Galong

2 minutes ago, natway09 said:

Get a retirement visa which is extendable (wife or not) after you have finished work.

Have a happy life together

Yep, just need to know if I actually need to buy insurance or not... it would be an unpleasant/expensive surprise if I do as I've planned my life around using Thai Social Security as my healthcare plan.  It covers everything and I'm very happy with the hospital here in Phuket that is in the SS system.  In other words, life is good... unless the big bosses in BKK decide to change the rules. ????

2 hours ago, jumbo said:

After you stop working you can extend the SS 'forever' on a personal basis, currently at 432 thb per month for the 100% health insurance

Not sure if you are aware of that...

Hi Jumbo... yep, I've actually paid into the system for so long that the head of SS in Phuket said I was covered for life.  Apparently, if you've paid into the system for more than 180 months, you're covered forever.  I, of course, have ZERO problem paying 432 baht/month if I was misquoted. 

The problem is, I've read on another thread here on Thai Visa that immigration isn't accepting Thai SS as health insurance!  That's absurd if it's true.  Thai SS is extremely good healthcare... better coverage that what I could buy is some cases due to my age and a pre-existing condition.   Geez, I sure would like to know the actual facts on this matter.

Just now, BoBoTheClown said:

Best of luck to you. 

 

Thanks BoBo... that's very kind of you.  ????

It'll all work out I'm sure. I'm just researching my options and seeing if anyone has any insight into a scenario like this.  Hopefully, I'll die before my wife dies, so this is a for naught.  BTW, neither of us is in bad health.  I am 7 years older than her (64 vs 57... not spring chickens) 

6 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

You would have to cease working if going to retirement.

Yep, I'm not going to do anything illegal. 

Back to your comment about keeping my O visa after she died, having the O instead of OA means no mandatory health insurance I assume, which is potentially a huge issue given my age and pre-existing condition status... fingers crossed that they don't change the current policy to put us O visa folks in the same mandatory healthcare scheme. 

Thanks a lot for your comments. ????????

3 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

You could remain until normal expiration of extension and then extend for retirement using the same non immigrant O visa entry you used for marriage.  You would not need an O-A visa.

Thanks Lobburi3!!!  This is EXACTLY what I was hoping to hear. 

I know I'd have to double my bank account from 400K to 800K, but that's not a problem.

OK, all is good now, but for future reference, I was wondering what would happen to my O visa if my wife died before I died.   I have Thai Social Security for life as I've paid into it for 20+ years. I read a thread on TV about Thai SS NOT counting as an approved health insurance plan in order to renew an OA visa, which is what I assume I might have to do (get additional health insurance) if my wife dies before me. 

If my wife died, I could no longer have a non-imm O visa (or extension), correct?  I would have to change it.  Is there a visa option for folks in my situation that I can get 'in country'?  ... in other words, not go back my home country to get a retirement OA extension. I think this would still be called an O extension, but I don't know.  I'm confused and concerned about possible scenarios. ????

BTW, I am working in Thailand (work permit of course) and I'm 64 years old with pre-existing medical conditions.  Thai SS is covering that wonderfully, but I'm sure other insurance schemes would not be happy with me or expect a wild amount of money for a policy. 

Much thanks for all forthcoming comments ????

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

No I do not. Many people have done both of them without an agent.

For PR contact the section that handles it at Chaeng Wattana immigration.

For citizenship there is an office at the Special Branch police in Bangkok that can assist with it.

I live in Phuket. My wife has called the Special Branch Police a few times.  They tell her to see the police down here (which I know is not correct) and the police down here say call them back in Bangkok. ????

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Being married to a Thai  means for PR you need 50k baht of income and citizenship only 40k baht.

I think you may of been asking the wrong people for info.

A PR application does not require you prove charitable donations. For citizenship a receipt for one donation of about 5k baht is enough.

Would you perhaps have someone (agency) that you recommend I talk to about this? I have absolutely no problem paying for help.  Thanks.

3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Being married to a Thai  means for PR you need 50k baht of income and citizenship only 40k baht.

I think you may of been asking the wrong people for info.

A PR application does not require you prove charitable donations. For citizenship a receipt for one donation of about 5k baht is enough.

Thanks Joe... I thought that was the case as well... and yes, I've apparently been asking the wrong people.  However, that would include the Royal Police Dept. in BKK too.  They're the ones who came up with the highest salary figure... go figure. 555

I run a small tour company and though it is successful, I ain't paying myself a big salary. I don't need it or want it.  It seems to me, the fact that I pay my crew top wages should be more important to the authorities.

I'll keep checking.  Thanks a LOT for your input, sir.  ???? ????

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

That is not a reason for you to be deported from the country. It is only a requirement to apply for certain visa applications and to get a work permit renewed.

You would have to be charged with a serious offense of the law to be deported.

PR or citizenship is not an option for many people. You have to be working with a work permit and paying taxes for 3 year to do a application for them.

I meet almost all requirements for both (I have had a work permit for my company for over 20 years and I do everything by the book)... but in trying to organize either one recently I keep getting wildly different requirement answers.  Meaning, online I'm getting certain answers, agencies are giving me other answers, and the police in both BKK and Phuket are giving me yet other answers.  The main 'turn-off' is my salary requirement... answers range from 40K/month (online), to 65k/month (a couple of agencies), to 75k - 85k/month from the police!!!  I would consider it unethical to pay myself that much given that we're a small tour operator (the company where I work/own)

Plus, they want a heep of proof of charitable contributions.  I do a LOT of charity work.  I never ask for receipts.  I consider that rather tacky... Here ya go orphanage, here's some money... BTW, I'll need a receipt for that. ???? ????

I am NOT saying that the requirement are unfair or unrealistic, but I find them personally challenging and just want to see if going that route is even necessary given my other retirement options.  I'm SURE that a Thai trying to get citizenship in my homeland would make this look like a cakewalk. 

10 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

The situation could change and maybe you wouldn't meet the new requirements. PR or citizenship would be safer.

Or, I guess I could go the Thai Elite visa route as a very last resort... not keen on handing over a stack of money, but it would beat being forced out. 

2 minutes ago, Tayaout said:

The situation could change and maybe you wouldn't meet the new requirements. PR or citizenship would be safer.

Fair statement... they'd have to change quite a bit for me not to qualify. I imagine any changes would be to the financial requirements and that wouldn't be a huge issue for me... not that I'm rich or anything close to that, but I'm doing OK. ????

I've got Thai Social Security for life as I've more than met their 180 month pay-in requirement.  They'd somehow need to change that too and take away any 'grandfathering', which would go against their past history of being reasonable about stuff like this. 

Thanks for your input. 

Perhaps a silly question, but is there ANY reason why you would be forced out of Thailand if you met the retirement requirements? ????

I assume that if you meet the financial requirements and follow the rules, you can live the rest of your live, no matter your age or medical/health status (given that you've got health insurance) in Thailand.

Not counting:
- Breaking the law or a past criminal record catching up with you (I'm not talking about myself... I'm clean ????)
- Having or getting one of the listed diseases that are not allowed (again, not talking about myself... I'm clean ????)

I'm weighing the actual benefits if PR or citizenship, which is rightfully tedious and expensive to obtain (meaning, I don't blame the gov for making us jump through loads of hoops) vs simply going the standard retirement visa/extension route.  I don't really need the special treatment or perks of citizenship as I find what I have to do now at immigration and when traveling to be perfectly acceptable.  Maybe I've answered my own question... 555, but I'd appreciate some positive input and/or anecdotes.   Thanks in advance. ????

PS: I've been with my Thai wife for 26+ years. If she died before me I'd be so heartbroken that I wouldn't want to stay anyway most likely, but I assume by law I could just change my immigration (visa/extension) status and stay.

3 minutes ago, BertM said:

Nice you're still enjoying working at age 64. I was fortunate to be offered a nice retirement package at age 59 after 40 years with the same company, so now I'm enjoying not working... the money is not an issue for me either... Staying busy does help keep you feeling young regardless if it's working or doing other activities.

Good luck and enjoy...

I made my hobby my job, so it's what I would do anyway... though I do more marketing that the actual activity.  Still, it gives me meaning.  

Yep, if I had a standard job like I had before, I would have done anything to get out of it early. I hated every job I had until this one.  Good for you for getting an early retirement, Bert. ????

Cheers

2 minutes ago, DavisH said:

60 years for government worker, but there is talk of increasing the age - my wife has 3 more years to retire. After than she gets a nice pension and they can go to work full time in the private sector + still keep her full pension (Unlike Australia, where the reduce your pension if you work x number of hours.) You can continue to work as you are, and just do reduced hours as you see fit. 

Perfect!  Thanks for the first-hand info. ????

Cheers

3 minutes ago, moontang said:

When I lived in Laughlin Nevada, I noticed a lot of very old guys, like 75+, whose entire lives revolved around sitting at the race book all day and betti g a couple bucks per race.  All had decent pensions and enjoyed living in a low COL area.  Certainly would be better than the various <deleted> 9to5 jobs most had done, and as a group, they seemed to do better than most retirees I have encountered. 

When I had a real job at a big corporation, it was not unusual to hear about some guy retiring and doing nothing.  They usually ended up dead of very unhealthy... nope, keep moving, keep active, and at least get a hobby.

12 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Keep on doing the thing you enjoy. I have several work collegues still going strong (and bringing very valuable input) well into their 70s. One has "retired" at least 3 times, become bored, asked around, been offered a short contract and off he goes.

 

I hope that I'm as valuable to potential payers when I get to that age.

my job is main marketing, so I do that from home and work when I feel like working... couldn't get any easier.   It does keep me researching SEO and social media, so it keeps the mental juices flowing around.  Yep, I think I'd get bored being fully retired too. 

So, my REAL question was merely to ask if there is an age limit on Thai Work Permits.  I got a bit long-winded in saying that.  It seems, by all accounts, that the answer is a resounding... NOPE... work as long as want. ????

Cheers

12 minutes ago, abrahamzvi said:

All I can say is Good Luck. I sincerely hope you enjoy doing what you are doing for many years to come. People like you will have no trouble staying here with the right permit or otherwise, Thai Citizenship, PR or a retirement permit.

Thanks!!!  I'm not overly worried about it as I've got a solid work record, pay a lot of taxes (never complained about taxes... I think they're fair), and I employ quite a few Thais. I've also got some wonderful connections... which help in any country.  It's folks who like what our company does for the Kingdom mainly, nothing more than that.

In all likelihood, I'll work as long as I can, then go the (married) retirement extension.

Much thanks. ???? 

49 minutes ago, hanssna said:

Thanks for this Post, Galong. It's nice to read something so positive again on TV, instead of all the negative posts and remarks about Thailand that are common here. Myself, I've been here almost 20 years as well, also a long time in the SS (pakkhan san khom) and I love my work in the tour industry and my own small business. 53 now, so I'm not looking for retirement yet. 

Too bad that some posters are reacting in a cynical way again, but that's to be expected here on TV. Good luck to you in the future. 

I haven't posted anything here in many years because no matter what you ask, someone says something negative... oh well. There have been some useful comment here as well, so that's nice.

I know I should have started thinking about options a long, long time ago, but I'm enjoying life so much that time just caught up with me. I'm just realizing that I'm old. 555

I have plenty of options I'm sure. I'm by no means wealthy, but as an absolute last resort, I 'could' go the Thai Elite Visa option fairly easily.  That would hurt the wallet, but it would teach me to plan better. ????

Cheers

1 hour ago, Lacessit said:

I remember reading a book which strongly supported working for as long as one is physically and mentally capable. The statistics say people who work longer, live longer.

Having said that, it makes no sense to try to put in the same hours as a twenty year old. If possible, the OP should try to reduce the hours he works to his own comfort level.

Yes, I read that a while ago too... makes sense actually. If you keep your mind and body active, both should stay in better shape than if you don't.  I have a very easy job and I've already cut way back on the amount that I work. I really love what I'm doing. I see no reason to quit... voluntarily. ????

1 hour ago, Denim said:

If you have Thai social security can you choose to use it at any hospital , including private , of your choice or only government hospitals ?

 

 

I live in Phuket. Only government hospitals deal with Thai SS.  There are two hospitals that accept SS... one really good one and one fairly bad one.  The really good one is at the end of my street. 

Hi problemfarang, I think the "55 or 60" years-old thing is for teachers. It might apply to government workers too... not sure.  It doesn't seem to apply to the private sector.

Cheers

I kinda let old age creep up on me. I didn't pay attention to it, didn't really think about it, and now I'm 64! ????  

I'm looking seriously into Thai citizenship.  There is a ton of info online about it, but a lot of it doesn't match. A 'well-connected' Thai friend was looking into it for me and came up with a whole list of requirements that don't match most of what's online.

I'm going to see professional advice on this soon. I should have done this a long time ago... oh well.