Wow nice...well do come check us out in Thailand and see what you think.

I'll be honest, Thailand is a great place to live....but they don't make it easy for forigners to do so. I have a friend who is also living in Ecuador and tells me it's pretty easy to stay there long term.

You should come and check it out and make your own informed decision. And look me when you're here 😁

I am just over 50 but I still work, which actually could be another option for you as well. We Americans can open up a business here under the treaty of amnity which allows us 100% ownership and the ability to buy land. This is what I did and I have a good thing going. Or you could start a regular BOI company with Thai partners. There are law offices here that specialize in setting up both and can arrange for Thai partners and everything.

First off, I don't have the OA but a friend does. His initial application was through the consulate in Los Angeles. He had to show he had the funds in his USA accounts. Then for his extension of stay each year he had to have the 800k Bhat in his thai bank account. After the application is granted you can move or spend it. The money only needs to be there for the application process.

What Mark said..other options are the non OA (known as the retirement visa) if you meet the financial requirements. Or the Elite Visa which is spendy. Lastly, you could fall in love and get married 😁

Go to the immigration office or at the BKK or DMK airports as you fly out.

Actually you can buy a multiple re-entry permit. But it's not really cost effective on that short stay in my opinion.

Yes

@Ju***

, I am on a 1 year extension of stay.

I just got a Chinese visa last week.

You apply at the Chinese visa center... https://www​.visaforchina.org/BKK_EN/

There is mention on that site that you need to apply for the visa from your home country unless you can show legal residence in Thailand. My Thai extension of stay stamp was enough to satisfy that requiremet.

I asked for a SETV and was issued a 10 year METV

Kenneth Fly...for the bank, make an appointment with the US embassy for Notary Service. When you arrive you can tell the agent you need to open a bank account. You be given a form in which you write your address in Thailand and state the purpose is to open a bank account. The document they return to you is what the bank wants. It will cost you $50.

I will also add, if you haven't done it already, while you are there get the affadavit of freedom to marry and the statement of income that are needed for your marriage and extension of stay based on marriage.

Your visa is for 90 days but at the 60day mark you will apply for an extension of stay. There is a 30day consideration period before you actually get the 1year extension stamp. When you get that stamp consider getting a multiple entry permit also.

Best of luck to you!