Do I need to deposit my retirement income in a Thai bank account for my visa, and does VA compensation qualify as income?

Thai bank account

Keep repeating this phrase: Thai want the money in their banks! Reality is 65,000baht=about 2000USD so you will need most of that for living expenses. Last year I wanted to go from 800k baht fixed deposit method to the monthly method, but with no notice my Thai bank froze my account preventing deposits for one full month. When I went to immigration to renew my year NonO, the immigration officer went straight to that month, September, and refused to accept my 65k deposit done to another bank account. Fortunately, I kept my 800k intact for a full year and this was accepted. I am doing the same this year, keeping 800k baht in one account while depositing $65k baht monthly in another account for 12 months. Swift transfer moved my cost per month from $13(wise) to 3%or$63(swift). The problem you get with the international transfers is the notation on your account for each deposit stating that the money came from overseas. this can get quite sticky so you want to verify that you are getting the proper notation with each deposit. The hit on Swift is not the fee but the change in the exchange rate which is substantially reduced compared to wise. if you want to insure your stay in Thailand use the $800,000 method as that is the gold standard, good 🤞 luck.

I show a letter from my Embassy stating that I receive sufficient funds back in the old country.

Yes, VA compensation qualfies as tax free income. If you get a non O-A from the US, you should be able to use your banking info showing the deposits. Despite being covered by the VA, you will need to get additional health insurance with this visa. Once you move open a Thai account and transfer the 65,000 baht monthly into it from your US account every month for a year, so that you wont have any issues with your extension.

Go to the VA website and sign up for the Foreign Medical Program (FMP) use this at any hospital or clinic for all your service connected disabilities (0%-100% rated)

It’s reimbursable so get all the invoices and receipts submit and in super fast VA speed they reimburse you 150-250 days later…you get 2 years from date of receipt to submit

Also look into Bangkok hospital some branches direct bill the VA…

if in Pattaya they have an FMP clinic that can help advise and do medical procedures…veterans first healthcare

Join a VFW if you need more information on VA related information

Good luck

As you are from the US and your embassy in Thailand will no longer issue an income affidavit you have no option but to show money in a Thai bank to obtain a 12 month extension of stay. To use the 65k baht method you must have 12 months of transfers from overseas of at least that amount immediately prior to applying for the extension which means for the 1st extension you would need 800k baht in a Thai bank account. To apply for the 90 day Non-O visa in the US you can use income.

An alternative for you might be to apply for a Non-OA visa in the US which is a 12 month visa out of the box and you just show funds in your US bank, but it does require insurance, police check etc

For the initial visa application, you may use your bank account in your home country and document at least three months of income equivalent to 65,000 baht per month. For an extension of stay in Thailand, you will need a Thai bank account. The income method is generally only available from the second annual extension onward, after the first year has been granted on the basis of maintaining 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account.

If your VA 100% service-connected compensation is a regular, documented monthly payment it can generally qualify as income for visa purposes, provided it meets the minimum equivalent of 65,000 baht per month.