mommysboy

This thread is really about using the combination method for the so called retirement visa. It's not about any other type of extension. It's well known that the combo method is available for the retirement visa, however the requirements are less certain- which is why I made the posting in all honesty. I appreciate you believe it is not possible. However most people are certain that it is.

Oops. I meant monthly.

Yes, it's complex, and as you say really can not be done quickly. But Thai law is rather more flexible than in the west. They'd find a way. Ultimately, it will not be good optics for a tourist destination to have visitors languishing in cells for weeks, all for a vape of all things. But you know- nothing would surprise me. Let's face it the whole issue with vapes is nonsensical anyway.

It's a fair point, the law is the law, but can a tourism based country afford to have stupid, unreasonable laws? Also, it's human nature to flout laws when they are nonsensical. In addition, if you walk down the street and see vapes on sale, and people walking around vaping (including cops it is claimed) then you can understand why someone else thinks it's ok to do it.

Agreed. Whenever they've had a key turn in the road on this issue, they've always gone the wrong way imo. Sadly, I don't expect that to change. In fact I expect a double-down on this one. Can a tourism based country not be liberal? ... I don't think so. Otherwise, it becomes like the hotel whose boss imposes all sorts of unreasonable rules on patrons, ie, the stay is ruined. Just see what happens when every week some tourist ends up deported, fined heavily, or even jailed. There's no half way house of a bribe anymore, so it's either turn a blind eye, or do it the proper legal way. Will be interesting I guess. The most curious thing is that vaping appears to safe (in the normal casual sense we use the word).

Thanks for answers but my query is specifically about the combination option for proof of income, ie, 430k deposit- 430k income throughout year.

Surat Thani.

Actually, other countries are also moving to ban vaping- Taiwan and Brazil I believe. For whatever reason, it is maintained that vaping is harmful, sometimes even more harmful than cigarettes, and represents a significant public health risk to children. Let me say that having looked at the evidence I believe the objective scientific evidence, together with real world observation shows it to be relatively harmless, even beneficial to smokers with chronic diseases such as COPD. Nevertheless, grudgingly you have to accept that as a fundamental in one's life the law is the law.

Age 61 UK Due for extension in May. For the past few years I've been on so called wife visa. Just noticed that this year I've maintained ( and will maintain) a balance of at least 430K- all year at all times. And that I've had regular weekly income going into same bank account of around 35-40k ( I think about 430k in total). Just wondering if that could swing a retirement visa by way of combination? Or nice thought but there's a catch?

That's a pretty stiff tariff- to say the least, especially for a harm reduction device! Anyone unable to quit a nicotine habit would be advised to revert to cigarettes I suppose. It's a particularly baffling stance for someone from the UK, whose Health authority proclaims the following : vaping is at least 95% safer than smoking. https://www.bmj.com/content/363/bmj.k5429 Still, Thailand knows best. Speechless!????

I've often wondered, though, why it is that in the west we have to work so hard for such a poor reward in many cases. Personally, when I have to work for small money it does make me feel 'worthless' quite literally.

You simply need the conventional tank system and ordinary strength vape juice. The last year or two has seen the introduction of some incredibly strong disposable and Pod vapers. Or yes, undoubtedly the ideal solution would be to quit smoking and vaping. I'm the kind of person who can do things to excess too- that's partly why I quit alcohol and I have never regretted it.

Did you perhaps exercise very little moderation or unwittingly vaped very strong juice? I mean if you drank 10 cups of strong coffee a day. I'm sure you would have the same issue, as for a bottle of whisky.... Get the drift! Anything is bad in excess.

Ok, the law relating to vaping is the biggest dumbest aXX there ever was imo, but the real problem is sheer greed. If the sum involved had been 1000 baht- there wouldn't have been such an outcry, possibly none whatsoever. The law is the law, but punishments have to be proportionate to the severity of the crime. I for one would rather pay 1000 baht than go through the courts, but that is now the only route. Prepare for some big headlines in the future. Make sure it's not you making them.

Yes. It's the device and paraphernalia associated that are illegal. Nothing to do with the substance as such. And the offence is evading excise duties, strangely by just buying one even if you buy it in Thailand from a store.

Vaping! Of all the recreational drugs to pick on this is the least harmful imo, and yet it's treated like a class 'A' drug. Still, Thailand has made its choice, so in the future I guess it will have to fully enforce its vaping laws, which is going to mean things will be handled officially- arrest, courts, fines/jail, and deportation for foreigners. The whole thing borders on the absurd. This is going to cost them dear. The sensible thing would be to re-evaluate the laws, go by the scientific evidence, as the UK has done, but that won't happen in Thailand, and actually they'll likely double down. One thing's for sure, vapers really shouldn't take these things out in public, or carry them in luggage- even if Thais are to be seen happily vaping in public, even if they see a cop doing the same. Even farang private users in their own homes have to think carefully from now on - there's a risk, and it just got bigger. What a <deleted>'s muddle!

As regards vapes in the future, it can go one of 2 ways: A. turn a blind eye, or B. arrest, court, fine/jail, and deportation. If it's the latter, it'll kick up a heck of a sxxxstorm.

All stemming from the absurd charge of possessing a vape- a harm reduction product available in some UK NHS hospitals- while others can walk freely tp the nearest 7/11 and buy cigarettes. And look at the sum of money involved!

Low carbers take note- could do more harm than good. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322881#Why-low-carb-diets-should-be-avoided (I post this partly tongue in cheek- to illustrate that if you have a belief there are endless bits of speculative/unqualified/unproven research, and subsequent interpretation that will allow you to prove what you want to think. I could have just as easily chosen something to prove the opposite.)

I really don't want to devote too much time to the research. For me, from just a cursory reading the research or you, or both, seem to be saying could=can= does. We do know for sure that diabetics have predominantly elevated blood sugar levels, and that leads to a whole range of diseases. But sugar spikes seem natural and by definition are temporary. There's a big difference in damage levels possibly, and the body copes easily with mild or temporary inflammation. One big problem with science is that it studies sick people, and then can extrapolate the findings to healthy individuals. Also there are all sorts of checks and balances. Take the red wine for instance- any alcohol appears to be damaging to health, but as you note red wine has powerful anti-oxidants. One glass may be beneficial, two probably not, three probably a bit harmful but not so much, and so on. Drink a bottle a day and you may start getting ill. I think the same argument applies to many things including carbs. We all tend to cobble together theories that suit our tendencies/desires. A bit of clear thinking would tell you to switch to a cup of tea or coffee, or perhaps drink grape juice, but like all of us you don't because you like red wine.

Overeating really! I mean everything including drinks like red wine. That's what causes weight gain, and if people put on too much weight that's when a lot of things go wrong. To demonize a couple of slices of crappy white bread is pretty pathetic really. And as many posters have pointed out- it really isn't that bad for you anyway, it's not as if people sit down and eat the whole loaf. Say someone eats a chicken sandwich, and then has a piece of fruit- that's a balanced meal/snack.

And I wonder how many times the wine glass got replenished! (It used to be about 6 times in my case)

'was expecting to be dead by now.' Don't worry- there's still time???? It's going to happen

My sister in law is a nurse. She follows a diabetic's diet. At first I was surprised she ate bread, spuds, etc. She explained to me that it's more about controlling the amount that's on the plate. In all honesty, I don't think any reputable health body recommends doing without carbs.

Yikes, where's the carbs? What an unbalanced meal! Is that a big slab of charcoaled red meat I see there? And he want us to worry about white bread. Now he's taking a pop at spuds too.!????