you have a point, I will think about that option, but I still don’t live in Thailand permanently, as I still have properties in Europe to take care off, and I only spend around 300k per year.
I normally transfer big amounts when exchange rates are in my favour. And yes, I do have the 800k in my account. Only not in time for my first extension.
they would have saved me from a heart attack as well, just a tumour was easy peasy…. They only forgot about COVID. Once back in Belgium, I would have to go through the whole procedure again, to restart my trip… visa, paperwork, thai pass, 15 days quarantine…. Not to mention the time in quarantine I would have lost in Belgium. And the available beds at that time….. Obviously your case had a different urgency. Take care
I wanted to stay long term in Thailand. The first thing I did was getting a 6 months tourist visa (3 times 2 months with border crossings).
I tried to open a bank account, but failed ( as a fixed address and a non O was mandatory….. (we now know this was bullshit)
So, the next year, obviously I went for a non-O . The embassy gave it to me only after I promised in writing, that I needed it, to open a bank account and paid 200€.
Arriving at bbk, I first had to go through 15 days quarantine(1500€). During this quarantine, I discovered a lump, that needed medical attention.
When released from quarantine, I visited Bkk hospital and arranged for surgery. (320k baht).
At that point, my travel insurance didn’t want to pay anymore, and wanted to send me home. Over my dead body, I replied. I finally found a hospital that wanted to do surgery on me at a much lower price. I finally paid 30k at Chulalongkorn in bkk.
By then, I was overdue, registering my drone at nbtc, as well as getting my
*****
0 in my bank account for my retirement extension. The problem with nbtc, caused me a lot of headaches and possibly fines, but i got my license without fine on day 34. They still made me travel to bkk again around day 60, to sign paperwork ( to promise I did not fly the drone yet).
I was finally ( after talking to a lawyer) permitted a bank account in Pattaya, after taking a one year accident insurance (about 6000 baht).
Knowing that I was too late for my 60 days seasoning, I found an agent, that would arrange my 800k in the account, and the retirement visa for
*****
baht, including reentry permit.
This year, I tried it myself, but immigration found out that I didn’t have 400k baht in my account for 1 full year. So back to the agent. Next year it shouldn’t be a problem anymore, and I should be able to do it myself.
Leaves me now with finding a health insurance that will cover me for cancer, as the lump appeared to be malignant.
I’m at the moment cancer free, but living in Thailand full time, has become more of a dream than reality . Leaving my own country behind, means leaving my existing health insurance behind.
The next page of this story is still to be written.
I just wanted to share.
Thank you moderators of this group, for giving the only true advice. Best group ever. Regards
