Thailand is the best place for getting mixed up with immigration issues. That’s why this group and tod are invaluable. We sold our house in Walnut Creek which was paid for so we have enough money to live in Thailand for about 165 years (ok I’m exaggerating a bit)

If you had a Baht for every time you’ve said this; well you’d have a few bucks US. 555

We did the same. But came at 11:30 and then went for lunch. They took us first at 1 despite the long line.

@Saffron ********

if you’re willing to consider using an agent they will know exactly what’s needed but many people discourage the use of agents when you can do it yourself. I don’t disagree but we still used one because it was seemless after Tod helped us with all the correct information ahead of time

I can’t answer with certainty but generally speaking, as long as there’s been 800K minimum for a continuous 60 day period, the bank will give you the letter for immigration stating this. We use Bangkok Bank and although we did transfer the funds only about 90 days before we applied for the extension, the agent we used didn’t care as long as the boilerplate bank letter says what it needs to say. Granted we used an agent. If u do it yourself they may well ask for proof that the funds were wired from overseas. They may not be happy about gradual ATM withdrawals subsequently deposited that add up to 800K but maybe

@Tod ********

can help with that question

@Saffron ********

converting the tourist to non O has advantages in Chiang Mai. It’s one if the three things you and can do at the smaller upstairs immigration office at Promenada and there’s rarely large amounts of people there. (The other functions are TM30 house master applications and business visas).

Yeah. I’d take Tod’s advice first of Vientiane or maybe Penang as a second choice.

@Steve ******

in the example I cited, we paid Jim to go to the Penang consulate and get us the non o visas. The “show of good faith” was his words, not mine and since he rarely takes your cash if he can’t get a visa it didn’t matter much to us what he called it

Definitely won’t need medical or background checks if you use a consulate. However, embassies like the one in KL often require more stringent requirements so I’d go with a consulate. If you’re interested in Penang, you can look up Jim Tachinamurthy in FB and send him a message. He should respond and give you more information.

The short answer is yes; you can apply for a single entry 90 day non O visa in another country’s Thai embassy or a consulate. As for the details, it’s sketchy. I can tell you with certainty the easiest way to ensure you’ll get this is to do it in Penang via a guy named Jim who an Indian guy that works out of a small office in Georgetown and is the resident expert on all things relating to Thai visas in Penang

My wife and I moved from Penang (both American citizens) to Chiang Mai and got the visa this way. We then extended based on retirement once in Thailand and got a one year period for the same visa. My understanding is that technically speaking, a consulate is not part of the Thai immigration department so they’re not legally allowed to ask you to show any cash in a Thai bank. To be safe, however, we went to Thailand first on a 30 day visa exempt status and opened an account with 100,000 THB and then came back to Penang. Jim recommended we do this as a “show of good faith” that we do intend to extend the 90 day non 0 based on retirement once in Thailand. But there are no technical requirements.

I can’t speak for Vietnam or other countries but everyone on this list will provide plenty of great information. I can tell you that once in Thailand with a 90 day single entry non 0, you can apply to extend based on retirement anytime after there’s 45 days remaining on the non O BUT you must have 800K THB in a Thai bank account for a 60 day consecutive period on the day you apply to extend if you use this method. From a timing point of view, this means you’d have to get that 800K in the Thai bank account no later than the first 30 days after you enter on the non 0 or you won’t meet the financial requirement and would have to either extend the 90 day another way or leave and re enter.

You can PM me if you want. My wife isn’t 50 and she “follows” so getting the initial non O for both of us was a bit more complicated