@Ralphy ****

In answer to your question, transferring 65K Baht/month to Thailand from Pension is acceptable alternative to the 800K Baht Bank Deposit. Problem is, that for 1st Retirement Extension Application they also require Letter/Certificate from Embassy, which is no longer available for USA, UK, and AUS. So, if you are from one of those countries, that is not an option 1st time, and you must then provide proof of 12 monthly Deposits for prior year.

@Leon ***

Yes, Chiang Mai for one.

@Ralphy ****

Agent is waste of money. What

@Todd ********

continues to fail to realize, is that not everyone is as Wealthy as he is. LTR and O/X Visa have substantial financial requirements, and can take many months for approval. In addition, LTR Visa application fee is 50,000 Baht (compared to 1900 Baht for ordinary 1yr Retirement Extension) and again requires mandatory Health Insurance (or USD $100,000 tied up in Bank Account -- again compared to Non-O/Retirement requirement of only 800K Baht= USD$24-25K).

@Kev *********

Welcome; my pleasure.

@Jo *********

Interesting.

@Ralphy ****

Per your request, see below.

@Ralphy ****

STEP-BY-STEP DO-IT-YOURSELF INSTRUCTIONS -- APPLYING FOR RETIREMENT STAY AFTER ARRIVAL IN THAILAND (Must be over age 50): i. You may arrive either Visa Exempt (currently 45-days), or on a 60-day Tourist Visa. ii. Then, immediately after your arrival, you must promptly open a Thai Bank Account, and transfer 800,000 Baht into Thai Bank Account (if married, some Immig. Offices like CM, accept Joint Account with 1.6 Mil. Baht. Also Note, that either Passbook Savings or Fixed Deposit is acceptable, but not Investment Account. Finally note, that some Immig. Offices, but not all - e.g. CM, require proof of foreign source of funds. WISE is an inexpensive, easy & reliable service to transfer funds). iii. Then, you apply for a 90-day Non-O Visa at local Thai Immigration Office. If on Visa Exempt, you use Form TM87, if on Tourist Visa TM86. You are required to apply with minimum 15-21 days remaining on permitted Stay, depending on Office (Chiang Mai, requires 21 days). Requirements: TM87 or TM86 (Note: Fear not, only 1-page Form simple to fill out in English with only basic info., name, address, passport info., arrival info, and stated purpose: "For Retirement"), Must be Over Age 50, 2000 Baht, Copy of all relevant pages of Passport (i.e. Facepage, and Entry Stamp); copy of TM30 (that is the required arrival form that is either completed by your Hotel or Condo, or you do yourself at Immig. Office w/i 24 hrs of arrival); copy of proof of residency (Rental Agreement, or Hotel Reservation -- some offices may not allow if only staying at a HOtel); and most importantly proof of the money in Bank (Copy of Bank Book, and a certified Letter from the Bank usually costing 100 Baht). Above is all simple and straightforward, so no need for spending money on a Visa Service. iv. If all docs. in order, Immig. Office will put a Sticker in your Passport that you are "under consideration", and a date to return to pick up your Visa Stamp (prior to your Stay expiration). v. Next, when you have 30 days remaining on the Non-O (and your Bank Money has "seeded" 60 days -- i.e. stayed on deposit), you go back to Immig. Office to apply for the 1-yr Retirement Extension. Requirements.: TM7 (Req. for Extension of Stay); 1900 Baht, and all other same docs. as above (newly updated of course). And, you will receive 1-yr Extension of Stay -- usually same day, if you arrive in morning. Note: For both processes above, your Bank Passbook Balance must be updated same date as application, and the Bank Letter should be no more than 7 days old -- easiest just to do both same day just before going to Immig. Office). vi. Finally, you should/must get a Re-Entry Stamp -- easiest/best to just do immediately after you get your 1-yr. Extension stamp. It can be single Re-Entry for 1000 Baht, or 3800 Baht for unlimited multiple Re-Entry. The Re-Entry Stamp allows you to leave and return to Thailand, without invalidating your 1-yr Extension. If you fail to do that, then your Extension of Stay is nullified, and you must start the process again. (IMPORTANT: If you want or need to leave Thailand while on the initial 90-Day Non-O, same thing -- must get Re-Entry Stamp.). Hope that is all clear.

Why "O-A", versus Non-O and subsequent annual Retirement Extensions? No Insurance requirement. If you would like to consider this alternative option, I can Post easy Instructions for you. Just ask.

@Roberto **********

Certainly an "Option", though whether it is the "preferred" on is highly debatable. The "O-A" Option requires additional expense of mandatory insurance, which the Non-O does not. In addition, if you are like many Ex Pats, 65K/month is FAR more than you need to live comfortably in Thailand. So, the extra monies you are transferring every month (especially the full year prior), would likewise wind up being "tied up" in a Bank here. Same Same.

@Jimmy *********

Good question. The sad fact is, that it has become increasingly difficult for Foreigners to open new Bank Accounts in the past few years. However, as most here would tell you, every Bank and every Branch enforces its own policies, so you just have to ask around. If necessary, you just might have to pay an "Agent" to help you open a Bank Acct. -- as much as I deplore having to say that.