About wealthychef

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Some Forum Posts:

Thailand: How can I get a Thai retirement visa ??:

I think the advice by swegolf are a mostly right but a bit wrong. Most importantly, you cannot extend a tourist visa by a year. First you have to change it to a retirement visa. The process at immigration is confusing the first time. Bring the letter mentioned by others from the US embassy regarding your income. Then go to immigration with your passport and this letter. First you go to the information window and tell them you want to **change** your visa to a retirement visa. They will give you a form to fill out which you do right there, following the instructions in the little kiosk behind you. Take the completed form to the second window and show them your form, They will give you a number to wait for a particular window. While you're waiting go downstairs to the copy room and ask for photocopies, and have your photos taken if you didn't bring any. The photocopy service does this all the time, so they will copy the right pages from your visa and the form as needed. Go back upstairs and wait for your number to be called. The change to retirement visa will cost you 1900 baht. You will have to wait a few weeks before you can come back for a re-entry stamp, which will basically cost you 1000 baht for each time you want to leave and re-enter the country. That was my experience at the immigration office last month. Good luck and be happy to answer any questions, albeit perhaps slowly

Thailand: Pension:

You say, "Nha Trang is better than any TH city. By far." There's no such that as a "best city" for everyone. You need to be specific. What's your yardstick? Bangkok is a very cool, very modern, very sophisticated and fun city, great to be a single person in, with lots of western conveniences mixed into its Thai charm. What is so great about Nha Trang? I'm not saying it isn't better, I'm just saying you would be much more helpful if you got specific.

Thailand: retiring Thailand:

Can you define your idea of "cheap?" and what city you're planning to be in and what kind of things you want to do? In Bangkok, decent hotels right downtown in the heart of Sukhumvit are $40 per night, cheap by most Western standards. I'll just throw out Maxim's and City Lodge as two options, just because I've stayed there. You can spend $200 per night if you want. You can spend $5/night. You can stay in the jungle, you can be by the beach. Need much more information. I would say pretty much all the hotels in Thailand are safe, unless you intentionally look for trouble.

Thailand: Want a break from your business??:

I frankly suspect you don't know what you are talking about and are paying too much attention to your "research" which seems to consist of the newspapers. Have you ever been to Thailand? If you go by the newspapers, America a deadly dangerous country full of earthquakes and tornadoes, with mass shootings every day, but if you've ever lived there, you'll know it's generally peaceful and safe. Same with Thailand. Also, Pattaya is in Thailand but it's not Thailand. If you go to the wild party places like Pattaya, it's crazy and a little dangerous -- that's true pretty much everywhere in the world actually.

Thailand: Taking prescription meds:

Yep. From what I've seen, you will be able to buy your meds in Thailand. The laws are much more liberal about that. Pharmacists both prescribe and dispense meds there.

Thailand: Private hospital visit experience:

Survey seems to be slanted towards medical tourism. I had an illness in BKK that had nothing to do with plastic surgery or whatever. My care was excellent at a private hospital.

Thailand: social security deposits:

Not a direct answer, but I think you can get an account anywhere in Thailand and use https://transferwise.com

Thailand: Thailand retirement:

Question: my intention is to roam about freely -- does exiting Thailand once I have an "O" visa or a retirement visa jeapordize or otherwise affect my status?

Thailand: getting around without Thai language:

I'd say it depends on where you're getting around to. If you stick to touristy areas, no problem. If you move up country to the boondocks, you're gonna want some Thai. Are you going to move there or just visit? If you're moving there, just learn the language, it'll be fun. What is your purpose? I've been there four or five times for about 10 days at a time and never needed to speak Thai but when I move there this year, I'm going to learn the language. If you don't want to learn a language, consider moving to New Zealand.

Thailand: best neighborhoods chiang mai:

3000 baht?

Date Joined:

6/2/2014

Total Posts:

28

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0.03