US passport married to Thai wife for 47 yrs. We have both spent 2-3 months several times in Thailand since 2000 and I’ve always received tourist visa for our trips We’ve planned on retirement there for some time but it hasn’t been a rush until now I’m 71, she’s 76. Her health is failing now and it’s become more urgent. I sent her 6/28/25 so she could be with her family while I clean out the house and close the lease. I know there are drawbacks to marriage visa (especially with her health) but I would be more able to have 400,000b than 800.000b. If I start the 65,000b transfer as soon as I get there to qualify for income based visa can I transfer to retirement visa after the first year? Do I have to have my own personal account or can I be added to her existing account? Thank you for any advice.

Anybody know how things work with the burning season if you’re DTV in Chiang Mai?

Like that air is seriously hazardous.

Is there anyway to spend those months in a different part of Thailand or are you just doomed to lung damage?

Hello!! My family and I are moving to Thailand. We are deciding between Koh Samui and Chiang Maing. We would probably prefer Koh Samui because of the beach, but it is more expensive and further from Laos and Cambodia, places where we would like to visit and have friends. I would like to know for a family of 3, with an 18-month-old and a big dog. What is best? Chiang Mai or Koh Samui? We want to make friends, and find like minded people!

Planning to move to Thailand for retirement. Wonder Chiang Mai's smog is really serious ? As some people say the smog there is harmful to health, while i prefer some places which is less urbanized as Bangkok and less traveler like places like Puket.