I've just had an interesting conversation with Chiang Mai immigration. I have a non o retirement visa, and have been using the monthly income method for my extensions. Partly because of the falling Aussie Peso, I decided to convert to 800,000 in the bank. I duly banked the amount in early August, well before the two months seasoning for my extension on 26 Sept. Now I find, confirmed by immigration, the money must be in the bank a full 12 months before I apply for an extension. Their reasoning is it wasn't in the bank for 3 months after I applied for my last extension????

As we'd say in Aust, Please Explain

I have been on a Non-O retirement visa for over 4 years and have maintained an excess of 800,000 baht all along but would now like to switch to depositing at least 65,000 baht monthly. The interest rate earned in Thailand is so low compared to my accounts in the States. My next renewal is February 2026 but my 65,000 baht deposit will commence this January 2026---or a month earlier if that's a safer option. My question is: AFTER my renewal is completed in February 2026, can I transfer the 800,000 back to my stateside account or is it necessary to keep the 800,000 baht minimum in my Thai bank until I've completed my 2027 renewal? Thanks for any advice.

There has been alot of excitement regarding Bangkok bank's introduction of a requirement for you to have a 4 month lumpsum either before your ext or feeze funds afterward, to obtain a balance certificate for your visa extension. What I've not seen is where someone is using the monthly income method to fulfill the financial commitment? Do they now need the lumpsum as well?

First stop Bangkok Bank for Confirmation Letter ( I already have the statement) The girl said to me, I need to have 400 or 800k baht in the account for 4 months. I said I don’t use that method, I use monthly method, she goes and speaks to the Manager, comes back and says, they cannot do letter. I go to the branch in Robinsons (where I got my statement) as it’s now open, explains the story to the girl, she prints off Confirmation Letter and I pay her 100 baht, she explains that the rules have changed. I head to Immigration (Roi Et) with all the docs required as per Koh Samui list. He checks the statements and asks where the money is coming from, I say the UK as they show as FTT transfers, as required. He says, but I want to see proof of money going into your account in the UK from your pension provider, luckily I have April 2025, on my phone. Koh Samui had never asked for such proof in the last 10 years, I don’t know if this requirement is new or not, and I pass the info on, for anyone who it may affect. 🙏🙏🙏

I’m second guessing my plan and could use some advice from the hive mind here. I arrived last week on a non-o retirement visa. I got a phone number and opened a bank account at Kasikorn on Friday. My original plan was to get this much done, then use a reputable agent for the rest of the process. However, it seems like immigration is cracking down all over, and I don’t want to jeopardize getting an extension by not actually having 800k in the bank for the proper seasoning period. How risky is it to use an agent right now? I was planning to go with the 65k/month method for the following year, and will start those monthly deposits as soon as I figure out how to use Wise!

Hello

Has anyone recently extended their retirement visa using the 12 monthly payment method ? Before I get trolled I do not have 800,000 in my Thai bank account but have regular monthly payments from the UK into my account all exceeding 65,000 baht.

Any advice appreciated. Using the immigration office in Jomtien

Thanks in advance

I’ve had ฿800,000 in my Thai bank for a couple years for my Non-O and wondering if it’s possible to switch to ฿65,000 a month without needing to do the monthly deposits for a year to maintain my Non-O? Chance somewhere between slim to none?

Has anyone been able to renew their retirement visa (Non-Immigrant O, one year). By making sure you deposit 65,000 baht pension funds into your bank account each month? What documentation is required? What steps did you take? Thanks!

Are there specific requirements for the 65,000 transfer into my account each month for the next 12 months? I probably will use Wise from my USA account. Do I remember reading something about how it has to be labeled?

I need to go to Immigration Division 1 Bangkok for an extension of my non-immigrant O visum retirement. Every year they change something 😀. So I'm already curious what they changed this year. Someone was going very recently and would be so kind to tell me if they were changing something ??