@Alan **********

I get exactly the same. Sometimes can get a translation, sometimes not. What I find is you get the message translation not available. But then you can manually copy and paste the text into Google translate and it then gives the translation. This makes me think it is Facebook and not Google which is controlling this. But I could be totally wrong.

Normally less than1 week.

@Chris *********

the cost of a certificate should be 2 - 3 hundred baht, certainly not $50.

@Chris *********

you don't need a work permit. You just need a certificate from the immigration office. Then you should be able to open a bank account.

@Tod ********

many thanks Tod.

@Anthony ********

I think you are correct. You can transfer 40k a month but must be able to show 12 months of transfers to be able to get the extension.

Over the last month the mid market bank rate has gone from 42.6 to 44.0 to the pound. What your getting at a currency exchange sounds good to me. The gamble is whether it keeps getting better or drops again.

@David ******

from what I've seen of it, it is hard work to get the STV with all its restrictions. Surely easier to get the tourist visa, and then get the extra 30 days in Thailand. That's only my opinion and I may be wrong.

@David ******

that screenshot shows the STV and not the normal TR visa.

When I applied for exactly the same at the end of last year there were two options. As you say you could either show proof of pension(which I didn't have at the time) or you could show 3 months of bank statements showing in excess of £10,000. This was last November at the UK embassy. But it may have changed now.