Andrew Dwyer

Each Thai Embassy makes its own rules.
French one is well know to be a very difficult one .
They do have a rule that from your second O-A you must have 800k in a Thai bank... 

That would suppose that you get a Non-O Multiple Entry,

but they are not easily available for everyone.

 

By example the Thai Embassy in France delivers Non-O on Single-Entry only.

The option then is Non O-A, but they require money 800k in a Thai bank...

For applications for O-A the money can be in any bank, I.e. your home country.

Note: that applies for the UK , not sure about other countries.

Thailand doesn't want warm and friendly retirees, it wants people who can support themselves financially and hopefully support their wife's family as well, if they are married. That is a very sad state of affairs, but it is real.
 
You say that everyone is equal but in Thailand there are two kinds of people: people with money and people without. There is zero welfare for foreigners, nor should I imagine that there will ever be.
 
If you can't meet these basic financial requirements, you should go somewhere else.
 
That may sound harsh, but is the stark truth of the country and better that people understand this than have some kind of rose-tinted view of something that does not exist.
 
To get back to the original point, I was only trying to point out that the new deposit requirements are quite reasonable, and if someone cannot meet them at the later stages of their life then there are other places for them to go. Criticise all you want but I am just saying how it is in an effort to stop people from deluding themselves. Things have slowly been getting worse for years now, and it seems like the trend will only continue.
 
If you can meet the requirements, then Thailand is a beautiful country with lovely people and food, just watch out for the grumpy ex-pats! [emoji2]
 
If you retired here on false promises and a paltry pension, I'm sorry about that, but there are lots of things you can do to improve your situation.

Yes to all the above.

Do check out your landlord first , if he requires you to conceal any holes upon leaving bear in mind that matching the colour is not always as easy as it sounds.

If the wall is concrete drill a small hole first ( around 3mm ) to stop the finish drill size wandering.

On the plus side , I learnt a new word today “ spackled “ !

Reggie Perrin strikes again ?

Yeap....totally agree...preaching to the choir I know.  The basic visa fee is the cheap part....it's the airfare, possible hotel bill, and just all the other costs associated with getting all the required docs and just making a long trip.  And let's not forget the time and effort which can take a toll on one's body and mind.  

 

I know some make it sound easy since they just happen to go back every year or two...the Thai embassy happens to be close by, and every thing is made to sound like a piece of cake in getting a new O-A visa.  But those folks are the exceptions.

Yup, it works out expensive but is a good option to steer clear of the new rules.

Visa -£125

Police clearance -£45

Medical - (can be in Thailand ) £8

Docs notified - around £5 per doc.

Flights, if not already going to visit.

Hotel, if not staying local.

Transport, if necessary ( in my case , coach was cheapest from North )

I visit every 6 months or so, so worth considering in my case .

I just get in and do everything I can to get out as quick as possible, nor do I want to hold up the queue behind me. I always figure they don't know any more than anybody else!

Given these new rules seem to have been pulled out of a hat just a few days ago, no one has much of a clue on the particulars. Not least immigration, who (as the thread title mentions) are bewildered.

Jeez how many times do we have to repeat that :Yes 2 months on first extension and then 3 thereafter for all other extensions ....

Just once more [emoji848]

2 months on first................

Tell me Big Joke why do a retired person here have to keep 400,000 baht in the bank all year long and 800,000 in the bank for 5 of those months while a married expat only has to have 400,000 in the bank to season for a few months a year.   Why do I as a retiree need to have more money than a married person who supports his family, her family and half the village need less money then I do?

My thought also which is why I am wondering if a fixed deposit account would be accepted.

Lopburi office opened about 8 years, and money has always been seasoned for 3 months, I have said why not 2 months like other offices, they said here is 3 months.
So now can not touch the money for 6 months. 

You may be lucky enough to be able tie up 800,000 Baht for five months every year without needing to spend of it, in which case bully for you.
There might be others who have committed themselves to Thailand by buying themselves a condo to enjoy their retirement in, so don’t have a spare 800,000 Baht they can leave untouched in the bank.
There might be those who’ve retired here under the previous conditions and didn’t expect the goalposts to be moved.
One wonders if those who can demonstrate they have the current required monthly income might be the next to have the goalposts moved.
For the life of me I really don’t understand the reasoning for needing to leave 800,000 Baht in the bank for five months of the year when it’s supposed to be evidence that you have sufficient to live on.

not seasoned, in , update book and out via ATM transfer, do not update bank book , show

rinse repeat

Don’t you read the OP ?, you have to show a bank statement !

No mention of passbook !

So how do you suppose you confirm that you have 800k in the bank?