yogi100

7 hours ago, holy cow cm said:

Not a belief. I have Thai friend who has an immigration old university friend and the anti foreigner sentiment is high and festering. Xenophobia is marching. Think of it this way: Start clear cutting on the lower end and then make the middle to high end jump as high as they can and the ones who can't jump high enough will be forced out. Don't believe one bit they care about any Western expats. Just care about not getting a bad rap on the world stage. They need the tourism dollars but do not want the multiple comers and goers and comers so are opting to see how to bring in new fresh tourism income. Ofcourse they do not want all of us out, but they who they see as repeat offenders or not enough money to their liking or maybe acclimated to being Thai enough no. Only want a select few who can stay under their scheme of criteria. In 5-7 years who knows. Initiatives can backfire and then reversed, but I don't know how long we all will be able to hang on. For the insurance, I do see it going to Non O so I will purchase it sometime this year or before I am 60 and never use it.. This really all started to turn when Thaksin was in office. They are just following it through. So, honestly they want to see S E Asian faces probably more than the Westerners. And they are the you know who already. They are wealthy to begin with. 

You can see the racism and xenophobia in Thailand especially in Pattaya if they're not getting money out of you. If they are not they simply don't want us here.

We've been force fed the joys of multiculturalism in our countries since WW2. The Thais have not. One of their major daily newspapers is called something like Thais Love Thais (Thai Rak Thai) and it's a sentiment that's considered not just acceptable but admirable.

There's a minor political organisation in the UK called Britain First and one in Germany called Alternative for Germany. The French have their Front National.

Our liberal elite and their media chums refer to these outfits as neo nazis because they claim to put their own people first in their own country.

However such a claim is perfectly acceptable and normal in Thailand and other Asian countries. Few of them accept foreign immigrants or even asylum seekers. But some of us can't get our heads around that. "You're not in Kansas now" as the Yanks say!

7 hours ago, BritManToo said:

The main issue I have with the insurance policy is I don't want to waste my money.

75 isn't an age I ever expect to reach, at 64 I've already beat my parents (who both died of cancer in their early 60s).

Bear in mind medical science and cancer research and treatment has come on in leaps and bounds since then.

I was in hospital with a broken leg in 2008 and people were coming in for cancers ops and going home 3 - 4 days later with instructions to come back for a check up in 6 months.

The looks of relief and happiness on their faces when they were discharged made you realise what a treasure our National Health Service and its workers really are.

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Many more than a few do but in my view that's not nearly enough to have a decent retirement in the USA unless it's a low cost area, the home is mortgage free,  and the pension is significantly higher than average. But that should still work in Thailand and a number of other "retirement visa" countries but as some have mentioned there are other potential deal breaker issues such as health insurance thing if it migrates to Os. 

 

4 percent "safe" withdrawal rate on 250K USD is 10,000 USD. Big whoop!

For Christ's sake not everything centres around the USA.

Forget your USA and its financial structure. American residents are a small minority in the the LOS. What affects us falangs in Thailand are the domestic Thai financial and immigration regulations. 

2 minutes ago, Number 6 said:

This was specifically directed at someone who posted stating that 250k USD was pretty much untouchable *wealth*.

 

As a roundabout figure which obviously you don't have given the comments it's imo the bottom end of what life costs. Granted I get by on about 35k including domestic holidays. My wife pays her part outside main expenses.

 

As for being able to calculate it all. Not much of an international expatriate if you can't calculate half dozen currencies roughly in your head. I mean I'm just a stoopid murkan and can do nearly ten.

I've not said I'm an expatriate let alone in international one nor am I as mathematically gifted as you obviously are.

It's just that if some tells me how much something is in baht I immediately know how much it is in GBPs.

By the same token if I quote the price of something in GBP I also quote it in baht for the convenience and out of consideration for those who are unfamiliar with the value of the Pound Sterling.

It's not a lot of effort to make really if you are addressing an international audience.

37 minutes ago, HHTel said:

It is a common perception that everyone's leaving but I don't think that's the reality.

 

However, there are 72,000 retirees in Thailand according to 2019 figures.  If every one of them moved on, it would hardly be noticed.  It would give immigration officers an easier time but apart from that, Thailand does not need us and would get on just as well without us.  We are not as important as some think!

But a fair few of 'em have set up families who are partly or entirely dependent upon them. These expats are very important to them and IF the govt are bothered about these families they might be pressured into being a bit more hospitable towards these breadwinners.

11 hours ago, sirineou said:

People spend hours complaining about the time and inconvenience if filing for an extension .

If you don't have $27,000 to spare you are not ready to retire and should continue working.

IMO to retire one needs at least $250k in assets and a pension or other income .

Be real, Few people are ever gonna have the equivalent of $250k in assets and a pension or other income when they retire.

12 hours ago, ThomasThBKK said:

 

That's really just their own arrogance.

You can't demand to go to a random country and live there forever without proofing you have the means to do so. That doesn't fly anywhere in the more or less civilized world.

Yeah the paperwork is annoying but it's really only a few hours of work per day.

 

How serious of an expat can one be if that's too much?

"You can't demand to go to a random country and live there forever without proofing you have the means to do so."

What about the UK!

12 hours ago, Ron jeremy said:

Where the air is clean?.? Dannyi strongly suggest you brush up on your English skills and read the countless threads and news on the terrible air quality in pattaya.

enjoy enjoy danny BOY

I'm in Pattaya right now with my balcony door open to the elements and the air is as clear as crystal.

And this is at 11.22 am on 22.12.19 bang in the middle of high season when the town is at its busiest and the traffic at its heaviest.

The visibility is 16 kms, there's no wind and 15% cloud cover. A typical day's weather in Pattaya.

16 hours ago, toofarnorth said:

So why read Thai Visa ?  I left England and have made my home here , my 400,000 B is in the bank . I don't read any , not one English newspaper , I don't need to know how cold it is , how much more a ticket costs to get into the city . Why are so many complaining on here today ?

Why do you post on Thai Visa if you object to hearing opinions that don't concur with your own.

13 hours ago, Traubert said:

It is my firm belief that those who boast of leaving (and their plethora of 'friends and aquaintances/family/neighbours/Fred down the pub') are really crying in their beer in some god-forsaken backwater like Vietnam or Laos and feeling their heart strings inexorably tugging in the direction of Thailand. They only visit here seeking validation.

 

Never jump before you're pushed.

Always jump before you're pushed. You can then decide where you want to land.

It's all about Preparation and Location.

14 hours ago, BoonToong said:

I've lived in TL for 8 years. I'm now looking at other places to live for when my 'Retirement Visa' expires March 2020. A number of reasons, any of which in isolation would be kind ok, but when looked at as a whole, it's just a pain in the buttocks. Here are some of my reasons:

 

• The 'GF experience' doesn't seem to exist any more - I used to really enjoy that
• Increased alcohol prices
• Increased 'entertainment' prices (of the frolicking kind)
• Immigration woes
• Exchange rate
• A general feeling of animosity from the locals that I wasn't aware of before

Alternatives I'm looking at include Florida (I love Mickey Mouse), Philippines, Europe and West Africa

Bang on the nail

What's TL?

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

But what were his reasons? Sometimes it isn't all about the prices. Healthcare plays quite a factor... he was maybe young and healthy when he arrived, and 12 years living high in Pattaya can soon tear that up. 

He's in his late 60s and still seems to be in reasonable health. Mainly he's had enough of the drink and tip scrounging of the bar girls and constantly having to be sufficiently alert to avoid it. He's good natured and generous and the girls take advantage of these qualities that unfortunately are weaknesses in Pattaya.

He drinks a fair bit but only at night and recently booze fueled rows have called an end to a couple of his friendships. But it's not been just his fault. These two ex pat pals seem to have a few problems of their own as well. I steer clear of the three of 'em as I don't want to get embroiled in their arguments and I only come for a holiday.

He's a bit shy and reserved and I sense loneliness also plays a part in his discontentment.

The strong baht has not helped and although he's not wealthy he's not skint either so it's not just down to money. He bitches about the hoop jumping, the 800,000 K and the 90 day reporting. He has never been in trouble with law anywhere in his life.

If I was the leader of a community he's the sort of person I'd be pleased to have as a member of it.

Some of his regular holiday maker chums have quit coming to Pattaya.

He said to me the last time I saw him, "It's no longer the Pattaya I knew before" and I can see his point 100%. When the allure of the women wears off there is nothing at all to keep someone in the place.

He also complains about the ever worsening attitude of the locals in general to falangs unless they are directly benefiting financially from our presence.

If he does call it a day which I think he will it won't be because of his own failings but because of those that he as a falang in the LOS especially in Pattaya can have no control over.

It's gonna be a big decision for him having to go back to London, a place where he has no family, few friends and nowhere to live. But it's the only home he knows apart from Pattaya.

He's a good bloke and I admit I feel a bit sorry for him. It's gonna be a bit tough on him trying to find and afford somewhere to rent in London.

Being a fellow who is approaching his 70s will not get him any help from the housing authorities in London. Especially as he's a white Englishman as I am myself. Any cracks about doing a Justin Trudeau will not amuse him.

On 12/14/2019 at 10:13 PM, newnative said:

   Good luck with that. He never backs up anything. The other day he said, "...in the last 5 years the resale units here have have lost 30% of their value". End quote.  No link, of course.  There's no doubt whatsoever that you can pick and choose and find condos that have lost value but certainly not all have lost 30% of their value these past 5 years.  I have sold at least 6 condos the past 5 years in Pattaya, all at a profit, including one this year, so none of mine lost 30%.  Guess he forgot to include me when he was doing his survey in his head.  

Have you got a 'link' to all these condo sales you've been making at a profit.

If he should have to provide a link to back up his statement then so should you. Or failing that if you're really into all this 'link or source' claptrap produce one that counters his claim.

On 12/14/2019 at 3:53 PM, Kulex said:

Exactly my experience. Had been stopped twice by immigration just by having toured Thailand too often. Considering how much money you spend in 4 weeks, you should expect a hearty welcome and a thank you instead. But going to the Philippines or Vietnam, the immigration officers greet you friendly, smile and wish you a nice stay. No joke, they really did. 

I first came to Thailand in 1984 and have been a regular visitor since 1999.

I have never once received a 'Welcome to Thailand' nor even a smile from a Thai IO. Mostly it's as if it's beneath them to as much as even look at you.

Whoever came up with that Land of Smiles claptrap must have had some warped sense of humour.