@Man ****

high interest savings accounts. There are a few in the 4-5% range in the US.

non-O visa : requires 800k baht on deposit in a Thai bank account yielding basically no interest

non-OA visa : allows that money to remain in your home country bank likely allowing a greater percentage of interest AND for what ever reasons a person won’t have to deal with getting their money back out of a Thai bank if things don’t work out

The non-OA is (as I understand it) 1 year + border run ins renewed year and *possibly a third. Beyond this, someone will have to get another visa. Likely a person has concluded if they’re going to stay by this time.

This also as a fringe benefit allows the latitude to keep your money in your absolute control. Thailand isn’t for everyone! Having this amount of time to make decision changes with considerably less financial risk is a good thing.

@Tracy *********

sorry, what is what?

I’m honestly not sure what’s happening and I’m afraid it’s some very trivial issue. I rented a house, I had a lease. This was fine!

In my case my original application was rejected because my name was not the same as it appears on my passport (passport includes middle name) though the application DID NOT ask for ‘Name as it appears on your passport’. So…again, gosh knows. Can you relook with fresh eyes, maybe even someone else helping? Suggestion.

Exactly why I went with OA visa first, 5% interest almost pays my rent in Thailand. Also remember the Thai baht value is a moving target.

@Amanda *******

based on this you will have a hard time getting a legal continuous one year visa.

The non-O or Non-OA require money on deposit of 800k baht or a monthly deposit of baht or more.

Yes, it’s possible (though potentially not legal).

Use a service. They can do things sometimes that are sketch but possible.

You could simply get an exempt stamp and do airborne border runs to get a new stamp. Land based border runs are limited to two a year (I think).

Visas and individual immigration offices here are a moving target or in the least consistent.

But…it’s possible.

@Vinnu *****

they won’t help you! You need a job first, job gives visa, not a consultant. 🙄

If you do not have a bike license/endorsement you may be ticketed. I think the easy way to think, if you do not have a ‘license’ you could have issues. If you can get an international permit from England for cars and/or bikes, you should be fine, if you can’t, you will be taking a risk.

Thailand doesn’t recognize your insurance as a license.

No one can accurately answer your questions without details. Visa criteria boils down to any or potential combinations of your age, finance, purpose, sponsorship, criminal history and intended duration.

When dealing with Thai immigration, there will be many things ‘they want’. You just have to do it, as stupid as it sometimes seems (wait till doctor sign off part).

It sounds like you’re applying for the non-OA. Mine came through a month after I was in Thailand, 2 months after insurance started. I literally had to reapply and pay again because my name on the application was different than my passport (which they did NOT ask as it appears on your passport).

So, basically do what they ask (book a flight / room you can get a refund) or as already said, come to Thailand, exempt stamp, apply for 90 day non-O and then renew that for one year. Many more in process details but that’s basically the ‘retirement visa’ basics.

@Todd ********

I wouldn't say useless, it made getting a Thai DL super easy.