If someone is pirating your electric hire an electrician to set up a separate line and meter. Then create a separate account with the electric company. This was a popular scam a couple years ago and the thai government did put some laws into effect. I have no idea if they are enforced.

If your lease is a flat rate 2000 per month fire up the AC. I have 200 sq meters 4 bedroom and run lights AC, etc continuously. My bill has never exceeded 2000

@Andy *********

you can then keep your money in $,€,£ or baht

@Mark *******

thanks for being informative as well as gracious

Just spitballing here but would the New York branch of Bangkok bank work? The OP can open an account there while in the US.

At least the Los Angeles consulate also accepts Federal employee insurance.

@Albert *******

it makes a huge difference in the thai economy. The books look good because money in banks is reported as gross domestic wealth.

The banks invest that money. You get 1% interest none of the banks are paying more.

If all thai banks do is invest in US Treasuries which right now are 4.3% on a 10 year bond? They are making 3.3% profit.

Doing the math best guess is 30,000 Americans live here.

Let's make it simple and say 10,000 are here on the visa that requires the 25k.

10k US x 25k deposit=250,000,000.

At 3.3% = 8.25 million US dollars. That it is US dollars is critical as dollars are benchmark currency.

@Bent ************

one that got tired of Thai hospitals carrying over a million US$ in unpaid medical debt. That 800k is sort of a "guarantee" that you have the resources to pay for care.

Course it does nothing about the drunk college kid riding a motorcycle who gets in an accident.

Try Italy. The rules can literally change depending on which consulate you have to go through or the interviewer. $31,000 per year in sustainable income. And though they don't say it 250 to 300k in stocks, bonds, minimum.

@Steven *********

duuhh. Tell us your an idiot without saying the word. just think of it as an upcharge for special services.

@Patrycja *********

rofl. Super expensive? More like amazing cheap. At least to an American.