Open a bank account first and transfer the 800,000 baht ensuring the transfer shows as coming from overseas. If you use Wise to transfer the money use the code, I think it's 'long term stay in Thailand' or similar.

Make a folder with copies of all your documents.

You might need a residence certificate from immigration to open your bank account and whilst there ask them for their list of requirements for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement.

Then collect the information they require.

Good luck, it seems complicated, but it's very simple really.

@John *********

🤣 yes, that's why I decided to forget AIS and go a few metres down the mall to another provider. It seems very strange refusing business like that, but TiT.

Brandon made a good suggestion of offering 6 months payment in advance, but at the time I never thought of that idea.

@Brook *******

naturally I had that as well.

@Brook *******

I tried 2 at different shopping malls, they both said no and I had a driving licence. I gave up and went to the 3BB shop a few metres away and they set it up in a few minutes. It's very strange, I think it might depend if you live in an expat area, as they will deal with foreigners living here more often.

@J *****************

I tried 2 at different shopping malls, they both said no and I had a driving licence. I gave up and went to the 3BB shop a few metres away and they set it up in a few minutes. It's very strange, I think it might depend if you live in an expat area, as they will deal with foreigners living here more often.

@Eddie *****

or do it yourself easily and legally in a few minutes for a couple of hundred baht.

I had the same problem with AIS, so I chose a different provider.

Very strange, it seems to depend on the city you live as other people seem to be able to use AIS.

@Dena *******

per person.

@Todd ********

using an agent is not illegal, using an agent to bypass the banking requirement is illegal and people are deported for this. I have seen several people complaining about immigration when this happens to them, following an immigration officer being investigated, and all their visas cancelled that were issued without the correct banking information.

Who said anything about people not being able to afford to retire in Thailand?

Surely the deadbeat retirees are the ones that are too lazy to spend an hour a year getting their paperwork in order.

@Todd ********

an hour a year surely isn't a problem, even for a chimp.

Breaking the law and risking being deported to save how much?

You can reduce 800k down to 400k for 7 months.

You pay an agent how much 20 to 30,000 and make how much interest above this amount 10k, wow that would change their lives?