7 minutes ago, fred110 said:

I've been on retirement extensions for about 14 years, no problems. Money in the bank year round.

And what do you live off ?

18 hours ago, lovethai123 said:

It means if someone wants to retire in thailand then keep aside 800000 baht in a  separate bank. Don't touch that money. Never ever. That's the safest way. 

No 800 k for me. I transfer in excess of 65k/month, which I did anyway. Never had a problem with a visa in Thailand.

7 minutes ago, Tyler Visan said:

And what do you live off ?

I am going to take a wild guess... money.

 

Some people have actual money. 

9 minutes ago, Tyler Visan said:

And what do you live off ?

Baht in my atm account, of course.

13 minutes ago, Tyler Visan said:

Better to do the monthly transfer from abroad which allows you to spend every last satang.

not everyone wants to spend every last satang... its nice to have $ for spending, but also nice to have for security and not being on the edge of being indigent.... 

19 hours ago, lovethai123 said:

in every way.i m talking pre covid era

so much discussion on this forum about the difficulties getting a proper visa to live there.

also many older guys told me similar things.

but turns out same older retirees are saving many small businesses. 

Many small businesses all around Thailand are being saved one way or another.

Tourist areas without tourists are a different scenario altogether, many do not have retirees to benefit from, a situation that is currently prevalent all around the world.

19 hours ago, lovethai123 said:

did't get ur point but ok. 

 

my point is that farang retirees have been finding it hard to continue living in thailand due to visa rules and guess who is now supporting the local pattaya economy. 

 

the same farang retirees. 

I doubt the people that make the rules care about restaurant owners ( whether farang or Thai ) in Pattaya. Just because corona happened doesn't mean that anything changes politically, IMO.

1 hour ago, montereyjp said:

I pay myself the required 65,000 baht a month (no need to keep 800,000 baht in the bank) and never had a problem extending my retirement visa... No problem getting a retirement visa or extending it if you have money.????

A bit of a smug reply and Thai immigration made that a worry at some stage for people that do that.

I have my own unselfish reasons for keeping money in the Thai bank for 1 yr extension.

18 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

But that was never the intent - the 800k was to show you had enough funds to stay the year just as the 400k is for marriage.   It was not designed as a bail bond but to show funds to live.

IMO it's so that in the event one has a serious accident one does not become a freeloader in a hospital, or that one has the ability to buy a ticket out of LOS and pay off debts before leaving.

 

IMO they changed the rules because too many were rorting the system and putting borrowed money in the bank for the 3 months. As usual the few stuff it up for the many.

19 hours ago, Lacessit said:

I'm always amused by that term, as if I have landed on earth from another planet.

Have to disagree with the OP, if anything I am finding the process of getting my visa extension done easier every year.

Dictionary

 

a·li·en

/ˈālēən/

 

Someone belonging to a foreign country or nation.

 

1. a foreigner, especially one who is not a naturalized citizen of the country where they are living.

   "an illegal alien"

    

   Not to be confused with extraterrestrials:

   ex·tra·ter·res·tri·al

   /ˌekstrətəˈrestrēəl/

    

   adjective

    

   1. of or from outside the earth or its atmosphere.

      "searches for extraterrestrial intelligence

    

   Agree with the visa renewals, easy, if you have the money and do your paperwork correctly.

20 hours ago, lovethai123 said:

when they support the local economy

Probably they don't like to admit to this fact.

Never forget, the government didn’t invite you to retire here.  Your girlfriend/wife/lover did.

19 hours ago, jak2002003 said:

Really? Have you got any statistics to back that up? Really we are small fry in the big scene of things.

 

Do you think the Thai economy will suffer if a few expat style bars and food places close down? Will the old retired guy taking an hour to drink his can of cheap beer in the bar really be missed?

 

Also they have not changed any rules or made it harder for visas.

 

They are only stopping the illegal ways that people use, stopping the  loop holes and people abusing the system.

 

If those expats are so poor and short of money that they have to do it that way then they can hardly be contributing to the economy and being the saviours of local Thai businesses can they? 

I agree the broke guys should pack up and leave.

Also the visa rules should be standard for those with the 

cash in the bank and no problems living within the laws

 of Thailand . 

 

I pay for a lot more than a warm beer and a bar stool,

in fact I never use either.

I buy, spend, and save for my wife about 1,300,000 

each year, so I do bring in a bit of cash.

If a change is needed make it very clear and do it well in 

advance so retirees can make decision about leaving or staying.

 

Lastly and as important,  they should stop the

15,000 baht tea money to get the 

visa you are otherwise qualified for.

This <deleted> of each office deciding how much money 

and how long in a bank account is just wrong.

If immigration officers need more money their 

pay should be increased , not bribes.

 

I love it here, it is my home and I fully support my self and family,

 but the jerking me around last time had me ready to pull out.

I still may wave good bye when covid vaccine is in force and the 

virus is controlled in the rest of the world.

All I need is an air-conditioned room and good internet,

to keep up with the world and order what I want delivered.

All this stuff I have here to make life comfortable

is really a lot of headaches for me.

19 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

But that was never the intent - the 800k was to show you had enough funds to stay the year just as the 400k is for marriage.   It was not designed as a bail bond but to show funds to live.

Maybe you do, but I don't recall ever seeing any definitive statement of exactly what the 800k was for, just that it had to be there. Expats of course don't like having to have any deposit and love to know reasons for any rules, so I think they just rationalized thus. We had a long thread recently from a poster disgruntled at having to have health insurance so he tried to claim that deposit money is supposed to be there to take care of hospital bills.

 

In any case, Thailand's requirements for retirement visas/extensions are reasonable for the country it is (cf. Malaysia) and I've never had any problems w/ Immigration, always been nice to me. Last extension time, I was in and out in 15 min.

4 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

Never forget, the government didn’t invite you to retire here.  Your girlfriend/wife/lover did.

I invited myself here and I'll decide if and when I leave.

2 minutes ago, Isaan sailor said:

Never forget, the government didn’t invite you to retire here.  Your girlfriend/wife/lover did.

 

 

No the government did actively did provide enticements for people to 

retire here.

This is common in many parts of the world.

Sure they only want the ones with money to spend,

but they do hold the door open to them.

 

And if 90% of retirees and second home people

were to drag up and leave

it would leave a big hole to be filled.

8 minutes ago, PatchinExPat said:

I pay for a lot more than a warm beer and a bar stool,

in fact I never use either.

I buy, spend, and save for my wife about 1,300,000 

each year, so I do bring in a bit of cash.

I transfer to Thailand roughly the same amount. However, I do occasionally sit on a barstool and nurse a JD on the rocks or 6. The "sat on a barstool, nursing a warm beer" is a bit of a myth.Yes you see them lining Soi Buakhao and because they're very visible, they're often seen as the majority of expats. They're actually only a small minority. Most expats live like you and I. My money goes on school fees, several vehicles and eating out.

 

The bar stool brigade are an urban myth, primarily perpetuated by TVF.

15 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Maybe you do, but I don't recall ever seeing any definitive statement of exactly what the 800k was for

It dates back decades and was the same as income - proof that you can support your stay - 65k a month or 12x65=780 making 800 a round figure in bank at start of the year stay.

It is very simple, thais DO NOT want us here.  If they did they would show it.  Instead, we are having a discussion about WHY?  We already know what, we are trying to justify it by rational.  However, it is simple, when someone doesn't not want you, BELIEVE them!

14 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Maybe you do, but I don't recall ever seeing any definitive statement of exactly what the 800k was for, just that it had to be there.

Its been stated many times over many years. 65k baht/month or 800k in the bank (roughly the same amount) is to ensure that you have enough funds to live in Thailand for the following 12 months without becoming a burden on Thailand. It has always roughly equated to $2,000/month. The exchange rate changed drastically a number of years ago and it was upped to 800k. If there is a large disparity between $2000 and 65k baht in the future, it will be revised again.

Just now, lopburi3 said:

It dates back decades and was the same as income - proof that you can support your stay - 65k a month or 12x65=780 making 800 a round figure in bank at start of the year stay.

Yes it does date back anyway. ???? That's not a clear statement of a "for living expenses" purpose, however. We've all added that in ourselves. Not that it's an unreasonable assumption, mind you. 

 

It's also a cherished myth here that now you have to leave part of it in for part of the year. Actually, you may withdraw it any time. It's not forcibly held in the bank or forfeited. You would then have to apply for a new visa, however, and presumably receive one if you met the requirements.

21 hours ago, Kwasaki said:

In what way are they finding it harder. 

Thai people are intellectually unable to understand the obvious advantages of having relatively well-off aliens living among them. The society has always been racist to the core and that will probably never change. The Thai mode of thought is very similar to the American Trump supporters, who simply cannot STAND the thought of an Hispanic alien taking a job that the average American would never accept. That's how racism works "You are different and we don't want you here."

2 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Thai people are intellectually unable to understand the obvious advantages of having relatively well-off aliens living among them. The society has always been racist to the core and that will probably never change. The Thai mode of thought is very similar to the American Trump supporters, who simply cannot STAND the thought of an Hispanic alien taking a job that the average American would never accept. That's how racism works "You are different and we don't want you here."

Utter nonsense. When are you leaving to, ah, Mindanao? Ready to announce the schedule?

5 minutes ago, BigStar said:

Merely that you may be mistaken.???? Again? But do quote the Thai regulation that says "to ensure" blah if it's really there. Should be easy enough. I'm always open-minded.

Yes again. You've made the same insinuations several times in different threads recently. I'm not mistaken. If you want chapter and verse behind the reason for the 800k, P.M. ubon joe, I'm sure he'll oblige. Me, I'm done with your baseless insults.

 

Edit.

Ah! judging by your reply to Khun Fred its clear why you are trolling me. My avitar. He lost bigly, get over it.

22 minutes ago, polpott said:

Its been stated many times over many years. 65k baht/month or 800k in the bank (roughly the same amount) is to ensure that you have enough funds to live in Thailand for the following 12 months without becoming a burden on Thailand. It has always roughly equated to $2,000/month. The exchange rate changed drastically a number of years ago and it was upped to 800k. If there is a large disparity between $2000 and 65k baht in the future, it will be revised again.

That may have worked when you could use the money.  Now that you have to keep the full 800k in your account for 3 months, then have to keep 400k for 7 months, then back up to 800k 2 months before extension time, it doesn't work.

 

I do understand the 800k on the day you get your extension to prove you're solvent, but I think we should be able to use it to live on during the year.

Just now, DefaultName said:

That may have worked when you could use the money.  Now that you have to keep the full 800k in your account for 3 months, then have to keep 400k for 7 months, then back up to 800k 2 months before extension time, it doesn't work.

 

I do understand the 800k on the day you get your extension to prove you're solvent, but I think we should be able to use it to live on during the year.

Agree, the requirement to keep 400k in the bank for 12 months goes against the original reason for the lump sum requirement.

 

I use 65k monthly requirement, no change for me.

4 minutes ago, DefaultName said:

That may have worked when you could use the money.  Now that you have to keep the full 800k in your account for 3 months, then have to keep 400k for 7 months, then back up to 800k 2 months before extension time, it doesn't work.

 

I do understand the 800k on the day you get your extension to prove you're solvent, but I think we should be able to use it to live on during the year.

It still works, but presumably only for a big emergency, as you'd then have to get a new visa rather than extend the old one.

I see this has turned into another visa thread, Do we really need it?

21 hours ago, transam said:

In LOS a farang is referred to as an alien, ask immigration, not a foreign bloke, an alien, so to me I/we might be looked at as a zoological thingy....????

That would be an animal.... we retirees come from much further afield.

2 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

I see this has turned into another visa thread, Do we really need it?

And bashing of course. Sigh.