mcfish

 
But only if you live in the right district, haven't been in the Kingdom too long, the website is working correctly, and you're using obsolete (and particularly insecure) versions of Microsoft Windows and Internet Explorer.
 
Apart from that, it's fine... except when it's not (which is much of the time).
 
Perhaps my mistake is that I try to do this decently clad? I'll try skyclad next time.

 
       I think you'll find, if the new thing gets instated (which is still an 'if') that the sage Imm heads in Bkk will include other well-to-do farang countries like Austria and Spain.  These are rules made by people who are products of Thai education.  Precision isn't their strong suit (though they're great at superstition).  Methinks the mention of those countries are 'to give an idea of who is covered' ....rather than a precise list.  
 
      I mentioned this new issue to an elder farang friend of mine, and right away, he said it was to benefit insurance companies.   He could be right about that.  It's a moot point for him, as he's already opted to leave Thailand for good.  Too much bureaucracy for him - and that was before the new visa dilemma.  Oh, and money's no problem for him.  Single old guys like him could be spending 2 million baht/yr each in Thailand, but alas, Thailand wants to push tens of thousands of guys like him away with their overly-restrictive rules.  And then there are farang with wives and kids who may be compelled to leave also.  I know some family guys who have recently left Thailand for good.   

It would be nice if you could say which 4.

What does it matter? Even if they dissolved today there will be another coup in 2 years, they may as well just stay

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This is because of the Thai mentality to avoid confrontation and discuss problems and they keep building until there is an explosion of gunfire

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Wrong.
 
A lot of foreigners bought property on Phuket, and now can not sell. 
 
Last I heard, there were approximately 3000 properties on Phuket for sale.  (it was a PG article)  Not all of these are owned by Thai's.  
 
Another unfavorable visa change, that may see more foreigners forced to leave, would further lead to more property going on the market, thus, pushing prices down.

 
 
"Well then since your so sure" - I'm not so sure, nor do I care, either way, but it's you who seems "so sure."  I hardly think taking advice from a lower rank local Immigration Officer is a solid platform in which to base you immediate decisions. 
 
"hop on bus from whatever godforsaken village dump you live in" - I live in Patong, and whilst some may call it a dump, it's hardly a village.
 
"Get an air Asia economy flight out" - why?  I beat the last visa crackdown.  Maybe they are done with the tourists visa runners, and are moving onto the next visa demographic. possibly the retirement visas.  If not now, for sure in the future.
 
"please report back to us next week about how wonderful your new life in China is" - whilst I have been to China, I would not chose to live there.  Just because Thailand may dispel me in the future, doesn't mean I can't have a similar, or better, lifestyle in a neighboring country.  Thailand is not the be all and end all.
 
"how the folks are so much more genuine" - Phuket lost its Thai culture a long time ago.  You should know that.
 
"how the food is amazing" - are you seriously suggesting Thailand is the only country in South East Asia with great food????
 
"the ladies don't want just your money" - I don't care what they want.  I rent them, not adopt them, and their families, and their sick buffalo.  I couldn't care less want they want. 
 
Why do some people here truly feel the need to believe their circumstances will always remain the same here, and never plan for the possibility they will not?
 
They will not even contemplate the Thai Government will ever destabilize their stable existence here, and why, because they like to think they are a real part of Thai society, when they never were, and never will be. 

Yes, of course, if lots of retired expats had to sell at distress prices in a short period of time, it would be easy pickings. But let's not jump the gun on those kinds of worse case scenarios for lower wealth retired expats and best case scenarios for real estate (vultures)  investors. 

 
 
If you want to believe the equivalent of "you are young and handsome man" from an Immigration Officer, at this early stage for this visa introduction, that's up to you.
 
They haven't even got a democratically elected Government here.  They are making it up as they go, and the left hand doesn't know what the right had is doing.
 
That said, this is why many of us like it here.  It's funny, makes no sense, and lawless.  That's until, one of their crazy policies negatively effects us. 
 
Just waiting for a "my neighbor is big boss Immigration and he said"..............post.  [emoji2]
 
 
 
 

 
 
Seriously, do you really think you can rely on the information given to you by some low level pleb in Immigration????

 
 
I also asked the local Thai lottery ticket seller which ticket they thought would win, and they gladly pointed to one.  [emoji2]

All he has to do is drop to his knees and kiss papa's toes individualy. This is a time honoured and the least expensive tradition

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Of course immigration officers have been briefed on something as huge as a new long term visa especially since its been leaked to the media. Only a fool would think otherwise.. Those of you with families and kids who have the most to lose, do your self a favour and get to your local immigration office tomorrow and ask the big question.
I did already and am at ease

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The budgeted amounts most people here are discussing is a daily average including everything, including rent/housing expenses and everything else. Not just what you spend out of your pocket on a day to day basis.

not at all a nightmare, only if you take the cheapest option, 26 dollar sihanukville-pattaya, it takes about 12 hours. if you take the vip bus to phnompenh, 4-5 hours, very comfortable, 9 dollars, then either fly to bkk, or bus to angkor wat, 6 hours, then poipet,casino,  4 hours, then pattaya 5 hours. all busses very comfortable.

i think, sihanukville in cambodia is now the cheapest place, if you like to drink beer on the beach, watching the people walking by,  sitting in a comfortable lounge chair, and listen to good chill-out musik, 1 glass angkor for 50 cents, (it is brewed here in sihanukville) around 17 baht. barracuda steak with everything 3 dollar. hotels cheaper than thailand. i was there last week.
 

 
 
Well, until then, it would still be tax evasion.  Right?

 
Now you understand my avatar name?

A pointless comment without backing it up.
 
All that is coming is a new 10 year visa.
 
Stop promoting/fueling fear.

 
 
"rent out my Bangkok condo and enjoy the exchange rate back to Oz dollars." - wouldn't you have to declare offshore income, thus decreasing your pension?

The devil is in the details. How right you are! Let's hope an angel saves us all.

 

Write of Malaysia, and Bali... I couldn't stand the wailing from the mosques

 

myanmar.... mmmm.... thanks but no thanks.

 

vietnam... I found them worse than the local mafia... but I was a bone fide tourist, ripe for plucking

 

cambodia... maybe

 

australia... a nanny state with welcoming arms for returning expats... with better benifits if you take them as a resident.....and until Thailand develops reciprocal reporting rights etc, Thai income, if you rent out your house, would be black money.

 

but thanks for the list of choices... one is better off with more choices than less. [emoji106]

 

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Exactly, my pension would shoot up especially with the rental rebates and various add ons including unlimited free health care . And yes I would continue to rent out my Bangkok condo and enjoy the exchange rate back to Oz dollars. It would put me in a better situation than in Thailand but I love Thailand!

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Are you serious?
 
What about Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar, Bali?
 
All are visa friendly. 

 
 
I believe I was recently targeted by the last tourist visa crackdown.  I have a visa run system in place, involving more than one passport, so it appears I have slipped through their net. 
 
Many others were not so lucky, and were forced to vacate Thailand.  I catch up with some of them on my visa runs.
 
For these people, the Thai Government's motto was, "Good guy in - bad guys out."  Sure, some were bad guys, but most were contract workers, offshore workers, remote workers etc. 
 
The "real" bad guys, I suggest, are just overstayers now, and never even left.
 
So, where do they cast their net next?
 
Foreigners have no rights here.  We are not in the voting public.  They can do what they want to visas, at anytime, which may have a big impact on some foreigners who are then unable to reside here.  I have already given an example of this. 
 
So, as for "Never happened!!!" - doesn't mean it never will.
 
mcfish, this visa aside, do you have a "Plan B" alternative to Thailand?  If so, why did you develop a Plan B? 

 
For the record, I really don't care either way.  I have nothing tying me to Thailand.
 
"Why would they change it?" - why wouldn't they???  TIT.
 
"Countless of married and single farang are barely scraping through the hoop now" - why do you think they care about that????  Just look at the heavy financial burden this new visa criteria places on its holders.
 
"countless of Brits and ozzies have fled due to exchange rate." - probably just the people they are happy to see leave.
 
"There is no benefit to Thailand to change it." - what's the negative impact????
 
"Will it ever change?" - it can't stay the same forever.
 
"Not until Thailand becomes first world and even then it will be grandfatherd" - have you considered the visa criteria may be reviewed in the future because Thailand is Third World, not First World????