onera1961

Perfect plan. You can convert from SETV to Non-O in an immigration office inside Thailand.
 

29 minutes ago, SmartH said:

b) Will I be able to open a Thai bank account with just a SETV? If not, then are funds of at least 800k Baht equivalent deposited in a UK bank sufficient for step 3?

Hit and miss. Should be able to open a Bangkok bank account. But may not be easy. You have to be persistent and may have to talk to the Manager. Go to their larger branch not branches in shopping centers. 

29 minutes ago, SmartH said:

c) Can the one year extension definitely be done *during* the last 30 days of the Non-Imm O? If not, there wouldn't be enough time to season the 800k for 60 days.

Yes, it can be done definitely

29 minutes ago, SmartH said:

e) Will I need to produce a Police letter of good conduct from the UK and a medical certificate at any stage of the process?

No police letter for good conduct and doctor's health certificate required if done inside Thailand.

If you're willing to spend 15K baht, you can avail the services of visa company (or agents) and they will smooth out the process, documents, opening bank account, etc and it is hassle free. From second year, it is very easy and most people do it by themselves. For the first year, specially changing from Tourist visa to 3-month Non-O and then to one year extension, you may encounter some issues at different offices but if you're persistent you can do it yourself as thousands have done it before you very successfully. Best option is to come here on an O-A visa but you have already ruled that out. 
 

13 minutes ago, riclag said:

Jomtian and  check out the  many condo's and their rental options! Tons to choose from! 

He mentioned about renting a house. With 50K/month, he will certainly be able to rent a house with swimming pool in a gated community in and around Pattaya. Beach road and 2nd road (as he mentioned) are dirty and very crowded. One can find a decent condo for may be 15K. If he fancies high rise condo living with sea view, it can also be obtained for 25/30K

1 minute ago, riclag said:

Could he obtain a Non O visa in Lao assuming he gets a single entry tourist visa in LA?

Why go through all those hassle? He can get an O-A in LA and set for one year. If his wife is Thai, he can get an O in LA also. 

5 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

why is the combination method allowed for retirement extensions, but not for marriage/child ones? (an old query).

May be the limit is already very low (40K/400K). 

5 minutes ago, Wanderlust said:

Similarly, why are marriage/child extensions allowed average monthly income but retirement apparently not? (a new query!). I'm guessing the latter one could just be an oversight with new regulations, but the former?

May be if somebody is working and he lost his job for a few months. So the average will work for him. Retirement does not allow work. So, no need for average.

2 minutes ago, steve73 said:

Try "Dee money".  I'll add a link later.

Just type DeeMoney in Google. Go to Bangkok and open an account there with only your passport. After that you can use their mobile app to send money out of Thailand. There is an excellent report written by @Pib. Search for it in the forum

The initial application cases based on "income method will be interesting". Most probably they will push them to agents or give three months extensions in increment to stay and prove that you are bringing money into Thailand.

1 hour ago, MikeOKitches said:

I plan on going to Thai Immigration at Chaeng Watthana here in Bangkok before my Retirement Visa expires on 31 March 2019. Hopefully, they'll accept my Income Affidavit I got. This is Thailand, so I don't know what to expect.

So start worrying about it as if it will cure your anxiety. Don't worry about something you're not in control. You can keep sending 65K/month and go in March and see what happens. With the embassy letter, they may also reject if you come up blank in your bank book. 

30 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not easy. I'm not going to sidetrack this thread, except to say I bing in aud cash in one or two hits every year. I'm aware of various ways to transfer money. The best is to bring in cash and exchange here. Only suited to those that have reason to visit home country.

You still have to other ways - like 800K in a bank and agent. If you only want to do it your way or highway, you may have to look for other option. TIs not going to entertain your way only. Sorry.

21 minutes ago, wobalt said:

However why the TI doesn’t accept them now - is not clear

Because TIs don't have to accept your way, my way and million other ways. Can you imagine the circus it will create?

1 minute ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Agent users still have to provide the documents the TI wants.

Yes but they don't have to spend their time in TVF, bank, etc., reading what documents need to be provided for their jurisdiction. They don't have to know how the TIs in their jurisdiction is interpreting the Thai written orders, etc. All information agents will have and I bet they will also help you in getting exact documents you need. 

4 minutes ago, ocddave said:

Not retiring here, have to be here, so I'm just a statistic waiting for a place to happen.....I figure death by pollution, death by Thai drivers, or death by chemical/pesticide infused food or water. I spend my time trying to avoid dying, hopefully I'll be successful

You're lucky because you won a genetic lottery but destitute Thai people are not as lucky like as you. 

8 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Well as I see it then for guys like me who stay here only part of the year, its back to either METVs, or back to Back SETVs and border runs.

You can also do back-to-back exemption entry. Does not cost anything. But there may be risk of entry denial depending on how often you do it.

2 minutes ago, Vacuum said:

Agent users won't believe you.

It is hit and miss. It is the total time he spent collecting documents that TIs not even interested. Agent users don't like to deal with the hassle and nitty gritty of TI's retirement  extension. 

10 minutes ago, LongTimeLurker said:

Presumably these monthly transfers will be subject to Thai income tax since they are income remitted in the year it is earned.

 

Maybe that is the reason behind it all??

Please don't post non-sensical posts about income tax. 

1 hour ago, ocddave said:

I'd rather see corruption stamped out with an iron-fist, then get back to a set of rules that everyone follows...or else.

Instead of posting it in TVF, why don't you become a Thai activist for eliminating corruption starting from the lowest level at villages where destitute Thai people have to pay tea money to get things done at the government offices. If you start that, it will be a real worthy cause to spend your retirement time here in Thailand. 

12 minutes ago, nasa123 said:

But still in Phuket you can not open a bank account if you don’t have a B-visa whit work permit, a have a account BAT new peopel no. 

They may have to go to Bangkok. Banks may change their rules for opening account in the future if TI is truly working with the banks to prepare the letter needed for "monthly transfer method"

47 minutes ago, roger101 said:

My pensions are paid into my UK Bank (Nationwide) and I use Transferwise to bring the money here every month. So I take it that this would not be recognized by Immigration as a Foreign transfer so therefore would not be allowed. If I brought the money over say 4 times a tear would that be accepted (straight from Nationwide).

No it is not going to be accepted. It's made clear by @007 RED that money must be brought every month. Find out from your bank if their internal coding (not what is displayed in your bank book) recognizes Transferwise transfer as an "International  transfer" or not. 

5 minutes ago, gregsmithy said:

Thanks for that its good to know someone has already asked the question through Kasikorn. Now all I need to do is get the local bank staff to understand what I want.

I think not what you want but what TI will accept as a standard for all applicants. And as somebody posted, TI is working on that with banks. (may be completely false. who knows)