It sounds like these 3, 6, etc month interest accounts (similar to CDs) are not valid. Would like to know if someone has tried to use a Thai stock brokerage account.

What do you mean by interest account?

Was it the usual 100 Baht to look at you and see if you are breathing or did they take a blood test?

Did you need the medical certificate? There have been some recent posts saying they did not need for the renewal.

Also, renewing for Americans is easy if you can get to a US embassy or get to one of their outreach visits. You fill out a form with your income and they notarize it.

You do not have to have 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank. You just need to prove income of 65,000 Baht/month

These are the financial requirements: Applicant must be able to provide proof of a pension or other regular income from a source outside of Thailand;

Applicant’s pension or other regular income must be no less than the equivalent of 65,000 Baht per month;

Alternatively, the applicant may meet the financial requirement by maintaining a Thai bank account with a minimum amount of 800,000 Baht. (Applicants will need to show that they have 800,000 Baht in savings each year when they renew their visa.)

Any applicant married to a Thai citizen may be able to receive a visa on that basis rather than retirement.

Interesting article. The recurring point made by this work permit official seems to be that in most cases if a local Thai can do the job, a work permit is needed.

The US consulate that comes to Pattaya stopped accepting cash and they now require a bank draft. The check needs to say American embassy Bangkok and it needs to be an exact amount of Baht posted on the web site a few days before their visit that is equivalent to $50. My check said US embassy Bangkok so I had to go to the bank and get another Check.

I just remembered I knew an American that died last year and he also had a bank account in a Thailand. I think he did not like paying the $50 notary fee to the US embassy (haha). It can be a pain to get the income letter if you have to travel to Bangkok. Here in Pattaya, the US consulate makes frequent visits. I use the letter because I would rather invest the money or keep in an insured bank account. There are those (not Americans) that also don’t have a lot of money that appear to use visa services for a high fee that seem to be more like the local mafia since 800,000 Baht temporarily shows in their account and somehow it gets through someone in immigration.