Too much immigration stress

[473geo]

1 hour ago, fredob43 said:

I happen to have lived and worked in the UK and am pleased about the outcome retirement wise. Glad to say that I can live here on my pension that's is still paid by the UK government. I could of cause live even better if they didn't tax any amount over 10k UK a year. I do have considerable savings and property in the UK so that brings in a few more Bob thank Buddha.

 

Now could I survive in the UK on just my pension with nearly 500UK every month pay out strait away for utility bills as against 70UK here. I think I would be had pressed to exist let alone live well. So if you don't mind I'll continue to live my great life here thank you.

Enjoy - especially good health ????

[moonseeker]

Imagine, just how much it has changed for us having been here for 20+ years. Like so many I missed the moment to leave 10 years ago... Still can't generalize and looking at some of the lowest class foreigners and their behavior, I must accept at least part of TH resentments. 

No doubt, there are many better places to live. MS>

[yogi100]

3 hours ago, moonseeker said:

Imagine, just how much it has changed for us having been here for 20+ years. Like so many I missed the moment to leave 10 years ago... Still can't generalize and looking at some of the lowest class foreigners and their behavior, I must accept at least part of TH resentments. 

No doubt, there are many better places to live. MS>

I've been coming to Pattaya regularly for 20 years and met some great fellows over those years and I've kept in touch with many of them by phone or email ever since. 

 

You meet the odd ar$e hole (the lowest class foreigners you are probably referring to) now and again but that happens everywhere especially where there is a holiday atmosphere and a drinking culture.

 

Men come to Pattaya to carouse and chase women and have done so for over 40 years. That's bound to put some peoples' noses out of joint but it has turned Pattaya from a little seaside town into quite a large city and made a lot of local people a lot more prosperous than they would have been otherwise.

[HuskerDo]

On 10/25/2019 at 4:21 PM, rumak said:

oh god ........ you want to hear his story AGAIN ?    

Rumak - Please be respectful. Not everyone lives on these boards and reads every word of every post made like some (you maybe?). If someone asks a question be respectful of it and let others respond. 

[HuskerDo]

On 10/25/2019 at 2:30 AM, CharlieH said:

Its a matter of keeping things in perspective. The number of negative nellies, balanced against the number of members, and then compare that to the expat population, its so insignificant in the over all scheme or bigger picture.

 

Keep it in perspective.????

I guess that depends Charlie. With the new health care requirements and the fact that health insurance isn't offered to people over 70 is an issue. Those married to a Thai no problem but for others? Maybe some of the folks you mention as being negative nellies are the ones making the most sense.  It's very possible the expat population you mention will continue to decrease over time due to all the new rules thus proving the point(s) of the negative nellies as you call them.

[HuskerDo]

On 10/25/2019 at 6:06 PM, Curt1591 said:

90 day report - pain in the butt, for a day.

Visa extension - pain in the butt, for one day.

TM 30 - pain in the butt when traveling international. 

Foreign funds placed in Thai bank - with the rising baht, a good investment.
 

Last visit to  CW Immigration, did 90 day, re-entry permit, and verification of residence (for drivers license), in under 2 hours.

My life has never been less stressful ...

Two questions....

 

Do you have a Thai spouse and what is your age? The answers will show us whether or not your life would be so stress free if you aren't in your 50's and don't have a Thai spouse. Many folks are older and single thus they have to play by different rules and have additional concerns. 

[HuskerDo]

On 10/25/2019 at 8:56 PM, Celer et Audax said:

There is no welfare system in Thailand like you would find in most western countries even for Thai nationals, you can however access the health system and the limited social security system if you have worked here and contributed from your salary each month.
My company provides health insurance but I could if I chose to use a government hospital at no charge.
When I retire should I decide to remain in Thailand I will be entitled to the same pension as a Thai national and can also still have access to the government health system by paying the charge which I believe currently is 460baht a month
Why do people who retire here think they should have access to the Thai welfare system(limited as it is) when they have not contributed?
Would I for example be allowed to access the welfare system in Australia if I chose to move there when I retire? Would I even be allowed to retire there? Currently I cannot access the NHS in my home country (UK) apart from emergency treatment as I have been non resident for over 20 years
I do however agree with your comment about it being very difficult to get Thai citizenship
PR is not so difficult though but you do need to be able to show that you have payed taxes here for 3 years or more I think


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

"Why do people who retire here think they should have access to the Thai welfare system(limited as it is) when they have not contributed?"

 

Maybe this is a good question for many from South of the US border who illegally enter to attain the same thing.

[HuskerDo]

On 10/25/2019 at 10:26 AM, bwpage3 said:

I think it is true Thai attitudes are changing.

 

Many are struggling with crippling financial debt and the sight of farang's spending money probably makes them jealous or even mad.

 

Thailand is become more expensive due to the currency exchange.

 

Thai people themselves are seeing in increase in the cost of their daily staples.

 

Each political shift of the winds brings about some new rules and regulations that do not seem to be aimed at helping foreigners. Just the opposite.

 

Maybe whereas the Chinese come and spend their money and go home, this is exactly what the Thai govt wants.

 

Not white males marrying Thai women and educating them against corruption and all the other scams?

 

Anyone that moved to Thailand and didn't expect it to change over the past 20 to 30 years was just caught up in the excitement and not thinking carefully.

 

Ask anyone that has been around that long if they thought Thailand would change to the point it is now?

 

The currency one of the strongest in the world yet they manufacture no world class products or industries???????????

 

Old age, healthcare and insurance should be a key in retiring anywhere.

 

And now it seems Thailand has caught on with that idea.

 

By 2014, after 10+ years, we had enough of Thailand. Even my Thai wife.

 

I always knew at the time I moved to Thailand, it was NOT the final destination, so I had a plan and the finances to return to the USA.

 

We landed in Florida which is similar in climate, lots of Thai people, Thai groceries, restaurants, you name it.

 

Every once in a while I will go to the local Thai Temple here and marvel at the way these elderly Thai women have migrated to the USA and still live completely like they are in Thailand?

 

Same Thai language, same Thai clothes, same greed and love of money, still trying to gain "Face" by one upping the next Thai.

 

The temple is used more as a marketplace as Thai's come every weekend to sell food, or whatever they can to make money and rip each other and all the customers off. 

 

Thai Food court in the Temple asks for donations, however, when you show up at the checkout with your bowl of noodles, the cost is US $7.00. Every single item has a fixed price that is more than the local restaurant prices.

 

You don't see but a few old  farang husbands, just a huge smathering of Thai ladies, behaving exactly as if they were still in Thailand.

 

So the question arises? What is different from their life in Thailand to here, and why exactly do people want to move to Thailand when they can get close to the same exact eperience here?

 

So, many single men move to Thailand for the easy women, gogo's etc.

 

However, and it might be a month or 10 years, you either get married, or get over it.

 

Then what? Marry an Issan lady and live in a village where you hardly have a clue what anyone is speaking while you putter around your property doing menial tasks?

 

Worse yet, go teach school because you need the cash?

 

Thai's that move to the USA are farangs in their own sense. Move here with no education, do not understand how things work in the first world, cannot communicate and even worse, yet find themselves puttering around in their own culture and circles the same exact way as they do in Thailand.

 

So, for those that are fed up with Thailand and getting old and need insurance?

 

Fear not, you can have the same exact Thai experience in your home country, letting the govt insurance take care of you.

 

Then you can putter around the temple getting all the Thai language, food, culture, etc. you will tell yourselves you are missing out on.

 

You will be surrounded by your wife's Thai friends all speaking their own language and you won't have a clue what is going on?

 

You can putter around your OWN house that is ACTUALLY in your own name, much like you would be doing in Thailand.

 

You can probably hand out with some other duffers you meet at the temple and go play bingo or have a beer.

 

Need a Thai massage? Sure but the happy ending will probably cost you 5 times more. 

 

You don't need to live in Thailand if you are getting any benefit from it and the old age/medical needs to be addressed on a regular basis.

 

And?

 

Just like Thailand, yes, yes and yes, you can find some extremely cheap places to live, if you want to compare your same conditions in Isaan or a one room flat in Bangkok.

 

Image waking up to everything Thai in your own country with no immigration hassles or VISA runs!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Well said BW.

[HuskerDo]

22 hours ago, sletraveler said:

Wasn’t aware of 800 in bank eliminating potential for having to have insurance.  Albeit I would want insurance anyway like I have now.   No outpatient.    Just saying if it gets over $400 a month the no cost health insurance in US would make living there more affordable.  

"By putting 800k in a Thai bank you don't need insurance."

 

Can you show doc from IM showing this is true?

[HuskerDo]

On 10/28/2019 at 7:39 AM, Curt1591 said:

Just did the math. In the last year, with the rise in the baht, the 800K in the bank netted me over $2,300! 

Now that makes you a VERRRRRY HANSUM MAN!!

[thaibeachlovers]

On 10/25/2019 at 2:18 PM, holy cow cm said:

AO Nang is a dung hole now and was only beautiful over 20+++ years ago.

Much more than 20 years. The beach was always rubbish too. I did stay there one night the first time, and then discovered Railay. Sadly Railay has been ruined as well. Seems that the greedies ruin everything soon as it gets popular.

[thaibeachlovers]

9 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

Insane questions and comments? WOW! You need to be more respectful of others points of view and if the comments and questions aren't directed at you then don't respond unless you want to be civil.

He never said insane. Go back and read his post again.

[thaibeachlovers]

10 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

Many expats move to Thailand due to its supposed lower cost of living but now that there is mandatory health insurance (which will cost hundreds of dollars a month for a quality policy for someone above age 65) and then you combine that with the money you have to fork over each month to family if you got married to a Thai it pretty much offsets the lower cost of all the other things you moved there for. Many are leaving the country for many good reasons. For many who cut ties with friends and family "back home" it will make for a more difficult time to return there. Best of luck to all.

 

 

and then you combine that with the money you have to fork over each month to family if you got married to a Thai

WRONG. No one HAS to give a satang to the Thai family. It's just dumb guys, IMO, that do so and they have ruined it for sensible people that don't see that they have to support an entire family just because their daughter/ sister/ niece managed to hook a farang with more money than them.

How many of the farangs that support Thai families would do the same for a western woman's family?

[HuskerDo]

12 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

He never said insane. Go back and read his post again.

Thanks! Typo on my part. 

[Mitkof Island]

I agree to a point. The farther north you go the Thais tend to be more laid back and over polite. My hunch is part the culture and partly due to less obnoxious foreigners like in the south that

Edited November 3, 2019 by Mitkof Island

[HuskerDo]

7 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

and then you combine that with the money you have to fork over each month to family if you got married to a Thai

WRONG. No one HAS to give a satang to the Thai family. It's just dumb guys, IMO, that do so and they have ruined it for sensible people that don't see that they have to support an entire family just because their daughter/ sister/ niece managed to hook a farang with more money than them.

How many of the farangs that support Thai families would do the same for a western woman's family?

Well while it's true that you don't HAVE to give a satang the fact of the matter is that a woman puts the king first, her family (mother/father) second and her husband after that. I didn't make the rules or the culture but that's how it works. Happy wife happy life. This is true anywhere in the world.

 

It's not "dumb" guys but rather those that respect the culture of the land they are visitors in.

[sletraveler]

26 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

Well while it's true that you don't HAVE to give a satang the fact of the matter is that a woman puts the king first, her family (mother/father) second and her husband after that. I didn't make the rules or the culture but that's how it works. Happy wife happy life. This is true anywhere in the world.

 

It's not "dumb" guys but rather those that respect the culture of the land they are visitors in.

I doubt the current king is first in anyone’s heart.  In my case the woman’s parents are dead.   Guess I’m lucky.  

[Mitkof Island]

1 hour ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Much more than 20 years. The beach was always rubbish too. I did stay there one night the first time, and then discovered Railay. Sadly Railay has been ruined as well. Seems that the greedies ruin everything soon as it gets popular.

Once the foreigners start showing up in masses kiss paradise goodbye. The Thais have a knack at destroying the very thing that made a area popular. Cover every square inch in resorts , tacky gift shops, restaurants that charge ten times the price for watered down <deleted> food, loud bars, and as many greedy scammers as possible.

[Skallywag]

15 hours ago, sletraveler said:

  
As to health care costs I get all but dental free of charge through Veterans Administration.

And exactly where/which hospitals in Thailand do they accept VA benefits/ health care from the USA?

[Skallywag]

11 hours ago, HuskerDo said:

money you have to fork over each month to family if you got married to a Thai it pretty much offsets the lower cost of all the other things you moved there for. Many are leaving the country for many good reasons

So you are saying leave the country and quit supporting your Thai famly and you will save money?! 

[thaibeachlovers]

52 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

Well while it's true that you don't HAVE to give a satang the fact of the matter is that a woman puts the king first, her family (mother/father) second and her husband after that. I didn't make the rules or the culture but that's how it works. Happy wife happy life. This is true anywhere in the world.

 

It's not "dumb" guys but rather those that respect the culture of the land they are visitors in.

Soooooo, you are only a visitor, but you got married to someone from a completely different culture when you feel your culture is meaningless to the person you married, and you have to live your life as if you were not a visitor, but an actual Thai?

How about marrying a woman that is happy to live with you because she loves you, and not because you support her family?

 

Respect the culture of people that think because I'm a farang I have to pay her <deleted> family to let her live with me? LOL.

Tell you what- I'll respect their culture when they respect me and don't treat me like I'm so untrustworthy they have to track me every place I go, and don't bollax me around when I go to extend my visa, so I had to pay an agent to do it.

My visa said NON immigrant, and they never let me forget it.

 

 

[thaibeachlovers]

1 hour ago, HuskerDo said:

the fact of the matter is that a woman puts the king first, her family (mother/father) second and her husband after that.

When a Thai woman marries a farang, her husband comes after every member of her family, and probably after the flea bitten scabby soi dog outside, and that's only as long as the cash keeps coming.

Seriously, some Thai women do love their farang husbands and avoid their families, but lots don't. Check out the marriage and DIVORCE sub forum for the real skinny on marrying a Thai woman.

[sletraveler]

22 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

And exactly where/which hospitals in Thailand do they accept VA benefits/ health care from the USA?

Nowhere of course. It’d be a reason for locating back should insurance or medical expenses get out of hand here. 

[HuskerDo]

27 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

So you are saying leave the country and quit supporting your Thai famly and you will save money?! 

Never said that did I? 

[HuskerDo]

20 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Soooooo, you are only a visitor, but you got married to someone from a completely different culture when you feel your culture is meaningless to the person you married, and you have to live your life as if you were not a visitor, but an actual Thai?

How about marrying a woman that is happy to live with you because she loves you, and not because you support her family?

 

Respect the culture of people that think because I'm a farang I have to pay her <deleted> family to let her live with me? LOL.

Tell you what- I'll respect their culture when they respect me and don't treat me like I'm so untrustworthy they have to track me every place I go, and don't bollax me around when I go to extend my visa, so I had to pay an agent to do it.

My visa said NON immigrant, and they never let me forget it.

 

 

You seem very angry. Maybe time to relocate.

[Mitkof Island]

9 hours ago, moonseeker said:

Imagine, just how much it has changed for us having been here for 20+ years. Like so many I missed the moment to leave 10 years ago... Still can't generalize and looking at some of the lowest class foreigners and their behavior, I must accept at least part of TH resentments. 

No doubt, there are many better places to live. MS>

Trust me the lowest class foreigners men and women are still here there are more than ever. Maybe that is why the Thais have said enough is enough

[Skallywag]

2 minutes ago, HuskerDo said:

Never said that did I? 

you said having a Thai famly offsets the lower cost of living here.....then you said many are leaving the country for good reason.  Just asking if you meant that "leaving the country for good reason" meant walking away from supporting a Thai family?

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, HuskerDo said:

You seem very angry. Maybe time to relocate.

I was very angry about a lying Thai woman and her thieving family. Since I left her and her horrid family I'm happy enough now.

Didn't have to relocate to divorce her.

[JTXR]

To me, the stress doesn't come from rule changes (that's to be expected).  And it doesn't really come even from the cost of living increases represented by rule changes.  It comes from the long periods of uncertainty about how TI will interpret the many rule changes and the inability to plan amid the uncertainty.

[HuskerDo]

2 minutes ago, Skallywag said:

you said having a Thai famly offsets the lower cost of living here.....then you said many are leaving the country for good reason.  Just asking if you meant that "leaving the country for good reason" meant walking away from supporting a Thai family?

Nope. Never said that or intended it to be interpreted that way.