I'd ignore all the suggestions to get a retirement visa. If you're only looking for a 6 month stay, there's no reason to go to the effort - that's for retirees who want to stay at least a year. Also, it requires exchanging/transferring about $30,000CAD or proving you have enough monthly pension income. Really too much work if you're only planning on 6 months.

Right now there's still a visa free 60 day on arrival (can easily extend for another 30 days at any immigration office in Thailand). Normally if you leave to visit another country for a week and then return, you could do that a second time (6 months total). The 60 day is supposed to be going back down to 30 days though, so if that happens then maybe the DTV.

Brandon Thurkettle is very helpful and provides excellent info in this group.

Block the clowns and the try to ignore the ones that are just having a bad day/week. 😬

@J *************

OP is 62, so different subject.

65+ have Medicare so expats should keep that for coverage in the US.

If you have a serious health issue, you have the option to move back to the US and get health insurance via the Healthcare.gov exchange. Anytime of the year, you're eligible to start health insurance that also covers pre-existing and depending on income may get credits to reduce the premiums.

Only risk is an emergency or accidents. Self pay in Asia or an Asia centric plan that could include limited coverage for short trips to US.

*US plans via the exchange start the 1st of the month IF you sign up by the 15th of the previous month so there's a minimum wait of 2 weeks, maximum wait of 6 weeks (if you signed up on the 16th).

@Kris ********

Because you must transfer 800k baht to sit in a Thai bank (exchange costs). Interest is almost nothing (or nothing) and if/when you eventually want to transfer it back, there's the hassle (Thailand has stricter transfer out rules), and exchange cost plus rate may/may not be worse.

Keeping that $ in a CD pretty much pays for agent to handle it all for you with no exchange hassles/risks.

Lots of people with TDS posting useless comments.

It's always been this way, long before Trump.

If it's a girlfriend, your chances are close to zero unless your gf has strong ties showing she'll return to Thailand (underage children still in Thailand, long term business ownership, etc..).

Also, unless she's very old (40s/50s) then there's the assumption of sex trade.

Best chances are older with ties and applying for tourist reasons with proof of reservations for stay and scheduled tourist activities NOT mentioning coming as a girlfriend.

@Brandon ***********

The money in the bank needs to have been there for the required amount of time (*aka seasoned).

Isn't that 6 months?

@Paul ******

I renewed in person at the US Embassy in Bangkok. Very easy. I didn't want any issues with the mail so I also requested it to be held for pickup when ready and to be notified. It took about 3 weeks. I went back to Bangkok for a 2nd visit to pick it up. Zero risk that way.

@William ************

If you don't want your US banks to tell you that you need to close your bank accounts (your US credit cards would be next) you need to keep a physical US home address on your bank profiles. Family/friend address would take satisfy this. Setting everything to electronic minimizes postal mail and you could sign up for a mail service for any limited physical mail. These services are cheap ($120/yr) and offer opening and scanning mail pieces for small extra fees. These services CANNOT be used for home addresses.

@Micah *******

Same with hotel prices.

Some dbl, some even triple.