All of this talk of the ... wait for it .... it's coming ... the TM30 and how it makes many of you feel unwanted, it made me question whether most have a quick exit plan.  How quickly can you get out of here with as much of your money and things?

 

Where would you go?  Vietnam? Malaysia? I mention those two as they are close, and much more friendly to foreigners.  Both countries will give you a work visa with minimal paperwork and grief.

I will return to london  to my place, (having given my tenant notice) for a summer and autum then look elsewhere maybe west africa or the balkans...or look at a 6 month a year in LOS and 6 months elsewhere. London is brilliant in the good weather. But the P4P scene is dire. The Balkans is excellent and just opening up. Spain is nearly as much fun as Thailand but no sociable P4P and is unsafe compared to ultra safe Thailand.7

I voted Yes / Back home, but i cheated a bit, because I am now posting from home (Europe). ????

 

But if you were to ask me a bit earlier this year, this is what I would have voted. Better to go back home first, then take it from there.

 

The only thing holding me back was the rented apartment. Mentally, not monetarily. I was way past the 12 month minimum contract and was running month to month. Still felt like a big step. No other ties. 

 

Way harder for people with actual ties (property, cars, wives, kids).

 

Still keen on getting back to Asia. Just not too sure where yet. Mix the countries a bit, do more exploring.

Edited August 31, 20196 yr by lkv

Already have ticket home...have return ticket...may opt not to return...tired of Thai government's propensity for creating angst among it's guests...   ????

 

 

1 hour ago, lkv said:

I voted Yes / Back home, but i cheated a bit, because I am now posting from home (Europe). ????

 

Way harder for people with actual ties (property, cars, wives, kids).

 

Still keen on getting back to Asia. Just not too sure where yet. Mix the countries a bit, do more exploring.

I would agree its harder if you have ties, but given resources you do it.

 

We kept the house, it's our snowbird vacation home. Son was already in the US and wasn't coming back to Thailand. Wife wanted to follow him too, so the die was cast.

 

Sold both our truck and car, couldn't see the point of keeping them, and now we just rent a car for a few months every year.

 

I'd lived overseas for in various countries for 20 years, the last 10 being in Thailand, but I always kept a house in the US as my ultimate bolthole should I need it. 

 

I've never quite understood those who sell up everything at home, then sink it into a country, where they are at best long term tourists, with little to no rights.

 

Always always always have an exit plan from any country you live, of which you are not a citizen

Edited August 31, 20196 yr by GinBoy2

Yes  to having an  exit plan.

 

It would be/is Europe. Currently there.

Return to Thailand for the winter, unless I choose to bin my return leg flight.

Within SE Asia  Vietnam the country that holds most appeal.

Time to cash up in Thailand if for any reason need to leave quickly ? Sub 7 days.

 

 

I'm happy here, best to try to ignore Immigrations negative attitude, people need to be more thick skinned.

But if i was leaving it would be Vietnam most likely then Philippines

I exited just after Prayut took over , when flying in from Cambodia, the immigration girl asked me just how long I'd be staying in Thailand this time , about as long as it takes me to get a ticket outa her, I was gone two days later not returning for any long stays ever. had over thirty years associated with Thailand , it sure has gone down hill. 

48 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

But if i was leaving it would be Vietnam most likely then Philippines

I lived in Thailand from 2008 until 2015. I could see the writing on the wall even then. I sold up and moved to the Phippines. Best descision I ever made. 

Sad to see Thailand making things so difficult. I cannot see it getting better any time soon.

I'm expecting to weather the storm - how lenghty it might be - but sure have a few kettles on the back burner just in case. Came to live here with no expectations, so can't expect any to be met - now have ties more so than in my passport country, so only time will tell - well my reactions to BS everywhere 

I have a child now so I would stay in Asia. However, I'm telling all my friends that if they want to follow my track they should check Cambodia, Vietnam and the Philippines since these options are a lot easier. Without any ties, I would probably also consider south America since I have dual citizenship but left when I was a baby. 

2 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I've never quite understood those who sell up everything at home, then sink it into a country, where they are at best long term tourists, with little to no rights.

As the saying goes. "it is the money, stupid"

2 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I've never quite understood those who sell up everything at home, then sink it into a country, where they are at best long term tourists, with little to no rights.

 

Always always always have an exit plan from any country you live, of which you are not a citizen

Perhaps I can shed some light on why some people do sell up everything at home, then sink into another country.

 

In my situation, the property market in Sydney was on the up for 5 years straight, i.e. in late 2012 to mid 2017.

 

In mid 2013 I purchased an investment property in the hope of making 10% over the next 2 years before we moved to Thailand. I rented it for 12 months as planned, but when I saw the market taking off, I said we have to move into this one to minimise the Capital Gains Tax payable, so we gave the tenant notice, then renovated it before we moved in so I could claim the Capital Expenditure costs when I later sold it, and as there was no point in holding onto our principal place of residence we sold it to avoid any Capital Gains Tax as well, as we knew we were moving to Thailand in 2015, and did just that. 

 

I sold the property that we originally purchased as investment property, later moving in, in mid 2016, the 10% increase I was looking for ended up being 65% from 2013 to 2016, so it was a good idea to move into it 12 months after purchasing it which did minimise out Capital Gains Tax liabilities, you see under Australian Taxation Laws, if you reside overseas for more than 183 days in any financial year (one of 3 criteria) you can be classed as a non-resident for tax purposes, and in my case it's cut and dry, have kids going to school here, meaning as a non resident you get taxed from the 1st $ you make in Australia with no threshold, which normally applies to Australian residence, i.e. they get the 1st $18,200 tax free, so I would have been paying 32.5c in every $ earned from the rent, add further Capital Gains Tax on the property if it increased in value from the time I left the country with no CGT 50% threshold, & higher land tax for foreign residents, now add agents fees, reletting fees, tenancy insurance, house insurance, water and council rates and throw in any vacancy factor, reletting fee, usually a weeks rent for 6 months, or 2 for 12 months, and of course any maintenance/repairs and you would be at a 50/50 split not including any potential Capital Gains Tax increase, losing out on that 50% threshold as a non residence. 

 

That is why I didn't hold onto my place, now that said, I could pick it up today for $150,000 AUD less as the market started to tank late 2017 and to this day is still going south. I still have the funds from the sale and invested that in the Australian Stock Market purchasing fully franked stocks which provide me with a dividend (tax paid), returning around 6% per annum and when there is an opportunity with Trump spooking the markets, I buy and sell stocks which are also tax and Capital Gains Tax free as I am a non resident, the above said, I am averaging around 1% per month on my investment, or 12% per annum tax free, I also have about 33% in the banks which earn very little, and pay 10% withholding tax on any interest earned, that's my fall back position, the above said, even with the AUD going down to the Baht, I reckon I am still on a good wicket.

 

Everyone's situations vary, depending on how the government treats you when you want to live overseas, ours will make you pay the price if you own property in Australia, i.e. they don't want non residents owning property in Oz, if you do, you cop it up the rear, regardless if your a Citizen, you lose your voting rights, and Medicare cover, but on the other hand, won't tax you if you invest your money into the Australian Stock Market buying fully franked shares, because the tax is already taken out of them when they pay you your dividend, hypocritical if you ask me, but it is what it is and that might make you understand why some do sell up. 

 

With regard to Plan B, it's a matter of booking tickets for the family who all have Citizenship and we are away, have money will travel as the saying goes ????

 

As for the property we built here which cost 1/10th of what it would of cost to build back in Oz, easily locked up, family and neighbours would keep an eye on it for when and if we decided to return for a holiday, provided we didn't have a sour taste in our mouths, otherwise I would probably sell it on the cheap, 50% loss, and the loss wouldn't bother me, as it's been a rent free situation here all the way.

 

For those who cannot do retirement, marriage or work visa here, I urge you to make plan if you have not already done so.

 

I made my exit plan in the beginning of this year - I finalized it in June when I saw the Vientiane consulate denying the first ED visas I knew this cannot go on for too much longer.

 

For everyone who is retired, married or is willing to buy Elite card, you are fine. For those leftover, please make plans. Do not be one of those desperate people I see on so many threads now. Desperate to find a way to stay etc.

 

I am off to the Philippines mid-October, after my ED visa was denied recently. I made this decision before the visa application that I would not use 100 tricks to get the visa - either I get approved or not. I will not make such a fuss to stay in a developing country.

If I do not like it, I go to Vietnam. Otherwise 3rd option, back to home country.

Just get on the plane and head to the states. Then either grab an METV, or just buy an elite, or take a break from BKK and go to Burma or Cambo or even Portugal. No biggie

I have a  UK property and also two other places in Europe (land) I can go.

 With a Thai Wife it complicates things but we don't  have kids and she would  stay here maybe for another 8 years and then she would retire to the UK and gain permission to stay she could show the £60k in the bank route.

We have quite a bit of Thai property which would be sold off over the years and its not that hard to shift it as we got it very cheaply  and even selling under market value we would do just fine. Also would  have had 10+ years of rental income out of them all.

Doing it now would net us  huge profits  if we went to the UK as the pound is so weak but at the moment its not bad enough in Thailand, it's getting worse and we  keep an eye on it.

I try not to worry about things that are not likely to happen... so, no particular plans.

 

I do know this though... It's a long way to Tipperary.

I voted "Yes" and "Asia". My plan for next year is to reduce my time spent in Thailand from 9-10 to 4-5 months per year. 2020 will be the first year since 2006 that I won't spend more than 6 months in Thailand.

 

I figure that, in years past, 20% of my time in Thailand was best spent in Thailand for what I did, 60% could have been spent elsewhere just as well and for the remaining 20% other countries would actually have been better, but I was in Thailand anyway and got kind of tardy. Conclusion, I can painlessly reduce the time spent in Thailand without really missing out on anything I still love about the place. My goal is to cut down on things that annoy me about the place. Immigration being a part of that.

 

I have no compelling reasons to be in Thailand and no long-term obligations beyond a lease that will lapse in May and that I won't be renewing.

 

As a genuine (!) long-term tourist, I cannot be bothered to play immigration's silly little games any longer. I've never been hassled myself so far, but I believe in being proactive and calling it quits while you're ahead. I've had a good run, won't leave altogether in any case and might be back as a resident once I'm of "retirement (visa)" age. Time will tell.

I would move to Malaysia or to the Philippines and then try to get rid of my Thai condo and my bank accounts here. Also my mail would have to be reorganized. After more than two decades here in Thailand perhaps even a positive change in the end? Something new before the coffin? I spent a lot of time in these countries. Even had / still have there bank accounts and even had PO Boxes there. So I know what to expect. 

7 hours ago, 4675636b596f75 said:

All of this talk of the ... wait for it .... it's coming ... the TM30 and how it makes many of you feel unwanted, it made me question whether most have a quick exit plan.  How quickly can you get out of here with as much of your money and things?

For the Love of God!

Another one.

It is just never ending.

Like a sickness. A disease. A paranoia.

It is a piece of subjective paper for Chris's sake!

In 16 years living here full time, i have never even seen a <deleted>' form, let alone filled one out.

The non stop ranting on here about Thais looking at me, talking about me, sneering at me, looking down at me, yada nada da bing.

It is so tiresome.

All of you disaffected, hurt, expats - stop talking about it, and just f##k off.

And leave us normal guys who still love the country and it's wonderful people, and have seen very little changes in day to day life here in peace.

Thank you.

5 minutes ago, thaiguzzi said:

For the Love of God!

Another one.

It is just never ending.

Like a sickness. A disease. A paranoia.

It is a piece of subjective paper for Chris's sake!

In 16 years living here full time, i have never even seen a <deleted>' form, let alone filled one out.

The non stop ranting on here about Thais looking at me, talking about me, sneering at me, looking down at me, yada nada da bing.

It is so tiresome.

All of you disaffected, hurt, expats - stop talking about it, and just f##k off.

And leave us normal guys who still love the country and it's wonderful people, and have seen very little changes in day to day life here in peace.

Thank you.

+1 

The short notice thing threw me off. Too bad there wasn't a choice for back home initially and then to ____. 

17 minutes ago, Tropposurfer said:

keep on leaving guys leaves more women for me.

 

Ha ha, C'mon man, that's just rubbin' shrimp paste in their wounds.  However, I do think you are onto something.....  ????

 Depends ,why I had to leave ! Before I came here it was either  the Philippines or Thailand. Defiantly not back to the USA to wither and die. 

At my age, this is my exit plan.  At the moment I'm thinking out of the box. The music will be "Light My Fire"

 

after reading all the fear and paranoia on Thai Visa my plan is to never leave my house.

In a few years when medicare, social security & pension kick in I'd wind up with more money living stateside by renting out a room or two, by no longer paying management fees to collect rents, by a reverse mortgage on main residence and by no longer paying international health insurance which in total would more than offset the cost of living increase. But then I'm right back where I started, only older.

An off topic troll attack on other posters has been removed

Where would you go? My answer is: I don't know now.

 

I would look for possible options at that time. I don't want to go the long way "home" to think there were else I would want to live.

 

If I would come i.e. from Cambodia and wouldn't be allowed to come back to Thailand then I would spend a week or two in that country and think about the possibilities. And then I might decide to stay somewhere around here or go home or whatever. I wouldn't rush with such a decision and I would make it at the appropriate time with up to date information - not maybe years in advance with information which will likely be outdated in the moment X.

 

7 hours ago, GinBoy2 said:

I would agree its harder if you have ties, but given resources you do it.

 

We kept the house, it's our snowbird vacation home. Son was already in the US and wasn't coming back to Thailand. Wife wanted to follow him too, so the die was cast.

 

Sold both our truck and car, couldn't see the point of keeping them, and now we just rent a car for a few months every year.

 

I'd lived overseas for in various countries for 20 years, the last 10 being in Thailand, but I always kept a house in the US as my ultimate bolthole should I need it. 

 

I've never quite understood those who sell up everything at home, then sink it into a country, where they are at best long term tourists, with little to no rights.

 

Always always always have an exit plan from any country you live, of which you are not a citizen

In my case my country of births exchange rate have dropped with 50% against the Thai Baht. All my assets there (fortunately not much) halved in value. Your comment in general maybe true but there people that are better of having brought most of,their money into the country (ask the Brits).