Having a bank account, mailing address (private box or P.O.) qualfies as resident of Guam. For REAL ID driver's licsense since its inception back in 2020, I used my physical address because I was residing and working during of the pandemic period on Guam.

I have maintained a Guam (U.S. territory) license since 2016, renew every 5 years. I fly to Guam once or twice a year for short stays to take care of in-person banking, visit friends, check in with my private mail box and forwarding service.

I agree, it's transitioning to a middle-income country by GDP. But it still has some antiquaited institutioanl bumps to overcome. It's tourism that keeps it above the other S.E.A. countries. I can't think of any country in the world which has more visitors per/population ratio than Thailand. Almost 1 visitor for every 3 Thais. It's openness to FDI since the 1970s and its sex industry has grown hand-in-hand, along with light manufacturing which has replaced garment industry. An important indicator of transition is the latetest data on the percentage of the working population still tied to agricucultural industry. Last I read (years back) was around 60%. Maybe much less now.

And your monthly income (pension(s)) must be at least equivelant to 65k Thai Baht per/month, based on the current exchange rate when you apply.

12 consecutive months of bank statements from a Thai bank account. Each statement must indicate direct deposits into your Thai bank account, coming via international wire transfer from an pension plan or government pension plan (ie: Social Security, or other) into your Thai bank account. The catch 22 is what do you do in Thailand for 12 months while accumulating bank statements. That's why you need to go through an agent. All that B.S. is irrelevant when your reitrement visa (Non-O immigrant visa) is processed with assistance of agent or visa service. It seems since this policy was implemented back in 2019, immigration prefers you go through an agent/agency, for it enables more money to flow into the coffers at disctrict offices.

Not quite Tiger Nation status

@John ********

I stated semi- Third World. 2nd World I should have stated.

use an agent. Retirement visa doing on your own is only 1900 Baht. That goes to the government coferm recorded at the cashier window. An agent brings much more to the immigration office, more than enough unrecorded amount to satisfy many hands up the chain of command. Lile any other semi- 3rd World country, the same applies here. Money gets things done- talk doesn't.

@Mike ******

A few private hospitals will bill Tricare direclty 75% for in-patient care. Out-patient care is paid up front 100%,, then you submit your claims via online claim portal. Takes about 3-4 weeks to process for 75% reimbursement via direct deposit into your U.S. bank account. Bumrungrad in Bangkok; Bangkok Hospital here in Pattaya, and possibly Bangkok Hospital in Bangkok do bill direclty 75% for in=patient care. Bangkok Hospital here in Pattaya also bills VA FMP directly 100% for sevice-connnected treatment. There is also a medical clinic on Pratumnak Hill, Patttay which is contracted by the VA FMP via a private company to treat service-connected conditions. Examinations, physical therapy and massage treatment is offered.

@Keith ******

No restrictions. Only problem is having a reliable mail service to receive your annual letter from Social Security to verify your status. If not sent in with your signature by 30 - 60 days or so. your monthy benefit will stop. To restart, you'd have to contact the Social Securty office in the U,S. Embasssy, Manila, Philippines to coordinate getting a replacement form to fill out and restart your deposit. You are suppose to notify Social Security within 10 days of your physical presense outside of the U.S.A. or its territories. I used to have (before the pandemic) a Mail Boxes Etc. address in Bangkok for several years. Social Security would send the annual letter and other correspondence to that address. Since the pandemic. I've gone to the S.S. office on Guam and had them enter my Guam private mail box address. Haven't received any annual letters since.