Can my grandfather combine his social security and savings to apply for a Non-O visa from the US for retirement in Thailand?

Assuming he hasn’t been here before: the most common recommendation to anyone is to come and spend 30-60 days in Thailand and discover the different parts, talk to agents, and get estimates

What is his total monthly retirement income?

How old is he?

Has he been here before?

He needs to apply for a non o in the US, using the Thai Embassy evisa site, you will be asked for information bank statements proof of address passport size photo etc it’s quite simple once you get started

Best to apply before he comes. I think (my opinion) is the Embassy website where you wish to apply will want ฿800,000 (or equivalent) in his home bank. Best ask your embassy

Use an agent for God's sake!

Certainly apply in USA and extend in Thailand. Age (min 50) and savings in local bank account equivalent of 800,000 baht (for whatever months required by local embassy) is really the only requirement; not the income. He may need an agent in Thailand to extend but at least he will have the visa already for 3 months.

I would advise to apply for the Non O from the US 🇺🇸 right now. Can be easily done online. The eVisa site will advise what financial evidence he will need to provide when applying.

Once in Thailand 🇹🇭, a Thai bank account must be opened and 800,000 THB must be deposited and will have to be seasoned for two months before going for the first 12 month extension (of the Non O visa)

After the first year of extension, it is possible to switch to the 65,000 a month method (deposit 65,000THB per month into your Thai 🇹🇭 Bank account every month for 12 months) and use that to satisfy the requirements for extension.

Good luck 😃

Just go and use an agent they will open bank account deposit funds to the whole lot

Probably better to use a agent once he arrives

Unless he already has a Thai bank account, he cannot get the non-O inside of Thailand. You are required to show the funds in a Thai bank account to apply in Thailand, and cannot open a bank account unless you already have a long-term visa.

He might be able to show a combination of things to get the non-O visa at the Thai embassy, but that won't help him once he gets to Thailand. For the first 1-year extension, the only option available is showing 800,000 baht in his Thai bank account, or embassy certified income. The US embassy does not do income certification, so the 800,000 in the Thai bank is the only option.

The other option he has is using a visa agent, but that's going to cost anywhere from 30,000-50,000 baht for the first year.