ThoMichael

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

Most likely mentioned this earlier in the thread.

Be aware...nothing stopping you entering thailand visa exempt (45 days when you are planning. Plus 30 day extension.

Add couple of border bounce visa exempt entry+ extension would give you lot of time to access your options in Thailand.

You can obtain a non O from that pathway. 

Thanks for mentioning the border bounce option. I can gather the 800,000 baht right now, I just need a few more months social security deposits to cover travel and living expanses, so if I wait until December I should be ok, unless any unexpected expanses happen. The cost of living increase will be good for 2023, so I will be getting around $1500 per month. I can easily live on around $900 per month, so future months I will be fine.

So if I can get 45 days then do a border run or two if needed, that would work for sure!

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

For the OP first extension he will not have history of monthly transfers.

Nor can he provide embassy letter re income.

He would need to use money in the bank method.

800k seasoned for 2 months prior to application for extension.

Thanks for all of your replies. Now I pretty much know what I am dealing with. And I feel pretty certain I am gonna have to do the 800,000 in a Thai bank. But it will take me some time to put together that much money.

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Immigration requires proof of international transfers into a Thai bank for 12 months for a extension application. The rules state 2 or 3 months for the first extension but most offices will not accept them.

I was thinking if I go to Thailand, I will first try to find an immigration office that would accept 300,000 baht transferred into a Thai bank and my monthly (US Social Security) international transfers of $1,400 for 2 or 3 months, to do the combo method.

But make sure before I go to Thailand, I have enough money for living expenses and the 800,000 baht in my bank account at home, in case I need to transfer that also, to go the full 800,000 baht route. 

Are there any visa service companies in Bangkok that could maybe help me?

23 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

....except that he will need to evidence 12 x monthly payments to a Thai bank at the time of his application. I don't believe that he is making any transfers at present.

I am not making any transfers now, but I do still have a bank account at Bangkok Bank. I could transfer $1,400 this week and also transfer 200,000 baht, and have my social security direct deposits start the October 3rd. Could I maybe do the combo method in mid October?

I thought 2 months of income deposits are accepted on the first retirement extension application?

6 minutes ago, ThoMichael said:

I am not sure what area I will be staying in. Just around Khaosan road I guess, but if someone can recommend a good Immigration office. I will use that one.

It would be great if I could do the combo method.

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, if you know the area you plan to live and hence immigration office you will be dealing with it would be helpful to indicate that.

You may then receive first hand report.

Some offices are not keen on combination method and make things tough. 

I am not sure what area I will be staying in. Just around Khaosan road I guess, but if someone can recommend a good Immigration office. I will use that one.

6 hours ago, RedArmy said:

I do believe that visa exempt entries will actually be 45 days from October 1st - This can also be extended for a further 30 days, giving an initial 75 days in country & time to arrange your bank account & your financial affairs.

That sounds great, Actually, I wouldn't be arriving until mid October. 

It says in the Thai Imm doc, a rental agreement for the last three months is needed. I will be staying in a hotel for the first few months, but I guess they accept that?

33 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Since you are from the US you will get a 30 day visa exempt entry not a 15 day visa on arrival that only a few countries qualify for.

You can apply for a non-o visa based upon retirement at immigration and then near the end of the 90 days it allows you can apply for the one year extension.

Requirements for the non-o are here. https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022C1_09.pdf

Thanks so much for this info. I will study the Thai immigration pdf doc and make sure I meet all of the requirements.

I have to step away from my computer until later today. Will check back later.

7 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

Why do you need any letter from Social Security? Immigration do not care where the money is 'earned' as long as it comes into a Thai Bank every month and shows as a Foreign Transfer. Wise to Bangkok Bank works a treat.

$1400 is about Bht 50k when transferred.  So if you put Bht 200k in the bank, the total is 800k so should be accepted, as it is in my Imm Office in P'lok. 

It really would be great if I can make the combo method work. I will probably do the application at the Bangkok immigration office. 

Can I go to Thailand on a visa on arrival and open a bank account, and I think I can change the visa on arrival to the required Non-b visa in Thailand?, which would give me three months total to work with? 

Thanks for your help, this is all kinda complicated.

Oh ok. well I think I can scrape together the 800k if I sell my car. So I guess if I go to Thailand and get a bank account and transfer 800k into it, that will work?

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I think most immigration offices will accept a combination of money in the bank and proof of income tor reach a total of 800k baht.

Unless you can get proof of income from your embassy it will more than likely not be possible to use the combination option for the first extension since they will want proof of the income being transferred into a Thai from abroad for 12 months.

Thanks for your quick reply!  I receive a monthly pension from the US Social Security Administration that is around $1,400 per month. And if I have the current benefits letter from them?

Will that work if I put the balance to equal 800K in a Thai bank?

Hello, I have been gone from Thailand for many years, but thinking about returning. A friend told me the half income half money in the bank combo method, for the money requirement for a retirement visa extension was stopped in in some provinces. Is it still possible at Bangkok immigration or at offices in any other cities?

Any info is much appreciated.