@James *************

yes, that's correct. The work-around is using an agent to open it for you. I saw one agent that quoted 4000B. Seems they can "circumvent" that rule.

In Pattaya last week, i couldn't open an account until I got my (retirement) 1 year Visa first. (I only had a 90 day non Immigrant O visa). Asked at Kasikorn and Bangkok bank.

My husband opened his Bangkok bank account last June with ONLY a Visa on arrival and showing Certificate of residency and passport. Since this April, banks seem to be requiring a 1 year visa now.

Fortunately I converted my 90 day visa last week into a dependent Visa now and dont need my own account with 800k.

@Ellen *********

ministry of foreign affairs.

@Dave ********

yes, I heard from friend who moved to Bangkok 10+ years back...they paid a high amount too.

@Dave ********

that was on the entire shipment right? Like a big container? Our friends shipped their household last year including a big screen tv and prob 30 wall paintings and paid under 5000B in taxes.

@Linz ***********

Most of our retired friends shifted from Bali to Thailand now. Too congested with traffic in the coast 10 years. I'll be spending a month there in May...always nice to visit.

Have a Japanese high quality wood table...no nails. (bought in Yokohama in 1999). Have had it in Singapore for 15 years, which is probably more humid than Thailand. We don't use air conditioning, just natural air. No problem with the wood.

It's currently been kept in a non aircon storage unit, while we decide where we want to live in Thailand. I checked it last week and still looks great. I'm actually surprised. But isually air flow and stable conditions are better that occasionally using aircon.

On the other hand, metal, paper, or anything glued, doesnt do well in the tropics.

@Nicholas *****

All the international plans we checked excluded preexisting conditions. We chose in-patient (hospitalization) international excluding out patient. We checked about 12 insurers. There are agents that you can ask based in Thailand. They gave us a good comparison of plans. But once again, none covered preexisting medical conditions.

Good luck.

@Brandon ***********

thank you for the clear answer. Now I understand the timeline.

@Tod ********

So a trailing spouse visa will not be issued during the first year that the primary applicant obtains the Non-O retirement visa? Only after the primary has been granted an extension? (My husband got his Non O visa last September.) Thanks.