for Annual Immigration retirement Ext. I have four bank account in three different banks. Wife has six different bank accounts in four different banks. Thats how I spread my savings around in Thai banks. And like most experts I have 1/4 of my savings here and 3/4 in my home country.

Just have add my 2 cents. I met my wife of 44 years of marrage in the USA. She was there visting her friend and we started to dating early June. After 3 months we were married. I was in the US Air Force and just after we were married I received orders to Germany. Married in late Aug left the US early Dec. I am 4 months older the her, I'm now 82 and she will 82 in Oct. Served 30+ years in the Air Forse moved too Bangkok June 1991 and retired here 1 Sept 1991. Work at the US Embasy 15 years and retired in 2008. No tattoos on either of us. We have one daughter she was raised in Bangkok went to US for collage. Has earned a PHd and visits us about three times a year.

In the first place I have not had a visa for the last 34 years. Extension of stay no visa. Why should not carry your passport with you eveytime you leave the house is simple "Theft". I work at the US Embassy for over 14 years in Bangkok, every Monday morning there was a line up of US Citizens that had Lost their Passports . It's not safe to carrie Kerry wrong Carrie Especially at night out drinking.

Came here in 1991 the wife and me did a lot of running around to get all the correct paper work for the first year, the first 2 years ext of stay my borther in law had aman do it for us, I looked real closely and said I can do that. The next 10 years I did the ex of stay using married to a Thai. On the 15th year the IO lady said I can finsh it in today if you use retirement , I said yes, done in 1/2 Hr. The last 19 yrs I have done it myself, the last 2 yrs in 30 min's. I think my age and phy condition had a lot to do with it then.

With all this talk about tariffs, I think expats have taken their eye the Baht Rate. Looks like its going back to the 1960's- 1994, 25 baht for 1 dollar, it's just around the corner. I was here in 1966 and 1972 and came to live here in 1991 all the same 25 to 1

44 years married in the USA, lived over seas 43 years, 34 here in Bangkok, same house that we had build before arriving.

On the 25th of July @3:45pm I used our joint ATM card at a stand alone area ( not at the Kasikornbank ) withdrawed 30,000 Baht. Needed to test because the 1st of every month I have to pay the maids and help pay for care of sister-inlaw in the Hospital. Been withdrawing 50,000 Baht just before the 1st of the month for more a year now at ATM 30K + 20K still working for now.

Have a question? Your WIFE Legal bought a house on own and would think the land that house is located on too. Did you have to sign any paper work Stateing that you had NO Financial interest in the property? If not your wife may run into some problems when or if she whats to sell / or transfer owership to the house. I have been though it and it still is not done.

Same thing happen to me only it was Krungthai ( Blue bank) Bank because they wouldn't allow a joint names ATM card, that was a few years back. I had that joint account with debit card for more then 20 yrs. We closed three fix accounts which each had 1,000,000.00 Baht. Open new accounts two in Goverment Bank ( Pink) fix accounts each 1 Mil Baht and one account joint account wife name first and debit card. We both kept our old Krungthai, but veay little money in either. My account with debit card is used for small purchase only I keep betweet 30,000 - 20,000 in it Wife receives her old age pention in her account., has used just once to purchace a new kitchen range.

I have lived in Thailand since 1991. I know that the world changes and things never stay the same. I use to travel Thailand a lot more then now, but our daughter comes to seen use two to four times a year, only once a year with her husband as he has way more work to do and is the Dist. manager for his company, and that once year trip is four weeks long. My daughter just left to get back to her company. Before leaving she was telling us how much more thing cost here now Hotels, food, clothing ect. she was look for a high-end lady’s bag as they did not have a store out let near her. She seen the bag looked over just what she what’s, did buy, she could get the same from the company by buying online for less now that was apply touch it and see workmanship. It cost more to live Bangkok then in Arlington WA. But I'm too old move now will just tough it out here. Money is not the hold object just part of the puzzle

I have lived in Thailand unbroken 34 year. Not once have ever come across a restaurant that either had sign or ask me to remove my shoes. If so I would most likely just leave.

I have live here for the past 34 years', Came in with as non O 90 vise, and now retirement extension each year. I read that OP already has a Thai Bank account that he uses' to send money. "Yes I have a Thai bank account set up many years ago. It's used quite a lot to send money to my family"The big Question is the bank account in your Name only other wise it's no good to be use for the 800,000 baht requirement. When IMO first mention that the 800,000 in the Thai bank requirement in 2019. I went looking to open a account in my name only turn down around ten times, I finally convince a bank manager that I meant all the their banks, the clinger was I have the house water bill in my name only. That made it work then, since then they removed that as proof of address.

I did not get a email I received a Letter From KTB all in English telling me that they did not have all my information and needed for me to stop in at branch bank that I open the account so 31 years ago. I have a small account noramly only 30 - 40K PLUS No interest paid (my request) but I have a ATM card which i use at mostly when eating out. I have 6 other banks used for different reason, swift transfers large purchase's. I know that some of those other banks will be asking me to stop by too as most of the accounts were open 30+ years ago

I'm 82 now and not in good health, bad back every hard to walk and me writing anything is not readable. Some years back my wife ( same age as me) ask IM lady who we seen many times in the last 30+ years, what would happen if I was not physically able to go to CW, her reply don't come, know one is going to come looking for you and you would not be able to cause any trouble that the government would what to any way.

After reading almost all the language replays on this subject I did not see anyone mention the inability to learn Thai do to a hearing problem, I don't hear the change in tones. I have lived around the world, in the 31 years that I was in the US military. I was able to learn enough of the local languages mostly because they were in the Greek alphabet and tones were not a major part of the languages, which let get close to sounds need. I have lived in thailand for last 34+ years and do not even come close to saying that I speak or understand Thai. And for reading Thai, very hard as it is in sandscript. I work in Bangkok for 15 years and had 47 Thai employees four who spoke English to some degree. We work find together in all those years we never had any major misunderstandings. As some said that some people are just better at learning a language, my middle son reads and speaks 5 languages and speaks and understands another 10. My daughter is flumed in 2 and speaks and understands 3 others. At 81+ I'm not about feel that I missed out on anything living in Thailand and not speaking the language. I did try and took Thai lessons with aThai instructor and tried self taught language courses but never came any reveal of proficiency in Thai.

Back in 2023 when the subject of TRD was going to tax any funds bought in after 1 Jan 2024 I started to transfer funds to my main bank account. Once I had enough to last me for all of 2024 and forward with those funds plus what I already had in country. During all of 2024 I did not transfer any funds in to Thailand "0". I figured it would be a long learning curve for both taxable foreigners and TRD, so I'm going to see how it plays out. I'm not filing a Thai tax return as I have nothing to declare. Now I'm just waiting to see how this turns out.

I also do not earn any money in Thailand and this year 1 Jan 2024 forward, I have not bought in any money to Thailand (wife and me both 81) . Last year just after they announced to us that money bought in would come under Thailand taxes, I sent in over a period of time enough money, coupled that with what I already had here to live here up to 4 years in the same lifestyle in Bangkok. I am just waiting to see that happens next. If it gets too be to much paperwork and going to different office for paperwork, I'm gone. I'll return to my home country and live just as comfortably there thought the winters will limit my out of the side travels. Time will tell.

Citizenship based taxation - International comparison | TFX Taxes for expats https://www.taxesforexpats.com › Expat tax advice The US is one of two countries in the world that taxes based on residency. So do not think that there a lot of countries that taxe income made out side there country. \

I have lived in Bangkok in the same house for 34+ years. Back in 1991 this was LOS over time I can truly say not anymore, it's just like any western country now. As for pink card I asked our local office and they gave me a list of things I would need the worse was passport front page, copy certified by Embassy, translated into Thai and certified by the TFM. same for marriage license because the one have now is to old (just like me and the Thai wife). Did they think that something was going to change after all those years? Plus two witness and could not be family. there was some other paperwork required but don't remember. I do not carry my passport with me like stated above, only for new Bank Book and IMO. Most places will take my Thai DL as ID.

Wife bought land back in 1986. I retired in 1991 and we moved right to Bangkok, Had the western style house build, we arrived 2 weeks before we could move in. Since then up date's 2 times one minor 1998 and one big job 2006. Live in the East end of Bangkok in nice housing project, easy to get to the highways and to the main road to downtown, thought have not been there in the last 6 - 8 years. Nothing there that we can not find real close to home. Raised our daughter here 2 -12 grades then off to the US for collages Three. She Has her Phd along with her own business. She and her husband normally come to visits 2 times a year now that we don't travel any more. Our living standard is great and along with the Medical care, that's what keeps us here. For me never been one for going out on the town, only been in one Bar for the last 34 + years. Sad now thou that all my real friends' have move back home or died.

Before the of the US Embassy stopping the letter to prove income each year in ( 2019 ), that's what I always use. In Jan 2019 I deposited 800,000 Baht in Bangkok Bank a Fixed Account, I asked if they could just roll it over into the same account each year in Jan ( my yearly extension is due in mid June each year.) No problem and I never use that account, No ATM card's for Fixed Accounts either. So each year 2 to 5 days before going to CW, I go the a branch bank and get the letter showing I still have the account the date and amount in the bankbook with a bankbook up that day. When I go to CW I first go down stairs and do another update for that day of the bankbook and get a copy of the last page. Give that IO and no question ask. Last extension May 21 2024. l only have of two pages used in the bankbook. Been doing my own extension for the last 34 years and I'm 81.