@Tod ********

I've noticed that the Thai embassy in UK seems to have very "relaxed" requirements for the non-immigrant O based on retirement as opposed to Dutch and (even more so) Belgian Thai embassy.

So I understand that opposed to a tourist visa which in general has rather uniform rules between many Thai embassies, the non-immigrant O retirement has a lot more specific requirements on your place of residency where you have to apply ?

It has been published in the Royal Gazette now, so legally you definitely don't need it anymore for entering Thailand.

HOWEVER : make sure to find out if your airline may still require the test. For example in case they haven't updated the requirements in time in the first day(s).

And you definitely want to know for yourself (by PCR or ATK) before flying so you don't get locked up arriving in Thailand in case you're positive.

There are 2 main points :

1) as long as it is not published in the royal gazette, it is still needed. Doesn't matter how many officials promise whatever.

2) once it is official, being published, the airline/airline staff need to know about it and implement the new rules.

Doesn't matter that it is official by royal decree published in the royal gazette, if the airline or the staff you deal with are a bit slow with the latest rule and still think the test is requiered, you will not get on the flight.

The first day(s) when the rules just changed could be risky. Have been enough testimonies of people not allowed to board because airline staff were ignorant about the exact rules.

So keep up to date with the latest info of your airline also.

The 90 day reporting gets "reset" when you leave Thailand. It starts countiing from 1 again once you enter Thailand again.

When you leave Thailand, you NEED a re-entry permit, otherwise your visa gets cancelled.

You can choose between a single entry or a multiple entry. The multiple entry gives you unlimited re-entries for the whole duration of your yearly extension.

You can apply for for re-entry before at immigration (i do it on the same day when I go to apply my yearly extension to save a trip). At the moment you apply you need to give some information about your trip out of Thai, but that's not important if youndon't know the exadt dates etc... just make a guess.

Your can also apply for re-entry at the airport just before you leave Thailand. People do it without problems, but I still prefer applying in advance at immigration for peace of mind.

@Banton ********

investment portfolio is not accepted for your visa fund.

@Tod ********

I used the Kasikorn bank branch at the basement just a week ago when I did my yearly extension.

So definitely business as usual.

However keep in mind that the queue to issue the letter can take quite some time (could be any number of people before you, and those counters are for lengthy bank stuff). For peace of mind come early enough before your appointment.

I needed to use this branch on the day itself, because I use a fixed deposit account. Thus I can't use ATM update - unless it's on the same date of a auto-renewal of a fixed deposit.

@Ivan ***********

which means it's not something he should recommend.

Like running a red light and claiming it gets you home faster. Only works until it doesn't.

There are posts of people who have run into serious problems by using this "option", where the agent didn't return their passport and they went into overstay for several months.

Ridiculous to suggest illegal methods to try to save some money to be locked into an account.

@Todd ********

still waiting for proof of this special 1 year extension of retirement visa....

Waiting..............

@Todd ********

Mr. Money Expert still not capable of answering a simple question ?? 🤣🤣🤣🤣

@Todd ********

After stripping out all the useless wordsalad, the only thing you said is - again- that there is no requirement to lock up 800k baht if you use an agent.

All the rest you typed is a complete waste at trying to insult, but adds nothing to the discussion. Probably just a smokescreen to hide your mistake.

Your claim is wrong. It is fake.

Keep it simple : enlighten us. Show us the info. Show us the links.

You typing words doesn't prove anything.

Show us the link that immigration allows you to drop the 800k requirement if you use an agent.

Back up your claims with proof.

Maybe I could be wrong.

But why are you spewing all these big words without providing any proof ?

If you know so much, should be easy to give a few links to back up your claims, unless it's all fake.

You made a claim.

I am not convinced of your claim, so I ask you to prove it.

That's how it works. Very simple. Should be easy for you to point us to the proof.

If you can't do that, then your words aren't worth anything.