@Brandon ***********

not true! I always put for long term stay in Thailand. Money shows up in seconds. It has more to do with the home country banks releasing the money funds.

Wise always seems to front me the money then it comes out of my USA account a few days later.

@Kristie ******

I’ve had the same health insurance for six years and used it twice for short hospital stays. WR life. I’ll be 70 in a few weeks and I pay about $150 usd a month for 7 million baht in coverage.

@Sean *********

because is it’s almost impossible to open a Thai bank account without either a work permit or long stay visa. And when in Thailand you can’t open an account unless you already have one. Kind of a catch 22.

@Todd ********

I didn’t realize what the LTR visa was, I’m not rich enough for that one.

And why do you need a multi entry OA when you can pay for a re-entry permit on a regular O or OA visa?

@Sean *********

I said OA visa. There is an insurance requirement when you get it in your own country.

I now realize what the LTR visa is. I’m not rich enough to get one!!

If you’re over fifty why not just get a non O A/ retirement visa, at the Thai consulate in Los Angeles or near whatever big city you’re in? You can then open a thai bank account and put the required 800,000 baht into it. You’ll need health insurance also, but that’s a good thing to have. I’ve been here eight years and it’s the cheapest easiest way to get a visa if you meet the requirements.

Best to apply in your own country at the Thai consulate. You’ll get a non immigrant OA visa that can work for almost two years. I think it’s better to wait until at least three months before you plan on traveling. If you come into Thailand on a tourist visa you’ll have to covert it and jump through a bunch of hoops. Also you can’t open a thai bank account unless you have a retirement or work visa. They stopped giving accounts to foreigners with tourist visas.