Stranded in Thailand

[ZZHELICOPTER]

I have lived here since 2003 and have had a retirement Visa since 2007. I am 73 in poor health, and on a life support system (oxygen). I was surviving fine until Thai Immigration refused to renew my Visa (they are pulling that on a lot of people). That is not the subject here.

 

I am unable to travel by air, would probably not survive monthly Visa runs, and the embassy in Laos is unbelievably backed up. I am financially stable but I do not want to get scammed out of everything I have.

 

I have decided that of they dont want me here, I will leave. My problem is it is going to take at least 6 months and my Visa will expire soon. My embassy will do nothing unless I am penniless and bleeding.

 

I have lived here for years, always supported Thai customs, and have never been arrested. It is difficult to understand why the Thai government is taking this position.

 

I am looking for advise

 

Sent from my SM-G965F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

 

 

[ubonjoe]

It sounds like you might qualify for extensions for medical treatment if your doctor can state you are unable to travel. The can issued for up to 90 days each time they are applied for.

[NCC1701A]

20 minutes ago, ZZHELICOPTER said:

I was surviving fine until Thai Immigration refused to renew my Visa (they are pulling that on a lot of people). That is not the subject here.

 

22 minutes ago, ZZHELICOPTER said:

I am financially stable but I do not want to get scammed out of everything I have.

were you unable to come up with 800,000 baht?

21 minutes ago, ZZHELICOPTER said:

I am unable to travel by air, would probably not survive monthly Visa runs,

where do you live in Thailand?

[jackdd]

The easiest way would probably be to just pay an agent to get the extension

[elviajero]

1 hour ago, ZZHELICOPTER said:

I am 73 in poor health, and on a life support system (oxygen).

Then, with the support of your doctor, you should be able get a 90 day extension of stay on medical grounds, which can be renewed every 90 days if necessary.

 

What’s going to change with your health that will enable you to leave in six months?

 

If you don’t want to leave you should tell the forum why you can’t renew your “retirement visa” and you might get help/solutions.

[colinneil]

OP get a doctors certificate stating your situation, and that you are unable to travel.

Get family or a close friend to take it to immigration ( do not go yourself).

If you do that, you should be able to get a 90 day medical extension, cost 1.900 baht.

[HighPriority]

This must be a horrible and scary situation to find yourself, I hope you can find a resolution. 

[55Jay]

You've gotten good advice.

 

Do you have a wife/gf/partner who's helping you?

 

I am curious though, what was the reason Immigration gave for declining your extension request?  Which office?

[YogaVeg]

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. I hope things go smoothly for you.

 

If it were me I would consider Malaysia, given the excellent cheap health care and ease of travel around and from Thailand. 

You can go easily by rail with cheap sleeper berths if an hour or two flight wouldn't work for you (depending on where you are in Thailand).

 

The air seems to be significantly cleaner much of the year in Malaysia than it is in a lot of Thailand (from what I've heard) and medical services and mass transit are more advanced plus they speak the Queen's English.

 

Edited March 3, 2019 by YogaVeg

[ZZHELICOPTER]

I love it here but dont want to live in fear. i tried to move some money out and they blocked it. i am scared.

Then, with the support of your doctor, you should be able get a 90 day extension of stay on medical grounds, which can be renewed every 90 days if necessary.
 
What’s going to change with your health that will enable you to leave in six months?
 
If you don’t want to leave you should tell the forum why you can’t renew your “retirement visa” and you might get help/solutions.

Sent from my SM-G965F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Crisu]

 

 

 

i tried to move some money out and they blocked it.

 

Who blocked your account? Immigration?

 

[Orton Rd]

Nobody can block money being sent out of the country I use Deemoney sent very large amounts back. Or your Bank will do it. Not sure this story is all it seems.

Edited March 3, 2019 by Orton Rd

[ubonjoe]

Several off topic inflammatory posts and replies to them have been removed.

[NCC1701A]

1 hour ago, ZZHELICOPTER said:

I love it here but dont want to live in fear. i tried to move some money out and they blocked it. i am scared.

 

Sent from my SM-G965F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

well just go to the bank and withdraw your money in cash before you leave.

[GinBoy2]

Well taking this on face value, there is nothing that stops you travelling by air if you require oxygen. 

I've travelled millions of miles through my working life and and seen many passengers with an oxygen tank

[ubonjoe]

12 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Several off topic inflammatory posts and replies to them have been removed.

And some additional posts. A repeat of them will result in a formal warning.

[ivor bigun]

Its at times like this that i am so happy that i have a Thai wife and familly that i know would care for me until the end of my days.

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[onera1961]

1 minute ago, ivor bigun said:

Its at times like this that i am so happy that i have a Thai wife and familly that i know would care for me until the end of my days.

I agree. Living in this country, far away from your home land,  at an advanced age without a family and support network, is really scary. 

[Mavideol]

1 hour ago, ZZHELICOPTER said:

I love it here but dont want to live in fear. i tried to move some money out and they blocked it. i am scared.

 

Sent from my SM-G965F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

is it real or are you pulling one on us, visa denial but no reason, people ready to provide assistance but your post is vague, my apologies if it sound harsh but that's how it looks

[mokwit]

36 minutes ago, ivor bigun said:

Its at times like this that i am so happy that i have a Thai wife and familly that i know would care for me until the end of my days.

Sent from my SM-A720F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

If someone has a defined benefit pension with a considerable step down in payment to the wife surviving them on their death, they can be assured of the best of care. Worth more alive than dead is the way to be.

[ZZHELICOPTER]

pattaya

where do you live in Thailand?

Sent from my SM-G965F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Spidey]

25 minutes ago, mokwit said:

If someone has a defined benefit pension with a considerable step down in payment to the wife surviving them on their death, they can be assured of the best of care. Worth more alive than dead is the way to be.

Mine get's sod all, it goes to the farang wife. She takes real good care of me.

[ZZHELICOPTER]

How expensive would it be to live there. I really do not want to go back to the US.

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. I hope things go smoothly for you.
 
If it were me I would consider Malaysia, given the excellent cheap health care and ease of travel around and from Thailand. 
You can go easily by rail with cheap sleeper berths if an hour or two flight wouldn't work for you (depending on where you are in Thailand).
 
The air seems to be significantly cleaner much of the year in Malaysia than it is in a lot of Thailand (from what I've heard) and medical services and mass transit are more advanced plus they speak the Queen's English.
 

Sent from my SM-G965F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Myran]

Blame your embassy, not immigration. There's a reason nothing has changed for the vast majority of expats in Thailand.

[scorecard]

1 hour ago, onera1961 said:

I agree. Living in this country, far away from your home land,  at an advanced age without a family and support network, is really scary. 

It would be anywhere.

[overherebc]

3 hours ago, Orton Rd said:

Nobody can block money being sent out of the country I use Deemoney sent very large amounts back. Or your Bank will do it. Not sure this story is all it seems.

Strangely some banks will ask for a work permit before you transsfer money.

Friend sold everything and wanted to transfer 23 million baht home. The bank refused point blank.

He ended up flying with his wife to his country, opening a joint acc', transferring the money to his wife here and the bank said ok for her to transfer it.

Until I got a credit card here from the bank my wife had to use hers to buy car parts etc I couldn't get here and I gave her back the cash.

Many things sound easy to do until you try them.

[Liverpudlian]

13 hours ago, Mavideol said:

is it real or are you pulling one on us, visa denial but no reason, people ready to provide assistance but your post is vague, my apologies if it sound harsh but that's how it looks

I am with you on this angle, Thai's even immigration aren't that cold blooded thus i think OP is panicked for little reason.

[colinneil]

7 minutes ago, Liverpudlian said:

I am with you on this angle, Thai's even immigration aren't that cold blooded thus i think OP is panicked for little reason.

So you think immigration arent cold blooded.

When they claim being in a coma is no excuse for overstay, you think that is not cold blooded.

[jaideeguy]

Myself @ 72 with multiple health issues was faced with that same decision 5 yrs ago.  Happily and comfortably  married and retired in the north of LOS when my health issues caught up with me and my returning to the 'mother country' was the best choice as I didn't want to die in a Thai hospital where they keep you on life support just to up the bill and hard to get pain meds..........no living will and/or advance directive there plus they didn't have the cure for my disease where it was easily available in the west.  

I didn't want to leave, but at the same time, I didn't want to die in a hospital in lOS [never mind how many beautiful nurses there are]. Long story short. By returning home, I figure that I was given at least 5 more years of life especially since my wife and kids are here with me.

 

So, why won't you consider returning to your homeland? 

Edited March 4, 2019 by jaideeguy

[dotpoom]

19 hours ago, ZZHELICOPTER said:

It is difficult to understand why the Thai government is taking this position.

With the greatest respect to yourself....the "step" they took is nothing compared to what immigrants have to go through in most other countries, including my own in Western Europe, in order to live there for a long period. "It is not personal"...just tightening things up.

  Having said that, I prey things work out well for you and you get back home safe and sound ...eventually.

PS ..I have developed the habit in life of trying to have an "Attitude of Gratitude" and look for the things I have to be grateful for rather than focusing on the negatives. In your own case ...you are finally "stable"...How much worse it would be if you were destitute.