@Ken ******

Each Immigration Office has a different interpretation, especially of this point. Ask your local office for their handout and see exactly what it says about monthly income. Clarify with them what evidence you would have to present. Some have said you must produce an affidavit from your embassy in Bangkok with your pension details, but UK and US embassies will not provide this. I know the US embassy can issue a formal letter saying they allow citizens to self-certify this point. As a UK citizen, the IO in Jomtien told me it was just too bad the UK embassy wouldn't give me an affidavit and I'd just have to use the 800k route.

@Tim ******

They are persuasive! If this happens, your challenge is how to get the subsequent renewal without using an agent again. But at least you have 12 months to think about it, maybe work out how to transfer to the monthly income method instead. Or just budget for continual agent fees

Apply from your local Thai embassy (on line) for Non-Imm O visa (I agree, retirement is less paperwork than spouse, but requires a higher deposit in the bank). When you arrive in Thailand, that visa gives you 90 days. Visit the Immigration Office where you will be living and pick up their handout on Residency certificate (needed to open a bank account) and 12 month visa extention. Open bank account with deposit of 400k or 800k, depending on which type you choose. 60 days later lodge your application for the visa extension.

If you do need an agent for any reason, I don't know what's available in Rayong but you could try a Facebook group there. Many options in Pattaya but, if you decide to use one, insist they process your application in Rayong - much easier for you to do it yourself when renewal is due

Alan, is there a reason you think you'll be refused? Have you been a naughty boy?

@Alex ********

"in and out in 5 minutes..." and charged you 2,000

1,900 is all you need to pay 🙄🤷

That's a good plan and should be no problem, based on what you've told us

@Jennifer ******

Enjoy your extended stay

so you were going to leave Monday knowing that was a 3 day overstay, am I right? Now on Saturday you decided you want to stay longer. Go to Immigration Monday. Pay 3x 500 baht for the overstay and 1x 1,900 baht for the 30 day extension. Take it in cash

@George’s *********************

There is one risk. Your entry is always the judgement of the Immigraion Officer at the desk in front of you. If you make too many entries over an extended period of time, they may consider you are not really a tourist. There are no hard and fast rules about this and that IO has the last word on the matter. The less you leave and return, the more likely they will see you as a genuine tourist. But your FB appears to show you've been coming and going since early 2024, so be prepared.

Another option is to leave Thailand and apply at a nearby Thai embassy for a multi-entry tourist visa. Very common for people who want to criss-cross SE Asia and beyond. But not all embassies do them, so check that before you choose which one to go to. The potential for refusal still applies, but your willingness to pay for an appropriate Visa reduces the risk.