What steps should someone take to move from the US to Thailand?

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My recommendation is to ensure that you have a solid passive income stream before moving to Thailand.

Be a lot of steps best of getting a plane

Call 1-800-got junk

Get good tax advice to minimize your USA taxes

Learned to swim

several….. towards the airport

I have been considering doing the same for a while now. Here are things I am considering at least in the US side:

1) Change legal residency to a tax friendly state, like FL, SD, etc. There are services that allow you to maintain a "physical" address, look for those that target RV living and do your research. The other is switching your driver license to that state to indicate your intention of residing in that state. Get an IDP from AAA so you can get a Thai license easier.

2) As others have mentioned, make sure you maintain a US telephone number for 2FA.

3) Since you are considering long term, I would assume you are using a non tourist visa that allows you to open a bank account. This is one area I have not researched enough yet. Ideally I would like a bank that allows transfer of US currency and withdraws in US currency which allows me to use such US currency when visiting neighboring countries. I found that most banks allow transfer of US currency and keeping the account in US currency, just don't know about withdrawing in US currency.

4) Personally I would only consider bringing sentimental stuffs with me in a suitcase, wouldn't bother to send nor ship other belongings.

Good luck.

Leaving the United States for a visit to Thailand is recommended. You are getting different and varied information from different people. Thailand has 14 cities and Villages to explore. Getting into the country and seeing for yourself is a must do! Critical life information changes quickly. What is good this month might be difficult the next month. Moving is a trial and error no matter what you want to do! Finances, life, and health insurance are a must! A lot of people don't know just how important it is. If you die what will happen to your human remains? Don't just think life is better in other countries because it's just don't be the truth. You are hearing the better from different people and while their experience might be better, your experience might not be. Go, see what happens when you visit Thailand or any of the 14 cities and Villages that await you!

Sold all my stuff saved up for three four months and moved to to Thailand

To read …follows:

1)

2) Have a look at financial recommendations in this group…good suggestions bellow.

3) do take your time.

4) come back with more questions.

What steps one has to take to move to America? What an idiotic post it is.

Married to Thai lady , otherwise I wouldn't consider!!!

If you are doing it permanently with no domicile in the US I suggest Schwab. Fidelity will kick you out with a permanent Thai address.

Definitely explore Thailand. I happen to be a country guy and found paradise here…

at your age there are not many visa-wise options to live in Thailand long term. Your options are the DTV (Destination Thailand Visa), a student visa (Non-Imm-ED and the subsequent 12-months extension) or the Elite Privilege Visa. Keep in mind you cannot work in Thailand, only very very few jobs are not restricted to a foreigner

not there yet but tons of research....tons

Large steps very large steps lol

Plane ✈️ ticket

With respect to phone numbers, I used Tello which gave me access to a US number and I could use the WiFi calling feature at any access point. You could also use it for 2FA. Much better than Google phone. I also used NordVPN so I could enjoy all my US streaming services. Amazon/HBO max/Disney etc.

Come for an extended visit of 2 months and explore some different areas and check out the climate and other features of the country before you commit to a permanent move..

Bought a one way ticket, gave away everything, set up wise and had Charles Schwab and got a Google Fi phone number ( can only do in the US)

Giant ones

I obtained a DTV. Create a wise account it’s amazing. Charles Schwab account is the best especially when withdrawing money.

Make sure to have a solid agent when looking to buy/rent depending on what your preference is.

I created a budgeted expense spreadsheet tracker and researched for almost a year before figuring out what’s best for me.

One should have a solid game plan before arriving here.

I think True move is best cell phone coverage but it’s debatable depending where you are in Thailand.

This wasn’t my first rodeo here. I’ve been to Thailand before and knew the areas I like, as well as have business out here so everything lined up for me.

Everyone is in different situations. I’m no where near retirement age 😅

Also DTV cannot access a Thai bank account. A big downside when living here long term. And have to pay bills in cash. Cannot use QR code scan. Very few places accept the wise QR code scan, along with few other apps.

Sold everything I owned then packed my clothes

I just left and came on a tourist visa. Found out things as I went

I stepped oonto a plane

22 years ago I moved with no prior plans, except getting my visa.

Everything worked itself out step by step.

I doubt that a yank is welcome in Thailand.

Thai are such lovely people with great food and sights.

US people are entitled, loud and will boast about their money. That doesn’t work well with the Thai’s.

Stay far away from tourist destinations and a lot of foreigners.

I have been here in Krabi province for 18 years and 3 months.

I live in a village and I am the only foreigner there. I I want to meet foreigners they are 50 minutes away from my house and when I have had enough I just go back to my little paradise in the village.

Yankee - stay home!

Oh yes easy unlike America these countries let you over stay your visa and live there illegally and live on their well fair service super easy man. Just become an illegal and live like a king there because America is the only country in the world that deports people for being illegal. Disclaimer if you made it this far I'm joking other countries are more strict and way more mean about it then America.

Don't try and bring your guns.

Got rid of most of my stuff put a small amount in storage - set it up on auto pay

Kept my American phone number

Kept my bank account

Opened up a Safe Deposit Box at my bank for my very valuable jewelry I didn’t bring with me. Set it up on auto pay.

Chose the visa that was right for me - did all of the paperwork - got the visa approved and I go to the immigration office every 45 days to renew.

I wanted to live near the river but I chose the location closer to my school for my education visa.

Found a pet friendly condo which is absolutely beautiful in Sukumvit / Ekkamai area

MARU Ekkamai 2

Ashton Morph 38

My Realtors name is

Graph Chotika to help you find the right condo

I brought my dog so I had to do all of the paperwork to bring my dog into the country and get her all the right shots and get the right permits. That was quite the task lol

I have a PayPal account which is where a lot of my clients pay me through and that money transfers straight to my bank account

Agree with what others said about either Schwab or Fidelity accounts. Also agree with traveling around. Visit the north (and not just Chaing Mai!). Check out the beach life in the south. Go to Isaan (which is huge). I did the slow way (not recommended it unless you're super cautious like me). First visit was one month, second visit 2 months. Third was 3 months. Then 5. Thailand is great, but I worried it would lose its appeal after awhile. 10 years later it hasn't! Although a wise expat laid this advice on me: There are 3 stages to living in Thailand. 1) Everything is WONDERFUL! I absolutely love it here! 2) This sucks, why do they do things like that?! It's so...(inefficient, pointless, annoying, etc.) I hate it here! 3) You learn to love the good and tolerate what you don't like. Some people (you'll run across them eventually) stay stuck in stage 2, but they are people who either don't have enough money to go anywhere else or they just love to bitch and complain. Good luck!

Research

I came over here two times for three months each just to make sure this is where I would like to be and check out different areas to find the one I like best

Don’t tell anybody you’re American

Big ones...

I came to Thailand 5 years ago before selling everything and moving here. I wanted to rent a condo for a year to see if living here full time was for me while I still kept a backup plan if it wasn't. I opened a Thai bank account and set up my USA bank so I could Global Wire Transfer funds to my Thai bank as needed. After a year I renewed my lease, after three years I decide yes I wanted to live here full time so I sold all of my US assets. I am here on a retirement visa.

Sold or gave away most of my stuff, packed the rest. Did a little research on what kind of building to rent as in age of the building. Also did research on which condo is best as in where it’s located in the building. Looked into the climate and how to get used to humidity. Looked for a reputable agent. Flew in and lucked out finding a great condo in a great area.

Check out their website

Set up two Charles Schwab's account and also a wise account for backup so that you always be able to access your money transfer pays back fees. Get an international driver's license that is Triple A. Set up a Google Voice number so you can keep your American phone number. For a second Factor authentification. The rest is knowing where you want to live in Thailand and having a realistic budget and a backup. Know the visa rules and also know that they can change in an instant.

Sold everything and found a bank that had easy international access.

The huge amount of western refugees flooding into Thailand...is going to change that beautiful country massively..

With a family of 5 and 6 cats. We first visited Thailand twice. We fell in love. Picked an area we liked. Joined Facebook groups in the area we were going to live. Completed the paperwork to travel with pets. Sold everything off, canceled every subscription under the sun. Booked a one way flight and never looked back.

Good luck on your new venture. YOLO ❤️

Pack bag. Get on plane. Figure out as you go.

Retire.

You need savings or a good outside income to get a visa.

Work is protected.

So. Retired with a pension or student .. if younger. Check with your local embassy. See what you need.

Spend a few months here

Travel south to north

Find somewhere to reside that suits

Detach yourself from your old life

Have a hobby or interest to keep you busy .

Understand your financial responsibilities here and month to month costs , biggest expense apart from Visa requirements is health insurance

One of my favorite aspects of life here is that there are very few Americans. I randomly meet another one maybe once every 6 months or so. That seems to be changing, though

Baby steps

Luckily I had a friend there already that showed me the hurdles 😊

Your first is to figure out why you want to move to Thailand and find a visa that fits your purpose

We didn't take steps

We ran as fast as we could