@Jeffrey *********

- thank you Jeffrey good to know....sounds like a good reliable and honest company. I will almost certainly be going with their quote can't see it being bettered to be honest 👍🏼

@John *********

- yes thanks John not considering anything less 👍🏼

@Martin *****

- thank you Martin I'm with Bangkok Bank so I will look into it 👍🏼

@Tong ****

- yes indeed it's another thing I need to look into, any recommendations for travel/medical insurance cover whilst in Thailand?

@Tong ****

- thank you Tong good to know especially given the circumstances of your claim.

I was pretty impressed to be honest with Rooja have a quote of around baht and I upped most of the options. Also includes road side assistance 🙏🏼👍🏼

I typically like to 'test' it against a couple of others hence my post but I haven't seen anything close yet. My car is only 1 year old so it's definitely a good price but would ideally like a little more medical cover that's my main concern. Thanks again for your reply 🙏🏼👏🏼

@Nick ***********

- yes many say the same but I do want to spend some of the 400k so I will check with Samut Sakhon about marriage and see what they say. If it means only 40k per month and I can spend the 400k happy days. I don't mind the annual visit no big deal for me. I will make a visit in the next few months and plan ahead based on what I am told. Hopefully it will be office policy and not just what one officer says!

I can always fall back on the 800k if desperate. I do think being married to a Thai national can help though in some situations but again maybe it's not consistent. Thanks for the great idea of sending the money back nice one 👍🏼

@Nick ***********

- thank you that's a very clever idea and one I've never considered 👍🏼

Any downside is the transfer costs and particularly potential losses in exchange rates although that can swing both ways. I think once 400k is transferred I would just use it to live off but I could do 65k from savings but it's too late now because I have been going along with my original combination plan not expecting any office to simply say that they don't use it. I will just have to sort things as I go along if desperate I'll need to revert to the 800k method and maybe change to marriage next time if that's all permissable 🙏🏼

@Nick ***********

- thank you Nick for your detailed reply. My situation is quite complicated in that I can't make the 65k monthly requirement. I rent property back in the UK and I get about 45k and remit monthly about 42-44 leaving some money back home for taxes. I am fortunate enough to have some savings so I can make my money back up to 800k if necessary 2 months before applying for the new extension next December.

I spoke to the Immigration Officer at Samut Sakhon about my plans for the next extension to do it based on part savings (400k) and the other 400k by monthly income. He told me that they don't accept the combined method and that I will have to write a letter to Bangkok Immigration to get clarification and I guess approval which is my intention. He said if I submitted my application next year on this basis he thought it would be denied and they would have to send it onto Bangkok to get agreement.

Over the course of the year I will easily be able to show 400k which has never gone below and the balance 400k made up from remittances (400 / 12 is actually only 33,333 per month and I am doing about 42 on average) but as I said they told me that they don't accept the combination method which is worrying.

As for spending the 400k I was thinking about the future if I get married and can then show monthly income of at least 40k (that's my understanding it drops from 65k down to 40k if married?). Obviously I wouldn't touch any of the 400k until I know it's all sweet with my Immigration Office which is Samut Sakhon. Don't get me wrong the officer was very pleasant and helpful but I was surprised when he told me they don't accept the combination method. Essentially eventually I want to be able to spend some of the 400k having a good life not just leaving it there. I have other savings back in the UK so just seeing 400k sat there to comply with 'rules' is frustrating especially when I can send over more money anyway. I know that this is not going to be possible until after getting married but I am just trying to figure out what might happen without screwing up to be honest that's why I asked the Immigration Officer and told him my plans.

If Bangkok confirm that they won't accept the combination method and won't instruct Samut Sakhon Office to apply the combination method my only other option is to send over another 400k 2 months before my application date. I would then stop sending over monthly remittances and just live off the excess 400k each year so that is an option that would work but I still have to look at the balance of 400k sweetly and smile knowing that I can never touch it 😏...and as for getting married I assume that I would STILL not be able touch the 400k but can then perhaps do the income method? I am still a little confused about how they treat the married couple scenario I only know that they will come and visit every year but not sure about the rest of the rules. My situation is also complicated by the fact I will most likely be married before the next renewal date but I have no idea what spanners that may throw into the mix other than the income requirement is lower.

Sorry for long explanation but just wanted to explain what my situation is. I am moving towards thinking about just sending over 400k each year and stopping remittances but that doesn't solve the problem of being able to spend some of the 400k. I think if married you can but not sure to be honest. It all certainly spins my head 555.

Thanks again for your reply and interest 👍🏼🙏🏼

@Steve ********

- exactly...also having a history of refusal isn't going to help especially if they were never previously challenged. By doing nothing it's just re-affirming the belief of those who stamped 'denied' 🙄😏

@Glenn ****

- thank you for the clarification. I will probably go and visit in advance 10 weeks before just in case 55. Rather be sure about what they will do...thanks for your help 👍🏼