@Ric *****

Who says the care’s not the best? I had a total laminectomy (major back surgery) with eight pedicular titanium screws in 2006 at Udon General Hospital for about 130k baht, which by today’s FX is less than $4k. Costly? Nine months after the surgery, my wife & I walked from Udon Thani to Nong Khai, about a 33-mile trek. I even returned to jogging in my late 60s. Now, if you’re rich, Bumrungrad Hospital in Bangkok is one of the best in the world, though by “rich” I’m speaking relative to Thai expectations (i.e., still significantly cheaper than the U.S.).

@Phil *****

Why does she need an agent?

@Bob *********

You were “bringing in the money” sounds like you either had a marriage extension or are from a country whose embassy still provides income verification letters. Retirement extensions offer two ways to qualify, with 800k in the bank the only option for most people, especially if their embassies no longer provide letters. This is because the monthly income method requires proof you’ve transferred funds from a foreign source into a Thai bank account in your name only. In the OP’s case, he’s been here for a year already, so theoretically he can go the monthly income route if all requirements are otherwise maintained.

@Bob *********

Not necessarily. If he’s been transferring 65k monthly for the past year & doesn’t skip a beat while he’s gone, he’ll satisfy the monthly income option, regardless of where he applies.

Can you no longer get extra pages attached to your U.S. passport? I did that once at the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok about 17 years or so ago. If you do go with a new passport, you can normally have your Thai visa & extensions transferred from your old one to the new one. I did this in Udon Thani eons ago.

Here’s the thing. You have the Thailand Immigration’s official requirements list which serves as the bare minimum. Each local immigration office must follow this, but they often also add their own additional requirements. Word of the additional requirements gets around, & one or more other local offices decide they like them & proceed to implement them. In this way, it is nearly impossible to predict success with 100% certainty.

“Can’t” buy an Elite visa or don’t want to?

@Tony ********

Multiply by around 33 & you’ll know. But the fx rate is extremely volatile these days, with Trump & Elon taking turns at shocking the markets.

@David ********

What else do you need? “No line” is a perk in my book.

@Tony *********

Yes, renting a place is often the smart move. But buying a new house can be a profitable adventure if done right & you take care of the house. I built a western-style home in a village in Udon Thani in 2004 for 4.5 million baht. Sold it in 2010 for 7.2 million baht. So, yes, it can be done.