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Paul ******
This is a summary of
Paul ******
's contributions to the platform. They have posed 2 questions and added 509 comments.

QUESTIONS

COMMENTS

Paul *******
Different Immigration offices have different requirements. Your office will have a list.
Paul *******
If your arrivals have all been visa exempt entries then sooner or later the Immigration officer at the arrival airport will declare that you have spent sufficient time in Thailand to show that you are no lomger a tourist and can deny you entry. Maybe it is time for you to obtain a visa appropriate to the reason for your visit to Thailand.
Paul *******
@Jim *******
Must meet requirements and still not permanent.
Paul *******
Cannot move permanently unless you hold a Thai passport. If you are over 50, you cam get 1 year retirement visa from the Thai Embassy in the US followed by 1 year extensions of stay from Immigration office in Thailand. Subject to meeting the requirements.
Paul *******
@Matt *****
I have used so many taxi from the side of the road and my Thai is minimal. Yrll the driver tp use the meter. most will. If they will not use the meter, I take a phot of the friver and his displyed ID and get out.
Paul *******
You should be able to open a bank account yourself, even if you are on a tourist visa or visa exempt stamp. All banks have different requirements. All branches have different requirements. Even within a branch two staff members may give very different answers. Find a branch of the bank you want (I use Bangkok Bank in Doi Saket), in an area with lots of foreigners. Go to the bank with your passport and a friend who holds an account at that branch. Have 100,000 thb to deposit. Should work but many banks/branches will also require a certificate of residence from Immigration. But instead, you could offer a letter from your hotel/ hostel/ Airbnb/ friends house stating that you stay there. Doi Saket Bangkok will work with that.
Paul *******
@Kim ********
Waiting time depends on your Immigration office. I have had both marriage and retirement extions and from my exoerience retirement is much simpler and easy.
Paul *******
You should be able to open a bank account yourself, even if you are on a tourist visa or visa exempt stamp. All banks have different requirements. All branches have different requirements. Even within a branch two staff members may give very different answers. Find a branch of the bank you want (I use Bangkok Bank in Doi Saket), in an area with lots of foreigners. Go to the bank with your passport and a friend who holds an account at that branch. Have 100,000 thb to deposit. Should work but many banks/branches will also require a certificate of residence from Immigration. But instead, you could offer a letter from your hotel/ hostel/ Airbnb/ friends house stating that you stay there. Doi Saket Bangkok will work with that.
Paul *******
If you have sufficient funds in the bank, then retirement visa is a much easir way than Marriage visa. Marriage visa requires many more hoops to jump through. Thai wife must accompany you when you apply at the immigration office and wait all day. You will need suitable photographs of you and wife at your home, immigration police will want to visit your home and meet neighbours to prove your marriage is real. If successful you will only get a one month pending extension until after the police visit.