Yes Tod --- you are correct. Subject matter can vary a bit but verbal elbow jabs, berating, lecturing and that sort of thing - is out of bounds as far as I am concerned.

Mark - sending you a PM - check Message Request

Laurent Lolo ... if when your referred to a 'Retirement Visa' you meant the O-A Visa - then this particular one is only available to a person in their home country ... it is a great visa - it lasts up to 2 full years. The list of requirements is posted on the website of the Thai Embassy/Consulate in their home countries. However in some ways this O-A visa is not suited well for just a 4 month visit every year.

The Non Immigrant O Visa is sometimes referred to as a Retirement Visa but is not actually a retirement visa. The base Non Imm O Visa can be obtained in one's home country, in the Thailand region and even in Bkk (one of the few visas available in Bkk). The base Non Imm O Visa is only good for 90 days and then must be Extended at a local Immigration office. (extended for 12 months)

If the visit these people want to make each year remains at 4 months ... then the 4 months does not easily fit into any visa - without a combined exit and reentry at some point - depending on which one.

Yes but greater proof of finances required in the home country.

For Four Months ... no agency needed ... just process a METV .. Multi-Entry Tourist Visa... good for 60 day visits plus a 30 day Extension - They would only have to Exit Thailand one time - even without an Extension... plan a nice side trip to a neighboring country with escorts to help them along ... easy

Then you should not have a problem if you do not have a, passport full of recent previous entries

What is the country from which you have your passport issued?

The first two 60 + 30 are standard. Extending the 7 days is not guaranteed because it is not a real extension but similar to a rejection of an extension where you are told you have 7 days to leave. If granted it cost 1900 Baht - same as the 30 day Extension. Thai Immigration does not like it if you show that you planned to use the 7 days versus it was an accident of scheduling. After the first 60+30 period depending on what is your home country - it would be better if you went out of Thailand to a neighbor country and reentered to get a 30 day Exempt Entry - which can be extended by another 30 days. Then go to another country to get abother 60 day tourist visa. All this can be done if you do not have a track record of many recent previous entries

A little hard to follow but I suggest aside from the letter verifying employment don't use words like virtual employment - especially employment that seems to just be starting now. Just say personal assistant going on a sabbatical if the people you are working for are staying back home. I strongly suggest a one page employment contract back dated... Not an over done lawyer piece. But just a straight forward who, what, when, where, why, how and how much.

Possibly at some locations but mostly it is same appointment