Hellfire

Sexual harassment, a pressing issue in mass gatherings, was also brought up in the survey. Some 85.20% of the respondents believed that an alcohol-free Songkran could help lessen cases of such behaviour.
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Why only alcohol? There are more effective methods - mass male castration, for example. Balls-free Songkran.
I wish I could work for some Thai government agency. Have a lot of cool ideas. Just for 1 million baht a month salary - I am ready.

13 minutes ago, Bobthegimp said:

 

One advantage presented itself to me yesterday. I rented a room near Jomtien Beach for this month.  A lady from the desk who spoke little English had taken a picture of my passport and extension stamp when I checked in. 

 

Yesterday, a lady who spoke English knocked on my door and asked to see my stamp. I showed her my passport and was offered a deep discount if I agreed to stay for 3 or more months.  She said that they mostly get tourists here and would like to have longer stay guests during the low season, which makes perfect sense. 

 

Another advantage is being able to make arrangements with waitresses and other Thai women who have seasonal boyfriends who visit only for brief vacations.  The boyfriends usually send money or take them on lavish vacations when in town, but women get lonely and don't do well alone.  I've been approached by 3 such ladies after knowing them for a while.  This only works if you're discrete and aren't jealous about slipping out of her life when the bf is in town. 

But don’t forget about one huge disadvantage. One should be quite old to get that retirement visa.

And, regarding your positive examples… Well , I know several people who stayed in Thailand for many many years on a tourist visa (one of them I know better than anybody else in the Universe). 
 

28 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Thats correct except some specific medicine can not be purchased at street Pharmacies.

Last time at Bangkok Pattaya hospital the woman at the cashier was visibly unhappy after me asking her to just give me the names of the medicines so I can buy them outside. I think she wanted me to feel myself as a kind of Cheap Charlie. Anyway, I prefer to be Cheap Charlie to being Idiotic Charlie who pays 1500 thb for 500 thb pack of antibiotics (true case).

14 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Note: this thread is not about farang medical costs v medical costs for Thai.

 

The OP was asking about any advantages for non O extensions VS tourist visas.

Answer: No there is not. 

But I think you ignore some advantages that do exist. Like, for example, the possibility of getting a Certificate Of residence, which is necessary for some procedures (getting a driver license, for example). There should be some other, similar advantages.

8 minutes ago, Dan O said:

Not in all hospitals but Yes there is can be some a "tier" system in Private Hospitals where foreigners pay a higher fee for the same services that a Thai would. There was a court case a couple years back where a European foreigner took a hospital to court for charging a "tiered" system for services. He lost the case and the court went as far as stating that it was an acceptable practice as foreigners have a higher disposable income. 

 Just an advice. Never buy a medicine in the private hospitals if one can be bought outside their premises. Two-three times price difference is guaranteed. 
 

36 minutes ago, Bobthegimp said:

 

Nay my brother.  The village loan shark might deal with you but you mightn't like the repayment terms. 

Don’t think that even the loan sharks will want to deal with a foreigner. We are only good for spreading Covid here )

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

It means you don't get any discount etc for medical or other.

You are granted temporary permission of stay and will pay same as someone on visa exempt entry 

Bank loans? 

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

 

Be aware that an extension from non O provides a temporary permission of stay.

Exactly the same as stamp from tourist visa.

 

What does that mean, exactly? Could you, please, elaborate?

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

No it's not a "tier" system.

You can use public hospitals for fraction of price of private. 

As to your thread ....any form of tourist visas would not be good option for "I plan to live here permanently " 

You should obtain a non O based on retirement and subsequent 12 month extensions on going.

That has financial requirements. 

If that is not possible some folk use an agent. 

Once I tried a public hospital (Banglamung Pattaya). That was an awful experience. Waiting queues (for hours), the lack of the necessary basic equipment and the doctor who did not speak English and looked like she is still in the process of getting her education (young and unexperienced). No more public hospitals for me.

1 hour ago, 1happykamper said:

In Monday you posted that you had paid about 22k on a retirement visa. 

 

You've been in Thai visa for over a year and been very active. 

 

Troll post? 

 

I don’t see any contradiction here. I was on a tourist visa for a long time. Now, I have applied for a retirement visa and want to know about the additional benefits I could get from this status change.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, your question is far to open.

It's all about how long  you wish to stay in Thailand and is it ongoing. 

For example many posts along the lines...

"I want to spend 6 months in Thailand each  year" 

You need to elaborate.  

I plan to live here permanently. I heard there are payment tiers in the Thai hospitals. The lowest and the most expensive tier is for those on a tourist visa. Did I get that right? 

5 minutes ago, biervoormij said:

Sorry I think I am missing the meaning of your question. The obvious answer for me is you can stay in Thailand longer then 60 days with a Non-Imm-O based on retirement. The single entry tourist visa only allows 60 days without going to immigration.

Yes, that indeed is obvious. What about other, less obvious advantages? For example, the cost of the health related services?

What are the main pluses of being on a Retirement visa vs Tourist visa (if any)? 

17 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

To be clear. 

You had agent obtain a bank account along with a non O retirement and 12 month extension 

Yes

6 hours ago, roo860 said:

I can confirm this, just walked into my local 7/11, not wearing a mask, I was verbally threatened by staff and locals, seems its been taken very seriously.

Only verbally?  Really lucky… I get the reports of the shootings involving maskless foreigners all over the country. 8 years old farang boy was shot in Chayapum province this morning. Thanks God his parents were fully masked, they are alive but a little bit shocked. The Thais took this new measure seriously. Beware everybody.

So, today I opened a new account through agency. It cost me 3200 thb. But it was done together with retirement visa application which cost me additional 25500 thb. 

1 hour ago, ThaiFelix said:

You are in a way correct but we are talking about a viscious terrorist organisation whose powerful propagandar machine could turn two flies crawling up a wall into some fantasy story in support of its genocide of the Palestinian people.  Although just about every claim Israel has made about October 7 and since has been fully refuted, these false claims still stick in peoples minds and continue to add support to the evil regimes murderous actions.

 As if the multiple photos and videos of these savages killing and destroying anything on their way were not enough!

What Israel is dealing with here is an inhuman sect which uses hypocrisy to cover up their crimes against humanity.

2 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Anyone know why he was fighting? 

Delirium tremens

At least, he did not try to get to the policemen’s guns. Couple of months in Thai prison and back to the vodka paradise.