What are the best long-term visa options for a 39-year-old U.S. Military Veteran with a monthly pension living in Thailand?

@Maple ********

I'm 39 not 50.

@Nick ********

I am on a medical Disability Pension right now and I'm quite frankly dealing with a lot of Health matters that are taking up the majority of my time if I did pursue anything at all in a business standpoint it would possibly be trying to be a small medical cannabis grower I'm not sure if you have any idea though if that would be very expensive to try to get going with the business license and everything else and for my understanding even if you do own a business you have to be less than a 50% owner I wonder how viable you think this is for someone that doesn't have a ton of startup capital I feel like in some ways a cannabis business could be low startup depending on what type of scale you're trying to do it at I pretty much feel like I have enough on a monthly basis to get by but not a ton of working capital outfront is what I'm trying to say and I'm not really trying to make a bunch of money or deal with that my health is way more priority right now but I'd love to find a way to stay there without too much hassle or stress or expense I've been trying to reach out to an immigration online the post videos online Integrity legal for the past few months and haven't been able to get through to the right people

@Rob *****

Yes absolutely. One of the main reasons I was considering going there. However I don't want to have a forced or sham relationship. I have developed the conclusion that pretty much all the dating sites are worthless unless you know of any decent ones. I feel like my only opportunity to find someone decent is I'm going to have to get there in person and I'm a little bit concerned about the language barrier as well. I could get better options as the veteran with healthcare in the Philippines for sure and I know English is more common there but they have absolutely no cannabis protections whatsoever even though they're supposed to have a compassionate drug use act it's basically defunct from the sounds of it.

@Sam ******

4.400 USD per month.

@Danny ******

the recent change in cannabis laws and due to the sheer size of Bangkok I have better odds at finding import grocery stores that will cater to the organic diet that I'm trying to follow sadly many people are under the illusion that all the food in South and Central America is organically grown and naturally grown in this absolutely is not the case the only stores that have stuff like that that is legit organic or almost always imported it and that means a very large city. The one other place that I thought about maybe was in Columbia,. Medellin.. I thought Thailand might be a bit safer than some of these places Malaysia might be opening up their medical cannabis Market here in the near future however that's yet to be determined.

@John *****

Thanks less than a handful of people here have been this courteous. Quite a few offered some decent helpful advice a few thank my for my service and quite a few other ones were outright confrontational and nasty God only knows why. If it isn't too personal can I ask how you've managed to stay there long-term or anything that you care to share about that.

@Kimberly ******

for 17,000 or $28,000?

@Don ********

is this the one that's like 17,000 in US Dollars I'm definitely not paying that much no way Jose

@Daniel ***********

I'm not sure if you're speaking to me or someone else I've attended several universities. I've attended Masters level college courses. I think the last time I checked I have about 96 college credit hours.

@Alex *******

and then what I wonder how expensive or difficult it would be to get a business Visa like if I said I wanted to have a small business of just growing legal cannabis plants for the medical marijuana program on a small scale. I guess within 3 years time hopefully I can find someone to get married or figure out whatever else I'm going to do but yeah it's kind of frustrating to think about trying to move somewhere with the risk the risk that you might have to leave and go somewhere else

@Kevin *********

in my contacts the terms can be used interchangeably I'm not sure what difference it makes but since you're asking it's a medical military retirement for service-connected injuries it's also referred to as a pension or disability compensation I'm trying to stop labeling myself as disabled though but that's what I'm getting compensated for. I'm reading that Malaysia is also considering medical cannabis and that the health minister of Thailand is supposed to go speak with them about this and share knowledge with them in the near future I'm not sure how long it takes for an Asian country like Malaysia to actually Implement medical cannabis but they apparently have their eye on it because of the revenue and I would hope from a humanitarian standpoint as well because it truly does have medical value. I'm really trying to convey to people that I'm really not trying to go there on a business venture or to go so my Wild Oats I would love to find a woman and get married and have something authentic and I just want to live a low-key lifestyle eat healthy food and take care of my health I can't find anyone worthwhile on online dating sites though and I wonder if Malaysia might be a better place for me to get my feet wet since they speak English a lot more over there. I'd be curious to hear what people here think about Malaysia I appreciate the recommendations from the Philippines I've heard that the Philippines is a little bit more rundown and more poverty and things like that over there it would certainly be easier for me with my Veterans Medical Care they actually have a us-based Veterans Affairs Clinic there believe it or not and several hospitals in Manila that treat US Veterans as well. However I'm trying to be able to do most of my medical care on my own with equipment that I've purchased for self-care. I do qualify for medical care overseas for any injuries that are connected to my military service. I may have a lot more comprehensive medical coverage in the future I'm working on getting some things straightened out as far as that goes with my military discharge which was supposed to have been for medical reasons I'm waiting on an appeal on for that. I'm currently rated as a 100% permanently and totally disabled veteran.

@Crystle *******

I'm glad everything is so amusing, no what?.

@Gerry **********

Thank you some people think I was narcissistic for bringing this up or mentioning this which I'm not at all but I'm on a medical military pension it is not taxed at all it is disability compensation zero tax liability. This is compensation for my United States military service and service connected injuries. I don't expect Thailand about down to me but I don't think it was really narcissistic for me to ask simply if there's a chance that they might do a waiver on the age requirement they normally ask retirees to be 50 years old but I was hoping they might give me some consideration because I'm on a early retirement because of military related service and disability and considering they also have a military that's done joint operations with the United States in the past I didn't think it was so out of hand to merely ask if it's a possibility they might use some discretion at immigration office

@Scottie **********

I wondered about trying to get a long-term medical Visa or get one based on a business venture even if it's not something that I'm really doing full-time just to meet the requirements. It seems like you might have to have an endorsement from a local business there in order to do that though. The laws have changed with cannabis, so I don't know if it would be difficult to even try to apply for some business Visa like some formal small-scale self-employment like just growing some herb plants legally of course (if I did try that) although it might be a bureaucratic nightmare with all the paperwork and expenses.

@Craig *******

Thanks. I've had some pretty difficult and devastating health complications and I feel that being able to have the option to have raw juice cannabis might be extremely beneficial for me and that is something that is a potential reality in Thailand without fear of legal repercussions now thanks to changes in the law. That's why I keep trying to ask people about a medical visa and if they think it's possible that I could stay there for a year or so on a medical Visa if I kept getting it renewed and was like legit getting medical treatment while there.

@Dave ********

I've also wondered about a medical Visa because I legitimately do have medical issues and could see myself paying for and seeking Medical Care there

@Dave ********

so would it be exponentially more difficult for me to try to apply for an age waiver up front would they be less likely to do it because they wouldn't know what my behavior is like Etc I'm wondering if any type of so-called immigration expert office would be worthwhile to help me with this or if I could just do it on my own and write a letter to the immigration officials or just petition my case in person to them my concern is spending all the money on flights and basically moving over there and air travel and everything and then being told no which is why I was trying to deal with this in advance if possible although that brings up another good point it could take months or longer to get this resolved. When people say education visas I'm wondering if they're talking about something where they'll basically just give me a stamp of approval and not care what I'm studying or not I heard they're cracking down on that a lot thank you

@Stéfan *******

Bugger Off, and STFU talking to me with your rudness!. I'm on a full medical military retirement! I'm not going there as a capital venturist or to try to reduce my tax liability. There is now reason on God's green Earth for me to pay that absurd of an amount. Also why do people like to run there gosh darn mouth so much online and say things that they would probably get socked in the mouth for in real life. I was asking for good advice, not some run of the mill comment from someone with an agenda to act like a pri#k. Thanks for nothing.

@Karim **************

Education VISA? I heard they are cracking down on the VISA mills.

@Francesco ****

Yes. This was clearly explained and why in my original post. Hence the tongue in check comment about Agesim. Medically Retired Military on a full and permanen medical retirement which is why I was hoping I could maybe get some age exemption waiver from the immigration authorities if I wrote a nice letter of explanation. I'm glad at least several people on here have pointed out the irony in people suggesting I get the Elite Visa. That is more designed for very busy high-end business people that are traveling in and out of the country frequently and don't have time for paperwork and nonsense which is understandable but that's not at all the type of category I'm in. Those people are exchanging a lot of money for convenience and time and so be it. Someone suggested that I got a loan if need be to pay the fee for the late Visa that seems ludicrous to me.

@Otto ********

So do you thinks there's any chance at all I could get a waiver on the age requirement if I explained I was on a early military medical retirement and made a promise to not tear sh#t up over there or cause any problems. 😂

@Moteaze **************

One person on here was surprised my retirement income isn't more. It's better than being poor living off just social security at least and I may go back to work and or education studies in the future. However I'm not trying to spend on a bunch of money just go there for a few weeks or a few move. I live pretty conservatively with my money ie no debt, no credit cards. I'm not interested in paying $20,000 USD upfront just for the privilege of being an extended guest. I'm bothered because I have more than enough to sustain myself. I'm on a permanent permanent pension. My age should be irrelevant.

@Joe ****

I simply don't have that much in a lump some right now. I've had a lot of out of pocket travel and medical expenses. Thanks. Maybe if my rent wasn't $1600 a month plus utilities I could save faster. I could maybe save up while there for a year or two.

@Alan ******

It was kinda a joke, like a quote from the sitcom the "Office" Yes I am somewhat on an early retirement. However anyone that joined the Military at 17 or 18 and did 20 years could also be retired at my age. I would appreciate other countries realizing this. It's a permanent and total retirement pension. No chance of me getting an exception waiver if I write the Royal family a nice respectful letter of intention?

@Ernesto *******

That's net, plus medical coverage and it may go up..to be fair this is.from a early medical retirement. However this is for me being considered 100 percent disabled and $1,100 is from social security. I thought of maybe getting involved in a legal medical cannabis venture there. However it isn't a necessity, just a thought. Might be too much risk. Yes with the average rent being like $2,000 in the U.S. right now plus the cost of organic food I'm a bit frustrated. Not too mentioned I've been harassed and targeted for being politically outspoken. Thanks

@Sam ******

Yes I would love to. The dating sites are all Fake News though.. also I'm Christian. So pretty I would have to go to a Christian Church there and make a nice tithe to the Pastor?.. lol. I would like a genuine marriage

@Jorge ***

Thanks. I am already pretty liquid now..no vehicle in my name, no home in my name. I've already downsized and sold some furniture and or got rid of a few things. Everything I own was able to fit in a Ford Edge crossover SUV. I've been owning the bare minimum for awhile now, with the thoughts of making a plunge somewhere. I've been harassed and politically targeted in the U.S. for over a decade on and off again to varying degrees. My biggest concern is the language barrier. Would be willing to hire a guide probably..Thanks

@Rob *****

G.I. Bill isn't an option for me. A different education program for disabled veteran is a possibility though.. However it could take me several months or longer before I could get approved perhaps even 6 months or a year's worth of jumping through hoops. It's a rehabilitation program. Since my disability rating is so high, they've been making this VERY difficult for me. They are looking for excuses to not help me. I wonder about a medical VISA though. In the U.S. they were trying to get me to basically do volunteer work at a VA Hospital for at least 6 months to prove myself and my ability to go back to work. It's a huge oxymoron though. The rehabilitation program is supposed to help you with a degree for example, so that you can find work that doesn't aggravate one's medical issues. Forcing me to do grunt labor for 6 months is insulting and pitiful. I have a 100 percent disability rating. However because of these they play games, (like how do we know you can return to work) they are putting a stumbling block in front of the program and undermining it's entire purpose to give a short answer and it makes my blood boil..They really shouldn't be turning me down..they are being cheap and trying to save themselves work.

@Toohotma *******

I'm medically retired and dealing with legit medical issues that have been a bit time consuming and been cooking all my own food from scratch for health reasons. I may be ready for work or school at some point. However I've been doing health treatments almost . I'm not exaggerating. It's at home treatments that I can multitask while doing so. However it's still time consuming. I've wondered about a medical VISA or maybe a volunteer Visa if they didn't require too many hours out of me.. thanks