@Kool ******

thank you! The advice I was seeking so much appreciated

Hmmm I asked for personal experience in my question. If every answer was like the ones given here this page wouldn’t exist. It would be called “visa questions: just go to your local immigration and don’t ask any more questions”.

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

thank you. Yes I heard some conflicting info regarding this. One source online here said that with the long stay visa such as the year extension that the next 90 day report after returning would verify the TM30 and so no need to submit.

I am a little confused. I am on a one year extension for a non-im O retirement visa and I heard that if I leave and come back between my 90 day reports with a reentry stamp I do not have to have my landlord resubmit the TM30. Is this correct?

Have you tried activating the ESIM on your current phone to free up the SIM card slot? I do that with my phone here in Thailand where I use my ESIM for my US number and just keep the SIM slot for my AIS line

I used Wise for my 800k baht transfer to my Kasikorn account. Make sure you select "funds for long terms stay in Thailand" and when you go to do your initial 90 day non-immigrant O application you need to go to your bank the day of (the form they give you can't be more than 24 hours old from when you go to immigration ) where they will certify that the funds did come from Wise and with that the international transfer.

Heya texting is available through the app using your virtual number and if you don't use the app you can have the messages sent 2 way via an email relay but you are right no direct SMS with Thailand providers.

You can also use tossable digits if you need regular connection to your US number: this way you don't need dual sim/esim on your phone and if you go back to the US you can switch back to a carrier plan easily enough

Jam Forootanlast I checked the wait to get the notarization from the US embassy in Bangkok is around a month. I was going to use Siam Legal originally for my Non-O visa but ended up doing it all myself. They were very helpful and professional when I spoke with them.

If you are in Bangkok then I’d recommend Siam Legal. I think the cost is 5,000 baht and they will open an account for you with Bangkok Bank. You might get lucky trying to open an account on your own but it is more miss than hit.