While I cannot say for certain re the Elite visa, most Thai visas do have time limits. E.g., the LTR visa must be stamped within two months of BOI endorsement.

Speaking of the LTR visa, I recommend you take a look at it before committing to the Elite. Though it’s only good for ten years, it only costs 50k baht & is nearly maintenance-free.

@Todd ********

I’m still not convinced about the SS benefits. The website states “…in Thailand.” My SS is deposited in a bank in San Antonio TX. If I had to set it up to be deposited directly into Bangkok Bank, for example, I would need to be physically in Thailand to do this. As you apparently know a lot about this, what am I missing?

Are you on the LTR visa?

@Todd ********

I stand partially corrected. Neither a criminal history report nor a health certificate is mentioned on the government website. Health insurance, however, is a requirement, depending on the following: "Insured under a health insurance covering a minimum of USD 50,000 OR currently receiving social security benefits in Thailand OR deposit and maintain at least USD 100,000 in bank account balance under the applicant’s name for no less than 12 months." Link: The way I read this is that if your social security is being deposited directly into your Thailand bank (i.e., I know Bangkok Bank has a way of accommodating direct foreign government payments, but I don't know about the other banks) or you've seeded 100k baht in your Thai bank account for twelve straight months, then you wouldn't need the insurance. Seems a bit confusing to me, though, since this would imply you couldn't use the exemption until after twelve months, meaning you'd still need the insurance for the first year. Address reporting is required but has expanded to annually rather than quarterly. Additionally, along with reporting your address, you need to verify eligibility requirements are still being met. Personally, I may now go this route, especially since there's less paperwork than I originally thought, you only need verify your address annually, & you can apply online in your home country.

@Daniel *****

I like the expanded address reporting. But the hassles of providing health insurance, criminal history report, & health certificate, imho, makes the non-O a better deal. Besides, don’t you still have to verify annually your eligibility? If so, the only benefit really is the address reporting.

@Jan *****************

And the non O-X, as well as the ten-year LTR.

@Bruce *******

I can’t answer the legality question. But by law you must report all worldwide income, which requires a different form. 850k baht in a Thai bank suggests you’re on a non-O type (not marriage, which requires only 400k) visa, meaning you can’t legally work. But if your total income results in a tax liability, then you should ask an expert about the deductible allowed for living abroad.

@Paul ******

And what about their co-traveling families?

This could be a legal issue if the address is not a physical one. Also, U.S. government agencies share info, meaning the IRS will treat you as though you’re in conus. Meaning you won’t get the roughly $100k deductible on your annual 1040 allowed for living abroad.

@Steve ******

If done in home country, don’t you need to provide insurance & health certificate? Also, they want passport in pdf form now; will any pdf work or does it have to be Adobe?

@Steven ******

Yes there is.