DrJack54

I So to be clear you are flying with tourist visa and intend to obtain non O at Thai immigration. If you need to exit Thailand and reenter during the 90 days from the non O you can purchase a single reentry permit. That can be done at airport upon departure.

That's your personal interpretation of reason for gov providing covid extensions. Which of course is irrelevant as it is in the gazette. Full stop.

Prior to visa exempt 30 day permission of stay expiring you need to apply for "standard 30 day extension". Normally that would be done couple of weeks prior to expiry. A covid extension can be applied for prior to the 30 day extension ending. Again couple of weeks prior is common

This statement from the OP. ....... "change visa type must be done while there are 15 days left on existing tourist visa, ie dont go to immigration with 5 days left on your tourist visa expecting to change to type O. Wrong! they wont allow it" Suggests the OP went without 15+ days remaining on permission of stay. An oversight on his behalf that requirement is nothing new. That was for non O. You are applying for 12 month extension. That's different.

Yes 15+ days left on permit. Some offices even want more. Nothing new.

You will get better advice in "banking finance" forum

Which immigration office

1000/3800

The information regarding your non O needs to be transfered to new passport prior to applying for extension. Can be done on same visit.

The immigration officer wouldn't have a clue. Nothing will change apart from fact that some offices may pull some dirty tricks to force you to use an agent. At 5-5.5k not such a dire option.

The 800k needs to be in bank on day of application for non O retirement. It is not a retirement visa. Are you planning to obtain 12 month extension?

What is code in bankbook? FTT?

Which Thai bank and how do you plan to transfer? WISE

Yes Be aware that is 2 per calendar year

You mean date your extension is expiring. It appears for the very first covid extension some immigration offices were dating start of extension from the day you applied. Subsequent covid extensions from the date your current extension (permit) expired.

No way will covid extensions current date change. July 25 it is.

It's up to 30 days and some offices 45 days for annual extensions such as retirement etc. For extensions such as 30 day extension to tourist visa and covid extensions some offices prefer than done up to couple of weeks early. So you will get your covid extension in couple of weeks. As you want to return to Canada no problem. If not you could have just purchased a rent onwardflight. BTW can you detail flight route and cost. Wouldn't mind a trip back to Canada. Obviously Thai would need a visa so that might rule it out.

Not surprised about being asked to return. Couple of weeks early is common practice. Don't know why they asked for plane ticket. You can leave via land. In any event having a "leave Thailand" ticket is not part of any requirement for a covid extension. Just another immigration office making up their own rules.. Did you happen to mention flight to them first.

You used an embassy letter. Bangkok Bank requires that or residence certificate. Even more strictly now than in 2018. Not all embassies provide that service. Oz being one. A residence certificate in Bangkok requires you to have do a 90 day report. Not possible on TV or visa exempt.

I previously had a Harley springer. Wanted to bring it over (this was about 10 years ago). Anyway I did look into it and seemed a nightmare. Then I ran into a USA guy in random bar. He had transported his Bike from the states and summed it up well... ....."worst thing I ever did, if I had known....." Don't do it

Mark Twain quote: I have spent most of my life worrying about things that have never happened.

You would not require flight out for your border run. Timeframe 2 months would be too tight imo. If you obtained your non O asap upon reenter you still will use up few weeks. With the 90 day non O permit the usual process is to wait till last 30/45 days to apply for extension. Some immigration offices may allow an earlier extension. Certainly an agent could obtain it in shorter timeframe.

Thanks Jerry. Sounds like a horrible fall. As I mentioned earlier....one reason I'm being very conservative is that avoiding a fall at these early stages. Not doing the exercises and I need to address that as of course it's necessary. I'm meant to be making trip to Oz late Aug so hoping that can go ahead. Without stairs!

Can't believe the negativity. Many countries don't even offer visa exempt entry. As for options for retirement, again Thailand has options. IMO would be more simple if they did away with combo method and even income method. Stick 800k in a Thai bank and keep it there. No agent required simple annual process. Happy days. Hells Bells the married guys only need 400k in bank for approx 3 months of the year.

Outline how a bank account is opened in Bangkok with a tourist visa or visa exempt. You seem to indicate that you have done that.