What are the steps to obtain a Non-O visa and extend it based on retirement in Thailand?

The steps are not that difficult.

1. First you have to leave Thailand and apply for a Non-O single entry visa at the nearest consulate or embassy. You can show your own bank from your country.

2. Once you get your visa, re-enter Thailand and open a bank account immediately. Say the reason is for a Retirement Visa. Prepare your Resident Certificate and your own Sim Card to open a bank account. This is easy at this point. Then put 800,000 baht in it.

3. Go to Immigration about 1 month before your current visa expires and apply for a Retirement Visa extension. Job Done!!!

This is exactly what I did for my aunt.

I'm also going into that situation soon, I'll be in Thailand, phuket to do some research but I definitely need some pointers on how to open a bank account as I heard foreigners cannot open a bank account unless u hold a visa, but to get a visa such as retirement visa I need to have bank account. Moni is not the issue but it's a catch 22 system. Any help will b much appreciated.

Open a bank account with HSBC’ in your country then transfer your account to their branch in Thailand if your still in your own country it’s much simpler to apply for the non0 there they will give you all the requirements and then extend your self at the local immigration office where your staying in Thailand straight forward if you follow the procedure they set out for you just go once your in Thailand and tell them what you want to do and they will pretty much walk you through the process

I’m just paying a facilitator instead of the headache. I can’t write very legible due to a stroke last year so it would probably take me a week just to fill out any forms. If forms could be filled in on a pc on site that would be be great. I’m not familiar with the exact process.

This is address on Immigration. If you write it in google maps (It square laksi )this is big trade center on 3 th flor can get there by BTS and change to train. They will tell you what you need. If you have something wrong they never will take your documents. Most important is Address if you do not have TM30 can pay to same Hostel 100 per night for fews days they will do for you TM 30. Good Look !!!

That is how Thais made it near impossible.

Take a short vacation to Vietnam and apply for the non-o from there.

Paying the agent is cheaper than leaving and re-entering. Enjoy. Many people do exactly this

As I done the first what need to do is to apply retirement visa from your country only with a retirement visa I could open bank account and this money have to stay 3 months in bank before to go to immigration because you will not get a 90 day appointment before so in my case it was like that so I had to move out by plan to vietnam and apply in thai embassy in vietnam but that was 15 years ago maybe now they changed already I not sure after that you need a yellow book if you stay with girlfriend or if you rent a house the house owner need to guarantee for you that you stay at this place for 1 year you need copy from bank book and original bank book to show to immigration and now have to take care because I think you have to show tin number as I wrote that only get new visa if you have a tax number this number you get in tax office and so on I wish you good luck if you lucky you CAN find a bank without to have visa in fact is easy and people's in immigration always kind so let it go on easy

Your first step is to open a bank account, not easy but not impossible. If you get a residence certificate from immigration that can help as can someone of standing vouching for you. Other than that it's just a case of trying multiple branches of multiple banks until you find one that will, every branch has their own rules. Explain why you want it. Failing that go to a neighbouring country and apply for the 90 day non-o there, opening a bank account should be much easier but the residence certificate will still help.

Go ask your local immigration what forms you need

You will need to use an agent to open the bank account.

It is virtually impossible to open one yourself, especially on a tourist stamp.

Then once you have the account and transferred the money, you can do the visa and subsequent extension yourself.

The local immigration office will give you a list, follow it.

100% correct that the immigration office is the place to go to...

For additional support, try your embassy too...

Go to immigration they have all the forms there.. And they will tell you which one you need and how to apply.. Good luck.. I never use an agent.

So you have Thai bank account in your name with 800k from a foreign transfer and you are over 50? Just go to your local Immigration Office and get their list of requirements then prepare all of the documents to support your application.