General Reports

[QUOTE=XXL;2479224]From what I've read this is unclear.

Also, if you have to go through a Thai embassy which embassy would it be? Any other Thai embassy than the one in the country where you reside or the one in your home country could refuse to process your application (same as with visas).[/QUOTE]XXL,

As LBM wisely points out there's a lot of "if it happens" which I tried to hint at by pointing out that they were quoting a "health magnate" on tourism and immigration issues.

As to which embassy? It will only ever be the one in the departure country. The Embassy in Pretoria, Den Haag or Bogota are unlikely to know anything about flights and certificates of entry from Denmark. That's why I pointed out the risk of BB looking to get in via a third country. I wouldn't wish Croydon on the worst of my many enemies!

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2479198]FYI I'm not exactly a tourist. I live in Thailand. I just can't get back in! I have all my stuff there and a condo.

If I were a normal tourist there is zero chance I would consider a 14 day quarantine and jump through hoops and barrels to go to any country. The exception may be to visit Tobita Shinchi.[/QUOTE]I should have known better, my mistake.

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2447975]Totally forgot I have one gogo girl paying for my monthly storage locker fee and a civilian girl topping up my phone monthly so my Thai number doesn't get cancelled.[/QUOTE]Since I am leaving soon, I went over to AIS to see if they could keep my number active without doing the frequent top up method described before. It was showing in my phone that I had enough credit and was already set for the one year, but if I did not then the lady said it would only be 50 baht for her to make my number active in the system for 1 year. 1 year is the maximum that it can be done for.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2480207] the lady said it would only be 50 baht for her to make my number active in the system for 1 year. 1 year is the maximum that it can be done for.[/QUOTE]I'd love to pay B50 to keep my number but don't know how to do it. I'm topping up B30 from the USA Every month or so to keep my number. I looked for a way to reach their customer service from the US via their website and the myAIS app on my phone but can't find anything in English.

I just picked up a new 5 G phone. Has anybody used 5 G in Thailand? I thought their 4 G and even 3 G was good.

Not sure if it is possible or offer any longer? I have AIS or 1-2 Call although I've had my number for over 15 years each time I top up those minutes are good for 1 year. Several years ago we needed to obtain a new number for my son's phone AIS and he indicated you can pick certain numbers or Sim cards that allow you to retain the minutes for a year like what I have had for all these years. I don't remember the cost to even be noticeable higher when we purchase it.

Nevertheless, stocks going up particularly the Nasdaq due to a vaccine getting closer to being on the market. CDC of course political decision Nov 1st?

Not sure 5 G exists in Thailand it is just talk?

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2480514]Not sure if it is possible or offer any longer?[/QUOTE]LBM,

With both AIS (including 1-2-Call) and True Move any top-up adds 1 month to the validity of the entire balance up to 1 year maximum. So 10 top-ups of 20 baht adds 10 months, a single top-up of 200 adds just 1 month.

[QUOTE=LittleBigMan;2480514]Not sure 5 G exists in Thailand it is just talk?[/QUOTE]Back in May they announced a 26 member committee to "spearhead the roll-out of 5 G networks". Someone more cynical than I would suggest that a single mast will be unveiled to great fanfare sometime soon followed by years of expense claims by the committee, delegation to working parties (of relations and / or more military officers all claiming bountiful expenses) and contracts awarded to construction, food & farming and healthcare conglomerates.

Thankfully I am not such a cynic and am sure that Thai 5 G will be up and running brilliantly in the near future. Well in a corner of Bavaria at least.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2480207]it would only be 50 baht for her to make my number active in the system for 1 year. 1 year is the maximum that it can be done for.[/QUOTE]Good to know.

[QUOTE=Allover;2480303]I'd love to pay B50 to keep my number but don't know how to do it. I'm topping up B30 from the USA Every month or so to keep my number.[/QUOTE]You only need to top up 20 baht per month. You don't need to do it on a month to month basis. You can obtain at least a 6 month extension by doing 6 separate 20 baht deposits at the same time on the AIS app.

[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2480557]LBM,

With both AIS (including 1-2-Call) and True Move any top-up adds 1 month to the validity of the entire balance up to 1 year maximum. So 10 top-ups of 20 baht adds 10 months, a single top-up of 200 adds just 1 month.

Back in May they announced a 26 member committee to "spearhead the roll-out of 5 G networks". Someone more cynical than I would suggest that a single mast will be unveiled to great fanfare sometime soon followed by years of expense claims by the committee, delegation to working parties (of relations and / or more military officers all claiming bountiful expenses) and contracts awarded to construction, food & farming and healthcare conglomerates.

Thankfully I am not such a cynic and am sure that Thai 5 G will be up and running brilliantly in the near future. Well in a corner of Bavaria at least.[/QUOTE]Thanks, I don't know all the tech stuff like you but I usually top off at a 100 baht at a time I don't use my phone much except to call home to good old mom but when I do it is only for a few minutes. I like to retain about 150 baht at a time there are times I don't top off for 2 to 3 months I remember in the past after topping off they would give me my balance and indicate how long it was good for which was a year for the day I topped off? 2016 I was gone from Thailand for 4 months never had to top off to keep things going.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2480207]Since I am leaving soon, I went over to AIS to see if they could keep my number active without doing the frequent top up method described before. It was showing in my phone that I had enough credit and was already set for the one year, but if I did not then the lady said it would only be 50 baht for her to make my number active in the system for 1 year. 1 year is the maximum that it can be done for.[/QUOTE]I just went up to AIS to top someone's phone up. I talked to a different lady and she said it was 50 baht PER MONTH to do it. I told her that makes no sense when you can do it at a machine or online for only 20 or 30 baht.

[QUOTE=MrEnternational;2480207]Since I am leaving soon, [/QUOTE]Are you leaving by choice because Thailand has made another 180 on tourists.

[URL]https://www.thephuketnews.com/tourists-to-get-unlimited-30-day-extensions-to-stay-after-visa-amnesty-ends-77201.php[/URL]

[QUOTE=BananaBoi;2480736]Are you leaving by choice because Thailand has made another 180 on tourists.

[URL]https://www.thephuketnews.com/tourists-to-get-unlimited-30-day-extensions-to-stay-after-visa-amnesty-ends-77201.php[/URL][/QUOTE]Did you read the full article? It specifies for " Medical Reasons " for the unlimited extension.

". The Thai baht rose to a six-year high against the dollar last year to become one of the world's most stable currencies. Though it has depreciated in the past two months, it is still significantly stronger compared to three or four years ago. Seen as a safe bet amid the USA -China trade war, the baht has caused visitor numbers to drop and hotel occupancy rates to halve.

But for those living here on fixed savings or pensions, the baht's strength has decimated their income. British expats have lost about 30% of their purchasing power following the pound's plummet in the wake of Brexit.

Applicants must now also have health insurance. For someone aged 75, for example, that is a "big problem" as the premium could be as much as 100,000 baht per month, said Sebastian Brousseau, CEO of Isaan Lawyers.

Gerry, a USA Navy veteran who declined to give his last name, first visited back then and has stayed ever since. At 83, alone and estranged from his family, Gerry has built his life here. But barely able to cover his living costs, let alone the deposit he now needs for a visa, he feels trapped, having been "out of the USA System" for more than 30 years.

Gerry does not own property here, but for those who do, a downturn in the real estate market has dashed their chances of a quick sell.

Demand for properties has waned since last year as many expats, disgruntled with Thailand's tightening immigration system, have moved to other parts of Asia, while China has imposed new controls to curb capital flight, said Jean Charles, the founder of TwoFlat Real Estate. The situation has intensified Thailand's glut, which is set to worsen with arrival numbers decimated by the new coronavirus. ".

What remains of the interest of living in Thailand if incomes decline because of the prohibitive costs of health insurance and the unfavorable exchange rate? No more girls, uncomfortable accommodation.... The future seems to be moving in this direction. Taking a bet over 20 years or even over 10 or 5 years to come and settle in Thailand seems risky.

The full press article: [URL]https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Thailand-s-foreign-retirees-see-their-good-life-slip-away[/URL].

[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2481833]". The Thai baht rose to a six-year high against the dollar last year to become one of the world's most stable currencies. Though it has depreciated in the past two months, it is still significantly stronger compared to three or four years ago. Seen as a safe bet amid the USA -China trade war, the baht has caused visitor numbers to drop and hotel occupancy rates to halve.

But for those living here on fixed savings or pensions, the baht's strength has decimated their income. British expats have lost about 30% of their purchasing power following the pound's plummet in the wake of Brexit.

Applicants must now also have health insurance. For someone aged 75, for example, that is a "big problem" as the premium could be as much as 100,000 baht per month, said Sebastian Brousseau, CEO of Isaan Lawyers.

Gerry, a USA Navy veteran who declined to give his last name, first visited back then and has stayed ever since. At 83, alone and estranged from his family, Gerry has built his life here. But barely able to cover his living costs, let alone the deposit he now needs for a visa, he feels trapped, having been "out of the USA System" for more than 30 years.

Gerry does not own property here, but for those who do, a downturn in the real estate market has dashed their chances of a quick sell.

Demand for properties has waned since last year as many expats, disgruntled with Thailand's tightening immigration system, have moved to other parts of Asia, while China has imposed new controls to curb capital flight, said Jean Charles, the founder of TwoFlat Real Estate. The situation has intensified Thailand's glut, which is set to worsen with arrival numbers decimated by the new coronavirus. ".

What remains of the interest of living in Thailand if incomes decline because of the prohibitive costs of health insurance and the unfavorable exchange rate? No more girls, uncomfortable accommodation.... The future seems to be moving in this direction. Taking a bet over 20 years or even over 10 or 5 years to come and settle in Thailand seems risky.

The full press article: [URL]https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Thailand-s-foreign-retirees-see-their-good-life-slip-away[/URL].[/QUOTE]It would be helpful to know a few things not mentioned in that article;

How much of a monthly pension does 83 year old Gerry get as a USA Navy retiree who has been "out of the USA system" since he was about 50? Is he not receiving at least the minimum 65,000 THB per month required? If it is notably less than that and he has been skating by on a bogus notarized Income Verification Letter from the USA Embassy over the past many years then it was foolish for him not to have saved and set aside a small portion of his income over those past 3 damn decades until he had enough of a Thai bank deposit to offset the difference.

"Estranged from his wife." Is his wife Thai? If so and he can prove it, I think he can qualify for an annual retirement visa with only a 45,000 THB monthly income stream, not 65,000 THB. I forget what the one time only lump sum deposit in a Thai bank would be in that case but I'm guessing it must be more like 500,000 THB instead of 800,000 THB.

The new health insurance requirement might also be waved or greatly reduced if he is married to a Thai and applies for the pertinent visa based on marriage. Not sure about that since I don't choose to utilize that visa option.

Regarding another comment in the article that health insurance premiums for a 75 year old "could be as high as 100,000 THB per month," yeah, that is shockingly high for the required 40,000 THB of out-patient coverage and 400,000 THB of in-patient coverage. Of course, I don't know what my premium for the required coverage will look like in 7 years. But if it jumps from about 4,000 THB per month, which is roughly what it is now, to 100,000 THB per month I suppose I will have to take another look at the Philippines as my new retirement home country.

Until then, being retired in Thailand is still interesting to me. Glad I'm here and not in the USA right now. Or many other places on Earth.

[QUOTE=Pimpampoumpipo;2481833]"The full press article: [URL]https://asia.nikkei.com/Economy/Thailand-s-foreign-retirees-see-their-good-life-slip-away[/URL].[/QUOTE]Article dated 5-March. Of course nothing in the world has changed since then. Or have I missed something?

I notice it also pushes the Elite Visa of which there were around 9,000 active members at the start of the year (https://www.imidaily.com/asia-pacific/after-record-2019-thailand-elite-visa-eyes-10000-member-milestone-in-2020/ for those who wish to check my source).

[QUOTE=GettingFedUp;2481896]Article dated 5-March. Of course nothing has changed since then. Or have I missed something?[/QUOTE]Yes, a lot has changed for outsiders trying to get into the country on a new visa since then. Like from possible to virtually impossible on the near horizon. But I don't think much has changed for in country expats needing to renew their O-A Non Immigrant retirement visas since then. No new or radically different income/health insurance requirements or THB-USD exchange rates for us since then, that is.