Thailand no longer worth it.

[ladislav]

I left a long time ago.

Among the " I've never had any problem" statements by others.

[Yohan]

I came back from Thailand last month spending 2 months there in my second home. I will travel soon again from Japan to Thailand and stay one month in my second home in Pattaya.

Visiting Thailand since around 1980 frequently, I can say, very much which is said in this video above is not true or seriously exaggerated.

It is about foreigners who are running out of money, running out of visa options but refuse to go home to their own countries. They complain as they find themselves in trouble.

Be aware, Thailand is NOT such a cheap country, if you are a foreigner. You cannot live so cheaply as some Thai people can do, especially those living in rural areas.

I often wrote in this forum, that Thailand is not a good place to earn money and it is not very open to long-term stay, especially if you cannot prove that your financial situation is reasonably stable.

I also wrote many times, to be a foreign tourist in Thailand for 30 or 60 days with a return ticket is not the same as a person who wants to relocate to Thailand for long-stay.

Rules are not so much different from other countries. I can only comment about 1 year Thai retirement visa, my own visa status.
About myself I never had a problem with Thai immigration, city hall, land registration office and driving licence office.

You need to prove that you either have a retirement allowance of baht 65.000,- (approx. USD 2000, monthly) or you have a Thai banking account with a balance not lower than Baht 800.000,- (approx. USD 25.000,-) during the last 6 months when you apply or extend your visa for the next year.

You also have to prove your accommodation, either with a rent contract and receipt that you paid to the owner rent and for utilities - or if you are the owner of your condominium yourself, you have to show up with the land title, the house registration from the ward office (blue book) and a receipt that you pay for maintenance fees.

If you fail to qualify for long-stay, because you have no money and live 'somewhere' in Thailand you might still manage to come and go (visa-run) over the border, but as a tourist you can do that only for totally 180 days in one year - after that you are not a tourist anymore legally seen.
Same rule in many countries, not only in Thailand.

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About my own expenses for my Thai condo-units, which offer me and family really a comfortable life-style in Pattaya/Jomtien, I receive yearly invoices for house taxes, maintenance and utilities of about baht 75.000,- yearly (approx. USD 200,- per month).
I am the owner of my 2 condo-units - no rent to pay.

If any question about living in Thailand please ask me.