@Frank *******

...I wish them luck?

Those who want to go to Thailand can live on the Australian Pension quite well, poor people always get it, and wealthy people are not likely. In Australia most elections are held over 4 weeks, we don't have what is just short of civil war for 18 months to elect our Government. Everyone is required to attend a polling place and make a vote by law. but it is a secret so if you wish you can vote informally, if you don't vote you get fined, not a lot, and no one will know how you voted. 98% in Australia agree with this everyone's vote has the same value, and everyone gets a go. It's called democracy, real democracy!!! Yes. I would never trade my Aussie lot for the US debacle.

PS ...watching US politics is as good as watching a grand final in gridiron. Thank heavens I only have to watch both????

@Ernesto *******

Yes, only for 3 months at a time on a visa-exempt with one extension...easy now. I also love Australia, been here for 82 years, 5th generation Aussie. I don't look down on people less fortunate than me, most of them are much better off living in Thailand than being back in Australia and are happy.

@Ernesto *******

...You sound like Donald Trump. Goopd luck.

@Dan *******

The tax threshold for AAP recipients in Australia is $35,000. The super level 15% is tax on all super is deducted before companies dividends are declared. I have asked the question," Will that now be taxed if a person receiving that when in Thailand over 180 days are they taxed there, tax has been but undisclosed by the ATO?" this a big question. "The AAP is not taxed but the super is taxed before you receive it in your payments. I really don't know how much that is and neither does anyone else except the tax man or the company that declares the tax deducted. My super investment is in a fund so that it is invested on the AX200 which is invested by a large Govt auditor over small mall bits units in Australia's most respected companies, 200 companies, how much tax I have paid on super I haven't got a clue neither would Thailand. how is Thailand going to find out if I never know how much tax I have paid? It's like a company tax from where my money is invested. Most super schemes worldwide are invested in similar types of unit investments for which you pay a fee to buy units.?????

To get a cheap place, Phil Beer he may have to climb up 11 floors as there are no lifts in the building. SSS>>>TIT.

My Aus pension is $4,000 a month, Govt AAP $27,000, $12,000 private pension and some savings are quite enough. I'm actually flat-out spending that. I could sell my nice home back in Perth Aus and double that if I wanted to. As it is it's quite enough.

@David ********

Well not all the time David? Sometimes I ride Hua Hin elephants and have a picnic at the elephant park.

Just go and get on the queue. Each time at Thai Immigration at Blupoint Shopping Centre Hua Hin it took no longer than one hour and about 40 people were waiting...it is not bad nowadays. recently it took about 1 hour each time.

If you have Bt 800,000 in savings and a modest income of say US $1,200 to US $1,500. P/M you may get a DTV visa by seeing a Visa agent in your home country (hundreds of them also in Thailand), I suggest you will have a 95% chance of getting a retirement visa. You have to be over 50 Y/O. If you have that and savings it will be a piece of cake. Go to Thailand on a Thai tourist visa and see that agent he will guide you to a Thai Bank and do the business "See you in Thailand" Good luck. You can do it all yourself but with the Thai Tourist visa you get you will learn.

PS ... Many corrupt visa agents in Thailand will get you a retirement visa for less than Bt30,000, this is not really legal but it is common, in fact rife?