Thailand should welcome retirees

[Old Croc]

16 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

You may be deluded, I believe they want to force it!

Someone is certainly deluded here.

 

I hope you celebrate your 10,000th post by not using insults.

[jacko45k]

6 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

You don't seem to understand, visa requirements relate to the country issuing the visa. The Thai economy gains nothing from money held elsewhere.

Incidentally,  I have large reserves in my home country, but don't have difficulty understanding that the visa condition require the 800k has to be in Thailand.

I thought we were discussing Extensions issued in Thailand not visas. Nevertheless I accept the 800k requirement, the issue was how the new amendment, preventing people spending it for 3 more months, and prohibiting them spending 400k of it at all, makes the extension more of a burden.

Edited February 2, 2019 by jacko45k

[Brunolem]

14 hours ago, Neeranam said:

Yet you want a foreign retiree to invest over 16,000,000 baht to live in your country. Not very fair is it?

And where does this 16 million baht come from, if I may ask? 

 

I don't remember writing anything about my country's financial requirements for foreign retirees??? 

 

 

[jacko45k]

8 minutes ago, Old Croc said:

Someone is certainly deluded here.

 

I hope you celebrate your 10,000th post by not using insults.

Apologies if you feel insulted, but how I see the word 'deluded' is obviously different. Wow 10,000, hadn't realized.

Edited February 2, 2019 by jacko45k

[Somtamnication]

Let's not inject logic into the conversation! 

[Brunolem]

14 hours ago, Neeranam said:

The cost of living in Bangkok is only 43% lower than in New York. Yet, he thinks a retiree in New York should pay 35,000% more than in Bangkok.

Who is "he" and where are your numbers coming from... or are you all drinking from the same bottle? 

[1FinickyOne]

16 hours ago, Brunolem said:

In my village, I wouldn't even know how to spend such an amount... 

 

You can start with buying some farmland as a gift to your family... my family works hard and appreciates the income earned. 

[nobodysfriend]

12 hours ago, Sprog71 said:

You should not invest more in this country than you are prepared to lose.

but this goes for every country in the world ...

[Brunolem]

18 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

Great example. There's a reason why Portugal belongs to an economic grouping called the PIGS (Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain). They're all in intensive care and red carpets for retirees isn't a solution.

 

The reason why Portugal is a member of the infamous PIIGS, is because, like its fellow members, it was stupid enough to join the eurozone... certainly not because it has become a haven for European retirees. 

 

Many here seem to have trouble with simple maths. 

 

There you have people who are handed money by their country to go spend it in another country. 

 

Never mind if it is 20,000 or 40,000 or 200,000 baht per month, the fact is that this money ends up in the coffers of the country of residence, rather than in those of the country of origin. 

 

Multiply this by millions of retirees and it starts to matter. 

 

Do you think that England would rather have, say 100,000 English retirees spending, say 100,000,000 pounds per month at home, or in Thailand? 

 

Which country is a net loser and which is a net winner in such a scheme? 

 

Those who dismiss retirees as small contributors to the economy, could also dismiss small farmers, shopkeepers, street vendors, artisans and craftmen, and let the whole economy in the hands of big corporations and their oligarchs... that would certainly be very pleasant... 

 

[FritsSikkink]

"A Western retiree in a village probably brings much more to the locals than 10 million Chinese tourists, whose bulk of the money never reaches the Thai population."

What a load of BS. 

[onera1961]

35 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

Those who dismiss retirees as small contributors to the economy, could also dismiss small farmers, shopkeepers, street vendors, artisans and craftmen, and let the whole economy in the hands of big corporations and their oligarchs... that would certainly be very pleasant... 

But small spenders are reserved for locals. Why do they allow foreign small spenders in their country living like locals? Everybody wins a genetic lottery when they are born. If you're born in a high wage country and want to live in a low wage country, you must come in between and spend like a middle wage earner. Otherwise, you're truly not rewarding the people who unfortunately born in a low wage country.

[Old Croc]

45 minutes ago, Brunolem said:

The reason why Portugal is a member of the infamous PIIGS, is because, like its fellow members, it was stupid enough to join the eurozone... certainly not because it has become a haven for European retirees. 

 

Many here seem to have trouble with simple maths. 

 

There you have people who are handed money by their country to go spend it in another country. 

 

Never mind if it is 20,000 or 40,000 or 200,000 baht per month, the fact is that this money ends up in the coffers of the country of residence, rather than in those of the country of origin. 

 

Multiply this by millions of retirees and it starts to matter. 

 

Do you think that England would rather have, say 100,000 English retirees spending, say 100,000,000 pounds per month at home, or in Thailand? 

 

Which country is a net loser and which is a net winner in such a scheme? 

 

Those who dismiss retirees as small contributors to the economy, could also dismiss small farmers, shopkeepers, street vendors, artisans and craftmen, and let the whole economy in the hands of big corporations and their oligarchs... that would certainly be very pleasant... 

 

You do know it's a two way thing don't you? Retirees from other countries spend their pensions in the country where people emigrate from.

(Talking about retirees not immigrant/refugee spongers)

As an example, Australia who monsters their pensioners  seeking a lifestyle overseas, is actually way ahead because far more money is brought into the country by retirees from elsewhere. Mainly the British.

Edited February 2, 2019 by Old Croc

[catman20]

As usual, Thailand appears to be rowing against the tide. 

 

Thailand is just like the Thai people, they just dont care.

 

  all you people who keep winning about all this, seems to me, you either cant afford to be retired here or just want something to moan about.

 

if you can afford it and meet all the criteria  i really dont see any problems.

[BritManToo]

2 hours ago, Old Croc said:

As someone who understood the requirements, and made the effort to meet them,

When I came to Thailand (2009) the requirements for a 1 year retirement VISA was being over 50 years old and 120 pounds for the VISA.

I understood those requirements, and sent them a check for that 120GBP.

 

Karma insists they throw you out because you can't meet next years (or the year afters).

 

Edited February 2, 2019 by BritManToo

[dcnx]

Thailand doesn’t care. Plain and simple. Stay or don’t stay, up to you.

Edited February 2, 2019 by dcnx

[Myran]

"Thailand should welcome retirees"

 

They are. They even have a special visa just for you guys. All you have to do is adhere to a set of financial requirements. 

[Jonnapat]

17 hours ago, Lungstib said:

I agree with that. Lot of sense elsewhere in the letter. Your money all comes from overseas and is spent here on a multitude of services which doesn't have to trickle down, it hits the local spots. I honestly doubt many leave debts in hospitals or anywhere else. I am not retired but married. 25 years of overseas (cant work in Thailand) pay has all gone in this country. Much to pay for things my 'family' couldn't afford like hospital bills, house extensions, roofs, sacks of rice and funeral expenses. All gone to local shops and workers. Now if I dont have a big enough bank account I'm in danger of being sent to a country I haven't been to for 10 years. Ludicrous. 

Unlike you I am retired, but like you my money has been spent exactly as you describe. I agree with all that you say.

[GalaxyMan]

Thailand does welcome retirees, but they only want retirees that are NOT going to become a burden on their system. Can't blame them at all. They want high-quality (read monied) retirees, not people who can't afford to live in their own home countries. Might not seem fair if you're one of those who will be negatively impacted by this, but it's smart from their point of view. The real screaming is going to start when they add an insurance requirement to the game. It's only a matter of time, IMHO.

[tgeezer]

Sorry but a load of tosh, most of our time is spent in the garden not the bars.

And ain't it wonderful?


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Psimbo]

18 hours ago, Liverpudlian said:

Brown envelopes mates, nuff said wink wink.

Never paid a single one in 15 years here. Warts and all I just roll with the punches and have never had issues.

[Kwasaki]

17 hours ago, Lungstib said:

I am not retired but married.

Now if I dont have a big enough bank account I'm in danger of being sent to a country I haven't been to for 10 years. Ludicrous. 

If your married to a Thai lady you only need to show 400,000 baht in the bank for 2 months to get a 1 year extension of stay.

 

The rules have only changed for single farangie retirees not for farangie's married to a Thai lady.

I hope Thai immigration don't mess with that it's a work of art already.

 

14 hours ago, BritManToo said:

Or 25k for a visa agent.

With the new rules for retirement a person even using an agent will need 400,000 baht permanently in the bank which was not required before.

 

13 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Health insurance is not required to apply for a extension of stay at immigration.

Apologies your correct I thought it was something that was going to happen.

[300sd]

I agree that Thailand should welcome retirees! But they don't.

 

They let us stay here if we jump through their hoops with hordes of visits to immigration, paperwork, copies....bs when having to acquire address letters for licenses etc. Reports when we stay away from home for one night! It doesn't matter whether we live on 50,000 baht a month in this country or 150,000. There are some stupid hoops we all have to jump through to stay. It's principle in my opinion and I don't think they want us or like us much.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Brunolem]

38 minutes ago, onera1961 said:

But small spenders are reserved for locals. Why do they allow foreign small spenders in their country living like locals? Everybody wins a genetic lottery when they are born. If you're born in a high wage country and want to live in a low wage country, you must come in between and spend like a middle wage earner. Otherwise, you're truly not rewarding the people who unfortunately born in a low wage country.

But even a low income Western retiree is well off compared to local retirees. 

 

In France, the minimum pension is about the equivalent of 30,000 baht per month. 

 

Compare that with 700 baht for a Thai retiree, and you get the foreigner bringing in the village economy as much as 40 local retirees! 

 

Even if you compare with local workers, making between 10,000 and 15,000 baht per month, the little Western retiree still brings more to the local economy, while not "stealing" a job... 

 

[BritManToo]

8 minutes ago, GalaxyMan said:

not people who can't afford to live in their own home countries.

Why would you come here if you had enough money to live in your home country?

[Kwasaki]

9 minutes ago, GalaxyMan said:

They want high-quality (read monied) retirees, not people who can't afford to live in their own home countries.

 

The real screaming is going to start when they add an insurance requirement to the game.

Firstly everybody can afford to live in there own country I'm here for a better quality of life apart from many other reasons.

 

When retiring here you should get health insurance at some stage or have funds aside as a cover for insurance anyway not wait until it's forced upon you.

 

 

[GreasyFingers]

21 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

Why would you come here if you had enough money to live in your home country?

For a woman that does not act like a man, and younger too!

[Kwasaki]

17 minutes ago, 300sd said:

I agree that Thailand should welcome retirees! But they don't.

 

They let us stay here if we jump through their hoops with hordes of visits to immigration, paperwork, copies....bs when having to acquire address letters for licenses etc. Reports when we stay away from home for one night! It doesn't matter whether we live on 50,000 baht a month in this country or 150,000. There are some stupid hoops we all have to jump through to stay. It's principle in my opinion and I don't think they want us or like us much.

So what are you gonna do about it Thailand has got to do something about scumbags wanting to stay here.

 

All the regs I just take them all in my stride and it's no big deal if your properly organised. 

[peter14]

and the winner is Thai banks !  with  800k in the bank.  I rather pour my money in Cambodia at  6.75 %

[BritManToo]

Just now, Kwasaki said:

All the regs I just take them all in my stride and it's no big deal if your properly organised. 

I just ignore the regs, as long as I never visit the local immigration, nobody seems to care.

[balo]

17 hours ago, ocddave said:

Well you could always move to Sicily Italy and purchase a retirement home for 1 euro! ????  

 

https://edition.cnn.com/travel/article/one-dollar-home-sambuca-sicily-italy/index.html

Interesting project. 

 

You only need around 20k US dollars to refurbish the homes.  Sicily , great food , sun , beaches. Maybe not very cheap but it's very beautiful there. And clean , fresh air from the Mediterranean .