14 minutes ago, KiChakayan said:

Portugal

Top of my list.

4 hours ago, laowai1960 said:

I recall during the weeks leading up to Y2K, there were many doomsayers predicting all manner of disasters, including the possibility of planes falling out of the sky.

 

 

 

Likewise, in the weeks leading up to Brexit, there are many predicting financial ruin for the UK. In the event of a so-called 'hard exit', I suspect that there may well be a short term 'shock' but then life in UK will return to normal (and personally I think the UK will prosper).

 

 

 

As for the changes to the rules for extending 'retirement visas', I suspect that few foreigners will leave Thailand for that reason alone. I suspect that there will continue to be various processes through which extensions of stay can be acquired.

 

 

Totally agree with you. I just love how many TV posters here say "that's it for me, my bags are packed". Truth is I would like to actually know how many people actually keep their word and leave.

 

For me it is like a stalemate where people say things and then daringly stand by and watch who will move first, with no intention of budging themselves.

 

The recent visa changes dont actually make any difference to me as I have been compliant with the latest rules for nearly a decade.

If anything will make me leave it will be the unpleasant heat, the traffic, the noise, the pollution and above all the massive greed and dishonesty and corruption that seems to infect people of every skin colour here.

1 hour ago, glegolo said:

For me and the clear majority of the foreigners here in Thailand, we will use our income-letters and life will go on, and we will continue living here just as before. The few of you that can not access this income-letters any more, have some problems and we will probably see a lot of you leaving Thailand, due to the fact that you cannot anymore "live up" to the income you did "mention" earlier in the affadavit to your embassy.... 

 

glegolo

Today's obsequiously gloating post-of-the-day award goes (once again) to...

Just now, NanLaew said:

Today's obsequiously gloating post-of-the-day award goes (once again) to...

You "see" what you desperately wishes to "see".. But you misses out completely of the ironi, and the fact that the post was more written to remind some people, that English-americans are not the only ones on this planet.

 

We are a lot more nationalitites and people. And the majority of us do not have problem like you have. So when addressing issues involve all of the members at T-VISA and not just blatenly disregard us.

 

glegolo

1 hour ago, dcnx said:

There are much better options out there. 

And they are?...

I'm more concerned about climate and the political way Thailand are heading. Personally not so tolerable to heat anymore and that its get more extreme heat now when it first are hot than when I came here not helps.????️???? 

 

1 hour ago, lamyai3 said:

Even the new points system they're pushing through for foreign drivers sounds like it could piss a lot of people off.

It's a points system for ALL drivers in Thailand regardless of nationality, just like many, many more civilized and developed countries have been doing for ages. Probably yours included.

The new rules are nothing. Except if you don't have funds behind you. I would be far more concerned with ongoing strength of Thai baht. 

36 minutes ago, Sticky Wicket said:

Yeh I know people who are now petrified of going to immigration. They need a dozen diazepam to get them through it!! 

Immigration seem to enjoy making people sweat, and take immense pleasure from finding a piece of documentation with a tiny error.

That has been going on for a decades or longer. Nothing new. Just the ritualized hoop jump Visa IO  run.

1 hour ago, Neeranam said:

Do those come with serious medical issues and no insurance?

Would make sense if they come from uncivilized countries where medical costs are high.

Maybe the Thai government are tired of subsidizing foreigners' medical bills.

 

You are treating your fellow foreigner who may have genuine. serious, pre-existing medical conditions either too lightly or with disdain. That's not nice, is it?

 

As for your "uncivilized countries where medical costs are high". have you ever paused to wonder why the USA is not included in most every standard international health insurance policy?

Just now, DrJack54 said:

The new rules are nothing. Except if you don't have funds behind you. I would be far more concerned with ongoing strength of Thai baht. 

If you have the Funds, the strength of the Thai baht means peanuts. Unless you a re speculating in real estate .

Edited February 25, 20197 yr by LomSak27

56 minutes ago, Sticky Wicket said:

Plus Hawaii is a relatively small island of 1.5 million so needs to be proactive so as not to be overrun.

Disagree. Hawaii is so up itself, it's a wonder the locals can see straight in the mornings. Like Singapore, Phuket and Samui, it must be this 'island' thing.

2 minutes ago, LomSak27 said:

If you have the Funds, the strength of the Thai baht means peanuts. Unless you a re speculating in real estate .

Something like 5-6 yrs ago the aud was 31 baht. Its now approx 22 baht.

That's not "peanuts"! Might add some currencies have done worse.

11 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

It's a points system for ALL drivers in Thailand regardless of nationality, just like many, many more civilized and developed countries have been doing for ages. Probably yours included.

That's what you got from my post? 

2 hours ago, dcnx said:

Not interested in spending the rest of my life living in visa uncertainty, surrounded by some of the most uneducated people on the planet, and driving on literally some of the most deadly roads in the world. 

So True.

But many on  Tv, just don't notice the above.

Maybe most don't live here for real. 

 

Ps, i'm still staying, Soi 6 is still a laugh and a few other venues 

for P4P. 

 

 

Edited February 25, 20197 yr by stanleycoin

16 minutes ago, glegolo said:

You "see" what you desperately wishes to "see".. But you misses out completely of the ironi, and the fact that the post was more written to remind some people, that English-americans are not the only ones on this planet.

 

We are a lot more nationalitites and people. And the majority of us do not have problem like you have. So when addressing issues involve all of the members at T-VISA and not just blatenly disregard us.

 

glegolo

TBH, it's pretty hard to disregard you glegolo, me old mate, when you keep banging the same old gong.

 

Anyway, me old mate, enjoy your much vaunted minority celebrity status here. For as long as you're allowed to that is.

Edited February 25, 20197 yr by NanLaew
sp

2 hours ago, glegolo said:

For me and the clear majority of the foreigners here in Thailand, we will use our income-letters and life will go on, and we will continue living here just as before. The few of you that can not access this income-letters any more, have some problems and we will probably see a lot of you leaving Thailand, due to the fact that you cannot anymore "live up" to the income you did "mention" earlier in the affadavit to your embassy.... 

 

glegolo

This ceasing of issuing "Affidavits of Income" wasn't just an arbitrary mindfart from the respective embassies. The decision was based on being notified that the income must be documented by the embassy, something which the embassies don't have the inclination or staff to to.

 

Maybe the Glegoloian Embassy wasn't notified. However, if it has been or is notified, there is a good chance it will also have to decline the decumentation, and those affidavits won't be worth the paper on which they were written.

2 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

If Thailand is a retirement joke destination...what countries merit serious consideration?  

What is wrong with your original country. I would imagine most retirees are enjoying their retirement at home

4 hours ago, laowai1960 said:

I recall during the weeks leading up to Y2K, there were many doomsayers predicting all manner of disasters, including the possibility of planes falling out of the sky.

 

 

 

Likewise, in the weeks leading up to Brexit, there are many predicting financial ruin for the UK. In the event of a so-called 'hard exit', I suspect that there may well be a short term 'shock' but then life in UK will return to normal (and personally I think the UK will prosper).

 

 

 

As for the changes to the rules for extending 'retirement visas', I suspect that few foreigners will leave Thailand for that reason alone. I suspect that there will continue to be various processes through which extensions of stay can be acquired.

 

"I suspect that there will continue to be various processes through which extensions of stay can be acquired." I think that i have read somewhere that there are ways to continue extensions . This topic has been done to death hundred of times already.

3 hours ago, Puchaiyank said:

More concerned about mandatory healthcare insurance at my age...

There is none and none proposed. Maby the sky will fall in too.

Just now, Curt1591 said:

This ceasing of issuing "Affidavits of Income" wasn't just an arbitrary mindfart from the respective embassies. The decision was based on being notified that the income must be documented by the embassy, something which the embassies don't have the inclination or staff to to.

 

Maybe the Glegoloian Embassy wasn't notified. However, if it has been or is notified, there is a good chance it will also have to decline the decumentation, and those affidavits won't be worth the paper on which they were written.

The "grape may be sour" for you, but nevertheless I wish you good luck..

 

glegolo

3 minutes ago, stanleycoin said:

So True.

But many on  Tv, just don't notice the above.

Maybe most don't live here for real. 

Beyond the 'uneducated' jibe, instead of not noticing or not living here, maybe it's more of a case that 'many on Tv' let's say the majority of foreigners pitching their tents here, don't let the societal disparities wrought of generations of rubbish education, corrupt politics and laughable law enforcement rent so much space in their heads?

6 minutes ago, Curt1591 said:

This ceasing of issuing "Affidavits of Income" wasn't just an arbitrary mindfart from the respective embassies. The decision was based on being notified that the income must be documented by the embassy, something which the embassies don't have the inclination or staff to to.

 

Maybe the Glegoloian Embassy wasn't notified. However, if it has been or is notified, there is a good chance it will also have to decline the decumentation, and those affidavits won't be worth the paper on which they were written.

Oh... now you've gone and made it personal.

 

2 minutes ago, glegolo said:

The "grape may be sour" for you, but nevertheless I wish you good luck..

 

glegolo

Most excellent, non-confrontational rebuff post-of-the-day award goes to...

 

Nice one glegolo, me old mate. Cheers.

1 hour ago, Sticky Wicket said:

You are comparing 3rd world and 1st world . Incomparable due to services and welfare etc.

Plus Hawaii is a relatively small island of 1.5 million so needs to be proactive so as not to be overrun. 

Compare that to the islands here where they couldn't give a shit and the  are becoming unsustainable 

I'd say Hawaii and Thailand are similar in many ways. There is no such thing as 3 rd world countries these days.

Developing countries.

$1 million invested in a foreign company is very different to 800,000 baht sitting in a bank account.

14 minutes ago, dreaming said:

What is wrong with your original country. I would imagine most retirees are enjoying their retirement at home

A lot in the UK rely on benefits to top up their pension to survive, which, in my book, is not enjoying their retirement.

Many of us with retirement extensions are actually here because we are married with kids and have used the retirement  route to stay because it was always easier and were encouraged to do so by immigration.

1 minute ago, Thaiwrath said:

A lot in the UK rely on benefits to top up their pension to survive, which, in my book, is not enjoying their retirement.

Beats the alternative.

58 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

I thought Thailand wanted to become a medical hub?

And don't they charge foreigners x5?

Exactly, they want those with insurance to go to private hospitals.

They don't want sick foreigners with no insurance, getting the benefit of subsidized government hospitals. 

 

20 minutes ago, dreaming said:

What is wrong with your original country. I would imagine most retirees are enjoying their retirement at home

They haven't prepared themselves financially to be comfortable there, so want poorer countries to let them in, while moaning about their home country allowing poor immigrants to come in.