@Nigel *************

Actually, not difficult when money is banked, and one reads online what documents are needed. Been here 14 years and have no problem with immigration procedure

@Stuart ********

It also depends if you have banked the 800,000 in Thai bank. Prices have been going up if one does not have money banked.

@Chizel ******

We are together. The lawyer's office recorded the documents. I have the original with the stamps. I also will take my daughter for a visit to U.S. late summer without her mother. My daughter has Thai passport and U.S. passport, both with my last name. I will have a document with necessary papers for when we depart for immigration. Also, taking copies/originals of everything pertaining to Mom, daughter and myself.

@Michael *******

It was relatively a simple process. Birth certificate with my name as father. Short history of her Mom and my relationship(lived together for about 6 years). My financial ability. I m retired with

A decent pension. I paid a Thai lawyer 30,000 baht. I live in Phuket and was handled here.

I have a daughter with my Thai GF. She is now 5. We went through the process so that I can get 50% parental custody. It is a 2 part process. We had a lawyer and interpreter for the interview with Thai version of ,"child protective services", then about a month later, with lawyer and interpreter, went before 4 Thai judges. No problems, as I now have the 50% custody document, and had it translated into English. I am and have been on extension of stay for purpose of retirement for many years. The main reason I went through the 50% custody is that if something(death/disability/etc) happened to her Mother, her family would have the right to take my daughter from me and raise her as they see fit.

problem after that. Then went to extension of stay for perpose of retirement.

13 years go I used 6 30 day stamp in a row over about an 8 month period of time. On the 7th, I was taken into the office and told next one in they want a paper visa from a Thai Embassy/Consulate. Was no pronlem

As of last Friday, if you are in Phuket, you cannot get an appointment to take test until late April.

@Einat ******

A friend opened an account a few days ago at Bangkok Bank, Chalong, Phuket. He entered Thailand with Non-OA? he got in his home country.

Reading through the comments, all I can say, is that I have been in Thailand since 2010, started my S.S. in 2010, used U.S. Direct Express card until Thailand/U.S. forged an agreement for direct deposit to a Thai bank account. Have not been to the U.S. in almost 6 years and get all Social Security mail to my address here in Thailand. Once a year, usually in June, I receive by mail the "are you alive" letter, promptly check the boxes, sign it and send to U. S. via Thai postal, with tracking option.

Never had a problem. Also, for those doing direct deposit, we get our S. S. On the 3rd of each month.