Living & Ageing in Isan: Worries?

[Wisdom]

What happens if you become too ill to make the 90 day renewal in person? Say you have a serious illness, that keeps you virtually housebound, can the renewal take place without you personally attending? Or say physically you could be taken to the immigration centre, but mentally like with alzheimers, you've lost it, would the authorities allow you to stay in Thailand? Or would it be that you are booted back to blighty!?

[trubrit]

What happens if you become too ill to make the 90 day renewal in person? Say you have a serious illness, that keeps you virtually housebound, can the renewal take place without you personally attending? Or say physically you could be taken to the immigration centre, but mentally like with alzheimers, you've lost it, would the authorities allow you to stay in Thailand? Or would it be that you are booted back to blighty!?

As far as I am aware there is no medical requirement for obtaining a visa renewal. The 90 day could of course be made by post. As for mental awareness. No idea , but would guess from some specimens seen around, especially Pattaya, no problem .
There is a list of communicable diseases you have to have a medical check for on first application.

[Paul]

What happens if you become too ill to make the 90 day renewal in person? Say you have a serious illness, that keeps you virtually housebound, can the renewal take place without you personally attending?

There is no 90 day renewal.
I assume you are referring to the 90 day report which notifies immigration of your 'current' address and is done within 90 days from your last 'report' or 90 days from your last entry into the country.

It does not have to be done in person and has a 7 days period either side so you can go one week before or one week after due date

There are some offices which will allow you to make postal 90 day reports.

There was a rule being reinforced about a year ago that you must use the immigration office nearest to your province.
You cannot use a neighbouring immigration office just because the staff are more pleasant (if thats possible).

I believe that a yearly extension has to be made in person and any waver of this would have to be discussed with the immigration office concerned. Bear in mind that there are no 'rules' for visa extensions - just 'guidelines' so at the end of the day they can (and frequently do) make it up as they go along and ask to see virtually anything to 'support' your application.

[jackspratt]

Bear in mind that there are no 'rules' for visa extensions - just 'guidelines' so at the end of the day they can (and frequently do) make it up as they go along and ask to see virtually anything to 'support' your application.

Not correct - there clearly are rules ie the law, which can be "supplemented" by asking for additional information at the officer's discretion.

[papaguido]

Not sure if the following rule (or Immigration Act) still applies, copied from Chapter 2 of Order of the Royal Thai Police Headquarters No. 606/2549.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en ... p?page=act



7.24 In the case of medical
treatment or
convalescence or to
look after a patient:
Permission will be
granted for a period of
not more than 90 days
at a time.

(1) Confirmation and request has
been made by a physician
responsible for the treatment.
(2) In the case of looking after a
patient, confirmation and
request has been made by the
physician responsible for the
treatment or by an embassy or
consulate.
(3) For non-family members of the
patient, permission shall be
granted to not more than one
person.

1. Application form
2. Copy of the applicant's passport
3. Confirmation letter and request
from the physician responsible
for the treatment
4. Only in the case of looking after
a patient, confirmation letter and
request from the physician
responsible for the treatment or
from the embassy/consulate
must be provided.

[BobHelm]

The odds on getting the "aging' illnesses mentioned by issix are no greater living in Thailand than elsewhere, in fact they are probably slightly less if you look at the causes. The difference is that if you get in Falangland you will be left in it - here for a few baht you can hire a nurse....

[parrot]

I've known 2 cases of people who were bedridden and didn't renew visas for a few years before they died. No one came knocking on their door.

[Marlowe]

Another thing I love about Thailand: Virtually no calls from "authorities", nor knocks on the door. To me, a feeling of isara (freedom).

[UdonExpat]

Further comments on:

IMMIGRATION:
When I started getting annual visa extensions I was pressured to get a retirement extension. I resisted by insisting that I wanted a marriage extension and said I may want to teach English or do some other work. It's possible to get a work permit with a marriage extension, but not with a retirement extension.

The first year they jerked me around for a couple of months requesting additional documents, etc. Each time they gave me a temporary 30 day extension to get the requested info together. Eventually, they gave me the year long extension based on marriage after sending it off to Bangkok for approval.

For some reason they don't have the authority to approve marriage extensions. The marriage extension also requires extra work on their part by filling out an interview with your wife that has a couple of pages of questions. So, I guess they just don't like the extra work. And perhaps, they don't like a higher authority overseeing their work.

Subsequent years have also brought pressure to get a retirement extension, but no real problem when I bring up the work idea.

This last extension they kept my income letter from the US Embassy. On the next income letter I will state a lower income that will not be high enough to qualify for a retirement extension. Hopefully, that will resolve the pressure to get a retirement extension.

MEDICAL CARE:
When I first started going to Bumrungrad Hospital 7 years ago it was the only JCI accredited hospital in the country. I have been mostly satisfied with the care I've received there, so have continued to go there. I see people from all over the world there as patients, and it is a destination hospital many elective procedures.

There are now other JCI accredited hopitals in Bangkok where the care may be comparable.

The nearest teaching hospital is at Khon Kean University and my experience there was positive when I was referred there by AEK Udon for a urology problem. I never had so many pretty young students so interested in my privates before. Unfortunately, the interest was professional. Oh, well. It's a public hospital so it's overcrowded and slow, but the teaching doctor who oversaw my care was first rate.

[Marlowe]

Were you really considering possibly working, so wanted the M Visa?

Or are there other advantages or benefits to having an M instead of an R Visa?

For me, it's hard to say No when they offer me the R. The option is to go through the hassle, and possibly not be 100% certain, when insisting on the M...

Funny business, this.

[parrot]

Passed through Makro today. Sign at a small desk just inside the entrance:

80 years old
has policies insurance
No check-up health (the word No is underlined)
ACE Insurance

There was no one sitting at the desk, so I wasn't able to ask any questions.

[izzix]

in the UK (not USA) dementia care is first class and doesnt cost a cent if you have NHS cover. you have the choice of staying at home with daily visits with carers or off to the nursing home ,medication all supplied free.when it gets too advanced you will be moved to a nursing home . From my observations healthcare for the elderly in the UK is 1st class.
in the USA you will be left to rot of course ,unless your insurance is in order for such care .

[izzix]

[quote="BobHelm"]The odds on getting the "aging' illnesses mentioned by issix are no greater living in Thailand than elsewhere, in fact they are probably slightly less if you look at the causes. The difference is that if you get in Falangland you will be left in it - here for a few baht you can hire a nurse....[/quote]

but how much for the brainscan and where to get one locally ?to establish how bad is your brain hardening .

[warmeduque]

Everybody is talking about ageing for the old but what about the young ones who are not 50 + and cannot rely on the retiree visa

Is there a good option besides the tourist visa as for example the student visa valable for one year?
Entering a thai learning school and get this visa,does this imply to actually follow the class or not?

[Khun Paul]

The odds on getting the "aging' illnesses mentioned by issix are no greater living in Thailand than elsewhere, in fact they are probably slightly less if you look at the causes. The difference is that if you get in Falangland you will be left in it - here for a few baht you can hire a nurse....

Yes that is true, many foreigners find that their illnesses are exacerbated by their lifestyle here. Drink and in general nothing to do on a daily basis.
For me the warmth helps my ageing process in making my physical pain due to earlier operations easier to bear, so my life has improved. Also ensuring I have an insurance helps, takes the stress out of being ill , when one is ill.
We are quite right in being concerned as the level of our healthcare will be dependant on the whims of our partners if we are incapacitated due to Dementia or other brain related ageing that can affect us all, that is a situation, at which I am looking at to ascetain a solution if there is one to be found.

[Paul]

Everybody is talking about ageing for the old but what about the young ones who are not 50 + and cannot rely on the retiree visa

Is there a good option besides the tourist visa as for example the student visa valable for one year?
Entering a thai learning school and get this visa,does this imply to actually follow the class or not?

No

Many (if not most) will happily take your money and arrange your visa and most don't care if you attend the class or not. They will however insist that you have a group photograph sat in a class (for 5 minutes) to support your application and 'prove' that you do indeed attend !! (allegedly).

Alternatively - find a job , geta work permit and a Non-Imm B visa

or go to your home country and get a non-imm O visa for the purpose of visiting friends/family

Or get married !!!!

[maaka]

kia ora dudes, I will stick my oar in here..I have been to Khon Kaen Heart hospital afew times to see a thai friend who had the heartattack and bypass thingy..I found the staff and care he received aok..hes jumping around ok now..I went to Udon hosital afew times to visit another thai friend with serious head injuries from a motorbike smash..it was pretty much third world stuff there, didnt even put his arm in a sling, and if it wasnt for mama massaging her son a couple of times a day, and feeding him milk with a straw, not sure he would be here now..I went to the Udon Military Hospital ( beginning to sound like a hospital spotter ) and things there seemed the best, including the dentist, and if your partner works for the government its free.

yup the government has tightened up its visas to try and get rid of those who has lived here for umpteen decades, and do the old border hop on a regular basis. Alas the good old days are gone.

As for having a bag packed..yup a wise move to have a plan B. I have afew thai mates in the police force, government, and the ordinary Joe Bloggs on the streeet, and they are worried about civil war breaking out, and have grave concerns once His Royal Highness passes onto the next world...always best to have a plan B..

[thanuhak]

Cheers for the excellent responses, with a big shout out to UdonExpat for his extensive reply as well, and to PapaG for his second post.

Just back from NK Immig. meself. Did the donuts help? I'd say nit noi - our "friend" there passed them back to a lackey who filed them on top of the cabinets. Don't waste your money, won't make or break your application, unless you're in a particularly "kissing up" mood, and want them to remember what a nice bloke you are in the future... possibly.

Cultural question!: I was getting hungry while my paperwork was being processed; I could've murdered one or two of the donuts I had brought in! But tricky to say, "Yo, would you mind giving me one of those donuts?", especially when no one was obviously eating them at the time. More "funny biz". Sure there would be a way to pull this off in a subtle, humorous, effective way, but couldn't come up with one at the time. Not exactly a critical issue mind you, but interesting to me culturally. (Or maybe I just "think too mutt", as Thais often tell us!)

And yes, they absolutely do NOT want any extra work! Marriage Visas seriously discouraged by them. You'd need to really insist if you absolutely wanted one. Don't know of any advantages to getting one, other than the possibility of wanting to work in the coming year. Tell me if I'm wrong about this.

"He" even tried to discourage my getting a Multiple Entry stamp, to which I did insist, as I really like having this, so I can come and go from the Kingdom as I please, and not worry about having to get exit stamps or other BS.

I forgot the Multiple Entries cost 3800 Baht, though, and fell a couple hundred baht short in the end, even after he told me my papers were "perfect"! I told him I would have had it but I stopped to buy donuts for them, to which they all laughed, and sent me packing to an ATM to get the required cash.

All in all, pleasant enough, like going to a competent dentist. They're definitely mellower now that they're only handling us NK residents. (No offense to all you Udonites, of course!)

Cheers again for all the good intel! Appreciated.

[parrot]

"Did the donuts help?"

I apologize for going off topic, but on the subject of donuts:
I'm not criticizing anyone who cares to bring a box of donuts to immigration or elsewhere. When we first arrived 13 years ago, immigration had just moved from Udon to Nongkai. When they were in Udon, it was (as I've been told) common to walk in with a bottle of whiskey to grease the wheels. The first time I went to Nongkai, I remember asking an old-timer if I needed to bring anything. He told me he used to bring Maekong but switched to Johnnie Walker and suggested I do the same. Luckily, I didn't bring anything and the new crew at Nongkai weren't expecting anything either.
My concern is with setting a precedent....and then the usual one-upsmanship that may follow. It's sort of like buying stuff from the saleslady at Nongkai.....we've never bought anything (although we've wondered whether buying would help our visa process) and never had a problem getting our visa.
So....don't take this the wrong way, Tanuhak.......but I'd hate to see things escalate beyond a box of donuts.
Glad you got your visa!

[Zidane]

As regards the donuts,am I right in thinking that all the staff at Nong Khai are ladies other than the guy on the right ?
The ladies are most likely figure conscious so a bag of donuts wouldnt have helped !
Maybe you could have taken some Chanel perfume bought from the Siam Paragon or if you took a Louis Vuitton handbag you would have no problem getting a Marriage Visa.....one of the staff would marry you there and then.....just be careful its not the man !

But back on topic to ageing Issaan worries.....I suppose dementia,incontinence,heart disease,liver failure and cancer are somewhere in the back of the mind but you could get run over and killed by a drunken saamlaw driver tomorrow so dont fret too much.
You are living in a good climate and dont have to work.Compare that to your own country.Freezing weather,pension not enough to exist on,government screwing you for everything youve got......just think about that and you will realise how lucky you are and this is a bonus in your life many many westerners back home would like to share !