@Chris ***************

There are many options and many situations. What works for one as the best is not the best for others.

Do you have cash flow or cash reserves? If you have cash reserves and parking some of it works AND you can pass the other requirements, then the "800,000 Baht" plan works.

If you have a pension or Social Security, then you have cash flow, but maybe not much in the bank. Then you can qualify by your monthly cash deposits. It can be a bit of chicken and egg to get the bank account to start this all off and build a track record. Also, some locations may or may not accept this method.

There is a middle way where you put up some % of the 800,000 and make up the other % with cash flow. This again may or may not fly with your specific location or person.

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If you have cash in reserve AND you can't qualify for the "Retirement Visa," then those options won't work.

If you have cash flow, then the Agent who arranges to fund you a qualifying account for the $2,000 fee, then this may be your best option. It may or may not be fully okay if you are not putting up your money. This would make this method risky in my opinion.

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If your hot buttons for a visa are long term security, then there is the Elite Visa. You have to have the reserve to do it, much like the 800,000 retirement visas, but you are not going to get the money back. This will only be a deal once you have died, and are there inheritors at that point?

Some of the age, documentation and other issues are easier with the Elite Visa. It may be worth the peace of mind to deal with this 5, 15 or 20 years if you have dementia or similar issues in your family. If so, you may want to secure your place before your ability to calculate and manage all the paperwork may become a problem.

If you are too young for the 800,000 age requirement, this may be a factor too.

I would suggest running the numbers for your specifics. Then which of the options are possible? Some may not even be possible, so what is left?

Of the possible options, which one is best for you and your desires?

If two or three options stand out, then do a pro and con list on each. Now they are on paper and it will be easier to see what is good for you.

You may add additional options, like retire to another country. That will mean your best Thailand deal will have to compete with the other country.

When I was teaching English in Japan and Korea, there were people that would work as tourists (not really legal). Then every 3 months they would swap houses. One of the houses would be in Japan and the other in Korea. The English students would find they have a new teacher every quarter.

I never did this myself, though. If you did something like this where you have two houses, one in Thailand and another country, you could hop back and forth. This assumes that the additional house cost is less than one of the legitimate visa options. This also is not foolproof. What if you become unable late in life to do all the moves from country to country? What if they change the rules at some point? In total, what is your comfort with the long term possibilities? If you get too tricky and get kicked out of a country, then your life may be upside down and your resources could take an unwelcome hit. Now you are old, and your plan is falling apart.

Nothing is for sure and it is general financial advice that as you get older your investments should be more for "holding value" and less about working to "increase value." A financial advisor will tend to move you out of aggressive investments to more boring ones as you get older. In the same way, as you look towards the later part of your life the idea that you might have a two or more country "travel and go" plan, may be affected by health and changing rules. If you are 20 years old, then this may be great, though. Travel and travel, seeing new things all the time. But if you have a bad hip, trouble to sit on a plane for two hours, and become forgetful, that can be a bad choice.

Take all of your possible options and choose from them. Consider the future and any specific issues to you. Are you married? Possibly going to marry? If you marry someone, will that open up a marriage visa?

Maybe you do marry and move to a marriage visa, but you got the 20-year Elite. There are not any refunds, so your possible option to marry and reduce your costs is not an option. If only you perfectly knew the future, this would be so much easier.

Do you qualify for all the requirements? Do some "what if" analysis? How is your health? How long do people in your family live? What is your plan for care as you get older? How can you perceive your current situation changing? How likely are you to leave and return to your home country? Are you going to inherit a significant amount of money?

There are more questions or constraints based on your specific data.

If you get the 20-year Elite Visa, it will cost at today's exchange rate in USD $28,877.53.

This breaks down to $1,443.88 per year or $120.32.

On a daily basis, this is $4.01 per day.

I have heard of some plan where you pay some agent somewhere around $2,000 and they work the retirement visa deposit proof.

To me, this means they are investors looking for a sure income.

They put up the Baht 800,000 and get $2,000 per year?

$23,104.70 is put up and they get $2,000 in a year and the money is upfront, so it can be invested as well.

This works out to 8.6% per year, guaranteed income.

If they also take out half during the 8 months of the year that they are allowed, this reduces the amount of the funds out.

This is a pretty good deal for the investor / agent.

A perfect removal and return (B800,000 down to B400,000 for 8 months) of an average of $15,403 with a $2,000 baht return or 12.98% return. This then becomes an attractive investment.

Some of the requirements of the Retirement Visa can be difficult challenges. Everyone has a different circumstance, so the best use of money changes from person to person.

The real liability of the Elite Visa is if you pay for 20 years but only live 15. Then you have totally wasted 5 years of $4 per day. You can take it up with St. Peter if you keep your receipts.

You could shut the business as it is now. Keep doing the research and development. Then, when you have work to be done, hire it from another company. Only open the business when it is ready to rock and roll. This will lower your fixed costs and you are only spending for the work you're actually having done.

Not knowing the nature or product of your business, this may or may not help.

Google maps is a good resource. Then you can ask about rooms and restaurants.

This link is to Chiang Mai, but you can put in different cities or locations.

YouTube is another source of information.

98,98.21,12z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x30da3a7e90bb6f5d:0x98da59b4367!8m2!3d18.39!4d98.08

@John-Paul *****

Also, if things are not going well, don't get heated, smile more. This will get you farther in Thailand than raising your voice.

If you look and dress better your results will be better.

@Hannah *******

Ditto for me. I have no idea but sorry for your loss.

If you have your original SIM card you can put it back in. You will likely run up charges for the out of country call but it may help you to get going.

My plan is to go with an International Driving Permit and a Driver's License from a state in the USA. Then I will get the Thai driver's license.

@Deanna ******

I have heard this as well.