1 minute ago, poanoi said:

OP is not a troll, the fact he didnt know about 400k a year income/savings

proves that.

i think getting a woman here is a very bad idea,

so the other way of hassle free visa is being age 50,

and as an american, you can just lie through your teeth

on your pension to US embassy and say you make 900k/year on affidavit.

US embassy is by law prohibited from investigating,

and thusly so is thai immigration, so your only requirement is being 50

That is somewhat misleading.

Lying to the U.S embassy under oath is a crime. 
Not saying they would pursue it, but people need to be aware.

Using that false information document at Thai immigration is also a crime.

Not saying they would pursue it, but people need to be aware.

As far as Thai immigration not verifying income letter claims, well, they certainly know about the non-documentation situation at the U.S. and some other embassies, and there have been periods of "crackdowns" where offices are looking for backup evidence of claims.

Even without that, officers have the full legal right, at any time, to demand applicants provide such documentation.

If you lied, you can't provide it. 

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

That is somewhat misleading.

Lying to the U.S embassy under oath is a crime. 
Not saying they would pursue it, but people need to be aware.

Using that false information document at Thai immigration is also a crime.

Not saying they would pursue it, but people need to be aware.

As far as Thai immigration not verifying income letter claims, well, they certainly know about the non-documentation situation at the U.S. and some other embassies, and there have been periods of "crackdowns" where offices are looking for backup evidence of claims.

Even without that, officers have the full legal right, at any time, to demand applicants provide such documentation.

If you lied, you can't provide it. 

i have never heard of a crackdown on the "scouts honor",

do you have a link for it ?

my american friends saw it so natural to just cough up a suitable number

out of thin air they didnt even reflect on it,

their body language signaled 'couldnt care less' attitude when they told about the procedure

15 hours ago, NoHabla said:

...

 

There are many apartments in Khon Kaen for 5000 a month.

 

We have some 1 bed apartments in Pathum Thani we let out for 1,500 Baht a month, so you can get them cheaper than that if you look. OK they are basic and small 23sqm from memory

15 hours ago, KhaoYai said:

Can't be bothered, check it out. With comments like that, I'm also beginning to suspect you're a troll.  The income requirements are well known to most people. You will find them on this site and Thai immigration sites.  I'm not saying you can't marry, I'm saying you can't get a visa based on marriage with an income of 30,000 unless you also have substantial savings.

 

You can get a visa based on marriage with no money at all, what you need either savings, an income, or a combination of both for is the extension of stay that allows you to stay in Thailand for a year, with just the marriage visa you can only stay for 90 days.

13 hours ago, NoHabla said:

Yeah I hinted at that above.  However, if they were smarter, they'd see I get 30k for the rest of my life, including when I am 78.  How many people do you know in esan who get 30k a month when they're 78?  I have a lot of financial security some Thai men do not have.  I'm sure there's someone out there for me.  Also with the savings thing, if they do change the law, I am sure that people already there and married will be grandfathered in.

You sound like you're looking for a woman who's ONLY interested in financial security.  You will find her, don't worry about that.  Problem is you may not like what you find.  There are plenty of good women who are older, late 30's and 40's, single mom, who will make good wives.  But a lot of guys come out here and shack up with the first young hottie who'll have them.  It usually doesn't turn out well. 

13 hours ago, NoHabla said:

Yeah I hinted at that above.  However, if they were smarter, they'd see I get 30k for the rest of my life, including when I am 78.  How many people do you know in esan who get 30k a month when they're 78?  I have a lot of financial security some Thai men do not have.  I'm sure there's someone out there for me.  Also with the savings thing, if they do change the law, I am sure that people already there and married will be grandfathered in.

Quote

How many people do you know in esan who get 30k a month when they're 78? 

Actually quite a lot of people, like every officer.  And not that it is any of my business but in my opinion I think it would be a better idea to not look for someone who is looking for a windfall but someone who is looking for love as when you find that someone they wont care at all whether you have 30,000 a month or 3000, as long as she has enough to eat and someone to love her she will stay, plenty of women like that in Isaan.

1 hour ago, poanoi said:

i have never heard of a crackdown on the "scouts honor",

do you have a link for it ?

my american friends saw it so natural to just cough up a suitable number

out of thin air they didnt even reflect on it,

their body language signaled 'couldnt care less' attitude when they told about the procedure

I am not your search engine.

YES, I can say with 100 percent certainty that there have been "crackdown" periods in the past of well documented on this forum of immigration in at least SOME offices demanding documentation of income stated in the letters, and not only for Americans.

Believe it or not. I don't care. 

 

1 hour ago, Kieran00001 said:

 

You can get a visa based on marriage with no money at all, what you need either savings, an income, or a combination of both for is the extension of stay that allows you to stay in Thailand for a year, with just the marriage visa you can only stay for 90 days.

Picky Picky

22 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I am not your search engine.

YES, I can say with 100 percent certainty that there have been "crackdown" periods in the past of well documented on this forum of immigration in at least SOME offices demanding documentation of income stated in the letters, and not only for Americans.

Believe it or not. I don't care. 

 

i think the key word is "not american"

i had to keep forking up proof to the point of showing ATM slips,

yet it was not enough, i would not get extension based on marriage.

but that was me as a european, no american i know of or heard of

ever had to provide anything above 'scouts honor' to their embassy,

in fact i know of an american that had 500 dollar a month,

no pot to piss in, and yet he never had an issue getting retirement extension,

i think he even resorted to some sort of street work

Just now, poanoi said:

i think the key word is "not american"

i had to keep forking up proof to the point of showing ATM slips,

yet it was not enough, i would not get extension based on marriage.

but that was me as a european, no american i know of or heard of

ever had to provide anything above 'scouts honor' to their embassy,

in fact i know of an american that had 500 dollar a month,

no pot to piss in, and yet he never had an issue getting retirement extension,

i think he even resorted to some sort of street work

Dude, we're talking about entirely different things now!

I was talking about immigration, NOT the embassies.

It's well known that the U.S. embassy doesn't ask for any proof (and at least one other nation's embassy as well). 

That's not the point at all.

I was talking about your suggestion to Americans that they should lie to their embassy for the letter and use that letter at immigration.

I was saying with accuracy that there have been crackdowns at IMMIGRATION asking for additional documentation of income in addition to the letters, and not only of American applicants.

Got it now? I certainly hope so because this is getting annoying.

If you want to suggest people lie to their embassies and present basically fraudulent letters, go ahead, but don't expect everyone is going to think that is either OK or guaranteed safe. 

3 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Dude, we're talking about entirely different things now!

I was talking about immigration, NOT the embassies.

It's well known that the U.S. embassy doesn't ask for any proof (and at least one other nation's embassy as well). 

That's not the point at all.

I was talking about your suggestion to Americans that they should lie to their embassy for the letter and use that letter at immigration.

I was saying with accuracy that there have been crackdowns at IMMIGRATION asking for additional documentation of income in addition to the letters, and not only of American applicants.

Got it now? I certainly hope so because this is getting annoying.

If you want to suggest people lie to their embassies and present basically fraudulent letters, go ahead, but don't expect everyone is going to think that is either OK or guaranteed safe. 

i got you the first time already,

but like i said, the only ones required for additional proof

are non-americans, at least what i know of

Just now, poanoi said:

i got you the first time already,

but like i said, the only ones required for additional proof

are non-americans, at least what i know of

Again you seem to be talking about embassies.

I've reached my limit of patience on this.

I will again counter your bad advice to lie to your embassies. 

6 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Again you seem to be talking about embassies.

I've reached my limit of patience on this.

I will again counter your bad advice to lie to your embassies. 

no, required by IO to provide additional proof,

that to my knowledge and memory is only asked from non-americans.

also, for the rest of the world,

lying to embassy is a non-starter,

since the embassy require source of income

 

Edited July 6, 20188 yr by poanoi

Just now, poanoi said:

no, required by IO to provide additional proof,

that to my knowledge and memory is only asked from non-americans.

 

You are totally incorrect. Have a nice day. 

9 hours ago, timberpond said:

30k per month income and you cannot get a partner in Rayong?

You didn't mentioned your estimated monthly medical bills for your disability though. 

 

My problems are chronic and basically untreatable.  Thats actually my next hurdle, however.  Every time I come to Thailand I have to bring an import permit for 30 days of narcotics, because my medicines are controlled. 

 

I was referred to a doctor in Bangkok who does pain management for when I decide to move here.  However, I have to bring all of my MRIs, surgical reports, doctors notes, history of pain management, past prescriptions, you know, basically everything to prove I have chronic pain.  So its a hassle, but it is doable.  But there are only a handful of doctors in Bangkok who specialise in narcotic pain management because by and large Thailand is still a very opiatephobic country, even in the terminally ill and chronically disabled.

 

Anyway, about your question.  I have tricare overseas which means that when I go to the doctor or get medication, I put the cost on my credit card, and then mail the bill to tricare.  Then they send me 70% back, and then I use that to pay down the card.  Really, its not bad coverage for an expat to have.  So really thesedays I am mostly just going to pain management and picking up prescriptions.  Its not too bad.  Oh, and there's a catastrophic cap which is like $2500, and after that they refund 100%.  That puts my mind at ease very much.

 

 

how old are you, OP ?

9 hours ago, Berkshire said:

You sound like you're looking for a woman who's ONLY interested in financial security.  You will find her, don't worry about that.  Problem is you may not like what you find.  There are plenty of good women who are older, late 30's and 40's, single mom, who will make good wives.  But a lot of guys come out here and shack up with the first young hottie who'll have them.  It usually doesn't turn out well. 

Actually its funny that you should mention this because I am talking to a single mom in Bangkok right now of all places.  She's 31 and she's a single mom.  She works as a maid, only making 15000 baht (if I remember her salary right, might have been 12 even).  She seems genuinely interested in me.  She's dark brown, comes from a rayong family, half of them from Esan also.  I have just been talking to the wrong sort of women, up until now.  Anyway I get back to Thailand in January and she's just thrilled I'll be spending two months with them.

4 minutes ago, manarak said:

how old are you, OP ?

I'm in my mid 30s.  50 is still far away, unfortunately!

2 minutes ago, NoHabla said:

I'm in my mid 30s.  50 is still far away, unfortunately!

okay - what kind of life project can you offer the women?

are you still able to do some work of any kind?

 

3 minutes ago, manarak said:

okay - what kind of life project can you offer the women?

are you still able to do some work of any kind?

 

No I really can't.  I've got some major nervous system problems that result in too frequent toilet trips, for one.  Kind of an embarrassing thing to talk about, but its there.  Also my pain medication works better on some days than others - and on the days when it doesn't - its really really bad.  The main thing I can offer a young woman is help watching her kid(s) while she's at work.  Most people like me quite a bit, I am considered good company to be around.  I also do not think 30,000 baht is my death sentence.  My lawyer is pretty sure its going to increase.  Its just going to take a long time.  I should also be able to get concurrent social security benefits.  So within the next 1-5 years I could be at double what I am currently getting.

2 minutes ago, NoHabla said:

No I really can't.  I've got some major nervous system problems that result in too frequent toilet trips, for one.  Kind of an embarrassing thing to talk about, but its there.  Also my pain medication works better on some days than others - and on the days when it doesn't - its really really bad.  The main thing I can offer a young woman is help watching her kid(s) while she's at work.  Most people like me quite a bit, I am considered good company to be around.  I also do not think 30,000 baht is my death sentence.  My lawyer is pretty sure its going to increase.  Its just going to take a long time.  I should also be able to get concurrent social security benefits.  So within the next 1-5 years I could be at double what I am currently getting.

 

I'm pretty sure you will find a match sooner or later.

Regarding not being able to do anything, it looks like you can type on a computer, so if you got loads of time on your hands, you could start some websites as a hobby and side income.

On 7/5/2018 at 11:56 PM, AlexRich said:

First ever post on TV .... mmmm? ?

 

What number was your FIRST POST?

well, i suffer unbearable pain, i came here when i was 34,

i married to get retirement visa so i wouldnt have to do visa runs,

but IO didnt extend, and i did qualify.

i left when i was 47 thinking it was going to be less painful to do a single

trip to cambodia than several visa runs to laos,

but i got that wrong, cambodia foam mattresses gave me more pain than ever before.

if i could turn back time, i would not have put up with all the visa runs,

i would have moved to caribbean, part of which belongs to EU.

if i were american, i wouldnt have to travel at all, i would just live in california or texas

2 minutes ago, poanoi said:

well, i suffer unbearable pain, i came here when i was 34,

i married to get retirement visa so i wouldnt have to do visa runs,

but IO didnt extend, and i did qualify.

i left when i was 47 thinking it was going to be less painful to do a single

trip to cambodia than several visa runs to laos,

but i got that wrong, cambodia foam mattresses gave me more pain than ever before.

if i could turn back time, i would not have put up with all the visa runs,

i would have moved to caribbean, part of which belongs to EU.

if i were american, i wouldnt have to travel at all, i would just live in california or texas

I know I am not speaking to your situations, but living in California or Texas on 30,000 baht a month is not very comfortable.  Even in Harlingen, if you save money to buy a trailer, and pay lot fees, under $1000 USD a month is not enough to live on.  You'd have to have many many roommates who are very understanding, because you wouldn't even be able to pay your equal share in living expenses, unless you had like 7-8 roommate, which would probably be against trailer park rules.  And California, I won't even touch that.  Thats like the most expensive state in the whole country to live in.

39 minutes ago, manarak said:

 

I'm pretty sure you will find a match sooner or later.

Regarding not being able to do anything, it looks like you can type on a computer, so if you got loads of time on your hands, you could start some websites as a hobby and side income.

Under social security disability rules I can do small part time work, hour by hour, on the computer, and that is not considered gainful employment.  I am currently investigating some of these pay by the task contracting websites.  There's a few out there where you can like, google certain topics, and then create a spreadsheet with what you find, for instance.  You can also transcribe audio to text, for example.  I am just juggling a lot right now because I am in the middle of several claims with my attorney, and its not really easy!

 

Stop responding to questions from Thai women about your income.

 

Or lie about it until, hopefully, it increases as you expect it to.

 

Even then you should be evasive and not give them hard figures.

 

Let them make up their own fantasy about how great life will be once they get to "take care of you".

 

(Don't forget that they will earn a ton of merit by looking after a sick person)

 

Most of all: "Act normal and smile a lot".

 

 

 

Edited July 6, 20188 yr by Enoon

1 hour ago, watcharacters said:

 

What number was your FIRST POST?

 

It wasn't a frankly unbelievable story!

5 minutes ago, AlexRich said:

 

It wasn't a frankly unbelievable story!

Actually I have met quite a few disabled people who look to move abroad and live better on their low, fixed incomes.  Its pretty common.  Most people in this demographic are people in their 70s who didn't save for their retirements and are receiving social security pensions.  However, some of us found ourselves in this situation sooner than we thought we would ever have to face it,

1 hour ago, NoHabla said:

I know I am not speaking to your situations, but living in California or Texas on 30,000 baht a month is not very comfortable.  Even in Harlingen, if you save money to buy a trailer, and pay lot fees, under $1000 USD a month is not enough to live on.  You'd have to have many many roommates who are very understanding, because you wouldn't even be able to pay your equal share in living expenses, unless you had like 7-8 roommate, which would probably be against trailer park rules.  And California, I won't even touch that.  Thats like the most expensive state in the whole country to live in.

ok, but i spent 40-50k baht per year on visa runs,

its going to have to be very expensive elsewhere to compete with

living in thailand with that kind of fees, i initially made

border runs and later ED visa runs, until i got too fed up

 

i'm now 50 so i'm sort of out of the trouble,

but i would still move to caribbean or even south of europe if i hadnt ruin my back so horribly

so i can no longer travel.

IMHO, no fate can be worse than not having stay granted, it means i cant buy an apartment or house cause theres no telling what week i will be told to sod off, and keeping on renting is very expensive.

i also like a predictable future when i know

a bad hair day of some immigration officer doesnt mean end of visa, etc etc,

the value of safe living is underestimated

for those of us who can not easily re-allocate

due to injuries

Edited July 6, 20188 yr by poanoi

Where in the Caribbean were you considering?  I have some Cuban friends and as crazy as it sounds, at one time I was considering that country.  But the ATMs in cuba do not accept American cards.  Also, according to my Cuban friends, Cuban women are even more demanding of a higher income than Thai women are.  Couple that with the fact that they tell me that gringo prices for non-Cubans are unavoidable, and its very difficult for a foreigner to live there.  I know about farang prices, I've been faced with them myself.  But for me, having to pay 100 baht for soup, when a Thai person pays 75 baht, its not terrible.  They tell me that foreigners in Cuba pay double for even basic items.  There are other places to consider, like the DR, but I have heard that while cheap rent is attainable in the DR, groceries are very expensive.  Caribbean islands rely a lot on imports for basic grocery items, making the cost of food on the costly side.  I have discovered, however, that the climate in Thailand is much better for me.  I also have a back injury, I have two herniated discs and spondylosis from a trip down 10 stairs, almost 4 years ago now.  I was on crutches from a hip operation and the crutch got stuck in the carpeted staircase, you pretty much know the rest of this story, I am sure.  Part of the allure to Thailand is the cost of food.  If you eat Thai food (or even better, Thai street food) on a daily basis, I cannot think of a safer country to live in, as far as food affordability.  The visa run situation in Thailand situation is getting worse, from what I have heard.  They have clamped down on land border runs a lot.  You can squeeze 4 months out of a flight to Vietnam or Cambodia and two 30 day tourism extensions.  Would it be more affordable for you just to get a Thai visa privelege elite card?  I think the cheapest one comes to about 3,000 USD to live in Thailand unhassled.  It may be something for you to look into?  http://www.thai-elite.com/