@Magnus ********************

"16,000 with their money"... How many years ago? Agents costs have gone up a lot in the past couple of years, especially the past year, from the many posts I've seen mention of people are now saying it would cost 45k-60k. Doing it the legal way would be less of course, but still, if they're opening a bank account post lodging the Visa Application, from all reports, it would still cost considerably more than 16k. An Extension of Stay on it's own might be around 16k.

Todd Capron I respect your choice, but doesn't the Agent require you to gather all the documentation yourself, then they just lodge the application on your behalf and charge you maybe 10k Baht or more above what it would cost if you did it yourself? Where's the stress? Do the Immigration Officers make it hard for you if you do it yourself? Is it a long waiting time at the Immigration Office? Just curious, because I haven't through it yet.

Allan Rawai so F**k**g rude you entitled Pr**k! If a survey were done, it would probably show that 99.99% of the world's population hasn't travelled overseas. Maybe most of those 99.99% haven't even been outside of the general area of their own country!

Scooter Max oh, I know which is which... 'Non-O based on Marriage' great relationship, 'happy as Larry'. 'Non-O based on Retirement'... He's not Larry, he's the lonely old retired Expats that spends all his money in booze and bargirls, and much of his time as a keyboard warrior, often with a fake Facebook Profile name, maybe even with his profile locked. He likes to ridicule and belittle others to make himself feel better about his miserable life 🤣 🤣 🤣

Ingvar Bergh I've read one or two reports in this, or other groups in the past week or two, that a visit by IO has been required for a 'Retirement Visa" Extension of Stay. It/they were first hand reports, not someone saying 'I know this guy...'

Maybe there was a concern on the part of IO's about this people, there was no mention, just that it happened and all went ok.

Gordon Howes what are the OP's circumstances, other than wanting to visit for a maximum of 180 days and obviously being over fifty years of age?

Sam Lewis last year, that was purely rumours. This time, it's apparently made public by the Thai Government, meaning that it's more likely, at least a bit, to actually happen.

Stephen Galvin to get the initial 90 day 'retirement' Visa, using the 65k+Baht monthly income method from the start, the Embassy of your home country would need to provide an Income Affadavit, confirming your income. While I don't know what country's Embassies still do this, I know that those of Australia, USA and UK no longer do it.

If you're from one of these countries, or another that don't do the Affadavit, then (without using an Agent in Thailand to do it the illegal way) you need to have the lump sum to start with.

The best way is to do this is apply through a Thai Embassy or Consulate in your own country for a Non-O Visa based on being over 50 years old, before going to Thailand. That way, for the initial Visa, you can show proof of the equivalent of 800k+Thai Baht in your bank account in your home country. Going this route, if your Visa application is approved, you will then have 90 days from the date of approval to arrive in Thailand.

Once you arrive in Thailand, that Visa itself will see you stamped into the country for 90 days. You'll be able to open a bank account in your name only (opening a Thai bank account on any kind of tourist visa or Visa Exempt is virtually impossible now), Get yourself a Thai phone number (Thai banks will require that to open an account). Deposit 800k+Baht in your new Thai bank account. That money needs to sit in that Thai bank account for two months before you can apply for an annual Extension of Stay. For this Extension, I believe that you might have to have a minimum of 15 days left on you initial 90 day Visa. You certainly don't want to leave it until 'the last minute'.

If you wish to then use the 65k+monthly income method for your second annual Extension of Stay, you need to transfer to your Thai bank account, 12 monthly amounts of that 65k minimum each and every month before you apply for the second extension. I believe, but I'm not certain, that those monthly transfers must show, that they are International transfers. Once the requirements are met for the second annual Extension, you can move that 800k+Baht to whatever you want it to earn the higher interest.

Note: once your first Extension has been granted, the 800k+ has to remain in your Thai account for a minimum of 3 months. Then, it must not drop below 400k Baht and it must be back up at 800k+ for 2 months before you apply for your next Extension of Stay.

There's some of the steps. Other requirements for the initial Visa are on the website of the Thai Embassy or Consulate in your country (it's all done online now for Visa applications). There's more that you would need to know, but if you want to go ahead, ask questions in your own post in the group.

Kjetil Dingstad hang on, you're calling others "stupid"? Maybe so, but before you commented (2-3 times) did you actually read the original post, which is one sentence? Did you read your own screenshot before posting it?

The Original Post was asking about the cost of the original, initial Visa, NOT an Extension of Stay! Your screenshot clearly shows that you are talking about an Extension of stay for 14,000 Baht! Maybe you should get your information correct, or try to read properly before commenting!

Russ Smith when were there changes to 'Retirement' Visa requirements (other than possibly some very minor differences between individual Immigration Offices, which are easy to find out anyway)?

I'm not aware of any changes in this subject in recent years.

If you spend your time elsewhere, why are you here making comments?

It can only be that you're a bored, old, Keyboard Warrior, that's got nothing better to do than annoy other people. Get a life for goodness sake!