@Jimmy ******
800,000 baht is required for getting the visa, and for getting the first annual extension. Depending on where you get the visa, either at the embassy (recommended) or in Thailand (almost impossible since you can't open a bank account without having the visa already) you'll need the 800,000 in your account for 5-6 months, then 400,000 for 9 months. But during this time you'll be doing minimum of 65,000 baht transfers per month. You should probably round up to 70,000 in case there is some kind of fee or conversion quirk. Don't take any chances. Besides, that money is yours to spend as soon as it arrives.