You should come on a long stay visa such as an O, OA, OX, LTR, or Elite. If you enter on a tourist visa or DTV you will probably not be able to open an account.

@Eric ******

It’s meant for whoever can meet the financial requirements.

@Eric ******

$80,000/yr is hardly wealthy in the US. You can live well in Thailand on that though.

@Darren ******

My girlfriend has a restaurant. She hasn’t asked me for anything. We share eating and travel expenses. It works out to about

I also have an LTR and am living in Bangkok, Phra Khanong. Congratulations on your LTR.

I budgeted 150,000฿/mo and I really can’t spend that much but I am living well . . . and I have a girlfriend but she isn’t much of an expense. I agree with a previous comment, $3,000/ mo would provide a nice lifestyle.

There really is no answer to the cost of living question but Bangkok can be pricier.

I am tracking every baht this year. I recommend the extra effort to do this

There is a French croissant bakery about to open just outside my condo building. I have no idea how they do it.

There is a pastry cooking school nearby as well.

Croissants are huge in Bangkok. Pastries may not be a normal part of Thai cuisine but plenty of Thais seek out international cooking.

I found a few places in Ubon Ratchathani as well.

@Darren ******

I was already here on an OA visa. I applied for the LTR while in Thailand. They changed from the OA to LTR here in Thailand. You would have to ask if they can change a tourist entry to an LTR.

I qualified for my pensioner LTR with just my work pension. It is easy to do yourself if your finances are simple. You are not going to get it done by 6 July though. It will take at least a month.

@Andy ***********

I am retired. I have time. The officers at CW were nice to me. No complaints. If you didn’t like it then that’s up to you. Glad you found an acceptable alternative.

I’d rather have my OA than a DTV but I am really happy into the 3rd year of my LTR.

@Sue *********

The only difference between the O and OA extension is the insurance certificate which the insurance company sent to me beforehand. It usually took me 2 hours to assemble docs for an extension.