Not needed. The agency walks you through that bank process. Documentaton is done at the bank showing money deposited with bank book, photos for immigraton, etc. Then walk you thorugh immigration, sign documents, and wait about 2 weeks for your extension, Multiple entry extnsion can be given for extra fee.

@Floyd *****

once in Thailand on a 60 day visa, you can go to a visa service agency snd they will take care of everything for you to obtain the 12 month extension based on retirement. All you need is your passport indicating you are over 50 years of age. All Is legit if you use a common, reputable agency. I recommend Manareet Travel and Visa service on soi Post Office in Pattaya. They deal with high volume applications. Everything is legit becsuse the process falls in line with what immigration at the Jomtien office wants.

And immigration won't accept the 800K as legitimate if that money was deposited in Thailand and not having been transferred by international wire transfer. They have to know the source to prevent money laundering. I had a friend who had been deposting money into his account, money he earned while working in Myanmar and coming to Bangkok sometimes to change his dollars into Batht and deposit into his account. The bank wanted to know the source of the money deposited before issuing a certified letter by the bank manager attesting to his 800k in his account.

Since the major changes in 2019, the criteria/policies for applying make it a catch 22 situation, which makes it very difficult to apply on your own. First, if applying based on monthly income, you have to submit 12 consecutive Thai bank statements showing monthly income being trasnferred via internationak wire transfer from a known source- government pension, privte penson source, investment source, etc. So, what or where do you hang out waiting 12 months. Cambodia? Philippines? And you must already have a bank account in Thailand in order to transfer the 800k Baht. This requires paying an agent to assist in opening an account. If applying baed on 800k in the bank, well, you still have to go through an agent while on a tourist visa to get the account open, then transter 800k from your home country to your new account. It has to be seasoned for 3 months before you apply. There are some issues with trasnferring that much money out of the U.S.A.. Documents or forms have to be completed and signed in a bank for you to trasnfer that much ($25k or 800k Baht at one time. I know that Bank of Hawaii requires physical presense at a bank branc and requires U,S. Customs or U.S. Treasury documentaton to be completed.

Vast majority of retirees in Pattaya and Hua Hin are using agencies. I did before and know of many who are still using agencies. Too much money going into Chonburi district Immigration hands for them to discourage applying as an individual and not via an agency. They actually prefer agents. Money rolls up hill and the top dogs get a cut, as well.

Just use an agency. No money in the bank required. Many agencies in Pattaya

@Jeff *******

There are fo many in Pattaya.

@Jay ******

The do-it-yourself costs are the same as were in 2018, when I renewed my O Visa at the Chiang Wattana office. At that time, all was neeed was an affidavit from the U.S. Embassy, in which I stated in writing that my monthly income was more than 65k per/month. I paid 1900 Baht for the 12. But in 2019, the law changed, and affidavits from most embassies were no longer accepted by immigration. Reasoning is I guess is that immigration finally caught onto the fact that embassies (except the German Embassy) do not verify income. I knew some retirees who lied on those affidavits about their true income. So now, for 1900 Baht, plus around 3-4k Baht for the multisple entry, you can do yourself, in person at immigration. But if first time applying for the O visa, you'll still need to pay 18k Baht for the conversion from tourist to Non-immigrant 90-day visa. If you have already transferred 800k Baht from your home country, electronically via international wire transfter into your Thai bank account, then you can do on your own for a mere 1,900 Baht plus 3-4k for the multiple entry permit stamp in your passport. Here is the catch 22 that forced me to go to an agent nowadays. If your application is based on monthly income, you will have to present to immigration 12 consecutive Thai bank statements, showing that you have had deposited by international wire trasnfer at least 65k Baht each month. Well, for first time applicants, you don't even have a Thai bank account. In my case, I had an account, but I didn't want to wait in Cambodia or Philippines for 12 months, while I had my pensions going into a my Thai bank account. Rather awkward. That is why, in 2019, I decided not to pursue a Thai extension based on retirement. I could have gone to an agency, but I decided to move to the Philippines at the time. The way this is set up I believe is a major reason most expats have to use an agency. Using an agency brings in more revenue for immigration district offices, that is, unofffdical money that isnt' included in the official accounting books for general revenue record keeping. Baht. The high demand for extensions here in Thailand allows for such policy. People are more willing to pay a higher fee to stay in Thaialand. If the demand wasn't so high, visa agencies would be out of business, and immigration officials would have to live within their government salaries.

@Jay ******

The fee varies. But for your initial application for a 12 month extension based on retirement (the O Visa), you have to convert from your visa-exempt or tourist visa status to that of a 90-day Non-Immigrant Visa. This is the biggest expense and the fee hasn't changed much since I first did this back in 2016. It's about 18k Baht. The Chaing Wattana immigration office is the place where this is processed. So for example: Your visa service agency is in Pattaya. Your total cost (Initially) may be around 36-46k Baht. This includes all fees/costs, including the 5k Baht to open a Bangkok Bank account and for a multiple entry permit. All this is done by walking you through the whole process in one day, morning or afternoon. Your passport is sent from Jomtien Immigration to Chiang Wattana for processing of the Non-O. Then back to Jomtien, where your 12 month extension + 3 months = for total of 15 months extension. At the end of 15 months, you go back to your visa service and the cost will be much less. No need to deposit 5k in Bangkok Bank, no need to convert to a Non-O. Last December, after returning to Thailand (Jomtien) I paid 36k for all. Took about 2 weeks to process. In March, I will go back and apply for a 12 month extension. Cost- 15k Baht. This will include the cost for the multiple entry permit.

Less expensive for qualifty housing, food, public transportation, and set costs wtih medical. Doctors work in the hospitals and their fees are set by law. In Philppines, their fees are unknown until you seek service, and most don't take credit/debit cards. Unlike in Thailand, their fees are separate from the hospital bill. They don't bill directly with insurance companies. You pay up front. You pay for medicines as an outpatient before the nurse will administer them such as injections, IV treatment. An abundance of ATMs, always working, never empty. Security is such an issue in the Philippines in that anyplace which has cash transactions of any great value, has armed guards. Banks, shopping malls inspect bags, When was the last time your bag was checked in Thailand. When was the last time you were questioned at the entrance door to a bank as to what your purpose was of entering the bank?