@Steve ******

you're probably already aware, but if not, make sure you review the requirements for the Non-OA as they are slightly different from the Non-O.

I believe Non-OA would require you to have a certain amount of approved health insurance, while the Non-O would not. Not sure if there are other differences, but you would want to make sure you're clear on them. Good luck. I'm sure Ellie and the gang can clarify for you. Or search the group for old Non-OA posts.

@Albert ********

I believe 30 or 45 days may vary with each different immigration office. He would need to confirm with his local immigration office.

Just something you might consider...keep a separate account for your 800k balance, or for receiving your monthly 65k. Keep it separate from your spending account. If you're on the monthly income method, after the income comes in you can transfer it over to your spending account once a month. Then you keep the transactions down to maybe 12 transactions a year on your report to immigration - one page. They don't have to sift through all your other transactions so it makes it easy on them to quickly glance at and approve.

Regarding the TM30, you and your wife might want to check with the immigration office near your condo ASAP when you get back.

Or you might ask the owner or property manager to file a new TM30 for you (and ask them to give you a print out of the screen capture that they filed it).

I think technically, if they require you to have a new TM30, it may need to be done within a day or two of arrival. Safe travels.

Maybe ask why they don't have the house book? maybe there's a legit reason? Then maybe go to ask the immigration office if they can write down in Thai what owner docs they need, so you can give that to the property manager. If they can't/won't provide it, I'm not sure what else you can do other than find a condo owner who will provide it.

@Jay *****

always best to check with the local immigration office. However, in Jomtien they gave me the form listing requirements as the same to convert to Non-O either from a tourist visa or visa exempt entry. The difference was which form to use TM86 (w/visa) or TM87 (w/visa exempt stamp)

@Manfred *******

you might also remind your friend that he would need to get the balance back up to 800k at least 2 months (I think) before his annual renewal.

I opened my Bangkok Bank account at one branch, then I later updated my bank book (which shows the 800k as FTT or FFT or whatever the code for foreign transfer is) and I got the letter from the bank verifying the account and balance at another branch. No problem. The bank does charge a fee (200 or 300thb?) for the service though.

@Brett ******

another thing to be mindful of is the exchange rate.

If you go with the monthly income route, you want to keep an eye on the exchange rate, and make sure your arranged transfer will cover the 65k monthly transfer. If the exchange rate dips, and your AUD comes up short of 65k THB, it could/will screw up your eligibility on your next extension (I think).

For example, the USD:THB rate is near a 10yr high. 65k THB would cost about $1,765 USD today. But if the baht were to drop toward the 10yr low, that $1,765 would only get you about 50k THB. The AUD:THB rate is near the 10yr midpoint currently.

If you leave the 800k in there, rather than go the monthly income route, you don't need to worry about fluctuations in the monthly exchange rate messing you up.

@JD *******

you can't work on a retirement visa. I believe the 65k monthly transfer has to come from your home bank account. I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure. When it goes into your Thai bank account, the deposit gets earmarked as a Foreign Funds Transfer (FFT) which is what they want to see (I believe)