Peter ***************
This is a summary of
Peter ***************
's contributions to the platform. They have posed 1 questions and added 38 comments.

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COMMENTS

Peter ****************
I first got the O-A visa. It took about 2 months from start to finish. But if you can just get a physician to sign the medical certificate then you can knock off 3 weeks. I spent nearly 800 USD and waited 3 weeks to get all test results back to get the document signed. Other people said their doctor just signed it for free in seconds. The next time I got a "retirement" visa I just arrived non exempt and I paid a reputable visa agent around 25k Baht to do all the paperwork. I used Wise to transfer the 800k Baht. This is the simplest but most expensive option.
Peter ****************
@Brian *******
You might look at the O-A Visa. I had one of those back in 2019. I hate leaving 800K baht in the bank. The O-A requires insurance (not in 2019 though) but then I personally require insurance so that's not a drawback. I use a plan from April Intl which is probably not approved (yet has 1 million USD max per year) so you might have to buy some worthless plan but that just goes into the cost/benefit analysis. Leaving 800K baht in the bank has a cost. One downside of the O-A is the medical certificate. I had no primary care physician and could only find passport health to sign it at a cost of around 700 USD and 3 weeks of time. Plenty of people said their PCP just signed it. I actually got a lot of tests. You can get 2 years out of the O-A and keep your money working (hopefully) back in the states.
Peter ****************
Assist Thai Visa is legitimate. There are many legitimate agents. I used and continue to use Assist Thai Visa. I have other things I like to do more than dance to bureaucratic rules. The agent reminds me of when 90 days is due, when I have to do the extension and make sure the right amount of money is in the account etc. I use them for everything that I find tedious and boring. Granted, other people people prefer to save the money and do it themselves. To each their own.
Peter ****************
This group is rather general. If you want to do the visa route yourself, I highly suggest using the Thai Visa advice group. The admins keep everything focused and current.
Peter ****************
You didn't ask about the O-A Visa but after reading your whole post I think you'll be much better off with this one. Your money remains in the USA. I pulled money from investments and put it in my bank account and took a screen shot of it. My bank would not verify anything. Do you have a primary care physician who can sign the medical certificate? I didn't and paid over 700 USD and waited about 3 weeks for all tests. But most people just have their doctor sign it. You'll need to buy insurance. But this one really looks best for you. It will give you 2 years if you play it right.

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Peter ****************
@Mark *****
Did you do it by talking to someone at the bank or just use their app. I have Schwab primarily for the ATM but used BoA for the transfer. Does Schwab show you what will happen before you commit like Wise does? Thanks
Peter ****************
I experimented with my bank in the USA and Wise. I used the form in the bank app to send the money. It was confusing and opaque. Wise was not only simpler but it showed me the details including how much I would actually receive. It compared itself to it's competitors who sometimes would be a better deal. The amount I actually received in Baht from the bank transfer was a few percentage points less than Wise. And the only way to know that was to do it. I always, always use Wise.
Peter ****************
You really want to study the Thai visa Advice group. It is excellent. I'd spend at least an hour persuing it, probably 2 hours. Personally as I've used brokers in import/export many times I have nothing against brokers and appreciate their knowledge and am happy to pay for it to avoid bureaucracy which I despise. But I read this group to know what's going on and I appreciate the attention to detail. BTW, it's not cheap to pay a broker to do this but it makes it easy.

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Peter ****************
Do yourself a favor and post to the Thai visa advice FB group. The admins are nitpickers, pedantic, detail oriented, just the sort of people you want to listen to.