They normally direct senior citizens to the priority lane. I am 72 and of course look to be over 60. Maybe you look to be much younger than 60?

they have to show as transfers. You can't simply make local deposits of Thai Baht. Have to show 12 consecutive monthly bank statements indicating the money coming from abroad.

Not needed. The agency walks you through that bank process. Documentaton is done at the bank showing money deposited with bank book, photos for immigraton, etc. Then walk you thorugh immigration, sign documents, and wait about 2 weeks for your extension, Multiple entry extnsion can be given for extra fee.

@Floyd *****

once in Thailand on a 60 day visa, you can go to a visa service agency snd they will take care of everything for you to obtain the 12 month extension based on retirement. All you need is your passport indicating you are over 50 years of age. All Is legit if you use a common, reputable agency. I recommend Manareet Travel and Visa service on soi Post Office in Pattaya. They deal with high volume applications. Everything is legit becsuse the process falls in line with what immigration at the Jomtien office wants.

And immigration won't accept the 800K as legitimate if that money was deposited in Thailand and not having been transferred by international wire transfer. They have to know the source to prevent money laundering. I had a friend who had been deposting money into his account, money he earned while working in Myanmar and coming to Bangkok sometimes to change his dollars into Batht and deposit into his account. The bank wanted to know the source of the money deposited before issuing a certified letter by the bank manager attesting to his 800k in his account.

Since the major changes in 2019, the criteria/policies for applying make it a catch 22 situation, which makes it very difficult to apply on your own. First, if applying based on monthly income, you have to submit 12 consecutive Thai bank statements showing monthly income being trasnferred via internationak wire transfer from a known source- government pension, privte penson source, investment source, etc. So, what or where do you hang out waiting 12 months. Cambodia? Philippines? And you must already have a bank account in Thailand in order to transfer the 800k Baht. This requires paying an agent to assist in opening an account. If applying baed on 800k in the bank, well, you still have to go through an agent while on a tourist visa to get the account open, then transter 800k from your home country to your new account. It has to be seasoned for 3 months before you apply. There are some issues with trasnferring that much money out of the U.S.A.. Documents or forms have to be completed and signed in a bank for you to trasnfer that much ($25k or 800k Baht at one time. I know that Bank of Hawaii requires physical presense at a bank branc and requires U,S. Customs or U.S. Treasury documentaton to be completed.

Vast majority of retirees in Pattaya and Hua Hin are using agencies. I did before and know of many who are still using agencies. Too much money going into Chonburi district Immigration hands for them to discourage applying as an individual and not via an agency. They actually prefer agents. Money rolls up hill and the top dogs get a cut, as well.

Just use an agency. No money in the bank required. Many agencies in Pattaya

@Jeff *******

There are fo many in Pattaya.

@Jay ******

The do-it-yourself costs are the same as were in 2018, when I renewed my O Visa at the Chiang Wattana office. At that time, all was neeed was an affidavit from the U.S. Embassy, in which I stated in writing that my monthly income was more than 65k per/month. I paid 1900 Baht for the 12. But in 2019, the law changed, and affidavits from most embassies were no longer accepted by immigration. Reasoning is I guess is that immigration finally caught onto the fact that embassies (except the German Embassy) do not verify income. I knew some retirees who lied on those affidavits about their true income. So now, for 1900 Baht, plus around 3-4k Baht for the multisple entry, you can do yourself, in person at immigration. But if first time applying for the O visa, you'll still need to pay 18k Baht for the conversion from tourist to Non-immigrant 90-day visa. If you have already transferred 800k Baht from your home country, electronically via international wire transfter into your Thai bank account, then you can do on your own for a mere 1,900 Baht plus 3-4k for the multiple entry permit stamp in your passport. Here is the catch 22 that forced me to go to an agent nowadays. If your application is based on monthly income, you will have to present to immigration 12 consecutive Thai bank statements, showing that you have had deposited by international wire trasnfer at least 65k Baht each month. Well, for first time applicants, you don't even have a Thai bank account. In my case, I had an account, but I didn't want to wait in Cambodia or Philippines for 12 months, while I had my pensions going into a my Thai bank account. Rather awkward. That is why, in 2019, I decided not to pursue a Thai extension based on retirement. I could have gone to an agency, but I decided to move to the Philippines at the time. The way this is set up I believe is a major reason most expats have to use an agency. Using an agency brings in more revenue for immigration district offices, that is, unofffdical money that isnt' included in the official accounting books for general revenue record keeping. Baht. The high demand for extensions here in Thailand allows for such policy. People are more willing to pay a higher fee to stay in Thaialand. If the demand wasn't so high, visa agencies would be out of business, and immigration officials would have to live within their government salaries.