GregBow

Thanks for your follow up. Yes I have considered this and combined with the new proximity to my now grown family here and my health requirements it still made sense. The village was just too remote and not lifebcomfortable as I got older and the leader of the opposition would not change her location so I did. My 15 year old will also.advantage from this with the ability to finalise education with citizenship and Aus school later. For now a number of issues are still pending like the time to OAP and some medical procedures now scheduled here - which will take time and support which I have plenty of here. I will update as I get the pension approval etc. Regards Greg

Not so long after his sit down meeting with Thaksin! Coincidence? But it is being globally over pushed on social media by foreigners espousing huge brocolli and other product sales and I think this attention was not anticipated and is not welcomed. Hopefully a less dramatic solution than Thaksin or Duerte ones in history.

Thanks to you and the others for the inputs. All have value and were part of the decision process to leave 1.For a while get set up and return to Thai 2. Get set up and just visit Thai occasionally. 3. Try it and see how it goes. As i went down the path of getting my pension and medicare set up then buying a unit, the choices get a bit more murky but I will stay a while and have a life with family here a bit As I said I appreciated all the inputs which covered all the options Thanks all

I think the 400 is missing at least one zero. If they are serious let them go to Tik Tok and see whats going on. Or set up a proper hotline for non Thai speakers to have their chance on finding out about legality and complaining if they been set up by "connected" whoevers.

Hi Andy Sorry not answering before. There are many agents in Vietnam who can arrange long term visas. I can get detail of one the guys in HCM use if you like. I had a work permit and was there for 8 years straight after being there 20+ years before. Huge differences - for the better! The issues in closing the company I was managing through insolvency make it unlikely that I can return but would if I could. Been to most if the provinces and it is a truly lovely place. Hard but loyal people and everything is there if you know where to look. I can say the same for Thailand but I have now actually moved back to Australia after 30 years of working abroad for proximity to family and health reasons amongst others. Best of luck and contact me if you want detail if visa lady Greg

Guys One and all, thanks for all the comments. There is a nugget of truth and good in each of them and I take what I can. I looked at renting but it really even with rent assistance eats up most of the pension for something decent. Keeping my super and investing reduces the OAP. I had some help to review options as I intend to stay here (Aus) mostly now. I have bought a nice comfortable unit that will appreciate and after all costs will roll 100k into interest account. I can live well enough for me on the OAP which I earned by the taxes i paid for years of remote work and OT till I left Aus. Again Thanks for the advice and help. Be well

Thanks all again. Been a busy week trying to get copies of documents long forgone. Finally submission accepted. Will take 4 weeks to review and up to 3 months after that to process and initiate payments. I did reget a medicare card. For Single pension 500k reduces it a lot as would 25k interest. Pension totals circa 1000 per fortnight and decent rent 400+ per week. Still looking at choices and will update as progess. Thanks again and have a good weekend. Greg

Thanks all for the inputs guys. Some theoretical and as usual some a bit sniping without knowledge of the australian situation, but also some from people who "been there, done that". I appreciate and intake all. Next week I have a face to face interview with services australia and then will know more of what restrictions there are. I will buy a nice comfortable unit over the next weeks and yes strata fees in the high value areas would eat the pension but rent as quoted is not really feasible. Still kicking - very supportive and helpful. As I said to my old team in Vietnam, just old not dead yet. Will update as I get the real inputs. Greg

Thanks all. Another thought is as I have family to stay with could I just leave the super where it is as an asset and not have a home? Is there any agent or company in Aust you could recommend to show me the best options before I broach Centrelink again? They are a little difficult to navigate through. Thanks again

Bit of yes and no. I listened and thought she was smarter to realise retirement means no salary. But payments to make etc. I therefore follow the never spend what you cant afford to lose rule. My health is another reason and being 50 km from Bueng Kan hospital and 300 from Udon is a bit daunting. Thanks for your concern but was just looking for advice. Grreg

Thank you all for advice. I was born in Aus, Tassie boy but I think my hippie days like my issan days are best left behind ;) I have an Aust bank account still I have been using to get the super paid monthly which will stop when I cash it out to buy a unit Dont drive anymore, I admit my lack of competence. One query, the 2 years I need to stay in Aust does that mean I cannot leave at all for that time? I did try use the centrelink site but it confused me. Thanks again Greg

Could use some helpful advice please. Been around here based out of remote Issan for many years. Worked away mostly and unfortuneately put all into land via my Thai wife to save for retirement. Yeah yeah I know. Surprise mostly gone! I have about 500k in Aus in super and at nearly 70 was thinking of going home to Perth close to the grandkids etc. My plan was to use the super to buy a simple unit in Perth and then get the old age pension to live. I am told I must stay in Aust no break for 2 years but can get the pension straight away. Worked in Aust paying tax till 97 but non resident since. Inputs please

At what point and terms did you need the 400k cash?

Hi to all. Some family in the village has lost a lot of cash to an app allegedly paying to rate content. However once in there appear pay requirements to get higher rated content. I am not really expert at all but seems there is a series of payments and once pay the first you cannot exit with your till you finish the set which then has more payment points getting higher till they cannot aford it. Is there an authority who looks at crime like this and how would a farang go about presenting the detail and to who? Just asking because apart from the kid who borrowed from the non existant mxxia money lenders in another town someone committed suicide because they were so deep and forged mum signature to sell family land. I hate this parasitic stuff and would like to try do something. Any ideas or similar issues please add. Thanks Greg

I liked the selection at DILLIGAF Garden Bar and Restaurent but tonight is 249 baht ribs night. :(