@Mike ********

this is the best way to do it IMO. I was foolish and did the legwork back and forth around Bangkok myself.

@Harvey *******

you don't need a company, it's very easy to extend in Thailand. When you apply for the non O you do it online at the Thai Embassy in your country. The system is a bit clunky, but you can't really get it wrong, just provide the information they request. You use your banked money at home to apply for the non O. Once in Thailand, to extend you need to deposit 800,000 baht in a Thai bank. You cannot do the combination method at that stage (not sure if any office actually accepts that method anymore), but you can transition to the 65,000 baht monthly method for the second year extension.

Have you considered getting a non-O based on being over 50 before coming to Thailand instead? It's probably the easiest visa to get and means you can open a bank account when you get here, so that you can extend your stay for a year. You can change it to a marriage extension the second year. Many people never bother changing to a marriage visa/extension (myself included) as it's a more complicated process.

@Phil *****

okay thanks Phil.

@Glenn ****

thank you Glenn, that's really helpful. I will try it in a few weeks when I apply to extend again.

@David ******

thank you David, I will try it at Hua Hin.

@David ******

is it an electronic copy that they send online or does it go to your branch David? Also, do immigration offices readily accept this version of statement? Many thanks.

@Julie *************

from what you are stating here, it seems like the non-OA visa is the one for you ( multiple entry, no requirement to bank money in Thailand and for between 1 and 2 years). It lasts for one year, but I read that if you work it correctly you can get approximately 2 years from this visa, by arranging a second years insurance and flying in and out of Thailand at the end of the first year. The question about when to do it, i guess depends on the visa you choose, but I believe the non O and non OA are valid for entry for 3 months, so you probably want to apply in about January 2026. Brandon has given you excellent advice on your other points.

The extension is granted on the same day you apply. You can apply for the extension 30 days before your non-O ends, providing your money has been in the bank for 2 months and the days are added to your extension (if that helps with your timings).

Get your non-O retirement visas online from your Thai embassy before coming to Thailand. It's virtually impossible to open a bank account in Thailand with a tourist visa, so you need the non-O first, you can then extend your stay. It used to be possible with a tourist visa, but the banks became very strict earlier this year.