@David *******

my understanding that 40k Baht monthly income is not accepted for the initial visa, nor the first extension with most, if not all Immigration Offices. The way I've understood it explained by those that have a good grasp of all the rules/requirements, in this and/or Thai Visa related groups, is that one has to show 800k in their account for their first Retirement visa and extension. Then just before approval of the first Extension, or straight after, start transferring from overseas, 65k each and every month leading up to the second Extension for the'Income method'. With A Marriage Visa it's same rules, except the amounts are 400k and 40k Baht.

@Tom **********

I would suggest reading all the comments. Some will do things the legal way. Others will do things an illegal way,which, down the track, could have serious consequences.

@Steve *********

tell us why it's more simple using an Agent.

If you're asking the Agent to use their money and not yours, the money is only in your bank account until the visa/Extension is approved, then they take it out again. What the Agent is doing is paying an illegal bribe to a single corrupt Immigration Official. If that Officer is investigated for any reason and your bank statements don't show that the required funds have been in your account as they are legally required to be, then your visa/Extension would be cancelled.

The Visa application requires documents to be provided. The Agent will still require YOU to provide them with the documents, to lodge with your application, just as you would if applying yourself.

How long would it take you to go to your local Immigration Office and lodge the application? Maybe an hour or two, depending on what time you arrive at the Office. An Agent might get it done in 20-30 minutes because they're paying a bribe to expedite the application. If you are retired and not illegally working in Thailand, what is so hard about getting a few documents together and spending an hour or two in the Immigration Office?

@Kenny *****************

you should also tell the OP the facts: that doing this, the Agent is paying a bribe to an Immigration Official to do it this way and if the IO is investigated for some reason, the bribe could be uncovered, resulting in the Visa/Extension of Stay being cancelled and the foreigner being forced to leave Thailand.

@Terje **************

does the Embassy in your home country still do Income Affidavits? That would be the only way around not having 800k Baht in a Thai bank account. Most Embassies don't do Income Affidavits anymore.

@Hubert ********

if the Embassy in your home country still does Income Affidavits, then you're fine. Embassies in most countries these days don't provide them anymore. The OP is from the USA and Embassies there haven't provided them for a few years, maybe 3-5 I believe.

@Tom **********

Non-O doesn't require health insurance as already mentioned, but the Non-OA visa does require health insurance as well as other requirements the standard Non-O doesn't. That's where a number of people get confused, especially if someone doesn't provide full details

@Nelson *****

ok, but I hope you don't mind dealing with Immigration Officers and Police if they knock on your door once day charging you with fraud. Don't forget... this is a public forum & you never know who is watching 👀

@Greg **********

why is that not a surprise, previously involved with illegal activities. Only surprise is that he only got 5 years 🙄

@Roberto ********

totally agree. Someone living in southern Thailand told me it's even easy to do your own marriage visa and extensions, which have more requirements. I'd rather spend a couple of hours of my time to do it than spend 25k+ Baht to get someone else to do it. I reckon I could have a very good holiday in Thailand for that amount.