@Steven ******

I know stories of people who never got their credit cards back from the bank to which the ATM belongs. The bank would shred the card!

@Terary *********

so if they started yelling at you, I would say that's a big BIG red flag 😃😁

@Asokā *********

a pretty worthless, generalizing pamphlet . . . . . . there is ZERO information on how to retire Thailand-specific

@George ******

You are confusing the „visa validity“with the period of stay permit you get stamped into your passport when you ENTER Thailand using the visa.

*** the DTV has a visa validity of 5 year, starting from the day it gets issued

*** on EACH ENTRY within the visa validity, you will get stamped in for 180 days.

The OP didn’t have a DTV when he entered Thailand, so according to his passport country, he entered visa-exempt and got stamped in for a 60 days stay permit.

*** He can ACTIVATE the DTV only by exiting Thailand and re-entering, showing the DTV printout to the Immigration officer at the border.

Then, and only then, he will get stamped in for a 180 days stay permit

He CANNOT activate the first 180 days stay permit out of a DTV while he is inside Thailand.

I have added a picture of a DTV entry stamp.

The OP can wait until the last day of his current stay permit (which is 60 days) before he exits Thailand. He also is free to exit any day before his 60-days stay permit expires, and activate the DTV on his return.

@Mark *******

don't overcomplicate things. Visit an agent and they will open a bank account for you in no time. Saves you the trip to Bangkok

@Mark *******

the U.S. embassy will not issue a certificate of residence. Only immigration will do it

@Mark *******

you COULD exit thailand before the 90-days stay permit expires, and re-enter visa-exempt for 60 days. However then the process is a little bit more complicated. Then you need a proof that the 800,000 were transferred to your account from abroad, you need a rental contract, and you need a minimum of 15 days on your stay permit. The application is called "change of visa type" from an exempt entry to a 90-days Non-imm-O retirement visa" inside Thailand. No seasoning time needed at this moment for the 800.000 THB (except in Pattaya, where they ask for a 2 months seasoning for the initial application to the visa!) The fee is 2000.- THB. The 90-days visa will be issued for "14 days under consideration". Then as soon as the money has seasoned for 2 months, and there is a minimum of 30 days left on the 90-days stay permit, you can apply for the "1-year Extension of Stay Permit" . .. . check the requirements HERE under number 9 . . . .

@Mark *******

use can agent to open a Bangkok Bank account. In Pattaya it is easy, it costs from 5000 to 7000 THB and it takes maximum 2 days

@Maurice *****

damn, now I am the "Nuclear Advisor" 😂😂😂😂

@Mark *******

if you fulfill the requirements to apply for a "1-year Extension of Stay" based on retirement, you will get the "extension" stamp issued on the same day, on most Immigrations. I would however not visit Immigration in the last week of your 90 days stay permit, because if they ask for additional documents, the clock is running. Visit them as soon as the deposit has seasoned the required 2 months. You can apply for the Extension as soon as 30 days are left on your 90-days stay permit. Don't wait any longer. The 1-year Extension will start on the day after the 90 days stay permit expires