I'd recommend seeing an immigration attorney.

As an aside if you do not have a pension then a letter of income from your financial institution or brokerage house is also acceptable since one only needs proof of income not proof of a pension. The US embassy letter is only a guarantee of signature by the embassy. Shh ! Some can get by on 30k baht in Chiang Mai

It is a problem if one has not taken the proper steps in advance. Thailand commercial law recognizes a Usufruct for thirty years or ones lifetime to be attached to the title of the property deed. It's easy to do with an attorney and inexpensive. Of course it has to be done before the landowner,such as a spouse,dies.

Chiang Mai requires me to file a TM-30 this year when staying at our Chiang Mai home. I believe that the regulation was in effect before but not enforced. It may or may not be enforced in other jurisdictions. I paid Baht 1600 last February for not filing one. I was at Immigration for an extension and the officer asked me and I believe then checked. He mentioned that had I not needed an extension no one would have known that I didn't file one and that I wouldn't have been fined. Because I filed for an extension he found out and said in Thai to my wife that he apologized but that he had to fine us since he knew that I didn't file the TM-30. I now file within 48 hrs.

Congratulations !

Mike,thanks for posting. I believe many learned a lot from your post and the discussion it generated.

@Andrew *****

yes I hear it's much different then others and more user friendly.

@Steve ******

Sounds like the consulate to go to then.

@Steve ******

I see. Non uniformity of requirements depending on the Consulate. Savanakhet appears to have a more relaxed view ...great to hear.

@Mike *****

Yes now I understand .