@Gene ********

when was the last time you converted from tourist to retirement including adding a bank account? Because it's expensive now. And even more so over the last month

@Jeff *********

normally under $2000 but now that bank accounts have gone to 12-15,000 baht, possibly more than 2k

@Martin ********

not correct for many, many reasons.

When you first land you'll get 60 days visa exempt, not 30. And it's not a visa, it's visa exempt.

Then you'll get converted to a 90 day non-O visa, not an extension. And also a 12 month extension at the same time because that's how agents do it. So 15 months all at once.

No, it's not possible. Because it's not a 15 month visa. It's a 3 month visa and then a 12-month extension.

The conditions are that you give the agent a lot of money and they get you the visa and extension. And if you don't have your own money in a Thai bank account for this visa, then you'll have to pay an agent again next year because you won't meet the requirements this year and they'll check on that next year.

It does not. You are thinking of a different visa, an investment type visa.

For regular retirement visa/extension, it's 800,000 Thai baht in your Thai bank account.

@Mike *****

You can't. That's why you get the non-O visa before you go to Thailand.

The MFA has nothing to do with extensions. That's immigration which is a completely different government agency.

The money must be in the name of the person applying for the extension. Some immigration offices might accept a joint account but then the account needs double the money. Other immigration offices won't accept joint accounts at all. Each immigration sets their own policies. The only way to know for certain what your immigration office needs is to go there and ask them for their handout to apply for a 1-year extension based on marriage to a Thai.

This photo shows general guidelines but each office is different

@Mike *****

it's a 90 day visa based on being over 50 (retirement). When you arrive in Thailand you open a bank account and transfer 800,000 into your Thai bank account. Then you can apply for a 1-year extension every year.

@Andrew *********

@https://www.facebook********************

Use the message button on that page. And yes, although it seems odd, that's actually the best place to get a reply. It seems like most Thai embassies ignore e-mails and don't answer calls, but they actually pay attention to Facebook Messenger. In my case they didn't even reply when I sent a message but my visa was approved the next day.

@John *********

Everyone must do the TDAC starting May 1st.