Why would someone choose a privileged visa over a retirement visa in Thailand for those over 50?

@Jim *******

agree, but you were describing bouncing every 180 days (which you also wouldn't need to do if you were a frequent traveller). So your pattern is arrive, register TM30, at 90 days go to IM to report (first time in person), at 180 days bounce, register tm30, at 90 days go to IM report (first time in person), at 180 days bounce, rinse and repeat.

@Tony *******

Ok. A few errors here. You only need a TM30 if you have any interaction with immigration which under the "frequent traveller" scenario, you'll have none. So you get one from your landlord at some stage. No great rush. 90-day reports are only required if you're in the country for 90 days, and if you are, you do it by mail. I've yet to do one in person. If your immigration office requires TM30, you get it from your landlord, and post a copy with your TM47 form. I'm in and out of Thailand times a year and I switched from non-O retirement to DTV. Best thing I ever did. It's cheaper and I don't have to deal with immigration!

@Jim *******

i agreed if your a frequent traveller, its a good visa. But your initial comment read as if you could retire here, and just leave and return at 180 days. In that scenario the situation is as i described, although you correctly pointed out you could use registered mail, but this would usually mean a second report required as your first will be shy of 90 days depending on the date received and processed.

@Tony *******

I think you're new in Thailand. The 90-day reporting window is 15 days before to 7 days after. It's a good visa for retirees who still want to travel. In my case I need to travel to Australia twice a year to ensure I retain Australian Tax Residency, as I don't wish to have to file for taxes in Thailand. Plus I have one other "vacation" each year generally to a destination in Europe. Although "retired" I have no desire to spend every day for the rest of my life in Thailand, and I know many others who have also made the switch to DTV. The money saved and the bonus of never having to attend an immigration office is worth a lot to me. Some people pay agents 30,000 baht a year to avoid immigration. I'm not THAT silly! ✅

@Jim *******

if you call 12 years new, i haven't disagreed with you at any point, and have agreed that its a good visa if you travel, and if you can constantly travel within 90 days you would never need to report.

While the window for 90 day reporting is -14 to plus 7, to maintain a full 180 stay between bounces and only do 1 report you have to report on the 90th day or later. If you use mail the report date will always before the 90th day.

@Tony *******

Ok the point you're obviously not aware of is the 90-day report doesn't actually have to be done on the 90th day, it can be done on the 86th day. Makes no difference, or on the 94th day. So what if you have to do two 90-day reports in a 180-day period? Is it THAT big a deal? Sometimes I feel people go digging for minor problems. I really don't think DTV holders will plan their overseas trips around 90-day reports

@Todd ********

or, during the first year if you make 12 consecutive monthly transfers of a minimum of 65k while still maintaining the 800k/400k requirement you can transfer to the monthly deposit method from that year onwards

@Graham *****

I think very few people (incl. myself) start monthly transferring 65k before they have the first extension. But then it takes two years before you can withdraw the 800k.

@Tim *****

that's bad planning

@Graham *****

yes - true. This is a better method. Just for an American citizen it takes 12 months to establish this. At that point the 800k is longer required in your bank at all