garyk

Does anyone else see the heading as Object, object? 

Kinda of curious what this is. Looks like an Object oriented programming language problem?

I have seen it several time here on TV? 

1 minute ago, NanLaew said:

plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose

Not in the 20th century it doesn't.

Change like this will be shouted over the internet and driven home by the masses IMO.

12 minutes ago, Benroon said:

Think about that - the only people crying over this are predominantly old people that after a lifetime of work presumably, can’t scrape together just 400k/800k. You’ve made a complete hash of your retirement/life but you think another nation should be grateful to host your limited spending lifestyles nonetheless ? 

 

So given this translates to being very close to the breadline, how many billions do you think the Thai economy will lose again ? 

 

It will however seperate those that can contribute those billions from those that can’t - and if you glance across the globe numerous countries are at it - it’s not unique to here.

 

Ah anybody that retires in the west can afford it with no problems. 25K is nothing. 

It will take billions of dollars out of the Thai economy in future expats retiring here.

I spend more than that every year, but you would have to be daft to think new retiree's will go for this now that other countries are actively recruiting expats...

I say let them do what ever they want. Other countries will take up the slack. This will take billions of dollars out of the Thai economy, in future expat spending.  

China's economy is at it's lowest point in many many years, and the outlook is not good.

America's baby boomers are retiring at about 10,000/day. They won't be coming here to spend their retirement money after this. 

It's a slam dunk for other countries wooing the retiree's money now. Thailand is history IMO.

13 minutes ago, JLCrab said:

OK -- now Hit It! MJ Surachate:

 

I beg your pardon
I never promised you a rose garden
Along with the sunshine
There's gotta be a little rain some time

 

Beautiful voice, that deserves three cookies...

46 minutes ago, MyTHaiMyKe said:

Some of the Easiest Countries for Immigration

BELIZE allows foreigners to apply for permanent residency after only a year of life there. Enter on a 30-day visitor visa and keep renewing it every month until you’ve been there for 50 weeks. A $1,000 fee and some bureaucratic red tape is all that’s left before getting the go ahead to stay forever.

Pay attention to the conditions on your visitor visa, however. Some districts will require you to leave the country for two weeks every six months, and doing so resets the clock on your 50-week requirement. Note that if you intend to work in Belize, you will also need a work permit, at least until you’re granted permanent residency. After five years of permanent residency, you can apply for citizenship.

 

COSTA RICA has a retiree program that requires $1,000USD per month in income to qualify. Otherwise, you will need a job in order to get on the path to permanent residency and eventually, citizenship.

 

MEXICO the way to start is an FMM visa. You can buy these at any airport or border location. It’ll cost you $21USD. The visa will be good for six months, after which you can renew it again and again, without end. The catch is that you won’t be able to work on an FMM visa.

Plus, legal residents over the age of 60 receive airline, grocery, and restaurant discounts.

 

PANAMA a retiree visa is one of the most popular pathways that people use to live in Panama. It requires a monthly income of $1,000USD. For younger people, a $5,000USD deposit in a Panamanian bank opens the door to permanent residency. If you happen to come from one of 50 “friendly” countries, all that’s left to make it official is to find a job. A few of the qualifying countries are the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, Switzerland, New Zealand, Sweden and Germany. Furthermore, the country offers discounts to retirees with a Pensionado Visa.

There are a lot of nice places that want retiree's. But, you have to remember most of the guys here came here and spent their  money on houses, condo's, cars and are stuck here. They have families, wives and don't want to move.

Thailand was never a good retirement destination. But, it is cheap.

I love it here, but i never invested here thankfully.

54 minutes ago, JLCrab said:

You maybe mean Thailand is not a friendly place to spend YOUR retirement years.

No -- two cookies and more if I like.

You got it JL you get two cookies!  haha

35 minutes ago, JLCrab said:

So?

 

When I first moved here (on Multi-entry 1-year Non-IMM B) one could stay in LOS for years on nothing but 30 day visa-exempt entries with no question as to source of funds.

 

Things change as is the right of any sovereign country. 

So, I came here with a one year visa years ago. Extremely easy to do.

You are right things change, now Thailand is not a friendly place to spend your retirement years.

In the ump teen years here I have always had a one year visa, in one form or another.

But, it sounds like you are really special JL. So you get a cookie.

2 minutes ago, granuaile said:

Yeah, they have a lot of locations to choose from. I may come back to live in Thailand in the future, but I might consider Indonesia or the Philippines or South America. However I have a bucket list of 20+ countries to make extended visits to, and locking my resources down in one place isn't something I'm willing to do. I wish I were super rich, I'd certainly spread it around a lot of places...

Yea you are not alone. I feel the same way.

1 minute ago, JLCrab said:

Says you.

Na, says 95% of all retiree's that come to Thailand.

Not only westerners but ALL!

35 minutes ago, granuaile said:

That's one of the things I think about as well and as I get older it sucks more and more. It makes every year feel uncertain, especially when things change such as the U.S. and some other embassies ending the income affidavits. I do have a letter and my social security and pension statements, so I'm pretty sure I'm OK this year (knock on wood) but even if I were willing to transfer the funds to Thailand it would effectively keep me from traveling anywhere for much more than a month. It also means I can't help my kid back in the states out if he needs it.

Yea, when you get older no one wants to put up with this kind of thing. Hopefully with the new rules in place, it will deter westerners from considering Thailand as a retirement destination. The deck was always stacked against you here, this is just the last nail in the coffin so to speak.

I bet this will be pretty common.

I just used the letter to get my extension and asked the guy what the new rules were.

Not one mention of the combo method. 65K / month 40K / month or 400K / 800K seasoned only was his reply.

Hopefully he just did not know about it yet.

Just did my 1 year extension. Took about 30 minutes with a re-entry stamp. 2900 baht. Used the American income letter from the embassy. 

Asked the guy there what was up? He explained the new rules and that was it. 

Pony up or leave basically. Pretty cut and dried for us Americans at this point.

26 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah and no.

The majority of nations are still issuing income letters, those letters are still accepted by Thailand immigration, and armed with those letters no specific import of monies is required at all. So you're not really right for now anyway. 

I would venture to guess those three embassy make up 50% or better of retirees here?

At this point it does not matter really. Going to have to pony up the funds, no ands if's or buts about it, if you want to stay in Thailand for one more year.

Actually I am heading in that direction (south of the border) soon. I will post some of my experiences while there.

It is my firm belief that the Thai government wants the money in the bank. They want a secure income stream from retirees. America, UK, Australia are the biggest group here.

I would say if they would work with the expat, with in come statements and such it would be different. But, this is just too obvious IMO. Also 65K/mo. is a joke. 

400-800K seasoned for 3 months. Or transfers from your home country showing the 40 or 65K/mo. 

I mean how obvious can you be... ????

9 hours ago, Thaidream said:

I will never believe that TI 'demanded' the Embassies certify back to original source or demand anything.  Thais do not speak like that- the Embassies blew it out of all proportion and had they continued the Letter  in the same manner- it would be accepted just like the current change states.

Yea, the US, Australian, UK, all got together and decided to pull the plug at the same time.

You are kidding right?

20 minutes ago, farangx said:

 

Okay, then how do the new rules affect you financially?  And believe me I do know some are sensitive on issues like this.

 

I am sensitive on this issue, it has given me a rash on my posteriour. ????

In the US it is referred to as having the "Red Ass"

I'm sure other nations have a similar acronym to describe it!

With the US and others pulling out. And with the political climate here in S.E. Asia.

If you are going to stay here don't put all your eggs in one basket, have a good exit stratagy.

You guys need to watch out. 

Right now this is a ticking time bomb.