jacko

There is a government protection or insurance scheme which covers more than 800,000 baht.

Yes, I believe so for retirement extensions. It just seems to be extra complicated to verify both components. In the past many may have been put off by the requirement to get Embassy letters and Bank letters. This may be the saving route for those with smaller pensions, ie a UK State pension which is probably about 20,000baht / month. At the moment I could not figure out how combination wrt how much you have to maintain in the bank for seasoning and festering.. The 65.000 pcm figure is likely a lot more than many non-mongering retirees need.

John Carradine

It doesn't seem tenable that way. Anyhow the 2 month, 800k seasoning precedes the next extension and is the requirement for that, not the past/ current one. The 800k for 3 months after issue, and the 400k for the rest of the year is the fear factor. I just cannot believe there would be a punishment that retroactively invalidates the extension stamp in one's passport. (Yet I believe that is the case for a marriage extension or work permit, ie you get divorced or sacked you can be immediately on overstay or given 7 days). Will immigration use the preceding year's bank balance as a condition of a subsequent granting of an extension, or can it possibly invalidate a current one? I agree, it looks like we need to keep 800k untouched in the bank and pull in living expenses on the top of that making it more of a burden. Suddenly income method (65k every month from overseas) is looking attractive! It appears they have made a bit of a confusion to clear up.

Well it looks like 800k plus money to live off or income method is obligated. In reality 800k/5 months and 400k /7, but a FD account, left alone is simpler! There is a bit of a rumour these changes do not apply to those who have already been doing retirement extensions for 10 consecutive years, but I read pre Oct 1998 has different conditions grandfathered in. Might learn more as time unfolds.

And down again..... Friday 1st Feb.

Or as many call them marriage and retirement visas... but in reality they are Extensions to Permissions of Stay, issued by domestic immigration, based on marriage or retirement, not visas. We have all heard the recent fuss as 4 Embassies stopped issuing the obligatory 'income letters'. But Immigration accommodated them by offering a proof of income into Thailand alternative. Show us the money being transferred in every month. A lot of complaints, but it was an alternative. I laid back smugly thinking I can easily continue with my 800k retirement based extension, money seasoned for 3 months each renewal! Now in a move to apparently eliminate the agent bypassing this method, the rules (goalposts) are to be moved again. Rather than sorting out the devious shenanigans in immigration (how else does an Expat get an Extension if he doesn't demonstrate the cash in a Thai bank account), my regular method is to be made somewhat more onerous. Surely it would be simpler to just mandate all applications are made in person, or find out who stamps all the applications the agents bring in, a pile of passports. Maybe it also ensures an Expat has cash available for medical treatment, removing the other rumour of obligatory medical insurance! Get treated, spend the money, and then have to leave! But one has to think they just want rid of us! Here it is,,,,, Foreigners now need to keep 800k in Thai bank for three months AFTER retirement extension is granted. Confirmed in police order No. 35/2561, foreigners who apply for a retirement extension using the 800k baht in the bank or the combination of income method now need to keep 800k baht in the bank for three months after the extension and 400k baht in the bank after that Source. Thai Visa.

Pound is strengthening against the US$, but guess what, the US$ is tumbling against the baht. Net result, back to sub 41!

Yes I took a ride down Beach Rd yesterday, pain in the arse with all the slow moving traffic and workmen busy painting the town red. Now I have 3 times to avoid central Pattaya for a number of days, Christmas and New Year, Songkran and Chinese New Year! Bah humbug and Duck feet!

I now have 2 friends suffering from breathing related problems. One, like me, lives 12km out of town, you would think that an advantage. Hell no, I live near the junction of Hwy 36 and Sukhmvit, The heavy traffic going between Rayong and Laem Chabang (think Port) passes not far from my door. I dare not measure for fear of learning! Both these friends have spent time in hospitals in ICU.... Hoping for rain, well we got a splash of it yesterday, but in reality would not expect much until after Songkran! We have the heat of March and the equinox to come.

I think after the vote in the House yesterday you might do well. When Mrs May talks to Europe I am expecting a fall again! (Unless they preempt her efforts).

I was often irritated that the early morning landing into Manchester was parked away from the terminal and I was short-sleeved and cold walking to a damned bus . (Always opened my case and got the jacket out inside. )

Sounds like a bit of a squash up in the back. My flight on the Qatar one at the front was fine.

Never thought I would be pleased to see 41.3

Surly staff eh.... bet they took them on from Crazy Dave's when it shut.

Not sure I could go along with that one. Biggest liars out there. Although once when a flight was cancelled got put up reasonably well. I was in Biz!

I had an afterthought. What if you had been travelling and expecting to arrive in Thailand on the last, or penultimate day of a Visa. Worst case, say a Non-Imm OA, you would have been expecting to get stamped in for a year, and ended up with a 30 day Visa waiver entry! What a mess that could make of people's plans.

It's a sad summation of the way the country has gone, but far better service and organisation at the Thailand end! Didn't get on a single flight on time within the UK last year!

Should get something back from that £13 billion!

Usually you get nice little individual salt and pepper shakers to put on the foie gras!

Sounds like really shitty, Ryan Air type treatment by EVA Sam, hit them with every charge for comp the EU stipulates! After the holiday!

Yes, I believe Emirates are beginning to 'cash in'.... they have built up a good reputation and probably a monstrous debt base and here are the results. I was a frequent Biz Class passenger between Bangkok and Manchester. Last year out of my price range.

Again last night on Beach Rd near soi 7, before the PT Crawl when I lost my ability to work my phone!

Sure, very relevant. My Mrs goes to her home village a lot and switched to the network that had better coverage for data there, from the one that used to have best telephone network coverage.

I haven't researched it, but generally USA phone plans are very expensive and poor compared to what is offered in say the UK. They often tie you in to rather domineering contracts too, along with companies that deliberately restrict the phone's capabilities. (I can get a plan in the UK offering 5000 minute, 5000 texts and a huge 20GB of data at under $25/month, and this will work all over the EU) But you do offer a fair deal for USA guys travelling here.