LivingNThailand

I just renewed my retirement visa extension for the 10th time 2 weeks ago. Very easy. I always go to immigration about 2-3 weeks early to check with them to make sure nothing (it does a little every year) has changed. It was super easy and took about 15 minutes. I just realized I can do the income method. Two years ago, I changed the way my retirement money comes in every month. Direct from my USA bank account to a Thailand bank account. Showing international transfer monthly. So next year I'm going to immigration and confirm i can do that. If so, I can free up my 800,000. Just make sure your monthly income comes into your Thailand bank as an international deposit.

People are so ready to Hate. Not my generation. We were the Love Love Love generation. https://www.thephuketnews.com/restaurant-owner-says-israeli-tourist-provoked-flag-confrontation-99541.php You can copy and paste the link. If the link doesn't work then it is in the Phuket News Restaurant owner says Israeli tourist provoked flag confrontation

Normally I wouldn't respond to something like this, but I read an update and the owner of the restaurant is a Muslim who had the Palestinian flag on the wall. The customer came in and demanded he take the flag off the wall and allegedly started preaching to the owner. Who then threw him out of his restaurant. His business, his option to put whatever he wants on his walls. If you don't like the decor, then leave. In Phuket there is a huge Muslim community and I am privileged to know a lot of these fine people. The official count in Phuket says that about 30% of the population is Muslim and they get along with everyone, except it appears, some people who demand they redecorate their business. Tourists can be ignorant about this religious makeup of Phuket and they need to be tolerant of all Thai people that live in Phuket. They are only guests in this fine country. Which will never happen, but we can only hope.

The Cuban government used to do that to American passports. I'm not sure if they still do it. Times have changed.

That is what I do. I print out the form and keep it in my passport, but NOT stapled. If I need to take my passport somewhere I put the 90 day form somewhere safe until I get back

Call me paranoid but I have every single bank book issued to me since I moved here 10+ years ago. Also every single passport issued to me since I was 18. 😅 Smart man. I'm in the process of doing the same. Me too. 😁

This was in the Phuket News a few weeks ago. Whether the immigration officers at the airport know about it, that's another thing: As of late 2025/early 2026, the 20,000 Thai Baht (or 40,000 per family) proof of funds required for tourist entry into Thailand does not have to be physical cash. Phuket Immigration clarified that the money simply needs to be accessible, allowing for credit cards, debit cards, or banking app balances. Official Position: While historically rigid, Phuket Airport Immigration Chief Pol Col Rasarin Thiraphatthanakun confirmed in December 2025 that cash is not mandatory, according to a post on Facebook.

I believe it is 20,000 or the equivalent. ATM, credit card, bank app or whatever is used now. Not a lot for starting a holiday in a foreign country. Besides he was drunk, wasn’t wearing any clothes which is also not a good way to start a holiday in a foreign country 😂. And arriving at immigration.

Traveling is not an entitlement it is a privilege. Something that has been forgotten over the years.

That’s only about $650. If you don’t have that you shouldn’t be on an international flight and stay home.

How do you do the TM30 online? I can do the 90 day on line but I thought you had to be an owner or agent to do the TM30 on line. For future reference. Thanks.

I live in Phuket and there is a drive through window. AFter getting my stamps in the new passport, I walked through the drive through (only because it was late afternoon and no one was in line, you can't do it early or when there are cars there) The officer was kind enough to input my new passport info at that time. I cannot guarantee that they would do it again. I was lucky and it was August/September a very slow time there. Now, I think the general rule is you need new TM 30 before you do the 90 day report. You can do it the same day as 90 day, or the same day you get your stamps in new passport. Depends on your schedule and what is going on at immigration. I didn't mean to confuse anyone.

Thanks. Just go in and say This is What I want to Do. Have some extra money in the pocket. My mind is a bit more peaceful now. Thank you. Sorry to hear about Ubonjoe.

Yeah, well.....What are you gonna do? For the convenience I'll pay it. But now I know that they really can't decline it if everything is properly done, which gives me some peace of mind. I guess there isn't anything in writing about this procedure to convert (not the shakedown). We will just go with the flow. BTW, 500 for a COR for opening new bank account and another 500 for COR for driving license renewal this year. Again, what are you gonna do? Thanks for clarifying and Happy New Year.

Phuket. They said there would be a fee to change from dependant to retirement and the fee would be over and above the 1,900, and that special circumstances would be considered to change. Otherwise, she needs to leave the country and start all over, which is not at all desirable. The exact details were vague, but it seemed like she would just have to have all the same documents that I have when applying for the extension and have the money ready. I am guessing that we take the documents into immigration and tell them we want to switch. No special extra forms? She has Non-O from Malaysia 10 years ago. She does not want to start all over, especially with 10 years of history with immigration and she will have 800,000 in the bank for about 6 months before the extension. I remember I did inquire about this before, but things are always a bit wavy at immigration. After reading the response from this post I was just wondering if there is something in writing that says it's normal to change without leaving the country and not really a special circumstances situation. Special circumstances seems to indicated that the officer has to make a judgment call. I don't mind paying an extra one-time fee, she just doesn't want to leave the country and start the process all over again after going through all the procedures for the past 10 years. We are both planners, so already working on this for March. I wouldn't have written again, but the response intrigued me. Thank you very much for your assistance.

Your response is very interesting. In a few months, my wife will be trying to change her extension status from dependent / trailing spouse on my retirement extension (non-O both of us). We have decided, same as Hocus Pocus, that at our age we should both have individual retirement extensions for a layer of security in case something happens to me as the primary extension holder. Her new retirement bank account will be six months at that time. Originally, we were told the money needed to be in the account only two months to change the status. However, the information we have received from immigration is a bit muddy and unclear. Is there anything official I can reference about changing the status of the extension? We really do not want to use an agent. Any information would be greatly appreciated. And thank you, Hocus Pocus, for your detailed report. Plain, clear facts and not opinions are always welcome on this forum. Everyone, Happy New Year.

Thanks. I'm assuming Phuket will be the same. If not, I'll talk my way through it. 🤗

I've been wondering about that. I just turned 70 and planning on going to the USA next year. I heard that there is a lane for us oldsters. 😃 Bring it on, I'm playing that old card. Anyway, where do I find this lane when departing and returning? Leaving from Phuket, but will have to go through immigration in Bangkok on the way back. anyone have any input on this. Thanks. Also, shoes off at Thai airports (over 70) ? TSA in the USA doesn't require shoes off anymore. It wouldn't be so bad, but the last time I flew in Thailand they didn't offer any chairs to sit on to take / put shoes on.

I didn't read all the replys, but I got a new passport in July, and had to do the 90 day in person end of September/October. Luckily I brought old and new passport because the lady IO (Phuket) tried to get me to reregister my address, but I talked her out of it showing her my old passport with all the extension stamps. In early December, I completed the 90-day online and was approved within the hour. As a side note, I find that if you do the 90 day during normal business hours you get approved right away. If you try on the weekend it takes a couple of days to get approved. Also do it early, like at least 10 days early. Hope this helps.

Good point. What about the debit cards? My credit cards are USA and I get notices from time to time on questionable charges. The debit cards are Thai banks. And mobile banking. Will they have same protection as the Thai credit cards?

Lots of tourists buy food at Makro Rawai. One of the reasons I don’t like to go there. Too pushy and not polite.

I'm surprised it took them so long to figure out it is being abused. A whole family in my neighborhood went on a visa run last month. I don't want to say more, but the whole thing is a bit dodgy.

I applied on line at the beginning of July and received my new one in just a little less than a month. It was easy and even got an email from the state department when they mailed it from the US to the embassy. They only problem I had was the vendor that supplies the prepaid postage didn’t take my debit card and I finally tried my credit card and it worked. with the government shut down it will definitely take longer right now so plan ahead. In fact I’d start soon if it was me.

My neighborhood is multi national. In a three block radius there are families with children from Korea, Russia, England, Sweden, Australia, Khakastan, China, United States, Japan and of course many Thai children. All pretty much well behaved. Not to sound racist, but the Israeli children are loud, screaming and out of control. No parental control. I’m waiting for one of the kids to be hit by a car or truck because they run amok without any regard to anything or anyone around them. It’s very sad for the kids, in my opinion.

exactly the same in my neighborhood. Plus all the weed smoking from the parent of small children???