@Jeff ********

keep in mind that it is much better to apply for the type O visa before you come to Thailand, as once you get here you will need a Thai bank account to meet the financial needs for your one year extension, a d that is getting to be almost impossible on any tourist visa. By having the 90 day retirement visa when you get here makes it simply a question of what bank, or banks, you want to open an account at. Bangkok Bang, and Kasikorn bank are the most friendly to expats, with Bangkok Bank being the most popular. I personally have 3 accounts with Bangkok Bank, and one with Kasikorn bank. In the US the best is to have a brokerage account with Charles Schwab, and get the account that offers 4 free SWIFT international transfers a month, if you can afford it. That together with a FCD account, foreign currency deposit account, at Bangkok Bank, is the cheapest way to regularly transfer money into Thailand, with a maximum fee of just bt500 no matter how much you transfer. As an example you can transfer in US$1million and the fee is just bt500. Then you can change dollars in your FCD account into baht at your convenience, and at the TT exchange rate with no extra fees. These are just things to keep in mind if this will be your new home.

If you are not married to her you need a legal business, and a work permit, to be legal. The business itself isn't that expensive to set up, but the work permit is, with a required minimum of bt2million in registered capital in the business for each work permit, and four Thai employees, unless you are American, in which case you can set up under the treaty of Amity, but still need the registered capital amount.

@Cole ********

what would you call it if he flew in, thinking that would be different, and was denied entry? Wouldn't he also be deported, as he can't stay in the airport?

@Hubert ********

not every country's embassy offer wage certifications anymore. The US does not. The EU does not, Australia does not. Canada does.

@Terje **************

quit lying. Even if what you say was true concerning monthly income, immigration only accepts Thai bank statements, and without a Thai bank account you could never prove it to immigration. I call BS. You are talking out your ass

Changing schools means you start over visa wise and work permit wise.

@Todd ********

actually you can apply for the actual 90 day type O visa outside of Thailand. You can only apply for the one year extension inside Thailand.

@Tom **********

the type O visa extension does not require insurance

Apply for the type O visa before you come to Thailand. As long as you have the equivalent of bt800,000+ in your personal bank account, and a few other details, you get the 90 day visa before you enter Thailand. This gives you the correct visa in order to open a Thai bank account in your name, and then transfer in the bt800,000+ needed when you apply for your one year extension. Without this visa you are going to have a real hard time opening a Thai bank account, and need an agent to do it at a cost of bt6000+ or more. The 90 day visa gives you time to get the money into your Thai bank account,cans have it there for two months before you apply for your one year extension. It is the easiest visa extension to get, requiring the least amount of paperwork. You could hire an agent to do it all, but they cost between bt30,000-bt60,000 each year.

@Terary *********

you're in for a rude awakening when you go to immigration and don't have bt800,000+ in your bank account for at least two months before you apply...lolol.