The Real Problem With Keeping 800K In Thai Bank

[MyFriend You]

19 hours ago, gentlemanjackdarby said:

As for the Philippines, the extension fees for 3 years is not for a retirement visa (SRRV); that is for a tourist visa waiver, which is just that: A tourist visa.

 

The PI is cracking down on things that formerly could be done on a tourist visa, such as open a bank (still might be possible with a bit of searching and a lot of luck), get a driver's license, or register a motor vehicle.

 

There have also been one or two postings on some of the PI forums about individuals getting increased scrutiny when trying to extend within the 3 year period; ultimately they were able to extend, but it was not a slam dunk. Of course, those was anecdotes on a forum and, at least currently, outliers; these folks could have done something to draw attention to themselves or acted rudely toward the IO officer.

 

Vietnam does not currently have a retirement visa - the best multi-entry tourist visa one can get is for one year and that is for American passport holders only and is available only from the Vietnam embassy and consulates in the U.S.

 

And on the website for the Vietnam embassy in Washington, D.C., it is made quite clear that although the visa is for one-year multi-entry, it is up to the discretion of the immigration officer at one's arrival just how long one may stay on a particular entry, but the maximum is 3 months. It isn't specifically stated, but it's likely that, just as in other countries, although one has a valid multi-entry visa, an immigration officer may deny entry to whomever he sees fit.

 

Something to think twice about before trying to become a perpetual tourist in Vietnam.

I got my one year multiple entry tourist visa to Vietnam last November in Bangkok, and was told that after 1 January 2019 they would not be available anymore...........6200 baht.  I had one rom the year before as well.  Am in Vietnam on vacation for Tet, at the moment and the IO at Ton San Nhut looked at it and said - 'Have not seen before, please wait" took my passport back to another office and came back with smile and stamped me in.  said 'no more next year'  I still have to exit every 90 days, but thats not a problem as there are plenty of cheap flights out.

[rainwater]

22 hours ago, Kenchamp said:

For those that don't have any health or accident insurance, having 800k in the bank is not a bad idea.

except if you have to access it for a medical or some other kind of emergency 

[baansgr]

22 hours ago, bwpage3 said:

These days if you cannot afford to leave 800,000/400,000 thb in the bank all year and every year, you probably don't have enough money to live in Thailand.

 

 

Utter tripe....isnt the 400/800 supposed to be for living?.....many, many reasons but as usual" if ya cant afford it bugger off home as toyland dosnt want paupers"

[rainwater]

22 hours ago, dcnx said:

Cambodia, Philippines, Ecuador, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile are reasonably priced. You can get citizenship in Peru in 2 years. Ecuador gives you 7% - 8% on the money you put in their banks for an investment / business visa. There are options, you just have to research. TONS of groups on Facebook for all of their countries full of helpful expats. 

Also Costa Rica and Panama, hell I might even consider Boca Raton, at least next year I'll have Medicare and won't have to worry about the insurance in Thailand not covering pre existing conditions... even if you never had a stroke or heart attack and include that you take cholesterol meds as a preventative measure on your insurance application or they find out, Thai medical insurance will consider that as a pre existing condition and won't cover you for anything 'blood vessel' related meaning heart attack or stroke.

Edited February 4, 2019 by rainwater

[DrJack54]

49 minutes ago, TunnelRat69 said:

I got my one year multiple entry tourist visa to Vietnam last November in Bangkok, and was told that after 1 January 2019 they would not be available anymore...........6200 baht.  I had one rom the year before as well.  Am in Vietnam on vacation for Tet, at the moment and the IO at Ton San Nhut looked at it and said - 'Have not seen before, please wait" took my passport back to another office and came back with smile and stamped me in.  said 'no more next year'  I still have to exit every 90 days, but thats not a problem as there are plenty of cheap flights out.

I'm also in Hanoi for tet but that's not the point. Only USA can obtain 12 month METV. Your saying the io told you would not be able to obtain in future? Meaning you specifically because you have had 2 or because they are being not offered in future? Surprised he stated hadn't seen one before. That's like a fruit vendor saying he never seen an apple

[Lacessit]

21 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

That doesn't mean it cannot and does not happen. It does, it's in the news regularly, and even for accounts with no bank cards involved.

 

I agree with the OP's point. Given the history of (and handling of) account theft here, I would be very reluctant to keep any significant amount of funds in a bank account here.

 

Just because it hasn't (yet) happened to you or me or X number of others doesn't mean it can't and won't happen. Just a matter of odds, chances and time.

 

You haven't gotten killed yet in a Thai road crash either... But that doesn't mean folks aren't dying by the thousands.... (Just an analogy...not suggesting account theft is THAT prevalent).

 

 

Well, there are thousands of investors in Australia who assumed ASIC would protect them. The Royal Commission has shown how abjectly useless that organisation is. Life is full of risk. Thai banks IMHO are at the lower end of the spectrum.

[Lacessit]

3 hours ago, BritManToo said:

How much happiness do most pensioners have?

In the UK most can't even afford to heat their homes in the winter.

I'm happy enough just to be warm every day.

It's even better when the wife or GF is happy to keep you warm as well.

[brianthainess]

On 2/3/2019 at 8:23 PM, Kenchamp said:

For those that don't have any health or accident insurance, having 800k in the bank is not a bad idea.

And if you pay a hospital bill in that first 3 months of your visa what happens then 

?  visa revoked and kicked out or what ?????

[kokesaat]

On 2/4/2019 at 6:29 AM, rainwater said:

Also Costa Rica and Panama, hell I might even consider Boca Raton, at least next year I'll have Medicare and won't have to worry about the insurance in Thailand not covering pre existing conditions... even if you never had a stroke or heart attack and include that you take cholesterol meds as a preventative measure on your insurance application or they find out, Thai medical insurance will consider that as a pre existing condition and won't cover you for anything 'blood vessel' related meaning heart attack or stroke.

You'll have Medicare if you're 65 and enrolled in part B.  If you have a stroke or heart attack in Thailand all the Medicare in the world won't pay your bills overseas

[jacko45k]

15 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

And if you pay a hospital bill in that first 3 months of your visa what happens then 

?  visa revoked and kicked out or what ?????

You are only permitted to spend 400,000 baht on medical treatment in a 7 month window! Which must be replaced at the required time.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

On 2/3/2019 at 9:22 PM, garyk said:

Unless you have a home in the U.S. or really know how to fool Schwab you are living on borrowed time.

I also have the brokerage investment account, and Schwab is actively seeking out and promptly canceling all investment accounts that live overseas! And I do not blame them. 

The Schwab account lets you transfer overseas at 25 dollars a transfer. So that is 350/yr transfer fees. 

Again unless you have residence in the states and go back to the states for a few months a year Schwab is on to you, and you will eventually be terminated.

 

Also good luck opening a Schwab account from abroad. 

This post is good in theory but a joke for 95% of the guys that call LOS's their home. From the US.

I have also looked into other banks that offer transfers and ATM rebate's.

I hate to say this but, if you have burnt your bridges in America. And I don't care if you are a millionaire or a pauper, it is going to cost you!

TD Ameritrade offer the same investments, also for non U.S. residents / citizens. it cost 30 USD to trasnfer money abroad from TDAmeritrade. but the fees for trading their are cheaper.

[SCOTT FITZGERSLD]

On 2/4/2019 at 9:09 AM, fruitman said:

I was thinking of opening an account at a Singaporean Bank, my Singapore friend recommended DBS or OCBC....they also give a much better interest than European banks...

 

Anybody has experience with those banks and using them in Thailand? DBS gives 3.5% interest

from my bitter experience with sigaporean banks - dont even think about it !! HONG KONG is much more developed and sofisticated. The singaporean government is teaching the "people" there about "asian values" AND superiority of chinese colture, and this influence the attitude of bankers there, and anyone you will deal with. took me time to get it, and not so bit of money. singapore looks modern and flashy, but the people are quite retarted and nasty, thinking like third world ultra nationalist and you, the foreigner, are the one to blame and fine (and don't forget whipping by the cane if you happan to misbehave) !

[newatthis]

On 2/4/2019 at 3:59 PM, natway09 said:

At fear of repeating myself,

If you are not prepared to invest 800,000 in an interest bearing  Thai bank account to enable you to live here then you should't be

BS

If you still can,  use an Embassy letter. 

Or Import 65000 into your Thai account and spend to your heart's desire. 

[Lacessit]

On 2/3/2019 at 7:56 PM, BritManToo said:

I was more worried about a civil war, were all foreigners get escorted to the airport, and the banks were all closed.

It happened next door in Cambodia, not so long ago.

Civil wars are an oxymoron. All the civil wars I have heard of have been most uncivil.

There is a considerable divide in Thailand between the North and South w.r.to political leanings. Whether that divide becomes a rift only time will tell.

[gentlemanjackdarby]

14 hours ago, kokesaat said:

You'll have Medicare if you're 65 and enrolled in part B.  If you have a stroke or heart attack in Thailand all the Medicare in the world won't pay your bills overseas

Absolutely right!

 

It's amazing how many folks, some of whom are living outside the U.S. and ought to know better, don't realize that, except in extremely narrow circumstances related to Alaska, Canada, and CONUS (Continental United States) and Mexico, Medicare ends at the U.S. border.

 

One little thing - If one has enough quarters of Medicare coverage (40 or about 10 years of covered employment), Medicare Part A (Hospitalization coverage) is free and one does not have to sign up for Part B (Outpatient coverage) to get Part A coverage

 

However, one MUST sign up for Part A (and Part B and Part D if one chooses and wishes to pay for), ideally during one's initial eligibility window.

[Date Masamune]

Unless you have a home in the U.S. or really know how to fool Schwab you are living on borrowed time.

I also have the brokerage investment account, and Schwab is actively seeking out and promptly canceling all investment accounts that live overseas! And I do not blame them. 

The Schwab account lets you transfer overseas at 25 dollars a transfer. So that is 350/yr transfer fees. 

Again unless you have residence in the states and go back to the states for a few months a year Schwab is on to you, and you will eventually be terminated.

 

Also good luck opening a Schwab account from abroad. 

This post is good in theory but a joke for 95% of the guys that call LOS's their home. From the US.

I have also looked into other banks that offer transfers and ATM rebate's.

I hate to say this but, if you have burnt your bridges in America. And I don't care if you are a millionaire or a pauper, it is going to cost you!

 

This is not true I know many Americans have the international investors account who live aboard. The service is excellent. Schwab does need to know where your income comes from.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[josephbloggs]

24 years here.  Three different Thai bank accounts.  Never had it happen, never heard of it happening.  What a ridiculous thing to worry about.

 

It is amazing how paranoid some people on here are.  What a way to go through life...

[rainwater]

You'll have Medicare if you're 65 and enrolled in part B.  If you have a stroke or heart attack in Thailand all the Medicare in the world won't pay your bills overseas

Boca Raton is in Florida that's why I said I would consider as alternative to Thailand because I would have pre existing cover, of course I know Medicare is only good in USA.

Sent from my JKM-LX2 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[HuskerDo]

On ‎2‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 10:12 AM, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

from my bitter experience with sigaporean banks - dont even think about it !! HONG KONG is much more developed and sofisticated. The singaporean government is teaching the "people" there about "asian values" AND superiority of chinese colture, and this influence the attitude of bankers there, and anyone you will deal with. took me time to get it, and not so bit of money. singapore looks modern and flashy, but the people are quite retarted and nasty, thinking like third world ultra nationalist and you, the foreigner, are the one to blame and fine (and don't forget whipping by the cane if you happan to misbehave) !

Scott - Off topic but can you change your profile to display a different photo. The one you have posted is CREEPY. Well, unless that's really you and in that case it looks great.  ????  
 

Edited February 7, 2019 by HuskerDo

[gentlemanjackdarby]

17 hours ago, Date Masamune said:

 

This is not true I know many Americans have the international investors account who live aboard. The service is excellent. Schwab does need to know where your income comes from.

 

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

The Schwab 'International Account' is different from the 'Schwab Account' for folks who are resident in America.

 

The biggest thing is that the 'International Account' requires a minimum of USD 25,000 to open while the 'Schwab Account' has no minimum; as well, one's residence address must be outside the U.S.

 

Folks who have the 'International Account' are restricted from some investment options.

 

And yes, Schwab (as do other brokerages) care very much from where one's income comes; when completing a brokerage application, there are a lot of questions about income source, employment, etc.

[ChouDoufu]

for americans with some link to the military, navy federal credit union will allow you to open an account from thailand, use your thai address, apply for credit cards, and will mail cards to thailand.

 

they offer 12-month zero interest, no balance transfer fee cards.

[HuskerDo]

1 hour ago, ChouDoufu said:

for americans with some link to the military, navy federal credit union will allow you to open an account from thailand, use your thai address, apply for credit cards, and will mail cards to thailand.

 

they offer 12-month zero interest, no balance transfer fee cards.

Where did you see that information? I checked with them last year and they said they wouldn't transfer money to an overseas bank so it seems odd they'd let a person open an account from overseas unless it's a place where a U.S. military base is nearby.

 

[ChouDoufu]

8 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

Where did you see that information? I checked with them last year and they said they wouldn't transfer money to an overseas bank so it seems odd they'd let a person open an account from overseas unless it's a place where a U.S. military base is nearby.

 

visit their website.  they have a live chat.

 

i opened a savings account and checking account with them last year while in bangkok using my thailand address.  applied for and received in bangkok two visa cards.  one with 10k line, second with 25k line.  interest rate on purchases 7.5%.   transferred a handful of other cards using their no balance transfer fee offer for one year no interest.

 

according to website, they will send swift in usd or foreign currency for $25.  haven't tried that as i have bkk bank domestic xfers until april, after than lower cost fidelity swift.  fidelity may be free depending on your account balance.  can't remember last time i sent money, will have to check that.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

20 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

for americans with some link to the military, navy federal credit union will allow you to open an account from thailand, use your thai address, apply for credit cards, and will mail cards to thailand.

 

they offer 12-month zero interest, no balance transfer fee cards.

 

I can't speak to opening an account with them from Thailand.

 

But I can mention, they are right now offering a special 17 month, 3.25% regular CD to members -- no big min balance required, and allows add-ons during the term up to a max $50K balance. Fully federally NCUA insured.

 

Try finding that kind of a deal at any Thai bank.

 

 

Edited February 8, 2019 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[HuskerDo]

On ‎2‎/‎5‎/‎2019 at 11:42 AM, gentlemanjackdarby said:

Absolutely right!

 

It's amazing how many folks, some of whom are living outside the U.S. and ought to know better, don't realize that, except in extremely narrow circumstances related to Alaska, Canada, and CONUS (Continental United States) and Mexico, Medicare ends at the U.S. border.

 

One little thing - If one has enough quarters of Medicare coverage (40 or about 10 years of covered employment), Medicare Part A (Hospitalization coverage) is free and one does not have to sign up for Part B (Outpatient coverage) to get Part A coverage

 

However, one MUST sign up for Part A (and Part B and Part D if one chooses and wishes to pay for), ideally during one's initial eligibility window.

I believe one is automatically enrolled for Part A upon applying for Social Security benefits, no?

[HuskerDo]

18 hours ago, ChouDoufu said:

visit their website.  they have a live chat.

 

i opened a savings account and checking account with them last year while in bangkok using my thailand address.  applied for and received in bangkok two visa cards.  one with 10k line, second with 25k line.  interest rate on purchases 7.5%.   transferred a handful of other cards using their no balance transfer fee offer for one year no interest.

 

according to website, they will send swift in usd or foreign currency for $25.  haven't tried that as i have bkk bank domestic xfers until april, after than lower cost fidelity swift.  fidelity may be free depending on your account balance.  can't remember last time i sent money, will have to check that.

Thanks Chou. I guess the person I spoke with at NFCU wasn't as knowledgeable as expected. 

[Pib]

1 hour ago, HuskerDo said:

I believe one is automatically enrolled for Part A upon applying for Social Security benefits, no?

Depends....see below.

 

[marcusarelus]

On 2/5/2019 at 10:12 PM, SCOTT FITZGERSLD said:

from my bitter experience with sigaporean banks - dont even think about it !! HONG KONG is much more developed and sofisticated. The singaporean government is teaching the "people" there about "asian values" AND superiority of chinese colture, and this influence the attitude of bankers there, and anyone you will deal with. took me time to get it, and not so bit of money. singapore looks modern and flashy, but the people are quite retarted and nasty, thinking like third world ultra nationalist and you, the foreigner, are the one to blame and fine (and don't forget whipping by the cane if you happan to misbehave) !

That was also my experience and I tried to tell the fruitguy but he blew me off as he had done some web scanning for a minute or so. 

[phuketrichard]

20 minutes ago, Pib said:

Depends....see below.

 

part B u need pay about $100/month, so you can deny it

I am only in the free part A

[ubonjoe]

35 minutes ago, phuketrichard said:

part B u need pay about $100/month, so you can deny it

I am only in the free part A

If your address registered with the SSA is for here you do not have to deny it when you become eligible. You have to request to be enrolled in it.