If you are over 50 years old the typical visa used by retirees is the non immigrant O visa. As an American you must be able to deposit 800,000 (about $24,000) baht in a Thai bank account. There are more details to this but over 50 and 800k are the basic requirements. If you don’t have the 800k then you might consider using a visa agent (which was never my choice).

Other visa options are the OA visa, Elite visa, pensioner LTR visa . . . possibly the DTV visa.

Don’t even think of staying long term on a tourist entry unless you’ve never been here and are you are coming to see what Thailand is all about.

I went to look for the new office a few days after they were supposed to have moved and it was still under construction. Not open. I will check again soon . . . or maybe I missed something.

A bit of advice - ask the information desk which elevator to take to the 7th floor. They don’t all go there.

@Bryce ******

Sort of false. The US, UK, Australia, and several other countries don’t provide the income verification affidavit. Citizens of those countries can use the income method starting with their 2nd visa extension.

@Dennis *******

Not if you can get an income verification from your embassy. The US, UK, Australia, and several other countries no longer give the income verification letter so citizens of those countries must use the 800,000฿ method.

@David *******

It is a 1 year extension and for the first extension you have to continue the 800,000฿. After the first year of extension you can use the income method

@Ken ********

I made the 2 yr comment. As I said, I only submitted one year of tax return in October 2023. I saw a number of comments in early 2024 about BOI asking for two years of tax returns. I don't know any more details on that.

Since you don't pay anything to apply then I would just go ahead with the application and wait for them to ask questions, if any.

Stuart Hansen I have an LTR. It comes out to 5,000/yr. No bank account needed. I already had insurance. I qualified with a single pension. Nothing to do yearly. Easier than an agent.

Stuart Hansen The process is easy if you have a pension over $80k/yr

I just submitted my tax returns. No highlighting. No other financial documents. They may ask for 2 years. If they want more information they will ask

I keep two US bank accounts, each with a credit card. One bank is a credit union that doesn’t do international wire transfers but you can get money quickly through the credit card. (I only do this in an emergency). To keep them active login to the account periodically and make charges to each card periodically. Keep a US address with a family member or trusted friend. Get a new card just before you come here. I have renewed cards sent to my sister’s US address and she sends the card to me.