A dependent spouse can be of any age. The marriage relationship is the important thing not the age. The age is important for the primary spouse (must be 50 or over) in order to meet the qualifications for a non-O visa for purpose of retirement.

@Ruth ******

Yeah, that's fine. But I'm about to go to sleep so it may be 8 hours or so before I get around to answering.

Oh, one other license thing. If you're planning on moving to Thailand for the long haul it might be a good idea to get a new Florida License as I believe Florida is one of those states that allows you to renew your license online the first time. In other words, I think it would be possible to keep your Florida driving license valid for a long time without having to travel back to the state. I might be wrong about this but it's what I remember from doing the research at the time.

@Ruth ******

I can't actually remember what I trained on but I would definitely have remembered if they were Harleys as my brother is specifically into big Harleys. I did find this FAQ on the site of the place I recommended above:

// Do I need to bring a motorcycle to the course?

No. Motorcycles will be provided for you at your designated training site. Scooters are available at select locations and ONLY by reserving in advance. You must contact our call center to arrange using your own scooter. 877.308.7246

// What kind of motorcycles are used for the class?

We offer a variety of motorcycles to train with. Our fleet consist of a variety of motorcycles: Suzuki TU250, Honda Nighthawk 250cc, Honda Rebel 250cc, Honda Elite 80cc (scooter), Suzuki GZ250cc, Kawasaki Eliminator 125cc, Suzuki DR200cc, Yamaha Virago 250cc, Buell Blast 500cc, Kymco Agility 125 (scooter)

--

Now, I know we weren't using scooters and we weren't using Harleys so I'm guessing it was one of the little 250cc models. Bigger than a scooter, but would be considered a baby-sized motorcycle, I think. Anyway, I've never had a hernia so probably don't know exactly what the concerns are, but in general, you're not manhandling the bikes in any way during the class.

If it were possible (and one of the FAQs above suggest it would be) you can arrange to take the class on a scooter. Another thing to consider is that Thai kids really do drive themselves to school when they are like 10 years old. If you're doing it right, you're never really tossing the bike around much. The only reason I can think you would ever need to lift a scooter is when putting it up on the center kickstand, rather than using the side kickstand.

The Honda Click I ride is 125cc, most of the typical scooters you see in Thailand are the same, I think.

Anyway, hope this helps. I really did enjoy the class. Nice people.

@Robert *******

Yep, you haven't really ridden a scooter in Thailand until you've run out of gas and had a Thai give you a stiff-leg push to the nearest gas station. And expect nothing for doing so. ;-)

Hi Ruth,

I drive a scooter in Phuket. One of the things I love most about being in Thailand. The feeling of freedom is amazing.

But it's not without danger. To minimize the danger I went to a very good motorcycle driving course in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida before moving to Thailand. Had never been on a motorcycle before. The course is good enough that you got your motorcycle endorsement when you graduated (no need to take the state's motorcycle driving test). 3 days about $300.



I moved to Florida before coming to Thailand for three reasons (in order of importance):

1) Establish residence in a state that didn't have a state income tax

2) Attend this particular motorcycle course and get the motorcycle endorsement on my FL driver's license.

3) Acclimatize myself to living in a hot and humid tropical climate.

Objectives 1) and 2) were achieved. Still working on 3).

Highly recommend this course. Was not like boot camp, no-drill instructors fired live ammunition over our heads as we learned how to ride motorcycles. To this day I feel totally unqualified to lead an amphibious assault team. Also, unless I fell asleep in class we never had to lift the motorcycles over our heads while standing on one foot. But I could have done it, I was much younger then.

Got a motorcycle endorsement added to my Florida Driver's Licence. Went to AAA got my International Driver Permit (showing my endorsements for car and motorcycle).

Arrived in Thailand. Walked around on the street for one month observing traffic. Learned everything I could about crossing the street by following old dogs. Think about it. Rented a scooter (Honda Click). Went out in the countryside and drove around and around for several days until I was comfortable enough to drive in traffic. Initially, wouldn't drive at night, wouldn't drive in the rain, wouldn't drive in heavy traffic, or busy times of the day. Gradually, started doing all those things.

As foreign driver's license and international driving permit are only good for driving in Thailand for 3 months, I went to the Land Transport Office and got my Thai car and motorcycle driver's licenses based on my foreign license. Had to watch a video, did not have to take the written test, did not have to take a practical driving test, did have to take physical color recognition and reaction time tests. Got both car and motorcycle driver's licenses.

Some final random comments:

I drive an automatic Honda Click. All the time I would have to spend on shifting manually I use to watch the environment around me in an effort not to be killed. I need every second of that extra time the automatic saves me. Maybe some don't.

A man robs a bank and isn't caught by the police. Strangely, the lesson I draw from this isn't that robbing banks is legal. I feel the same way about people driving scooters without a motorcycle license. You might not get caught but what you're doing sure isn't legal no matter how much you fool yourself it is. You might never be caught, but on the other hand, you might be paying 1,000 baht to the boys in brown every time they catch you driving without a motorcycle driving license. Not to mention that without being a legal driver you've just given your insurance company a get-out-of-paying-for-your-accident card. Whether they play that card or not is up to them.

In the time some people spend arguing about whether you need an International Driving Permit you could have already got an International Driving Permit. Less than $15. Saves hours of your time having to educate the nice lady at the Land Transport Office about how you don't really need one and explaining to her the finer points of the Geneva Convention. Time much better spent getting a massage.

The average 10-year-old Thai child has more experience riding motorcycles than I do or ever will.

Get yourself a decent full-face motorcycle helmet and wear it always. When on the motorcycle, I mean.

Been riding a scooter in Thailand for 8 years and having a great time. Good wishes and good luck!

@Zed *******

That is a great resource with excellent information.

@Paul ******

I appreciate that many people use the terms visas and extension very loosely, but hopefully I'm not one of them. ;-)

Normally, visas are obtained outside Thailand. This is one of the few cases I'm aware of where someone can actually obtain a visa inside of Thailand.

@Paul ******

It is not an extension of stay. As it states: "Non-O Visa Issuing inside Thailand

Persons arriving with a visa exemption or Tourist Visa and are planing to apply for a 1 year extension can apply for the Non-O visa at Phuket immigration."

After you get the visa (not an extension of stay) you can get an extension of stay on that visa when 45 days are left on the permission of stay gained from that visa.

For example, for a retirement extension:

CORRECTION:

As Steve Greir points out below you can do the extension of stay application from 30-45 days before the day your permission to stay expires up to the day it expires.

ORIGINAL COMMENT (requirements below only hold for the application for a Non-O visa inside Thailand):

@M ****

Do it as early as you can, some offices require you have at least 15 days remaining on permission to stay (others 20 days).

Always do things early. Problems can often be solved with time. Without time things become a problem. ;-)