LivinLOS

Access to consumer debt.. But that then is a drain of forward consumption.. Thailand will no doubt still be here and carry on muddling through... But it now has low growth, medium inflation, massive debt loads, and is incredibly reliant on a kind of strip mining tourism that is destroying the appeals and beauty it had. That isnt a cheerful picture.

well 25 years was the asian currency crisis.. the baht devalued by >50%.. inflation on international goods was obvious the same.. Everyones assets were cut in half.. etc etc.. That devaluation kickstarted the budget Thailand and its been a good run since then but yes.. Hes right.. 25 years ago Thailand did suffer hard..

But this is the bit thats legally dubious.. Other visa offerings have made that claim also, yet it is a false claim in that case and is typical Thai 'lets just say thats the law' enforcement rather than legality.

I have chatted with a couple on some FB nomad groups but agree.. The Thai mindset of 'employees' and needing to be engaged by a huge non Thai entity is a massive limiting factor and really serves little purpose. It just comes back to that Thai mindset of 'degree' 'employment' 'corporate systems' etc etc which is not how the modern remote worker industry operates.

Yeah and they have recently raised that to needing almost 250k USD (up from 30 - 35k USD) deposited in Malaysia as just one of the requirements.. And 4 x raised the income levels needed. Sounds like Thailand HAS been looking at it, and said they are not expensive enough and need to catch up.

You obviously havent read much of what I post here and elsewhere, I think Thailand has created many great new high net worth categories (The OX is one few people seem to go for but looks great to me) and these are going in the right direction with higher demands but higher perks. That said they tend to be sloppily documented and implemented (OX long list of issues with OX differences in issuance and rules to retain)... Happy to see the link and will work to see whats documented here.. For some reason the translator was not working on that file. I can relate experience over the elite claims that you can work on the elite visa a long as it is remote work.. They make some very lawyer approved vague claims hints of this on the elite site, they then confirmed it 100% clearly in an email. When I then challenged that with both law, statements from labour dept and employment officials and the case of someone arrested / deported / blacklisted for working 100% online they came back with 'we think its ok, but we don't know its up to you to check'.. Further pushing had the person admit that it is illegal. The best part was when I wrote to them again a month later with a different email and asked the same question, the exact same person who had conceded it was not legal, wrote back again claiming it was legal to do so, fully aware of the law and now proven to be lieing to sell Elite visas. When you have the very advisors of these systems happy to flat out lie to sell things it puts in in perspective what you are dealing with. I can only relate for the LTR that I have spoken to people applying for the work from Thailand category and they had asked for a work permit exemption or legal proof and only got vague 'your not working in Thailand' (which is legally incorrect) answers. If this is the actual exemption then great it very much improves the standing.

Thanks.. Currently struggling to get that through google translator.. Will have another crack later when I have more time. I also like it when someone bothers to link actual source..

I didnt mean Thais.. I meant wealthy expats and farangs..

I also hold one with my wife but I am of the opinion that if we split she gets the house and land anyway.. So I am not seeking that protection which others may.. Its a protection against her demise more than any other issue.

Good info.. I have been saying these are very shoddily legally documented.. Even the 'you dont need a work permit' part is not backed up by real law only the enforcement and the 'you dont owe taxes on non Thai income' is similarly not what the law says only what they say.. This is what elite used to claim too, then changed thier tune when pressed on it. They had the vision but they didnt actually do the work to create the clear legal framework (no surprises there !!).

People post this and are then also stunned by 120k a month little condos on Phuket and 2000b lunch plates with many red plate high end marc in the car park.. Its cant be both.

Which 'international' do you have ?? About 5 years ago I got a 'cease and desist' from Barclays Jersey after banking with them my entire adult life, thier grounds were having a Thai address and did the same for my brother and father who had Thai and N African addresses. Very little notice and a major disruption. I have since had HSBC, and now CitiGold accounts (with a HUGE amount demanded on deposit) and I just heard this week Citi are closing those sometime this year also. No great loss as I have found Citi to be massively non user friendly, hard to make transfers, repeated blocks an mystery stops and holds on card spends, outbound transfers, etc etc.

Because it's poverty level. It's not even retirement extension qualifying. I can only imagine the howls next time they raise the requirements. I remember when it went from 200 to 800. Just wait for it to reset to 1.5mil on deposit. Been a very long time at 800, inflation has doubled cost of living since then.

They want less people spending more not more spending less.. All the nice perks are for the wealthy or high earners.. So it will always be. 60k a month is mia noi salary to those who make these decisions.

Not true.. A usufuct agreement (between husband and wife) can be invalidated within 12 months after a divorce. I was told (but have no proof) that after 12 months from divorce date it then has to be honoured.

Recently needed a new business account.. Downloaded an app to my phone, 30 seconds of verification.. Business account (even easier to get a personal one). All from Thailand. I also recently opened a new Thai bank account.. In a bank I already hold a safe deposit box... Multi decade resident with yellow books etc.. No we want your marriage certs.. No go get a residence proof (but my yellow book).. When I got it all next person didn't want to see it.. Must have signed 20 pages to get a account, ATM card and online banking.. 2 visits, outside proofs and purchased items, and then at least 45 minutes sitting there while they shuffled papers.. Filed this.. Scanned that... Thailand 4.0 !

LOL.. You think they care about 60k monthly retirees ??

Allow online professionals who do not work for listed >150mil turnover giant corporations. Set a clean (high) min wage of funds imported and tax required. Let that tax and work permit contribute to citizenship process. You will get 1000s of signups, 'free' tax revenue, have younger working professionals with actual spending power.

No you just hear of them because the d league celebrity means it gets reported.. Theres more of them now..

So Malay it is then.. Thanks for the help.

hmmm.. Thats counter to what I am reading online.. I also replanted a 20 - 30m patch with Malay and the sides that have some shade (and a corner that gets tree cover) is MUCH denser and lusher than the other bits which dont.. But it never gets watered and its getting by.. I dont mow it either but probably should in wet season, it gets 'thick' then but its an ornamental bit there not a lawn so I dont mind it being kinda deep.

Didnt the old TV have a garden sub forum ?? Anyway.. The grass around my pool area has always been patchy and rough, I will be decking it properly soon but as swimming seasons coming back faster than that plan is happening I want to clear the weeds and poor quality and put in a new layer. I know theres Japan (hard) nor naoi (still 'lawn style') and Malay.. I have also heard 'taiwan grass' mentioned as well as bermuda but dont think these are locally easy to get.. I FAR prefer malay grass.. essentially doesnt need trimming (or very little) is side running not 'up' growing and when established its soft underfoot and pleasant.. I am however told it will die in full sun and my pool area is full sun. Memory is hazy but I was sure I had this growing in full sun in a place 2 houses ago.. This or a similar feeling grass. Is it unworkable to plant in full sun if well watered ?? Are there any other options for full sun, side growth wide leaf (soft underfoot) type grass ??

Funny thing being its illegal to be an influencer (youtuber etc) without a work permit and the elite visa cannot support a work permit.. Its like they have absolutely zero clue what the actual laws are and what other departments demand or need to maintain legality..

https://twitter.com/TheOfficialSBI/status/1203277437079040001?

The central bank clearly doesnt stay current.. Google 'juice jacking' in general and badusb or rubber ducky exploits.. Theres plenty !! The primary thing is the other way round, plugging in a phone to charge from a laptop..