As Brendan has said, although the O, OA and OX are colloquially referred to as "retirement visas", there is no requirement at all to be retired, only that the applicant is over 50. As with most visas in Thailand, employment in Thailand is prohibited. Many FIFO workers use the "retirement" visa as it's more convenient when making multiple trips to Thailand (where many have homes, wives, girlfriends, boyfriends), and the retirement visa means they don't ever get hassled by immigration when entering

You can't open a bank account on DTV

The "90 day visa" IS the retirement visa. When you get to Thailand, you merely extend it for 12 months having met the criteria

Bangkok Bank is the best by a long shot, unless you're planning to use a visa agent.

@Max ************

They're really not much different to those which I used to get from the branch.

@Max ************

Correct. That was the old monthly statement facility. Since Bangkok Bank app introduced the 12-month statement (possibly to cater for this exact situation) it's been fine. I remember years ago they insisted each page of the statement was actually rubber-stamped! Times have changed and they are now a little more "streamlined"

@Sue *********

Updated bankbook yes. I do that at CW in the basement as soon as I get there. I do get a letter confirming the account, but they haven't requested it for about the last five years. I still err on the side of safety and get one anyway. CW never used to accept the monthly statements from the app, but since they brought in the 12-month statement facility it's been fine

Martyn Rollinson That's true. Human nature is to complain rather than commend. In the 16 years I've been here on retirement visa/extensions I've never had a single problem. I use CW office, and have never once had to return. The last years I've used the appointment booking system, so I'm in and out in an hour. Many people actually create their own problems

@Max ************

CW

@Max ************

I make one transfer per month. The requirement is to show 12 monthly transfers prior to the application for the extension.