freebornjohn

Thank you, gentlemen, for your swift and enlightening replies

I have recently retired after  living and working in Thailand for many years. I am now on a Non-Immigrant 'O' Visa, which I intend to extend with 800,000 baht in an appropriate bank account. My local Immigration Office (Udon Thani) require some proof of address. I am living with my partner in her own house and we are not married. We plan to visit our local amphur and apply for my name to be entered on the housebook. Will that be in order? Is there anything that I need to know before applying?

Thank you ubonjoe for your analysis and clear advice.

I am now looking forward to my retirement and my last day of working will be 30th June. There is a now a slight change in my plans.  I have been informed by my employer that the full amount of the money due to me will not be in my account until some time during the third week in July (no need to panic - I believe them - they are lawyers and would never lie to me). 

I will still have to leave the country and have made plans to go to Vientiane.  As I will be living in Udorn Thani I will be travelling and returning to Thailand overland. I understand that those travelling overland  are only granted a two-week visa on arrival. What type of visa will I be able to apply for without THB 800, 000  in the bank so that, when the money arrives, I can go to my local immigration office and apply for a visa that can then be extended on account of my retirement - and what documents will I be required to show at:

(i) The Thai Consulate in Vientiane?

(ii) My local immigration office?

Thanks very much ubonjoe for a swift and clear response. I assume that the medical certificate that is needed by the Vientiane Embassy is the same as has been required when I have renewed my visa every year.

I hold a UK passport and have been living and working in Thailand (with a Work Permit and a Non-Immigrant Visa) for a number of years. I will retire at the end of June and plan to continue to live here on a Non-Immigrant Visa. When I leave my job  I will receive a Retirement/Severance Package far in excess of 800,000 baht, but that money will not arrive in my bank account until my last day of work.  I understand that as soon as my work permit is surrendered I will be given some five days' grace period to, either leave the country or switch to being permitted to remain by virtue of being retired. However, as the 800,000 baht minimum will have been in my bank account for less than a week the second option will not be available.

Can anyone enlighten me as to the nearest Thai Embassy that will grant me a new Non-Immigrant visa..and what documents will I need to present.

I have already tried to get a bridging loan from my bank to no avail.

Upon reading the heading I thought that you were calling on my wily defensive skills after a thirty year lay-off. If you are new to Bangkok there are a number of bars that show the games with English soundtrack.

1. The Crossbar - Soi 23. Never been there but have only heard good reports.

2. The Penalty Spot. Sukhumwit (almost opposite the mouth of Soi 22) rather bereft of atmosphere for a 'sports bar' - but there are 'grief counsellors' available should your team fall behind.

3. The Robin Hood - Sukhumwit Road - as quiet and as crowded as Sherwood Forest.

4. Soi 8 - Sukhumwit Soi 8. Prides itself on being a rugby bar, but still a good place to watch as long as your game does not clash with a rubgy match.

5. Gullivers - Sukhumwit Soi 5. Huge barn of a place that shows all the games. Freelance 'grief counsellors' available. Do not play pool with any lady here, unless you enjoy have your arse whupped.

6. Pickled Liver - Sukhumwit 7/1. The owner is a Wednesday fan , and it is the venue of choice of some discerning Gooners - but all are welcome.

7. Manchester United Bar. Sukhumwit Soi 11. Avoid. Say no more.

Lumpini Park is (mercifully) a dog-free zone.

While it may be possible to buy a cheap guitar for five hundred baht, it will be a waste of money. Such a guitar will be so difficult to play that your enthusiasm will soon wane. Other people may recommend something cheaper, but I think you need to buy a 'Yamaha' - the cheapest of which will be somewhere in the region of 3000-4000 baht. Then if you do lose heart you will at least be able to sell it on.

There is a train from Hualompong at 22.50 which calls at

Samsen 23.05

Bang Sue 23.13

Bang Bamru 23.30

and arrives at Nakhon Pathom 00.08

From your description it appears that you used to visit Bang Saray. But I cannot help you in respect of the 'Golden Beach Resort'.

There are apartment buildings where rooms are available on a daily basis, on Sukhumwit Road either side of Soi 38, adjacent to Thonglor BTS. The last time I enquired the rooms were in the region of 800 baht per night. Soi 38 is renowned for its street food, and both the apartment buildings are but a hop, skip and a jump from a BTS station.

I have taken careful note of NancyL's advice. My plan is to retire to Chiangmai and live on something in the region of 30,000 baht per month - with substantially more than a few hundred thousand baht in the bank. If and when my savings fall below a certain amount I shall reluctantly return to the country of my birth, and (for the previous poster) will then be able to visit Brisbane Road again.

I have been following this thread with interest. I am at present living and working in Bangkok and plan to retire to Chiangmai some time next year (when the UK Pensions Office have sorted out my claim). My income will then be in the region of 30K baht per month. It has been good to see that no-one has yet queried the possibility of a quiet but comfortable existence in Chiangmai on such an amount. I will probably rent a condo for a few months before finding a suitable single-storey house. I am looking forward to becoming part of the Chiang Mai community.

My thanks to those who replied. I have now found a very nice place and am looking forward to my visit.

I am planning to attend a wedding in Chiangrai Province next month, and need to know if there is any accommodation available in Amphur Thoeng. A rudimentary hotel near the bus station would be fine.