(Rent prices: bahtsold.com)

You could get by on $1,000 US a month, but you may not like it.

$500 month rent gets you an small ok place in the city. AC $100 month, $300/month food ($10/day - good enough to survive). Unlimited internet $50/month.

You can do it for less than all that but I doubt you will want to.

Apparently, some poor sons of bitches, of low tastes find rent at a fraction of the cost. I guess you could live under a bridge for just a few cents a day.... But do you want to?

Those things are usually valid for 3 months (or six months) from the date they are issued.

@Av *********

I am pretty sure going to jail does not provide you a visa. I think if you go to jail you are also overstay.

I think this is two questions

A) Can I work online while in Thailand

B) How can I stay in Thailand indefinitely

I am a computer engineer, I work online, I have been living in Thailand about 8 years. I don't tell the Thai government, also, they don't ask. You can claim whatever, you are independently wealthy, you live off your investment, you own a small company. All are pretty true. But honestly, nobody has ever asked me.

Staying indefinitely.

- get married to a Thai National

- get rich

- adopt a kid (requires verification)

- have a kid (requires verification)

- get job

- go to school (or Muay Thai training)

- marry somebody who is doing one of the above

- habitual tourist

I have done the habitual tourist for years, never a problem but there are risks involved. I recently starting doing the marriage visa. I am already mostly done. I don't think I could recommend it.

Its been a few years since I used HCMC. From what I recall, easy going, but you need to have ALL your paperwork and you need to pay crisp new US currency. I think its the same as getting into Vietnam, need to pay with crisp new currency.

I think you will be fine. If you do get question by an immigration officer, be very respectful, let them know how much you think their country is great. Dress respectfully.

Also, have all your paperwork in order.

Nong Khai is the only other place I have been quested by an IO. They were cool about it though.

Only a few banks can accept foreign deposits greater than 50,000 THB. Bangkok Bank is one of them.

When doing your Wise transfer, completing the 'purpose of money' (or whatever), you will select 'Long term stay in Thailand'. This will cause the bank records to show those deposits are from overseas. The last couple of transfers I made taken 3-4 days. The non 'long term stay' deposits happen much quicker.

Be careful about the bank you open. I have two bank accounts - but kinda suck.

Once you open an account, it's with the branch and not the bank. If I need bank statements I have to go to the branch where I opened the account.

I lost my bank book. I went to the local branch and they told me file some paperwork with the police, and bring the paperwork back and they'll replace the bank book. I did, I returned with the police report. The bank then told me they wouldn't be able to help, I would have to go to the original branch to replace the bank book. I opened a new account at a different bank.

Different occasion. I tried to get a bank statement at one branch and they told me I would have to go to the original branch. This would have been a real problem if I moved across the country.

If you live in one place and do not intend to move anytime soon, I would recommend asking your local community. If you end up getting an account at some place that always has lines or otherwise sucky customer service, you are stuck with that branch.

Insurance is the other scam the banks run. Some will only allow you to open an account if you buy 8,000 baht life insurance. You can get around that by having paperwork from immigration.

@Rosie ********

Hat Yai to Penang. Its the cheapest I found. But there maybe cheaper. I think it used to cost about $10

For my criminal check I went to the local court house and requested document that said I had no pending cases. This was in Asheville NC. Small little town. I could have had outstanding Federal or out-of-state cases.

To be honest, I didn't fully understand what the document said, it was a bunch legalize/government speak. I don't think the Thai government cares too much what you call a criminal check, just something that looks official and says something like you are not a criminal.

I had to do my criminal background about 7 years ago for a teaching job.