@Graeme *****

Yes, I understand all that as I have previously obtained 2 x "OA" Thai Retirement Visas from the Thai Embassy in Canberra Australia and many Thai Tourist Visa. No matter how hard you try to explain it is still a scam. All are engineered to cause complications and dysfunction to retirees from around the world. Like the old "Too many cooks spoil the broth" Every politician and government worker in Thailand wants to have an input, all different. It seems time for a good dictator.

In my experience and understanding throughout the world Bt5000 to open a bank account is called a scam. You either qualify or you don't.

What? you have to pay to put money in a bank. I always thought it was supposed to be the other way around. But then this is Thailand, of course. Silly me.

Sandy... I've only placed a bet on 2 horses in my life. After being badgered by my work college back in 1962. I give him one pound to put on a horse called "Jackman". Monday morning he made me swallow my pride when he gave me four pounds and ten shillings in winnings, he then told 200 people who worked in the factory how good a punter he was in jest, and he told the story over and over again. My next experience was about 1976 at the final of the Interdominion Trots in Perth W.A. I put $5 on a horse called "Down and Out" in a supporting race reminiscing my plight at the time. Lowe and behold after a bad crash of several spiders in the race "Down and Out came out 1st place and I got $75 back including my money back. I have never bet on a horse in a race since. I may be regarded as a very successful punter. I got 10 times my money invested back, and I've never had a bet since. 2 horses and 2 winners. Good luck.

Perhaps you should learn how to bribe the police before starting a gambling syndicate in Thailand. Not so common now or else spend your time in Thailand as a guest of the "bangkok hilton" commonly known as a prison. No reflection on the loverly hotel known as the real Bangkok Hilton spelt with capital letters.

It now may be time for Airline companies to use their influence to have this requirement changed, It is not often enforced.

@Luit ****************

Well yes, but the requirements are based on Thai Immigration Law. I think my answer is correct.

They have never asked me either. No body has.

I have now been to Thailand 15 times in just over 13 years. Two of those times were O retirement visas from the Thai Embassy Canberra in Australia, all in order. The other 13 times on a Tourist visa or recently on visa exempt twice. Although I have had a return ticket to Australia each time I have never been asked if it is so on all my trips to Thailand. Even when I have indicated this to the Immigration person they have indicated they did not want to know.

There are better options available if you are over 50 y/o, Like an O retirement visa from your Thai Embassy from your own country, it is multi-entry. The 1st years of that visa once granted you can come and go as often as you like in Thailand. At the end of that year, you can arrive in Thailand just before 12 months and get an extension for 12 months. Then you will be no longer able to renew that extension, you can not get an extension on an extension.

You will need a police report from your state PD and a medical showing you have no social disease. And about US 200 and prove you have Bt800.000 in a US bank about $25,000. Only original Bank statements are accepted. All you need is documents signed on every page by a JP and 2 extra full sets of photocopies. It sounds tough but once done 2nd time OK. I know, bean there, done that? This way the Bt800,000 or about US 25,000 is still in your bank account, there are no conditions on what you now do with that money once the visa is granted, spend it, it's yours.