@Shawn ******

to get citizenship you first must get permanent residency. To do that you must legally work in Thailand, making at least bt100,000 a month, for at least three years, paying Thai income tax each year, then after you've received permanent residency after the two year wait while everything is processed, and the interviews are done, after five more years working and paying income tax, you can apply for citizenship. There are lots of other requirements, but none of them mean anything if you don't legally work in Thailand. Remote work, and not paying Thai income tax doesn't work.

@Brandon ***********

Thanks

@Brandon ***********

some of the Thai embassy/consulates in the US were requiring at least a 90 day insurance policy for the type O visa, then no insurance requirement for the year extension once you are here. Not sure if they are still doing it.

You say you want to base out of Bangkok, which means you'll be going other places, but returning to Bangkok from time to time. There are a number of hotels that will store your large bags for free, as long as you stay with them when you are in Bangkok. Lots of people touring South East Asia base out of Bangkok, and use the same hotel for this very reason. You can't do this with Airbnb.

@Bo *******

I should have clarified if you want exact terms. The type O retirement visa extension is the easiest out of all visa/extension options for long term stay in Thailand to get.

@Bo *******

in that case pay what you have to pay to get a Thai bank account. Don't use any agent for anything more than getting the bank account, and not in a location you don't plan to live. With the bank account once you turn 50 and the bt800,000 is in your account you can immediately apply for your retirement visa. You first get a 90 day visa, then after 2 months, you can apply for your 1 year extension. It is actually quite easy once you have your bank account and turn 50.

@David ****

in the worst case, and this happens regularly enough that you see GoFundMes weekly, bills can exceed US$60,000+. The biggest incidences of this are people that actually have insurance, but violate the rules by driving drunk, with the attitude that nothing will happen to them, and then it does. A medical evacuation to your home country can be more than US$50,000 by itself. If the travel insurance fees are too much, then you shouldn't be here, as it doesn't cost that much at all.

@Bo *******

okay, you are looking at this the wrong way. Wait until you turn 50, then apply in the US for the type O retirement visa, using your American bank account. This will give you a 90 day type O visa, which will allow you to open a Thai bank account once you get here, then after your money has been in the account for 2 months you can apply for your one year extension. You want to stay here long term so do it right, and don't be in such a hurry. Waiting another month won't hurt. You can use the evisa website to do it all in the US before you leave. You don't need any agent.

@Chris *********

the biggest problem you will have is that ecology comes under the department of agriculture, and that is a very restricted field. You literally can not get your hands dirty. You theoretically could consult, but not do any actual work. If you have a degree, a Master's at a minimum, and preferably a PhD, you could teach, or lecture, but as far as volunteering you don't have any options.

@Bob *********

that is true, but as the OP is very specific as to which immigration office, your comment is irrelevant.