@Dave *******

Yep, it's cheaper out in the rice fields.

However, do you really want to live up there for the next three decades? As many have suggested, go and rent for a year or two.

As for stuff, you can always put it in storage.

@John ********

Yep. You lose all interest, but can access the money immediately.

All the fixed term deposits I made in Thailand were like that.

@Garrett **********

You are making that up.

Fixed deposits are not a problem.

@Kieren *********

1.6 million Baht isn't going to buy much.

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

Firstly you use "extensions" not "first extension".

Secondly, if the embassy does not verify income, then the second extension has to be planned already to use income, as it has to run over the first year in parallel to the 800k in the bank method.

This is actually not so onerous, as the 65k monthly deposits can be used immediately to pay expenses.

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

Not true.

For the second extension you can use the income if you show 12 regular monthly deposits of about 70,000 over the previous twelve months.

@Shaughn **********

Based on reports, 60 day exempt plus 30 day extension, repeated several times triggers attention.

@Mo ***

There is no such rule, you are posting drivel.

@Randy *****

back in your box. If it's hard to open an account for foreigners, it'll be a tad more difficult to open a bank.

Actually it's this idea that created all these issues about having so much in bank for so long. Used to be just 800k for the extension, and then you could use it until the next extension.

However, some foreigners started to pool money and just move it around depending on who was up for the extension.

Apparently immigration got to hear about it, and now we have the weird amounts for random intervals requirements.

I doubt if there were ever more than a few doing it. But it backfired on everyone.

@John *********

yes, but that refers to the country you are applying to.