Google voice is the cheapest option. No monthly fee, but you gotta set it up in the USA

@Tod ********

if you get the 90 day O visa outside of thailand, can you get a one year extension inside of thailand ? Or are you committed to border runs every 90 days ? Can you do that right away ? Or does it require that you wait until the visa nears its expiration date and you've completed 3 border runs ?

I'm gonna turn off commenting. We've beat this dead horse enough.

@Alistair *********

if you show up with twelve 65k monthly transfers, you've satisfied condition 3. End of story.

Where does it say "but if you used the 800k method the previous year, you must comply with these lingering minimum balance requirements also: 800k for 3 months followed by 400k for 7 months, even though you've been sending 65k per month"

It doesn't say that anywhere. I mean, if you're going to run with this convoluted interpretation, you might as well throw in the 800k for the final 2 months of the year as well, right ?

@Alistair *********

I still don't get how you think it says 3 AND some bits of 4 too. It says 3 OR 4. This is pretty clear to me, and the immigration staff in both jomtien and phuket confirmed it. Why do you insist on clinging to your convoluted interpretation ? Go to your local immigration office argue with them

@Alistair *********

current extension is based on 800k. Next year 65k per month. The immigration officer said if my friend shows up next year with 12 monthly transfers, he will get his extension and it won't matter what his balance was throughout the past year. And that makes sense based on my reading of the law because it says "65k per month OR" not "65k per month AND"

The residual bank balance minimums (800k for 3 months after approval, then 400k for 7 months) ONLY apply if the second year's extension is based on 800k.

This was confirmed by immigration staff in jomtien AND phuket as mentioned below. If you can't cope with this, you're welcome to go to immigration and argue with them.

@Alistair *********

I'm not applying based on 800k, have you missed the whole point of this thread ?? We're talking about 65k per month here

@Alistair *********

what does this word say in thai ?

@Alistair *********

I'm not picking and choosing parts. The thai immigration officer was not picking and choosing parts. what does that word say ??

@Bob *********

ain't no thai bureaucrat gonna put something in writing for a farang 🤣😂