Mexico, Costa Rica, Ecuador. Beautiful countries, all three. Decided I don't like the "machismo" Latin culture, or the food very much (because I'm vegetarian). Thai culture is second to none. Just visited Bali for the first time last month. Major points for how common it is to find English speaking natives there (probably 90% with rudimentary skills). Friendly people. But the transportation infrastructure is as bad as The Philippines (horrible), and I think Thai food is much, much better.

So, in my wife's experience, the most likely way to get approved is to have a passport full of recent international travel. In 3 years she traveled to Japan, Taiwan, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Vietnam and Laos. Plus a pending trip to Italy. Her passport proved that she returned home, even after visiting other 1st World countries. Her previous applications were refused, even though she had money in the bank and and two small businesses.

VibrantElk6015 the refusal rate for visas is over 90%, based on my wife's experience of seeing a room full of applicants get turned down, at her 3 attempts to get one. Only a Thai monk was approved.

Agree with what others said about either Schwab or Fidelity accounts. Also agree with traveling around. Visit the north (and not just Chaing Mai!). Check out the beach life in the south. Go to Isaan (which is huge). I did the slow way (not recommended it unless you're super cautious like me). First visit was one month, second visit 2 months. Third was 3 months. Then 5. Thailand is great, but I worried it would lose its appeal after awhile. 10 years later it hasn't! Although a wise expat laid this advice on me: There are 3 stages to living in Thailand. 1) Everything is WONDERFUL! I absolutely love it here! 2) This sucks, why do they do things like that?! It's so...(inefficient, pointless, annoying, etc.) I hate it here! 3) You learn to love the good and tolerate what you don't like. Some people (you'll run across them eventually) stay stuck in stage 2, but they are people who either don't have enough money to go anywhere else or they just love to bitch and complain. Good luck!

It's different everywhere, I guess. I just opened a KrungThai account in Chiang Mai province 2 weeks ago, with just my Passport with the Non-O visa in it, my driver's license and the TM30. No request for the certificate of residency or yellow book (which I don't have). Go figure.

In Chiang Mai last month, TM30 and passport copy including visa stamp. Be prepared that they don't give it to you that day. They MAIL it to you, and it's exactly 3 weeks. (They point to a calendar and show you, plus a receipt with the 3 week date marked on it.)