@Natalie *******

The question of using investment accounts in lieu of insurance is an odd one. I know several people who were allowed to use them, and others (including you) who were told very specifically that they couldn't. I'm not sure what's behind that lack of consistency - or why, for that matter, 800k USD (for example) of liquid assets isn't thought of as equivalent to 100k USD in cash.

@Natalie *******

I totally agree that the BoI folks were always polite and pleasant, but neither I nor my friends had the luck with phoning them that you did. The one time I called, it took 8 tries over two days before I reached anyone, and that seems pretty typical of what most other people have experienced. The other problem, that you seem to have avoided, is that while the staff answering the phone are friendly, their information isn't always correct, since they're not the ones making decisions. Several people I know were told every time they called that "your case should be approved next week" - and no, those cases weren't approved the next week! So it's great to be able to talk with someone, but the talks aren't always fruitful.

@Ludwig **********

That's true in general, but there is also a specific clause in the law/regulation creating the LTR that formally exempts the foreign income of LTR holders from Thai tax.

@Natalie *******

You seem to have had a great experience, which was quite different from mine and that of other people I know. The only emails I ever received from them were a request for documents, which came only after I had called them (after 22 workdays with no communication of any kind), and which conflicted with what I had been told on the phone a few minutes earlier - and then the final "qualification endorsement" and "approved, make an appointment" messages. For the rest of the 47 workdays that my case took, they maintained radio silence 🤐

@Wanda ***************

Minimum inpatient coverage of 50k USD is required.

@Jeremy *******

All legally registered marriages that do not violate public policy are automatically "recognized" by the US and all states. There is no US equivalent to Thailand's Kor Ror forms, and the embassy can't do anything with your marriage information. Of course, you may wish to update beneficiary details for US pensions, insurance, etc, so it might be helpful for you to find out what each of those might require in addition to the Thai marriage certificate, such as translation into English.

@Tom *******

It's not about strictly enforcing the rules, it's about inventing imaginary rules.

Your passport with the visa inside is the document that immigration gives you to "confirm" that you have a visa - there's no separate "letter". If you have really been issued a visa, there's no reason why immigration would still be holding your passport. You should start asking some hard questions to your "agent" at this point.

@Alex ******

Bangkok requires a lease for issuance of a retirement-based Non-O at Chaeng Watthana, but I have never been asked for one when applying to extend my stay.

@Giovanni ***************

, did they ask you for that, or did you just bring it on your own? (Same question for the photos in front of the house, which are typically only requested for marriage-based extensions.)

@Kool ******

Of course it's illegal - you're signing a sworn statement that is knowingly and undeniably false, which is a felony. Are you likely to be prosecuted? No. Is it legal? Absolutely not.