I think you can get a 7 day emergency visa or you can do a border bounce.

If I had to choose between Bangkok or Pattaya's immigration office, I would choose Bangkok.

I had a laptop shipped to me by a friend, the insured value $1000. I had to pay 60%, I think. It was significant. It may have been different if my buddy re-wrapped the box so that it wasn't obvious that it was a new laptop.

Was that a question?

Really no reason you couldn't study English.. And it's an easy A.

Is (25K + 15K = 40K) fair?

It depends how you value your money and your time. If you have the time to go to immigration a few times and hang-out for day each time AND you want to save 40K, then this is NOT a good deal. However, if you have an extra 40K and you prefer as little hassle as possible, then this IS a good deal.

Here, they are Pattaya they are asking 10-15 to renew the retirement visa, but I am not really sure what that includes.

@Ian ****

I am mostly eligible for this visa except the company I work for is not public and therefore I am doubtful I will be able to get their financial documents. Is the company you work for private or public?

I would estimate that "Public Service Animals" is a trend that hasn't caught on here. I am not saying they are not useful but for many generations Westerners got along fine without public service animals and the Thai people still get along fine without them. I live next to a school for the blind and I haven't seen blind people with service dogs. That would be problematic given all the soi dogs (street dogs).

I had a buddy bring his pet dog from Korea so I know you can bring dogs with you. Also, it's possible to find a place to stay with a pet. Like any place, your options will be more limited.

I would love to have a dog but I hate the idea of my neighbors having noisy dogs. I am a condo owner and I imagine many condo owners feel the same way.. Hence, there will be few condos available for you to rent.. Probably townhouse and free-standing homes will be more accommodating.

Have you looked at bahtsold.com ? Its a website/market place that lists many things including home/condo for sale/rent. Being on the ground and shopping for stuff in person will better than online but at least bahtsold can help you get idea of the rental situation.

I notice they do that with water bottles also.

I have never needed one. I used to print those out from the internet. They seem pointless. Police ask for ANY driver's license, car rental places ask for ANY drivers license, no body asks for the International Drivers Permit (notice its not a license). It's a document that says you have a license from someplace.