Rex7777

So when you do the visa run thing, you have to do it every 90 days or so? And what does the big bus deal cost? I've read so much conflicting shit about the retirement visa deal that I'm halfway thinking about just doing visa runs every so often instead. It would give me something to do now and then. Fly to KL or Singapore for the weekend or whatever. Rex

Consider this: what happens if you quit your current job to take a job in Singapore, but the Singapore thing doesn't work out for some reason. Then what? Rex

Ideally, I think that they'd like you to apply for the retirement visa in your home country, but if by chance they'll issue you a non-immigrant O visa (an not an O-A visa), then that can be converted to a retirement visa once you're in Thailand. It almost seems easier that way. Gives you time to open a Thai bank account and put some money in, and the medical exams are supposed to be a snap. Otherwise you just need a statement from the US embassy attesting to your monthly income. I'm going to try to do it that way, assuming I can find a consulate to issue a non-immigrant O visa before I

I'll be making the move in a few months, but I still haven't sorted out all the details yet. I've got a long list I'm working on. I'm planning on applying at a Thai consulate for a "non-immigrant" O visa, and then if all goes well, applying for the retirement visa in Thailand, asuming I can sort out the bank account/financial isues in a few months. I think you can simply renew the retirement visa once a year in Thailand, but you have to keep the Thai immigration informed of your current address every 90 days. Otherwise, I'll do the visa run thing every 100 days or so until I have my ducks i

Thanks everyone. So I buy in Thailand. Now if I an just figure out what kind I want, I'll be set. I'm sort of leaning towards a basic phone without all the gizmos. Rex

I like these Cheap Charlie threads not because I'm going to try to live on 20,000 baht per month, but because I'm curious as to how people economize. It might come in handy for a person trying to save up some money. When I get there I'm going to budget 100,000 baht per month. But rather than try to spend that much each and every month, I might try a strategy of taking it easy every so often for a month or two, followed by a month in which I go nuts. For example, I might want to fly off to some other destination once in a while and have fun without worrying about money. Hong Kong, Sing

I'm just trying to get my ducks in a row before moving to Thailand. Assuming I buy the right kind of phone for Thailand, is there any advantage, pricewise,of buying it in the USA rather than waiting to buy it in Thailand? If there's not much difference, then I'll just wait and buy one there. But if I can save a bundle by buying one here, then that's what I'll do. Rex

Well, I went ahead and booked the flight - JFK to BKK. It gets into BKK at 5PM. I suppose there'll be more traffic that time of day. Usually, I get in around midnight. Now the next project is to find a hotel in Bangkok for a few days. Rex

Big D, Have you ever tried the JFK to Bangkok direct flight? Right now you can get it for around $1100, plus whatever it takes to get to JFK, but I'm not so sure about 17 hours in the same plane. Did you go nuts? How big are the seats? Rex

Don't forget, you can also qualify with proof of income, or some combination of income and a bank account. I'm going to try to go the route of just proving the monthly income. I might put some money in a Thai bank, but I'd rather avoid it. At least for the Americans here, I think you can get some sort of letter from the US Embassy certifying to your income. Rex

Thakns again everyone. I suppose the main thing I was worried about was whether there were places to eat in the immediate vicinity, whether there were laundries nearby, and whether I could easily get a baht bus. Rex

Thanks guys. I'm just trying to find a place to stay for a month or so until I can look around and figure out something more long term. Of course, I'm still looking at Phuket, but most of the places I've contacted there aren't too good at answering their emails. Rex

Does anyone have any personal experience with this place: http://www.metro-apartments-pattaya.com/ And what about the neighborhood? Thanks in advance for any info. Rex

OK, I just did some research. If you're covered under the FEHB plan, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, for example, they'll have a list of so-called "preferred providers." I do believe that some of the big hospitals in Bangkok are on the list. In any event, the FEHB plans have members living all over the world, so they do have experience dealing with this issue. Ideally, you go to a preferred provider for treatment. You'd then either pay the full price or the co-pay. In either case, someone has to file a claim. If you pay the full price, I assume you'll be reimbursed for some or all of the cost o

While we're on the topic, do any of you guys have any experience with mail-order pharmacies of the type usually associated with health plans? For example, you might get three months of any medication for $35, and they mail it right to your place. But what happens if your place is in Thailand? Customs problems? Shipping expenses? Rex

Unless they've stopped the service, there's also a special subway train that you can take directly to JFK. It's been a long time for me, so I can't remember where it leaves from. Grand Central Station? Penn Station? In any event, it costs more than the regular subways. By now it could be $15 or so. Cancel the above suggestion. I just looked it up and they discontinued the service a long time ago. I wonder why? Maybe not enough customers. Looks like the bus is the way to go. Rex

Sometime I'm going to try a fan room, just to see if it helps me adjust to the heat. I normally stay in a room wigth air con, but then when I go outside I sweat like a pig. Rex

I'll be making the move in the near future and for the last six months or so, I've been getting rid of stuff. The valuable stuff - artwork, oriental rugs, electronic equipment, etc., I've been giving to family members. I might also store some stuff at my dad's place. He's got more room than he knows what to do with. Otherwise, I'm just going to give the rest away to anyone who wants it. When I finally leave for Thailand, I'll have just a carry-on bag and one suitcase. The less stuff I have, the better!! Rex

For what it's worth, I found a new travel search agency yesterday, called Mobissimo.com, I believe. It's sort of a meta search engine for airfares. Check it out. Rex

People will dream up all kinds of schemes to circumvent the law, but when you're dealing with millions of baht, I think most people will want some assurance that their investment is safe. Thailand needs to establish a clear-cut set of procedures if it wants foreigners to invest. Otherwise, I'm afraid the real estate industry will suffer. Rex

How about laptop computers? Will they fit in the typical in-room safe? Is a laptop with a 15.4" screen too big? Rex

I think the point is that if a farang owns land by way of a dummy corporation, then that's illegal. Rex

Maybe the whole thing will result in a new set of laws for property ownership. I'd like to see 99 year leasholds available. I think they do that in Singapore. I can't imagine they'll do nothing. Rex

Yep. No matter how you slice it and dice it, if they find that the corporation was formed for the purpose of a foreigner holding land, then that's not kosher. A 30 year leasehold, on the other hand, is legal. Rex

Florida Guy, I think this has always been the law. Just never enforced. Personally, I wouldn't trust my hard-earned money to the whim of some Thai officials. Rex