@Mel *****

Or only stay in Thailand for less than 180 days. I had to bounce to Vietnam because my Non O expired and I'm liking it here. May just split the year between Thailand, Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, etc. Thanks for the reply.

@Craig *******

That helps explain it. This is also why I haven’t followed through on my Non O Retirement extension. If you transfer the $800k baht ($6500/ month), is that what is considered “money you brought in”. And the double tax treaty (Thailand and the US have one in place) will always supersede whatever new regs are adopted? My pension is obviously taxed in the US so I think I’m ok, but it will be reassuring seeing everything in writing. Thanks.

For $5000 baht or less $125-$150 USD), why even bother. Contact the owners of this site or Mark at One Stop in Pattaya. It is almost a no brainer to me to use an agent to open a bank account. They will get you a resident certificate and do ALL the paperwork, get it fast tracked, open you an account at Bangkok Bank, set up an online account, pick you up at your hotel and drive you to the bank, explain everything, show you how everything works, get you an ATM card and take you back to your hotel. So much easier then trying to figure it out on your own!

@Kirsten ********

well said. Lots of hall monitors in the group...🤦🏻‍♂️

@Jordan ******

you got a Thai DTV? Which field? I'm HCMC now and would like to do the same. Any pointers? Thanks.

@Janelle ****

Not to get too personal but what is needed for a medical DTV? Can it be an elective procedure or it has to be required? And does there have to be a long rehab process? Or did I read your post wrong and you are going to "study" medicine in Thailand? I'm wanting to get a DTV but I will have to get creative to qualify.

You don't need a lawyer. An agent is the better choice. That is ALL they do and they are much more in tune, have contacts and you get more personalized service. And by far more cost effective. Someone on here hired an "immigration attonrney" a while back (you may be able to search this thread and find the post), and they butchered her application. She basically lost the money and started all over. Yes, there were extenuating circumstances, but they should have informed her of the options. And they charged many times more than a reputable, long tenured, knowledgeable and reliable agent would have. This is the way I look at it...

For only around $125-$150 USD (that includes the resident certificate and ATM card), it is almost a no brainer to me to use an agent to open a bank account. They will get me a resident certificate and do ALL the paperwork, get it fast tracked, open me an account at Bangkok Bank, set up an online account, pick me up at my hotel and drive me to the bank, explain everything, show me how everything works, get me an ATM card and take me back to my hotel. So much easier then trying to figure it out on my own.

They will also get the retirement extension for me if I wish them to. I already used my Non O and didn't complete it in time. Bounced to Vietnam, and I'm coming back on an exemption. So it's actually cheaper to use the agent than pay for another Non O, I can't get one on an exemtion, I won't have to keep $800k in a Thai bank year round and it would pay for itself by my money continuing to collect interest ($1200/ year). And I won't have to fumble through the paperwork. I like the idea a lot by not sold on the particulars for the retirement extension, so looking into any downside. Haven't ruled it out, but definitely using them for bank account. The dude knows his stuff and is very well known. I even watch an interview with him on You Tube. That kind of sold me. Good luck!

I just read your other post where it was denied. What did you do differently? And you only pay when it's approved?

@Stan **********

That statement is for dam sure! Lots of trolls...

For only around $125-$150 USD (that includes the resident certificate and ATM card), it is almost a no brainer to me to use an agent to open a bank account. They will get me a resident certificate and do ALL the paperwork, get it fast tracked, open me an account at Bangkok Bank, set up an online account, pick me up at my hotel and drive me to the bank, explain everything, show me how everything works, get me an ATM card and take me back to my hotel. So much easier then trying to figure it out on my own.