1.  When I go to help him get a background check, what should I ask for?   (Just a criminal background check?)

 

2.  Proof of income:  He makes over $2200 a month.  Can I get a proof of income from his social security department?  Will this suffice?

 

3.  After I mail everything to CHicago, how long will it take?  I would like to know how early we need to mail this stuff off before setting up the trip.

 

4.  He intends to stay on Koh Samui.  Is there a immigration department near lamai that he can do his 90 day reports to?

1, 2, 4: yes.

3: assume one week.

$2200 a month is okay now but if the american dollar tanks, he's toast

How about medical/health insurance??  Does what he have now cover incidents, hospitalization, etc, overseas?

 

Mac

$2200 a month is okay now but if the american dollar tanks, he's toast

But not for a about 2 years from the date the OA visa is issued.

Then if he came up short he could put some money in the bank to make up the difference to reach 800k baht total.

 

$2200 a month is okay now but if the american dollar tanks, he's toast

But not for a about 2 years from the date the OA visa is issued.

Then if he came up short he could put some money in the bank to make up the difference to reach 800k baht total.

 

yes as long as he has it. mind you I guess his son could help out

1. Your Dad goes to his local police dept. to request the criminal record check.

2. His SSA 1099 from his last tax return should serve as proof of his annual Social Security income.

3. Allow more than a week for Chicago to respond. Don't cut it too close. Remember an OA visa is good for a year. Send everything to Chicago about a month before he plans to go to Thailand.

4. Don't know about Koh Samui immigation. Maybe should post on their local forum

As for health care. This is a big concern. Be sure whatever medications he take regularly are available here. He should bring his recent medical records with him. Also, try to purchase medical insurance, or if he's too old, personal accident insurance. The personal accident rate here is at least 20 times greater than in the west. I'm not talking about vehicular accidents, but pedestrian accidents and slip/falls at home.

I'm involved with www.LannaCareNet.org and our "typical" client is a guy over age 75 who fell as either a pedestrian while walking or at home and broke his hip. Average hospital bill is about 120,000-150,000 at the gov't hospital, 180,000-250,000 baht at a private hospital for a broken hip. Plus figure on another 20,000-30,000 baht if someone has to go into McKean Rehab Center (a local nursing home) for a month's care afterwards because they live alone and have no one to care for them at home. The physio-therapy is very good at McKean, also, so some people go there even if they have someone at home.

Sure, most guys say "I'm healthy, I take care of myself", but tell that to the tuk-tuk bearing down to you as you walk on the sidewalk.

Edited August 12, 201411 yr by NancyL

Since he chose the Chicago Consulate to apply for is retirement visa (assuming that he applied for an O-A ) his documentation will have to be notarized before submission to Chicago

 

Maybe try it for a while first with tourist visas. It might be mentally very difficult to retire in Thailand, especially if you have not been expat before.The culture shock is quite a shock to the system in Thailand unlike for example USA->Australia or UK->Germany.

 

Look at this forum, quite a many bitter people here. Or people that would not help a drowning little kid in their selfishness.

Edited August 12, 201411 yr by Timwin

The O-A visa lasts for a year or two.  It's not expensive.  Might as well be good for a while without having to worry about immigration here.  I wouldn't mess with a tourist visa as long as he can get an O-A.  Health care is cheap and good; better than many places in the West at the better hospitals.  Check out the hospital before you need it and get registered. 

Edited August 12, 201411 yr by thailiketoo