Liquorice

You can enter Thailand visa exempt, then apply for the Non O at Immigration with 400K in a Thai bank account. VE entry = 60 days + Non O = 90 days, total 150 days. The 400K must be seasoned in a Thai bank account for 2 months prior to submitting a 1 year extension application. 1 year extension based on Thai spouse have to be approved at regional level You receive a 30 day under consideration stamp while your application is processed. 5.5 months in the Country, you'd have departed before your extension can be approved. You'd only have time to apply for the 1-year extension if you entered with a Non Imm O visa based on a Thai spouse.

Your same question has been answered multiple times with available options. If you don't want to open a Thai bank account and transfer 400K THB funds into a Thai bank account, then apply for and enter Thailand with a Non Imm O visa based on Thai spouse from the Thai Embassy London. On entry, you're given temporary permission of stay for 90 days, which can be extended for a further 60 days at Immigration (1,900 BHT) = 150 days. A border hop and re-entry will then permit you a further 60 day stay = 210 days. Even that can be extended for a further 60 days = 270 days. There are options available, but the key question is whether you want to open a Thai bank account and transfer funds here, or would you prefer to keep your money in your UK bank account? Answer that question, and we can be more specific with your options.

Only 9 different types of Non Imm visas listed on the Thai Embassy DC site. I suspect for each type of visa, there will still remain multiple options for the purposes of your visit. https://washingtondc.thaiembassy.org/en/page/visa-fees-validity?menu=64ef5ba41986b07d37326263 Subject to either 180 day extensions, or border bounces for new entries and no doubt for the softer options, proof of booking a class or course. I'll stick with my annual extensions @1,900 BHT per annum, thanks.

That same exception applies to both section 2.18 "family members" and section 2.22 "retirement", with the same requirements > evidence from Pension! Rightly or wrongly, Immigration make the assumption if you apply for a 1 year extension based on Thai spouse, then you must have retired or be working in Thailand. If you're young enough and not in receipt of a pension, then the assumption appears to be you have sufficient funds to deposit 400K THB in a Thai bank account. At my IO, if using the monthly overseas transfers for an extension based on either retirement or Thai spouse, they regularly request proof of being in receipt of a pension.

Nobody has suggested the exception has been reminded, but it's literally unworkable. The OP retired a long time ago, so it's not even an option.

They announced changes to the Non Imm O-A visa, known as the 'long stay retirement' visa. The change was to reduce the mandatory Health Insurance from the current 3M BHT requirement, to 400K inpatient, 40K outpatient between September - December. If it's not from an official Immigration website, treat it with a pinch of salt.

I recall back around 2015/16, particularly at CW, when foreigners offered TM30's and they refused them. Then suddenly they started to enforce the TM30's again, and fined even those that had previously tried to file them.

They can fine a maximum of 2,000 BHT, but 80 BHT is fairly standard.

It's not a visa Rob, it's a 1 year permit of stay.

Incorrect. Read section 38 and section 4 of the Immigration Act as to who is responsible to file a TM30.

Your Non Imm O visa is 'USED'. You were stamped with a period of stay of 90 days. Permitted to stay until (date) which is a permit, not a visa. It is this permitted period of stay that you extend. You cannot extend the validity of a visa. If your 400K funds haven't seasoned for the required 2 months, you can apply for a 60 day extension. Within the last 30 days of that 60 days (funds now seasoned) you can apply for the 1 year extension of stay. Extensions based on Thai spouse have to be approved by the regional office. When you submit your application for a 1 year extension you will receive a 30 day under consideration stamp, usually from the date your current permission of stay ends. Once approved, your 1 year extension will be backdated to the date your 60-day extension expired. You cannot be on overstay when an extension is waiting for approval.

I don't disagree with that, but that's the course of inheritance when no Will is in place and your legal spouse will always remain a statutory heir. It's why I always advocate to make a Will in Thailand regarding any Thai assets, and one in your home Country regarding any assets there.

According to the new TM30 regulations, if you're re-entering with a ME visa, or re-entry permit then a new Tm30 is not required. Depends if your IO is complying with the regulation, or not.

Firstly, you should always have separate Wills for assets in Thailand and in your home Country and each should reference the other, Your legal spouse will always be regarded as the beneficiary in the event of your demise, and a Will can either confirm or change that. Not in the case of Thai spouse, who under Thai ascension law is the automatic beneficiary, unless a Will states otherwise. This as others have confirmed is why Thai banks advise you to withdraw any funds (if you have access) before advising the bank of the death. There are no repercussions in the case of the Thai spouse making those withdrawals, even without a Will, as she is legally entitled to it. I've helped Thai spouses and a Thai carer through this process 4 times in the last two years.

Then they will receive a receipt, which they should give to you to staple in your passport as evidence it was filed.

Or failing their reluctance to submit it, request a signed copy of their Tabien Baan and ID card, then file it yourself. You should have covered this with the owner before taking the apartment.

It's the hotel's responsibility to file a TM30 being a commercial premise. In private residential accommodation it's a different matter. In this case, under section 38 of the Immigration Act, it's the responsibility of the housemaster, owner or the possessor of the residence to file. Section 4 of the Act, defines the housemaster as any persons who is the chief possessor of a house, whether in the capacity of owner, tenant, or in any other capacity whatsoever. So you as the tenant and possessor are just as responsible to file as the owner is.

No idea what charges you incur for a direct wire transfer, but you should compare those charges against using 'Wise', which the majority of expats use for transfers. Transparent site, low cost fees and good exchange rates. Yes. Transfer 65K per month to a Thai bank account in your wife's sole name, and after 12 transfers (one year) she qualifies for an extension of stay based on retirement (50+) in her own right, not as a dependant of you. The 65K per month can be immediately withdrawn and used for expenses. Ignore the tax thing!

@LivingNThailand I assume you keep that 800K locked in an account throughout the year for Immigration purposes. I also assume you transfer other funds to cover monthly expenditure. If you can afford to make a monthly overseas transfer of 65K per month to your wife's Thai bank account in her sole name, then after 12 x monthly transfers she qualifies for an extension based on retirement independent of you.

There is no written policy or procedure in your situation. If you decease, then your wife's permission of stay ends, as it was based on you meeting the criteria. Whether Immigration would honour any remaining permission of stay (as they do when a Thai wife passes) would in my opinion be purely at their discretion. They could give her 7 days to leave the Country. Alternatively, if she is in the process of obtaining a court order to release your assets to her (easy if you have a Will in place) then an acting lawyer should be able to issue her a letter for Immigration to obtain a 90-day extension under section 2.26 of Immigration order 327/2557. Sorry, it brings us back to the financial aspect, which is just as much a part of the process for your wife to apply for an extension of stay based on retirement in her own right.

Not illegal at all if your spouse is entitled to your assets by law. It may be immoral, but it's not illegal.

Not in the case when it's your legally entitled spouse if you gave them access.

Our accounts are with Bangkok bank. Added my spouse to both my Savings and FTD accounts. In the case of my Savings account, BKK issued an additional debit card for her with her own PIN. In hindsight, she didn't really need that debit card as she has her own accounts and I pay the additional 200 BHT per annum for the additional card, and she knows the PIN for my card anyway, but it's an option. Be clear you don't want a joint account, just to add her as a co-signature to your account.