@Annie *********

, I lived in Thailand for 2 years . I just wouldn't mess around in foreign countries .

Do not act hastily . Keep your job . You're going into a foreign country so have them process work permit & visa from their end . Immigration have seen it all so enter legally .

Once you attain the retirement visa which is good for one year it is wise to apply for a multiple entry visa so you can fly in and out and no return ticket needed . So get a retirement visa w multiple entry . If you're flying into Thailand get a round trip ticket so you can avoid the hassle if Immigration ask you ....... or the airline ....... Save yourself the headache and don't complicate things ...... Simplify and you will live a long time ......

Each to their own

Point blank go to Thailand first , visit surrounding areas , educate and talk to expats while you're there , Google online , do some research , talk to visa agents , open up a bank account while you're there , so much to do before uprooting yourself and moving to a foreign country .

Really Mike . If you're asking then it is . Come on man it's like wearing wrinkled clothes and then you ask are my clothes wrinkled ?

@David *********

yes so much cheaper than Hawaii . I was living on Oahu before and moved to Koh Tao Thailand for over 1 year . I'm back in Tahiti & moving to Florida . If you're 50 you can apply for retirement visa . Get the multiple entry so if you're traveling outside of Thailand , you can come back in without resetting the retirement visa to Zero . Every year you can renew and it's cheaper . You don't have to pay for the Non O visa again , just the retirement visa . . So total you should get 15 months then 12 months every year . My agent told me that I needed to have 20 days left on my tourist visa in order to apply for the Non 0 plus retirement visa . Anyway send them a message & ask questions . Good luck !

@David *********

let me find the link for you . They have line app , email , Facebook . They're professional & are easy to communicate with . They will tell you that you need a Thai bank account . I opened one in Chang Mai but they'll do it for you for 6000 baht . It cost me 500 baht but I had to go to Immigration .

Contact Thai Visa Centre . When I applied for my retirement visa last year , I paid 16,000 baht for non 0 immigrant visa & 20,000 baht for retirement . I did it while I was on vacay in Thailand . $1500 a month is low but im sure you can survive in Thailand with that .