In ChiangMai, take your papers to the copy shop downstairs and tell then what you are applying for, they will know what pages to copy. And it’s cheap, 2 baht/page

You do not need an ED visa to study. You can study on any visa.

Best to ask the embassy where you will be applying. If I had to guess, I would go with the bank account.

You don’t have to buy the reentry permit until you are ready to leave. The multiple is a good investment, in case your plans change.

Well, technically, yes. But Tod's answer is the practical one.

Look on the website for the US consulate. There’s a form you can download for a letter they will notarize to satisfy the income requirements.

The facts of his situation might not lend themselves perfectly to the form of the letter, if he is going to rely on funds in the bank and does not have ongoing income from United States. But the result will be equitable. And no one is going to investigate the facts.

In ChiangMai they told me they didn’t need anything, the original TM 30 remains valid. They update it when they extend the visa.

If you actually want to learn something, it’s not a waste of money.

Good thing this is not Thai Investment Advice forum, or we would start talking about condos. 🤐

If you only want to stay three months, it doesn’t make sense to apply for any of the retirement visas. Just get a tourist visa. Retirement visas are only cost-effective if you plan to stay for years.