Wrwest

Appears to me this would be easy for a working middle class American. Can't afford food, clothing shelter never mind medical care, transportation ... Not even a contest. While the working middle class in the USA is not alone as we see plenty of Aussies, Kiwis, Europeans from various "developed counties" who are unable to live retired in their own countries. So ... we are "outsourced" to lower cost countries to try and live a working middle class retirement. Many are not as fortunate as I find myself. Unable to afford retirement in the USA, I am able to enjoy a working middle class retirement here in Thailand on my sustainable $2400.00 USD a moth ($1526 of that from SS). Economic reality of the wealth/income gap hitting the "Baby Boomer" generation.

Wise asks for the reason for the transfer. Scroll down to the bottom and you can cite, for long term stay. This tells Wise you need a direct transfer for immigration requirement. I have had zero issues with the funds transferring from my USA Fidelity bank to my Bangkok Bank Account here in Thailand. January monthly transfer due shortly and my annual Extension of Stay will be made next month.

OK, not Bangkok, rather Chiang Mai. I was driving back to Chiang Mai from Mae Wang the afternoon. The fires burning off to the left of the highway were readily apparent, as was the pollution obscuring Doi Suthep. Sad … fire watches and speedy police interdiction of violators does not seem to be present. Currently all attention on the roadsides to try to stem road accidents.

I retired from the USA to Thailand in 2011. For most of the years I have used the same method to show a monthly transfer of 65,000 baht + from my U.S. bank directly into my Bangkok Bank Account. My U.S. Social Security is deposited directly into my Fidelity bank account. Twice a year I also have my retirement Minimum Required Distribution deposited into my Fidelity bank account. Each month, I direct Wise to make an Electronic Funds Transfer from my Fidelity bank account in the amount of $2200.00 USD and deposit the transfer into my Bangkok Bank Account (arrives in Thai Baht). I always tell Wise that the reason for the fund transfer is for supporting my long stay in Thailand, thus it is deposited directly and the end of the year, when I apply for my Extension of Stay, Bangkok Bank shows the monthly deposits as having come from abroad, as required. Has worked for me without problems.

Just like in my home country. Although, thus far, without the chronic military coups.

Should not be a surprise for anyone thinking of Chinese culture, history and the population gender balance. But I doubt if it is something new.

I am about ready to again renew my 5 year Thai licenses for the car and motorbike. Retired here in 2011.

A “must visit” in Tokyo. Great memories of studying at the University of Washington for the intense introduction to Japanese history, language, culture and then it was off to visit fellow educators in Japan. It would be my first of the five visits I would make. If I could have afforded it, I might well have retired in Japan.

US citizen based Grand Juries heard the evidence presented before they handed down criminal indictments on 91 charges. Same as in Thailand? And now most charges will be heard by US citizen based Jury Trials. Same as in Thailand. I respect each peoples right to decide their own countries justice system but ... there appears to be substantial differences.

I have used Chiang Mai Removals for shipping to the USA. Other times I used ThaiPost for less fragile items.

Sorry, did not conveniently forget. I did not know that US National Parks allow free admissions to residents of surrounding states. Wonder if this holds true of all US National Parks these days. I do not recall free admissions as a resident of New Jersey or later, Kentucky. just found this. I never stop learning. Across the entire National Park Service, which includes 425 units, only 109 charge an entrance fee. Nearly all have a park-specific annual pass, ranging from $35 to $70. Many also have fees per vehicle, person or motorcycle that vary from $5 to $35.Oct 14, 2023 Why do some national parks charge an entrance fee? | The Hill The Hill https://thehill.com › homenews › nexstar_media_wire

Too broad. Might have quailed as “many”. I sold all property and cannot afford a working middle class retirement in the USA on my sustainable $2400.00 a month ($1526.00 of that from SS). But I am not forced to call Thailand home … there are other lower cost countries hosting millions of the western retired working middle class. While I do not actively “bash” the USA, as a student of history I am very familiar with failures to reach the ideals.

Made me recall my Mother. Her temperature and blood pressure were to low for her to be able to donate blood. I have speculated that she might still be with us had a motor vehicle accident taken her life in 1986.

I have been reading, listening, observing the mounting immigration issues globally. And I think I can give credence to the reaction to the most current influx of immigration overloading the usual average immigration levels. Historically, there have been these nativist "pushback" reactions historically. I am most familiar with my own home country's reactions ... a bit funny as there were times of anti - (fill in the balance) ... German, Irish, Chinese, Japanese, Southeast Mediterranean (aimed mostly at Catholic Italians), etc. I think I can quite understand how mass immigration is feared as changing any country's basic culture. I can also comprehend the forces driving refugees to seemingly safer, more prosperous countries. It appears to me that if one wishes to stop this mass refugee issue then ... you must address what is forcing the refugees seeking to better their life situation. Nope, the answer is not walls, the answer is providing peace and a way to have enough income to provide food, clothing, shelter for one's family. Yes, yes ... after that we can discuss achieving a just, sustainable society. In my own case, I count myself as an economic refugee as I am unable to have a sustainable working middle class retirement in my own country on a monthly $2400.00 USD monthly budget.

My heart is yet again broken at the news of such murders and woundings. Unheard of in the Czech Republic. As Director of our Sister Cities program (Twinned Cities in Europe) I visited more than 40 times, over 20 years, passing through Prague on the way to and returning from our Sister City of Olomouc. Only recently working on my DNA genealogy have I learned that I aso have some Czech DNA. My heart goes out to all those who have suffered from this, including the shooter’s family which also suffered the double loss of the shooter and the shooters murdered Father. I mourn with my Czech friends.

I would favor and welcome seeing that the disposition of all such cases is sending them back to the country issuing the Passport and marking them as banned from the Kingdom of Thailand.

My experience in 2015. Went to Sriphat Hospital, Chiang Mai. Immediate emergency care. Diagnosis, I was having a Heart Attack. Catherization was already being used, they called RAM Hospital, they sent their ambulance for me as they could get me catheterized immediately. Result was a stent and two additional angioplasties (due to build up of scar tissue narrowing blood vessels at site of my 2005 by-passes). Nothing was mentioned about payment until I was recovering at RAM. No bill from Sriphat. I was registered already at RAM. They direct billed my insurance for $5000.00 USD (policy limit), and I paid the remainder of the bill. I have had only positive experiences with Chiang Mai healthcare.

As do Walmart shoppers in USA … all the time crying about jobs being outsourced. It is an economic bind …

I have thought the Schengen Visa requirement should solve Thailand’s liability for short term visitors. They could also solve the problem for annual extension of stay holders by affecting a health insurance coverage at a reasonable cost (or accepting the international policies covering global healthcare that are now sometimes denied as valid to meet immigration requirements).

Actually, I favor having an election contest with Trump as the Republican Party nominee. You see, if a majority of the American voting citizens would not firmly reject him … then I do not have a country in which to believe and support. At my age, I would retain my Passport (Canada, I would gladly swap … hmm, actually with a number of countries where my shared DNA is present), but I would certainly not visit (already cannot live there on my monthly sustainable retirement income). The USA has faced major challenges in the past but … this is a crisis where a notable number of citizens seem bent on fascism as if that would result in addressing their issues.

Something screwed up here. I have an “O” Extension based on marriage to a Thai national. The one year extension does not require me to exit during the year. Same as my previous “OA” extensions, no requirement to exit during the period of the extension of stay in Thailand.

Hmm, Yellowstone charges foreigners more? Don’t think so, same price for all. 800 baht per car with 4-6 passengers included. Or, in the case of us oldsters … a one time purchase pass. My Thai Wife and Stepdaughter included as my guests in US Nat’l Parks in a visit this past April.

Very funny, if sad. Another wild accusation not based on fact. Oops, sorry, someone posting such troll responses is not capable of dealing with facts. Right … science, fact … bah humbug!

It will do more than that to this American. He gets a majority of the USA popular vote and the social contract between me, as an American citizen and the majority voting for him will be dissolved. I will no longer have a country

He is well aware of his audience. Those who are rabid anti … fill in the black and the disaffected ignorant Americans ( of whom there are far too many). He is a present and current danger to any hope of a continuing American participatory democracy. What is that Chinese curse again? “May you live in interesting times”.