We need to drop money for our retirement visa. Because it needs to sit may as well get the best interest rate ..... So no plans to leave Thailand so long term can be 1-5 years

We.did that about 2 years ago but now it's hard to get the bank account which you need for the visa. Before we could buy medical or bike or life insurance from the bank which allowed us to open an account. That seems to have gone away .... Things change constantly

I guess maybe it depends what country you are from. USA Canada doesn't have this

We didn't require any test like that .... Just test basic stuff. Chest x-ray, bloodwork mostly for sexually transmitted diseases, blood pressure....

You should try living here for a year or two and see if it's what you really want. I've been here one year and recently took out a sweet two year lease on ocean view but still not sure I'll stay after the 2 years. The humidity is hard on my elbows and hip arthritis.... Also the heat is more intense than I prefer.... Have to spend a year plus to make a lifetime decision. Not jump into it. Lots of retirement friendly places in the world. Being more liquid is kinda nice. Less commitment. Anyway that's my personal experience.😊

After the 3 month waiting period immigration police come to your home take a photo of you on the bed, on the couch, Infront of the house. On the street with the name of complex. It's a long ordeal and we had to have the original owner of the property not the landlord in the photos with us with her I.d. I think they do this with everyone as when we got our retirement visa I saw many photos like this on the desk of woman processing us.

@Steve *****

for 1900b you can get a 30 day extention with the 45 upon arrival it's plenty of time.

@Steve *******

on a tourist visa in Koh Samui it's impossible... We went to each bank until we got the tip to buy a product that comes with a bank account. Only Bangkok bank had these services.

We bought life insurance at Bangkok bank was cheaper than the fee and then they gave both my husband and myself free bank accounts. Before we got this tip they refused to open a. Account unless we paid approx 7k each.