Suggest you come first and see if thailand is a place you really want to retire to if you have not spent day to day time here before.

E-visa or go into your local Thai Consulate and apply for a tourist visa. Try for a 3 month so that you can open a Thai bank account to deposit the 800k which is requited to hold a Non O (based on retirement)

OR

As US citizen you can get a Visa Exempt entry stamp for 30 days that can be thst can be extended for another 14 days. You can do a border run and get another 14

days.

You can do visa yourself or go through a agent here.

Just come first and make sure you will be happy here and is where you want to be.

See an agent now. The 800k in a Thai bank needs to be in there for 2 months prior to having a Non-O Retirment issued. So not enough time given that she is on an extended visa that has 25 days left on it. Perhaps she can get that extended further given her situation of just waiting for the 800k to marinate. Yes, she can do it herself and it is more or less (I fear less in this case) straight forward. But if she cannot extend, and it is not a given that she will be able to, see an agent this time and then yourself later?

Thanks everyone who responded to this issue. I have just been trying to help some folks out that contacted me about it. Some were a bit panicked other just pissed off at not being able to get any answers from the US Missions here without them using words like "Should", "Approximately", "Perhaps", and my favorite ones that someone told me, "Not sure". But thanks everyone.

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

a rediculas requirement.

The 10 to 13 weeks time period is for those inside the US. Well... that is what they say anyway. After a great deal of digging and calling DC and even Manila (offices for Social Security and Vet benefits the only offices in SEA and so much bigger and more important in many ways) I found out that the 5-to-6-week time period that they post on the web here and spout whenever they are asked is more like 8 or even 10 weeks. They simply added the sentence, "Once we have received..." and "Possible mailing delays" and "... business days...". Try and plan anything around the vague responses and misleading web postings. Shame that. I remember when the Missions in foreign countries being a help. I remember movie nights, July 4 parties ON July 4, being able to pick up Express and Special Delivery mail, just getting simple help with questions and if in trouble someone actually coming out to assist, not to mention vaccination procedures that they actually carried out...with vaccines. Would make a great documentary along with one on VOA. Okay my rant is over!

@Kool ******

years ago, I dare say. But thanks.

@Milan ******************

this is the best way. Property... family... aged mother/father... much easier with a thai government position or with large company with letter. NEVER say girlfriend maarage official or religious.... but never "girlfriend" for sure.

@Chris *******

can do reentry at airport easy.

As of June 2023 US passport renewals are now taking 10 to 13 weeks. This is posted on US State web site.... but one needs to dig around for it. This is for foriegn applications . For those inside US... seems one can subtract 2 weeks... more if they expedite with extra fee. But the latter is only for those in the US

One last stupid question....

If i renew my US passport on this July 11 will I get it back in 8 weeks?