@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?

@George ************

there will be plenty of people telling you to use an agent, but it's really unnecessary.

It's not as difficult as applying for a visa to the UK or USA/Canada etc. It's refreshingly simple. You apply for the non O retirement visa before coming to Thailand (simple). Fly to Thailand. Open a bank account. Deposit 800,000 baht. 2 months later apply to extend your stay for 12 months.

I have extended 3 times now and it's a few photocopies of your documents, passport size photo, 1,900 baht, bank print outs and an A4 form with questions like your name, passport number etc. 1 hour later you can stay for another year. Some people find that difficult...I don't.