TheJahMeister

for a usa citizen

who has been a thailand a while

using tourist visas and visa exemptions mostly

turning 50 (at some point)

what's the best way to go?

apply for retirement visa in thailand, another SEA country, ausrtalia

or would it be better to do it in the USA?

there is also the possible option to continue with tourist visas and visa exemption runs

here is a list from the thai embassy at the washington dc website

some of this is unclear

http://www.thaiembdc.org/index.htm

in THIS case they dont mention where the money has to be, in thailand or home country, can you keep the money in the usa if applying in the usa?

quotes like this are unclear:

the verification shall be valid for no more than 3 months

which i think means not more than 3 months old

from what i have been reading so far on this forum is that it may be easier than jumping through all the hoops listed if i just apply here in thailand

though i have heard it is almost always easier and you have more visa options when applying in the usa or home country (depending on the country)

the talk also has been you need to transfer the money into thailand at least 3 months in advance of the application (applying in thailand)

this scares me since i have heard rumors/stories of money being seized or unable to transfer the money out

there are also minor issues like finding an interest bearing account, opening a new account without a work permit

and a zillion other little things

what is the turnaround time for applying and getting the visa in thailand and applying in the usa?

has anyone applied for a retirement visa and been refused and if so, what were the reasons given for refusal

any and all insights appreciated

thanks in advance

i heard there is/was a consulate or embassy just south of the thai border much closer than kl or penang

i also heard it used to be easy to get a visa there but maybe not anymore

i am also thinking about the dangers and safety in regards to the political situation and violence

i think any information about these issues might be invaluable to readers here

does anyone have any experience with that place?

my first post

please go easy on me

i apologize if any of this is redundant to the post board

pardon the typos and spelling

my second trip to georgetown/penang, my first alone

i didnt want to go but then, i didnt want to leave

it was a wonderfully refreshing (visa) holiday from many things including the phone and TV

many people speak english there

the food is wonderful

many guys out at night (and lady boys), not so many gals

intersting culture and place

i used nj visa service and money exchange (both times)

i called them, before i went, a few times

sure they got my visa but my sense is they are your typical (S.E.A.) hustlers for a number of reasons

maybe better to use banana guest house, both lodging and visa, they were wonderfully to me

BTW i have added pages twice to my usa passport, have many many 30 day visa exempt stamps, including the numbers 1,2,3 highlighted on the last 3, which expired on (and so i left) jan 24, and no problem getting a 60 day tourist visa

i called the CONSOLATE before i went, with some of my questions and concerns about getting a visa

the man i spoke with sounded very nice kind and considerate

beware of malay, thai, and muslum holidays

also i hear chinese new years is a long holiday and booked up

for money exchange, check a few places out, you may get a little better deal

if i am not mistaken (i checked at the airport before i left to go back to BKK) the exchange was not too bad there, if you need to use the service

warning, i think it is difficult to exchange ringet to baht in thailand

it is feasable to do a visa run in one night/two days going by air

but i would not risk the time pressure

i gave myself two nights

fly in a.m. first day, drop off passport before noonish, get vsia next day 2:30pm, fly out the third day

book well in advance with airasia for the best fare

seats are not assigned, beware of massiv que

you are not suppose to eat your own snacks on board (very bizzare), i wasnt even sure you could bring them on, but yes, no problem, in my pack

beware of stardust guesthouse

i found a bunch of what i am sure were bed bugs in my room at night

i got angry and demanded a refund and left at 530 am

also they locked the door at times

so you have to wake them up to get in and out

who the hel_l wants to 'ask permission' to come and go? (rhetorical question)

plus there is a locked gate to the rooms

this is an extreme and scary fire hazard

i checked out many rooms, hotels, guesthouses. etc...

outside of the guesthouses:

for the budget traveler, especially alone, who doesnt share the expense,

you may want to try the 'Modern' anything but modern but only 35-40 ringett for a large room

off the main drag (not chulia) also the Waldorf between 52 and 64 ringette

the place next door to the waldorf looked nice but i could not preview any rooms (full)

note i did not stay at any of these but would consider it in the future

for the money, the bigger, more expensive hotels didnt seem to have much more to offer IMHO

I was able take a bus to the airport in penang, however, typical SEA, no one could tell me much about it until i tried for myself, in fact i was discouraged to try by those i had asked

but i did on my day going back to thailand when i had a bunch of free time

you can flag down just about any bus without a bus stop on the same side of the street as nj and banana guest house on chulia street

cost me about 70 cents to go from chulia to KOMTARE (bus station)

then i paid 2.5 ring. for a bus to the airport, i think bus 3-4, easy to find, ask!

i asked the guy taking money on the bus and he said the bus runs from 5 am to 11 pm every 20 minutes (for what thats worth)

coming in to GT, dont book a taxi beforehand, you will get jipped for 30 or 35 ring (350 baht!!!!)

you can grab some farang and split a cab and pay 5 or 10 each depending on how many you get

or if your adventurous and really on a budget you can take the bus:

leaving departures, you pass the parking lot and go right, walk out to the main road

cross to the other side of the street, there is a bus stop,

(you want to be going in the direction of your right as you are coming from the airport road to the main road)

as a note

i excahnged all but 4 ring. in town to baht,

i was extremely lucky as thats about what it cost to go by bus

i had time, the food looked good on the corner where the bus stopped

the people were kind enough to take baht

it was almost an even 1 ring. to 10 baht exchange at the time, so it can be easy to calculate

my first trip years ago was by train

takes a long time

note the lower sleeping bunk in 2nd class was actually bigger than the sleeping bunks in first class

if you are going it alone you may want to secure the bottom bed which is designated according to your seat

also in first class you are sleeping perpendicular to the trains movement, a bizzare feeling, in second you sleep parallel

TIPS:

i didnt set up my voice mail box properly before i left, on my thai true simm card, so i dont know who tried to call me while i was out of the country

next time i will bring more instant coffee, as its hard to find small amounts without sugar in georgetown

i failed to bring my watch thinking i'd use my phone, mistake, as i had no network there nor an outlet adaptor

opposite the 7/11 on chulia is a cute little mom and pop shop with some great local treats, fun to shop there

i hope this is helpful for some of you

i know how it can be trying to figure it all out yourself