July 16, 2025Jul 16 Hi everyone, I lived and worked in Thailand for 8-years with my Thai wife of 30-years and at that time our 10-year old daughter. We came back to the UK in the main because my daughter was ready to go to University and to be fair, I was ready for a brak back in the UK. My daughter went through University in Manchester and now being 24-years old has happily settled there. I am approaching retirement age (difficult to believe) and my wife and I are considering coming back to Thailand. So the last few weeks I have been researching any new Visa requirement etc. as it.s bee 6 or 7-years since we came back to the UK. I came across a YouTube channel called Thailand Truth Talks with a hard hitting series of videos telling how things are changing with regard to Retirees in Thailand and some scary facts about What the Thai government are planning with regard to making things much harder than they ever have been before. The Video I watched was titled The Paradise Trap: Why Thousands of Western Retirees Are Now Facing Ruin in Thailand (2025 Exposé). It now has me thinking if its factual or maybe some channel trying to damage Thailand in some way. Anyone heard about any of this stuff?
July 16, 2025Jul 16 48 minutes ago, dvdlock said: Hi everyone, I lived and worked in Thailand for 8-years with my Thai wife of 30-years and at that time our 10-year old daughter. We came back to the UK in the main because my daughter was ready to go to University and to be fair, I was ready for a brak back in the UK. My daughter went through University in Manchester and now being 24-years old has happily settled there. I am approaching retirement age (difficult to believe) and my wife and I are considering coming back to Thailand. So the last few weeks I have been researching any new Visa requirement etc. as it.s bee 6 or 7-years since we came back to the UK. I came across a YouTube channel called Thailand Truth Talks with a hard hitting series of videos telling how things are changing with regard to Retirees in Thailand and some scary facts about What the Thai government are planning with regard to making things much harder than they ever have been before. The Video I watched was titled The Paradise Trap: Why Thousands of Western Retirees Are Now Facing Ruin in Thailand (2025 Exposé). It now has me thinking if its factual or maybe some channel trying to damage Thailand in some way. Anyone heard about any of this stuff? I had time on my hands so looked at the video..after about 8 minutes it became clear this is NOT CORRECT information. Yes there have been lots of changes recently, but with research, reading lots of ongoing threads on AN, then you'll have a better picture of the many different ways to enter and continue staying. Good luck.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 Author 24 minutes ago, couchpotato said: I had time on my hands so looked at the video..after about 8 minutes it became clear this is NOT CORRECT information. Yes there have been lots of changes recently, but with research, reading lots of ongoing threads on AN, then you'll have a better picture of the many different ways to enter and continue staying. Good luck. Appreciate your comments, I have until next March so will be researching it all again. Thank you.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 1 hour ago, dvdlock said: The Video I watched was titled The Paradise Trap: Why Thousands of Western Retirees Are Now Facing Ruin in Thailand (2025 Exposé). It now has me thinking if its factual or maybe some channel trying to damage Thailand in some way. Anyone heard about any of this stuff? I saw that video too, lots of unsubstantiated nonsense and scaremongering. Suggest you watch this video response which debunks most of it and sets things straight somewhat. 0
July 16, 2025Jul 16 Author 21 minutes ago, lamyai3 said: I saw that video too, lots of unsubstantiated nonsense and scaremongering. I suggest you watch this video response to it which sets things straight somewhat. 0 Hello Lamyai3 Well that was very interesting thank you. I have subscribed to Integrity Legal and will be watching his videos. His company may also be very useful to know about. Thanks again.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 Popular Post I brought my exwife and our 2 kids to my country 18 years ago.Never regret that.Kids get good education here. My daughter working in the local hospital.My son whos now 19 still studying.Next year he want to start in police school here Next month he starts education about official safety that last for 10 months. They will have a good pension when they get old.They live in their own apartments.My daughter just bought a Tesla Y.She just back from Thailand after a month holiday there visiting her grandparents there. Both kids tell me that they will never move back to Thailand again.I talk and meet them wery often because we live in the same city.My exwife is remarried here.I meet her sometimes in a shop and we talk together.Past is past. This is my experience about moving from Thailand back to Scandinavia.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 2 hours ago, dvdlock said: Hi everyone, I lived and worked in Thailand for 8-years with my Thai wife of 30-years and at that time our 10-year old daughter. We came back to the UK in the main because my daughter was ready to go to University and to be fair, I was ready for a brak back in the UK. My daughter went through University in Manchester and now being 24-years old has happily settled there. I am approaching retirement age (difficult to believe) and my wife and I are considering coming back to Thailand. So the last few weeks I have been researching any new Visa requirement etc. as it.s bee 6 or 7-years since we came back to the UK. I came across a YouTube channel called Thailand Truth Talks with a hard hitting series of videos telling how things are changing with regard to Retirees in Thailand and some scary facts about What the Thai government are planning with regard to making things much harder than they ever have been before. The Video I watched was titled The Paradise Trap: Why Thousands of Western Retirees Are Now Facing Ruin in Thailand (2025 Exposé). It now has me thinking if its factual or maybe some channel trying to damage Thailand in some way. Anyone heard about any of this stuff? It is all about having your economic buffer, and make sure you have options after you settle here, and do not burn all bridges back home.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 Author 2 minutes ago, Hummin said: It is all about having your economic buffer, and make sure you have options after you settle here, and burn all bridges back home. Indeed, I think this is very true. Keeping a route open if things don't work out.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 2 minutes ago, dvdlock said: Indeed, I think this is very true. Keeping a route open if things don't work out. We are also turning back to Europe, just waiting for wife's visa, but we plan to keep building a buffer in Thailand for our return later.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 1 hour ago, norsurin said: They will have a good pension when they get old. Sounds like they are on a good path. I wouldn't rely on a pension in 45 years from now though. England will be lucky to even still be a functioning country by then.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 Author 3 minutes ago, blaze master said: Sounds like they are on a good path. I wouldn't rely on a pension in 45 years from now though. England will be lucky to even still be a functioning country by then. That's one of the reasons I am looking to come back to Thailand. The UK is dysfunctional and the political elite just can't get their act together. The are destroying the country. But all that is another story.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 1 minute ago, dvdlock said: That's one of the reasons I am looking to come back to Thailand. The UK is dysfunctional and the political elite just can't get their act together. The are destroying the country. But all that is another story. Get them to invest in their own pension. Loads of time to make it right. Index fund. Bitcoin. Gold. Etc.
July 16, 2025Jul 16 Op, Thailand is not much different than when you left. It just costs a lot more, and immigration continues it's silly run around for us expats once a year. Plus the Thais in the tourist areas have a bit of a frown now days, but no big deal. changes to tax regulations could be an issue, you should read the threads on this forum about this. As mentioned in other posts, don't burn your bridges at home. Ps Remember all these youtubers are doing it for money. So loads of BS out there. Better to ask questions here, your get all the answers you need. and some you don't.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 6 hours ago, dvdlock said: Anyone heard about any of this stuff? In country, nothing much different from when I first arrived in 2009. Out of country, more paperwork for a VISA, so don't bother and arrive without one.
July 17, 2025Jul 17 Author 18 hours ago, quake said: Op, Thailand is not much different than when you left. It just costs a lot more, and immigration continues it's silly run around for us expats once a year. Plus the Thais in the tourist areas have a bit of a frown now days, but no big deal. changes to tax regulations could be an issue, you should read the threads on this forum about this. As mentioned in other posts, don't burn your bridges at home. Ps Remember all these youtubers are doing it for money. So loads of BS out there. Better to ask questions here, your get all the answers you need. and some you don't. Appreciate the feedback quake. 16 hours ago, BritManToo said: In country, nothing much different from when I first arrived in 2009. Out of country, more paperwork for a VISA, so don't bother and arrive without one. Thanks BritManToo. My mind is definitely more at rest with it all thanks to the feedback. Enjoy what's left of your evening.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 On 7/17/2025 at 12:38 AM, dvdlock said: Hi everyone, I lived and worked in Thailand for 8-years with my Thai wife of 30-years and at that time our 10-year old daughter. We came back to the UK in the main because my daughter was ready to go to University and to be fair, I was ready for a brak back in the UK. My daughter went through University in Manchester and now being 24-years old has happily settled there. I am approaching retirement age (difficult to believe) and my wife and I are considering coming back to Thailand. So the last few weeks I have been researching any new Visa requirement etc. as it.s bee 6 or 7-years since we came back to the UK. I came across a YouTube channel called Thailand Truth Talks with a hard hitting series of videos telling how things are changing with regard to Retirees in Thailand and some scary facts about What the Thai government are planning with regard to making things much harder than they ever have been before. The Video I watched was titled The Paradise Trap: Why Thousands of Western Retirees Are Now Facing Ruin in Thailand (2025 Exposé). It now has me thinking if its factual or maybe some channel trying to damage Thailand in some way. Anyone heard about any of this stuff? ....and what do you want to know in particular ?? Can't see your point 😳
July 19, 2025Jul 19 The only significant change I am aware of is the potential taxation of overseas transfers. Any savings prior to December 31, 2024 are tax free when transferred. With a Thai wife, the first 600,000 baht of transfers is tax free. There is some talk of a Thai tax ID being required for visa extensions. I have not heard of anyone being refused an extension by Immigration if one was lacking.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 Have not watched the sources. I only state that at 78, having been retired from the USA in Chiang Mai for 14 years, married to a Thai with Thai Stepdaughter ... I continue to be a happy camper.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 On 7/16/2025 at 3:51 PM, norsurin said: I brought my exwife and our 2 kids to my country 18 years ago.Never regret that.Kids get good education here. My daughter working in the local hospital.My son whos now 19 still studying.Next year he want to start in police school here Next month he starts education about official safety that last for 10 months. They will have a good pension when they get old.They live in their own apartments.My daughter just bought a Tesla Y.She just back from Thailand after a month holiday there visiting her grandparents there. Both kids tell me that they will never move back to Thailand again.I talk and meet them wery often because we live in the same city.My exwife is remarried here.I meet her sometimes in a shop and we talk together.Past is past. This is my experience about moving from Thailand back to Scandinavia. I can understand why some people would not want to leave Scandinavia. Last week,I walked down to the National Museum in Stockholm for a bit of culture. Despite the rain, Stockholm is a beautiful walkable traffic congestion free city.It was a relaxing stress free walk on a beautiful waterfront. People are polite and it is clean. I can breathe and I could walk everywhere. It was a relief to escape the 30C heat of Amsterdam. The cost of everything however, was enough to cause seizures. I am back to the Netherlands and Denmark in a few weeks and am looking forward to it. I liked the fact that I can just hop on the Arlanda high speed express train and be at the airport in 25 minutes . I love the ease of my 6.50 Euro fare fast bus ride from Schipol too. Options that Thailand sorely needs. One of my favourite things in the advanced part of Europe is that it is a cash free zone and there are self checkouts that are unsupervised because people are expected to be honest. What a complete difference in culture from Thailand and from western countries like USA, Canada and Australia. I appreciate being treated like a responsible adult and without an overbearing government that can make my life miserable in Thailand. Unlike Thailand there is no self importance or arrogance of a person in uniform and it makes like so much easier. I had a polite and friendly exchange with the hijab wearing immigration agent at Stockholm airport the other day when I was flying out. Even when I was in Germany a couple weeks ago, the German immigration kid was very nice and just waved me through after scanning my passport. A much more positive experience than my entries and exits from Thailand. There is no land of smiles when you are entering at Bangkok airport. They are becoming more and more like US immigration agents. I am really glad I went to Europe this rotation and was reminded how polite and respectful some societies are.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 Took Mrs. Ignore It back to the states for a couple of years back in the mid 00's. Lived in Florida then California. Knocked her up again and she wanted to birth in Thailand so we came back. She's much happier here and we're living petty high on the hog as compared to being in the lower middle muddle back in the states. Kids go to school in uniforms and there is none of woke crap. I can also slip away to "handsum man" land if i should want.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 On 7/17/2025 at 12:38 AM, dvdlock said: Hi everyone, I lived and worked in Thailand for 8-years with my Thai wife of 30-years and at that time our 10-year old daughter. We came back to the UK in the main because my daughter was ready to go to University and to be fair, I was ready for a brak back in the UK. My daughter went through University in Manchester and now being 24-years old has happily settled there. I am approaching retirement age (difficult to believe) and my wife and I are considering coming back to Thailand. So the last few weeks I have been researching any new Visa requirement etc. as it.s bee 6 or 7-years since we came back to the UK. I came across a YouTube channel called Thailand Truth Talks with a hard hitting series of videos telling how things are changing with regard to Retirees in Thailand and some scary facts about What the Thai government are planning with regard to making things much harder than they ever have been before. The Video I watched was titled The Paradise Trap: Why Thousands of Western Retirees Are Now Facing Ruin in Thailand (2025 Exposé). It now has me thinking if its factual or maybe some channel trying to damage Thailand in some way. Anyone heard about any of this stuff? Thailand......Truth? Hey that's funny.🙃🙃
July 19, 2025Jul 19 Popular Post Lets face it, at retirement age you've probably got about 20 years to till you depart....id rather spend them in Thailand than UK...all this don't burn your bridges etc is nonsense. If you can afford it, come.live here and enjoy your golden years. I gave up on UK 25 years ago at 40, kept my stamp paid and have t regretted one minute of it
July 19, 2025Jul 19 Author Thanks for all your comments and opinions. Interesting reading. It seems there is a lot of misinformation around nowadays. I do understand that there may be some changes to immigration rules in the pipeline but nothing like that intimated in that video I referred to. Thank you all. 3 hours ago, newbee2022 said: ....and what do you want to know in particular ?? Can't see your point 😳 Sorry, can't spell it out more simply for you. Perhaps you missed the actual question!
July 19, 2025Jul 19 On 7/16/2025 at 7:38 PM, dvdlock said: Hi everyone, I lived and worked in Thailand for 8-years with my Thai wife of 30-years and at that time our 10-year old daughter. We came back to the UK in the main because my daughter was ready to go to University and to be fair, I was ready for a brak back in the UK. My daughter went through University in Manchester and now being 24-years old has happily settled there. I am approaching retirement age (difficult to believe) and my wife and I are considering coming back to Thailand. So the last few weeks I have been researching any new Visa requirement etc. as it.s bee 6 or 7-years since we came back to the UK. I came across a YouTube channel called Thailand Truth Talks with a hard hitting series of videos telling how things are changing with regard to Retirees in Thailand and some scary facts about What the Thai government are planning with regard to making things much harder than they ever have been before. The Video I watched was titled The Paradise Trap: Why Thousands of Western Retirees Are Now Facing Ruin in Thailand (2025 Exposé). It now has me thinking if its factual or maybe some channel trying to damage Thailand in some way. Anyone heard about any of this stuff? Don't believe in all you hear and see on Youtube. The good old non-immigrant O-visa with yealy extensions based on retirement – and preferably a Thai bank deposit of 800,000 baht – is still a great way to offcially retire in Thailand, when you passed the age of 50...
July 19, 2025Jul 19 On 7/17/2025 at 1:57 AM, dvdlock said: Appreciate your comments, I have until next March so will be researching it all again. Thank you. Just come ffs. You lived her 8 years, married to a Thai. What more is to know you can't sort out? I'd say dealing with UK pension and X rate is more the concern.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 2 hours ago, baansgr said: Lets face it, at retirement age you've probably got about 20 years to till you depart....id rather spend them in Thailand than UK...all this don't burn your bridges etc is nonsense. If you can afford it, come.live here and enjoy your golden years. I gave up on UK 25 years ago at 40, kept my stamp paid and have t regretted one minute of it Same. I left US (35)40+. Bounced around Asia for a decade. Thailand now 15 years. Few regrets, none leaving US especially after past four years Western countries suck balls now.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 2 minutes ago, KhaoHom said: Western countries suck balls now. Nah. if you are seriously loaded some are just fine.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 7 hours ago, Lacessit said: There is some talk of a Thai tax ID being required for visa extensions. I have not heard of anyone being refused an extension by Immigration if one was lacking. Where have you got this information from? As far as I know, no such thing is yet on the table, or even discussed. It's just put out there by extra worried expats. Thai Immigration and the Tax Revenue Department are two very different departments, and they are not working together. At least not yet. I wouldn't worry about this at all.
July 19, 2025Jul 19 3 hours ago, Magictoad said: Ignore the naysayers. They are stuck in a trap of their own making. This. Avoid those naysayers at bars or wherever they are. It seems to be getting more of them every year.
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