oldcpu

My understanding is that typically when it comes to legally using an agent, (where one meets the nominal requirements but wants the convenience of an agent) one signs over a very limited power of attorney to the agent, (ie either for some immigration aspect, or some banking aspect) where they can legally conduct an activity on one's behalf. Obviously it behooves one to ensure the power of attorney is strictly limited to this activity and limited to a specific timeframe. When it comes to opening bank accounts, I believe one is facing HQ (main bank) bank policy as to which accounts they allow to be opened, and not so much any legal aspects preventing an account to be opened for a given expat.

When I am traveling with my Thai wife ( first on Type-OA, later on Type-O, and recently on LTR) and I have always gone thru Thai line.

I don't think it is easier in Phuket. It could be just as difficult, if not more difficult, than Bangkok. Back in 2016 I opened a bank account with Bangkok Bank (in Phuket town) when on a Visa Exempt status. Prior to that I had visited Krungsri Bank, SCB Bank, and UOB bank, and they all refused to let me open an account when Visa exempt. Bangkok bank only let me (then) because I convinced them I was about to buy a condo, and possibly also because I had my Thai wife with me (who had an account). Possibly if I had tried a bank (then) in Patong Beach, Phuket (which was more touristy than Phuket town, in year 2016) I would have found it easier - as banks there are more used to tourists. ... and possibly not. In the end I succeeded in Bangkok Bank in Phuket Town (and since then, once on a Type-OA visa, I successfully also opened an account with Krungsri). Having typed that, starting a few years ago (BEFORE COVID) I started seeing big signs in the Bangkok Branch office, stating (words to this effect, albeit a bit different) no new account opening on Visa-Exempt/tourist visas. Only new accounts with Long stay visas. The banks can be difficult sometimes for opening accounts. When the 10-year LTR visa first came out, we heard a few stories that the LTR visa was unknown to a couple Phuket Banks (SCB, UOB, and Krungsri come to mind) and some initial LTR visa holders were initially denied a new account. (We heard this from a friend who is a manager at one of those banks). But in the end that was sorted and the LTR visa was accepted for opening new accounts. I know - that sounds incredible - a 10 year visa and there was difficult opening a new account - but the bank branch managers had never heard of such a visa initially, and they did not want to go against their bank's policy for foreigners opening bank accounts. So possibly an agent is needed to help on Visa exempt, or on a Tourist Visa, to open a bank account. I don't know of any agents in Phuket, and it may be easier to find an agent in Bangkok.

What aspects of Koh Samui are more expensive than Phuket? According to numbeo.com: * Rent Prices in Koh Samui are 26.3% lower than in Phuket * Restaurant Prices in Koh Samui are 20.5% lower than in Phuket * Groceries Prices in Koh Samui are 4.0% lower than in Phuket Which as noted before supports a view that Phuket has very expensive rent and restaurant prices compared to most places in Thailand. According to numbeo, grocery prices are similar between Koh Samui and Phuket. However numbero.com also notes it does not have enough data to calculate difference in Consumer Prices nor enough data to calculate difference in Local Purchasing Power between Phuket and Koh Samui.

I agree that its very difficult at this time to be certain anyone's speculation on this will be accurate. A number of us are doing that - but as noted there is some speculation involved here as well (that its a safe approach) although my hope also is that bringing some additional funds to Thailand before the end of this calendar year might be a partially mitigating approach if any tax law is implemented in an unsatisfactory manner. My view is that it is not simple to enforce, but also that it is not too too difficult. Expat friends who have been here for decades, advised me there was a time when an expat (on a long term stay ( > 180 days)) in Thailand, would leave Thailand, they had to obtain some taxation document first, and have that available to show immigration upon departure from Thailand. According to my friends, it was annoying to enforce, so it was eventually done away with. So IMHO that aligns with the 'difficult to enforce' assessment. But possibly more likely (and this is pure speculation) is that if there was indeed a determined attempt to tax expats who have been in Thailand > 180 days, then this should be done when they go for their extension of stay. For any on an extension for long stay visa (such as Type-O or Type-OA) for Thailand, when they go for their 1-year extensions, they could be asked by immigration to show a Thailand tax document (if their passport indicates a stay > 180 days). That would put the onus back on to immigration to force one to either prove they submitted a tax return, and if not, the expat could be denied an extension. Again - pure speculation - but it might be a way to partially enforce such. My hope is that none of this speculation comes to pass, and clarification to any such taxation exempts expats on long term stays ... especially my hope is to exempt those living off a pension. Pushing expats to file tax returns (especially considering many may be covered by Double Tax Agreements with no tax to Thailand due) could needlessly massively increase the paperwork for Thailand's revenue service. Maybe it could cost them as much to enforce this (especially for expats on pensions) as it would for any tax gained. But that is a hope and has as much probability of happening as any of the speculations I noted. Maybe by next summer (2024) or possibly even as late as spring (2025) we will find out how this all is implemented.

Taxi costs has always been something Phuket should be ashamed of. The "taxi mafia" (as the expression goes) in Phuket have inflated taxi prices for years. I suspect other factors are more representative in regards to Chiang Mai being less expensive. I tend to agree with the 'numbeo' website assessment that the big differences between Phuket and Chiang Mai prices are rental prices, and restaurant prices (where Phuket is about (more or less) to being 2x more expensive). I also tend to agree with an assessment that in most cases (Taxi, rental accommodation, and restaurant meals excluded) that Chiang Mai is 75% to 85% of the nominal Phuket prices.

That comment, asking about the locals, brought memories of Whistler BC Canada. Many of the locals who work in the resort of Whistler BC, Canada can't afford to live there ... so they live in Squamish BC, Canada. They drive (or in many cases share a drive) back/forth from Squamish to Whistler every working day - about a 50-minute drive on a highway (in good weather conditions). When weather conditions are bad, it takes much longer. Sometimes the road is closed due to weather. Some live in Pemberton BC, which is a bit closer, but also can have bad weather conditions trying to drive to Whistler, with a 30 minute drive if they are lucky, and often much much longer to drive to Whistler. I'm not saying ideal - Far from it. Its not good. But sadly, that is the way it often is in this world, in regards to tourist resorts - and Phuket (and Patong) is no different in this regard - where local workers often can not afford the accommodation in the area close to where they need to work.

Another such site to get such comparisons, is expatistan.com: In summary it states: - Cost of living in Phuket (Thailand) is 10% cheaper than in Bangkok (Thailand) - Cost of living in Phuket (Thailand) is 15% more expensive than in Pattaya (Thailand) - Cost of living in Phuket (Thailand) is 7% more expensive than in Hua Hin (Thailand) - Cost of living in Phuket (Thailand) is 14% more expensive than in Chiang Mai (Thailand) - Cost of living in Phuket (Thailand) is 48% more expensive than in Chiang Rai (Thailand) and one can get more detail if one goes to the site and enters the two different cities that one wishes to compare. I think one needs to take such information with a grain of salt - for as I stated before, local knowledge can go a long ways to reducing costs.

There are websites where one can enter cities, and the websites will give detailed cost comparisons of two cities, with a summary, and also a large list, comparing the average price of different options. For example, numbeo.com website allows one to enter different cities in Thailand to compare, where I think one will see that in Phuket, on average, that rent is more expensive than other places in Thailand. Restaurants in Phuket also tend to be more expensive than other places in Thailand. ... My Thai wife and I mostly eat at home, and we own our own place, so those two aspects are not issues for us. Anyway, from numbeo (and there are other websites that also give such comparisons in price for the cost of living): When comparing Phuket to Bangkok: - You would need around 112,886.8฿ in Bangkok to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 110,000.0฿ in Phuket (assuming you rent in both cities). - Consumer Prices in Bangkok are 10.6% higher than in Phuket (without rent) - Consumer Prices Including Rent in Bangkok are 2.6% higher than in Phuket - Rent Prices in Bangkok are 13.4% lower than in Phuket - Restaurant Prices in Bangkok are 15.4% lower than in Phuket - Groceries Prices in Bangkok are 14.7% higher than in Phuket - Local Purchasing Power in Bangkok is 12.8% higher than in Phuket When comparing Phuket to Pattaya: - You would need around 91,661.2฿ in Pattaya to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 110,000.0฿ in Phuket (assuming you rent in both cities). - Consumer Prices in Pattaya are 3.1% lower than in Phuket (without rent) - Consumer Prices Including Rent in Pattaya are 16.7% lower than in Phuket - Rent Prices in Pattaya are 43.9% lower than in Phuket - Restaurant Prices in Pattaya are 12.5% lower than in Phuket - Groceries Prices in Pattaya are 11.3% higher than in Phuket - Local Purchasing Power in Pattaya is 1.8% higher than in Phuket Phuket to Hua Hin - You would need around 78,075.2฿ in Hua Hin to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 110,000.0฿ in Phuket (assuming you rent in both cities). - Consumer Prices in Hua Hin are 17.1% lower than in Phuket (without rent) - Consumer Prices Including Rent in Hua Hin are 29.0% lower than in Phuket - Rent Prices in Hua Hin are 53.0% lower than in Phuket - Restaurant Prices in Hua Hin are 18.9% lower than in Phuket - Groceries Prices in Hua Hin are 6.5% lower than in Phuket - Local Purchasing Power in Hua Hin is 57.7% higher than in Phuket When comparing Phuket and Chiang Mai: - You would need around 78,290.6฿ in Chiang Mai to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 110,000.0฿ in Phuket (assuming you rent in both cities). - Consumer Prices in Chiang Mai are 16.0% lower than in Phuket (without rent) - Consumer Prices Including Rent in Chiang Mai are 28.8% lower than in Phuket - Rent Prices in Chiang Mai are 54.8% lower than in Phuket - Restaurant Prices in Chiang Mai are 40.9% lower than in Phuket - Groceries Prices in Chiang Mai are 4.7% lower than in Phuket - Local Purchasing Power in Chiang Mai is 36.7% higher than in Phuket When comparing Phuket and Chiang Rai - You would need around 69,650.1฿ in Chiang Rai to maintain the same standard of life that you can have with 110,000.0฿ in Phuket (assuming you rent in both cities). - Consumer Prices in Chiang Rai are 23.9% lower than in Phuket (without rent) - Consumer Prices Including Rent in Chiang Rai are 36.7% lower than in Phuket - Rent Prices in Chiang Rai are 62.5% lower than in Phuket - Restaurant Prices in Chiang Rai are 45.7% lower than in Phuket - Groceries Prices in Chiang Rai are 14.5% lower than in Phuket - Local Purchasing Power in Chiang Rai is 9.2% lower than in Phuket That is according to numbeo.com web site on cost of living - but in truth, I am a bit skeptical as to its accuracy. (I think it makes Phuket look more expensive than it can be in practice). I still say that a little local knowledge goes a long ways in Phuket, and one can find ways to keep one's costs down in Phuket to be mostly more comparable to other provinces. Although I will re-iterate, if one is looking for the least expensive place to live in Thailand, the for certain one does not move to Phuket. .

Agree. Still, as you point out, after one lives here in Phuket for a while, one gets to know where to find inexpensive places for most things, and it can be mostly comparable to most other provinces. Having a Thai spouse makes a world of difference, in finding those places. I think thou, for one without a Thai spouse, and without the extra time to 'learn the ropes', Phuket is more expensive. I've been living in Phuket for many years and I like the province, but I have a Thai spouse, which for certain makes things easier for me. For certain, I do not believe one lives in Phuket, if one is looking for the least expensive cost of living. .

Perhaps ... but not for all. I had the 22nd anniversary with my Thai wife a few days ago. I have to keep reminding myself how lucky I am. Like myself, while we were married (before us moving back to Thailand), she was an engineer in Europe, earning an engineers salary. She did not need to live with me for money - she had and has more than enough of her own money. I hope that you eventually have the good fortunate like myself, to meet a Thai women who can see you for your qualities other your money. In my case my wife has more than enough of her own money and my money is IMHO not relatively large enough to be a factor for her sticking around with me.

Not always. If one fully meets the requirements then I doubt there is any payment to the IO. In such a case, for strictly the extension of one's permission to stay, the agent is given legal power of attorney and everything is 100% legal in that case and by the book. No bribes. Nothing illegal. One simply pays the agent such that one does not have to sit around the Immigration office, and one does not have to research to see if any new documents needed. The agent does most of the work, all for a fee. Would I ever go for an agent? Highly unlikely. I'm too cheap. I would rather spend the money elsewhere. But as I posted already, there are those, with the money, who do not have my patience when it comes to the renewal of their permission to stay and they will happily pay an agent so they don't have to be bothered. .

The paperwork? For the first extension, its mostly paper work proving one is married. If married not in Thailand (to one's Thai spouse) then there is a lot of official translations ($$) and certifications needed of one's foreign marriage documents (and even foreign passport) to take in Bangkok to one's embassy (for certification) and to Thai foreign affairs (for certification) followed by taking to one's local city hall, to have the marriage registered in Thailand and obtain the Kor-22 (?). And after obtaining this, do NOT lose it ... its a pain to do again. Then every year, prior to going for the extension for the permission to stay in Thailand, some (all ? ) immigration offices require one go back to City Hall to have the Kor-22 (?) marriage registration document in Thailand updated (with a current date stamp). Dependent on the City Hall, this could mean hours waiting. Some immigration offices may not require this, but some do require this, every year. One also needs to have paper copies with images of one's wife's current ID for each extension of the permission to stay. Some offices require images of one with their wife (1) inside their home (2) outside their home where their house (or condo) # is visible. In the case of a condo it could be 2 images (not just one by the entrance), with one by the door to their unit, and one by the condo entrance. Some immigration offices insist it be new image(s) (by one's home with one's wife) every year (as opposed to continually using the same image). I think some Immigration offices might require one's wife accompany one as part of the extension (of one's permission to stay) process. Also some (not all) immigration offices require that one be at home with one's wife for a house visit, where one or more immigration officers will come to one's home, and want to take images of one with their wife in all sorts of rooms in one's home. That is what comes to my mind off of the top of my head - maybe others know of other items that I forgot while typing this. I did not find it too onerous, but it was definitely more than what was needed for retirement. However I do believe there are those who would have ZERO patience for all of that, every time a renewal is required. I know my wife was irritated by the process ... and "a happy wife is a happy life" ... but an upset wife makes one's life less than pleasant at times. .... What I found most unpleasant, was that the annual extension for one's permission to stay, based on marriage, took weeks waiting for the approval, as opposed to days in the case of a retirement extension.

As noted there are two types of Visas to consider: Type-OA and Type-O (with permissions of stay in Thailand can be based on retirement or based on marriage). If you obtain permission to stay (in the Visa application and subsequent extensions) based on marriage, you do not need to worry about being forced to get health insurance from the Thai branch of a health insurance company. A type-O visa has (IMHO) the advantage that if one wishes to go for a 'permission to stay' based on retirement, there is no Health Insurance requirement (from a health insurance company Thai branch). This is contrary to a Type-OA which has a health insurance requirement for extensions based on retirement. Note: A retirement extension is more expensive in terms of proof of funds than a marriage extension: An extension of one's permission to stay in Thailand requires more proof of funds for an extension based on retirement, as opposed to when on an extension based on marriage. The advantages to an extension based on retirement (over marriage) is that there is far less paperwork (and IMHO less hassle, and its quicker to obtain) and it if based on an underlying Type-O visa, no health insurance proof needed. The advantage to an extension based on marriage (over retirement) is that one needs less proof of money (than that of a retirement extension) and in the case of a Type-OA underlying visa, there is no Health Insurance proof needed for an extension based on marriage. I would recommend going for a Type-O based on retirement if you can prove the funds. And if you don't want to meet the financial requirements (for retirement) then I still recommend a Type-O (but instead based on marriage). This way if something should happen to your wife, or something happen to your relationship with your wife, you can more easily (at your annual renewal) switch to a permission to stay extension based on retirement (assuming you can then meet the increased financial requirements of a retirement extension over a marriage extension). If you were on a Type-OA (based on marriage) and you were suddenly no longer married, you would be faced with the Health Insurance requirements from the Thai branch of a health insurance company, which could be disruptive to one's current health coverage setup. The Type-O visa avoids such a potential future possibility.

While I agree (or at least when I was on a Type-OA and a Type-O agreed) that if one meets the requirements (via funds) there is no need for an agent ... and I have NEVER used an agent myself, ... I do have friends who have lived in Thailand for years, who have more than adequate finances to meet the extension of the permission to stay requirements, and they ALWAYS use an agent. Simply put, they are in their late-70s, they detest sitting around at immigration, and an agent is far far less hassle for them, and the amount of money they spend for an agent is trivial for them. Their tolerance for any hassle is FAR FAR less than mine. When they fly somewhere, they fly business class. Why? Because the extra money from economy to business is trivial for them. Again, if I was still on a type-O or a type0A visa myself, I would NOT use an agent, but the point is I do know some who think different than myself, for reasons that are very logical for them. Not everyone uses an agent because they can't meet the financial requirements.

Likely no more home visits (nor home videos) for myself for a decade or so. As soon as I obtained the one-year extension on my 90-day Type-O Visa (for reason of retirement), I then immediately applied for an LTR-WP visa. I waited until I had the approval of the one year extension on my Type-O permission to stay (for reason of retirement), before applying for the LTR-WP, so that I would not stress over my LTR-WP application if it was slow in getting approved. That turned out to be a fortuitous approach, as it took me 5-months to get the LTR-WP, most likely because my assets are very very diverse, because I had to buy some government bonds to reach the necessary investment in Thailand, and because BoI wanted an up to date Canadian taxation document - where that took me some time to get. One thing I like about the LTR-WP (as opposed to the old Type-OA retirement extensions) is that the LTR-WP allows self Health Insurance by having a certain amount of money in a bank anywhere in the world. Wow ... just showing up. That would work for me (for retirement) if only I had to be in the condo when they (immigration) showed up. But if it was for 'marriage' extension, trying to pick a time (other than early morning or evening) when both my wife and I are in my condo would be very hit and miss. Fortunately, with LTR-WP, most of those paperwork days are gone for another 4.5+ years for myself. However when the 10-years of the LTR-WP are up, I might go back to a Type-O visa, if it is still around, and if the conditions/requirements have not changed.

First time I obtained a 1 year extension (retirement) on my permission to stay on a Type-OA Visa, at Phuket immigration, the IO stated they would call at my condo unit for a visit. Even thou this was a retirement extension, my Thai wife happened to be with me, and she also gave the IO her #. In the next couple of months we were called twice by immigration. Both times we were out of province. They never did visit in the end. Then a couple of years later, when I switched to to a 1-year extension on my permission to stay (on that Type-OA) visa, but this time for reason of retirement. Again, they stated they would do a house visit. And again when they called, I was out of province, and in the end they never did visit. Later (by leaving the country) I switched to a Type-O visa (for reason of retirement), and on this occasion, they asked for my Thai phone # and setup a Line (social media) video appointment, a few days later - with instructions that I had to be in my condo during the call. I then had to video chat with them with my phone set to a selfie mode, and they wanted to see me in my condo, see me by the entrance to my condo (where condo # visible) and also see me at the entrance to the condo complex (where # visible). So I had to walk around a bit during the call. And again, this was for a retirement permission to stay extension. I highly suspect this is both Immigration office specific, and may be even specific to the IO on duty when when one does their application. I am not convinced there is a hard fast consistent practice.

Not sure what you mean by "process". A number of us, who were on an 'extension of our permission to stay' (for reason of retirement) on an underlying type-OA visa, on our next extension, to avoid the "Type-OA" health insurance requirement (from the Thai branch of a health insurance company) switched to getting an extension for reason of 'marriage'. The extension for reason of 'marriage' thou (in addition to having financial benefits such as no health insurance req'd, only 400k in bank, and possibility to work) does have a lot more paperwork, and in offices such as Phuket immigration takes a long time to be approved (as opposed to extension for retirement which is quick to approve in Phuket). I went from a Type-OA extensions (for reason of retirement), to a year later to a Type-OA extensions (for reason of marriage), to a year later leaving the country, invalidating my Type-OA, re-entering visa exempt, and obtaining a Type-O (for reason of retirement) to (1) avoid having to buy health insurance from Thai branch of an insurance company, and (2) have quicker processing of my annual extensions since retirement extensions in Phuket are processed quicker than marriage extensions. Note I have great (superior to Thai requirements) health insurance, but immigration don't accept such and I don't like buying double health insurance ( just to meet the immigration requirements on the Type-OA for retirement extensions) and I don't want to give up my superior European insurance (which is also cheaper as it is subsidized as part of my pension). If you are on a Type-OA (for reason of marriage), you might in the future (next time you plan to leave the country) consider switching to a Type-O (for reason of retirement) if the money in the bank and other aspects are not big issues. By switching to Type-O, one doesn't have the health insurance factor to consider, which as one gets older gets more expensive. The reduced paperwork and faster processing (for a retirement vs marriage extension) made it worthwhile for me to switch. By being on a Type-O, it may also make your life easier (than being on a Type-OA), if something very unfortunate, very sad, and definitely unwanted should happen to your Thai wife.

Nominally, it may have been better for you to have sorted this before you left Canada. This may also be easier if you are age-50 or over. I assume age-50 or over in my reply. Typically, to stay one year in Thailand, its possible if one is age age-50 or older, one will go for a Type-OA or a Type-O visa. The Type-OA visa tends to have a bit more flexibility once obtained, but it has the added requirement of proving health insurance, which could be a bit complex dependent on where one is where one applies. Typically Thailand wants to see the health insurance from the Thai branch of a health insurance company. When I applied I had to prove residency (in Germany) which was a bit more complex for me, as I am Canadian and not a German citizen (but I was a legal German resident). Being out of country, likely means the Type-OA is more difficult to get. Being a Canadian in Germany complicated it a bit for me to get a Type-OA as I had to prove German residence for the Thai Embassy in Germany to accept my application. And a Type-OA is not ideal due to requirements on the health insurance side. A nice aspect of the Type-O visa (as opposed to Type-OA) is one does not need to prove health insurance from the Thai branch of a health insurance company nor from any health insurance company (which means one can use other health insurance or no insurance - and note, regardless of a Visa, I recommend one gets health insurance). There are various ways to go about getting a Type-O visa, and I don't know them all. That might be suitable for you, if you don't mind putting money into a Thai bank account. Likely being out of Canada for more than 1/2 year means your provincial health care may not cover you, so if you are not already paying for health insurance, buying health insurance in Thailand (timed to correspond with your Thailand stay) may not be a bad idea. It might be possible to get a 90-day type-O visa from outside of Thailand ( and then, once one has the Type-O one can then get in Thailand extensions on its permission to stay by satisfying some other requirements), but I do NOT know anything about getting a type-O from outside of Thailand. Others can tell you about that. But one can get a Type-O visa after one arrives in Thailand, albeit there are some complications. In that case, of the Type-O visa obtained in Thailand, you could enter Thailand visa exempt (which gives you 30 days). Then immediately (ie first few days) open a bank account in a Thai bank. This is the hardest part, as normally Thai banks require one to be on a one-year visa BEFORE they allow one to open a bank account. You could try to explain to the bank you need to open the account so you can apply for a long term visa, but they may ignore you. You may have to find an agent to help you open the account ( and while I know there are such agents, I do not know of any myself). As soon as that bank account is open, transfer 800k Thai baht into the Thai bank account. Keep the money there. As soon as the money is in that bank account, go to immigration and apply for a 90-day type-O Visa. If you don't have money setup in the bank in time, which is needed for applying for the Type-O visa, then go to immigration and apply for a 30-day extension of your permission to stay in Thailand. Hopefully that extra 30-days will give you time to have the money transferred to the Thai bank account. Then hopefully you can apply and get the 90-day Type-O visa. Then assuming you get that 90-day Type-O visa it will give you 90-day permission to stay in Thailand (after your 30-day visa exempt expires (or after your 30-day extension expires). About 30-days (probably sooner is better) before your 90-days permission to stay expires, go again to immigration and apply for a 1-year permission to stay in Thailand base on retirement. You will need the 800K Thai baht still in the bank account. There are other ways, with border bounces and such , that you might be able to extend your stay ... but to do so for an entire year, starts getting more complex and IMHO problematic. I will let others fill you on the details on how to attempt that route (which IMHO may or may not work).

Ok - a bit off topic, but I tend to agree, when it is crowded, the Phuket International (and also the Domestic) Departure area can be a zoo. One can reduce the pain 'a bit' by going to a proper lounge in the air side of the terminal, which may be possible if one obtains free lounge access from their credit card (where some of the more exclusive cards provide a couple of Dragon Pass access per year). However to obtain such a credit card, one typically needs to have a lot of money in the bank (that issues the credit card) or pay a higher annual fee for such a credit card. Also, if one flies Bangkok Airways (granted that tends to be more domestic) one can access the very basic Bangkok Airways lounge, which while incredibly basic, is sometimes still preferable to the crowded zoo that Phuket domestic terminal airside (outside of such a lounge) can also be as well. Still - even a lounge doesn't get rid of the last 15-to-30-minutes of pain in the terminal (airside) when one is waiting for the gate to load, which per Murphy's law, tends to be a late boarding of the aircraft when the crowd waiting to board the aircraft is the absolute largest - making one wait longer and longer in the "zoo".

A bit of a mute point, but note what Mike Lister noted. Best that I can read, you are not trying to change your Visa that has expired, but rather you are trying to change the 'permission to stay' justification that came with your original Type-O visa from 'retirement' to 'marriage'. One's visa can be 'expired' for years, but one can still be renewing the 'permission to stay' based on that original visa for year after year after year. It may sound like a mute point but the words can be confusing to some of us if one talks about changing the visa, when instead one really means they want to change their justification of their "permission to stay" (where a "permission to stay" is different from a "visa" - .... a "visa" will lead to a "permission to stay"). Anyway one point I am not clear on (for a Type-O visa initially based on retirement) is as follows: In the case of a type-OA visa (initially based on retirement) I could not change the 'permission to stay' based on retirement, to one based on marriage, until after I had successfully done at least one extension of the 'permission to stay' (based on retirement). As a result, I ended having to do my first 1-year extension based on retirement (and I ended up paying for double health insurance - where health insurance is a type-OA visa 'permission to stay' requirement). Your type-O won't have any health insurance requirements for retirement nor marriage extensions, but I do not know if you have to have 'one year extension of the permission to stay' based on retirement under your belt before you can apply for a new 1-year 'permission to stay' based on marriage. Others on this forum more knowledgeable than myself can confirm what is the typical immigration office requirement here.

While I had a Type-OA and then later a Type-O visa, I had been going for 1 year extensions at Phuket for a number of years. The first time I went for a 1 year extension, Phuket immigration noted they would come for a visit. They called twice - both times we were out of province. We even called them but they advised - don't call us - we will call you. In the end they never visited. Then a couple of years later, in two separate 1 year renewals, they made a "Line Video" call with me and my wife, where I was required to show them my condo via the video chat (via a video selfie with us inside the condo), then I had to walk to the door of my condo where the unit # could be seen and do a video selfie there, and then go to the condo complex entrance with me by the condo sign, and do a video selfie there. There is no elevator in our beach front condo, and I had to run up a few flights of stairs (and across a parking lot) to get to the street sign for our condo - which giving my huffing and puffing I thought was a bit humorous (I need the exercise) but they didn't seem to mind. I had previously given them printed images of the same, ... so it was not the first time they had seen such. So maybe after the 1st one or 2 renewals, they might switch to a video sessions, as opposed to a visit by them? I don't know - I am now on an LTR visa and no longer have to worry about such.

Further to Thomas72 excellent post, and Liquorice further comment (after age-60 the pink card is valid for life - and I am over age-60), one further benefit I had by having a yellow book and a pink card, is a Bangkok Bank branch required such for me to purchase a Thai government savings bond. Without that, they were not going to let me buy a Thai government bond from their branch. That could very well be branch specific for all I know. Fortunately I had both yellow book and pink "ID" card. Let me also say I do NOT consider Thai government bonds a great investment (the one I bought only gives 3% interest). I had to buy some bonds to add to my existing amount (for a Thailand investment) to get an LTR-WP Visa. Another possible benefit < unsure > - by registering my name at the local city hall (via my yellow book) with my name against the condominium I own, I do not have to pay annual tax on my condo, as I live in the place full time. I think one is allowed to own a place up to 50-million THB (mine is worth far less) and not pay tax on the place, if it is one's principle residence. But legally it has to be registered in city hall against one's name. My wife walked me through the process at the city hall, and according to her, I could not have done this if I did not have a yellow book. I do NOT know if that is accurate. She has been wrong before. But for certain my having the yellow book made the house registration (so not to pay tax) easy. So maybe ... maybe ... it saved me having to pay annual tax on my condo. This is all very obscure, and I believe that both a yellow book and a pink ID are not needed for almost all expats - but every now and then, having such can come in handy.

I would recommend calling BoI for clarification on this. After all, the USD 100K is for self health insurance. It stands to reason it may dip below USD $100K at times, as one uses it to pay medical bills, and then one tops it up later. If I had to guess, BoI, in 5 year times AFTER one obtains the LTR visa, BoI may ask to see proof of USD $100K for only the last 2 years, before one renews the 'permission to stay' for the second 5 year period. Having to keep $100K USD equivalent in cash continually for 5 years is not an issue for me (for self health insurance), but I can clearly see it could be for some - hence its worth asking BoI. Hypothetically, lets say BoI wanted it the money proven the bank continually for 5 years ... and then lets say one takes the 500k out of the bank as soon as one gets the LTR visa. So lets say then in 5 years, BoI would deny the "automatic" for another 5-year permission to stay (as the money was not there for 5 years). But what happens at that point in time, if one pays another 50k THB and applies again for an LTR and shows $100k USD in the bank for the last two prior years? Are BoI going to turn down a new LTR application when one meets the new application requirement for an LTR-WP (as requirement, I think, is $100k equivalent only for two preceding years)? Based on that, my guess, is when 5years rolls around, one only show $100K USD in the bank (for self health insurance) for the 2 years prior to the 5-year permission to stay renewal. ... or saying it different: from the LTR approval point in time, to the 3 after approval point in time, one might not have to maintain the $100K USD in the bank for self health insurance. That is a guess thou. Emphasis on 'guess'. Again - if one is worried about that, its best IMHO to call BoI and hear what they plan.

Unfortunately, no. The paper work that European Cigna will provide is not succinct enough to meet BoI requirements for Health Insurance for the LTR-WP. ( BoI would be forced to go through a ~50 page document of the coverage to confirm it adequate which they do not want to do - and Cigna refuse to provide anything other than their standard forms which either say not enough information (a 1 page form) or say too much (a ~50 page document)). But fortunately for me, BoI will accept self health insurance. If one can show $100,000 US$ equivalent in cash in a bank account anywhere in the world (in any currency, but equivalent to 100k US$) one can claim self health insurance for the LTR-WP visa. I have such as part of my (much larger) portfolio, so instead I claimed self health insurance. I note thou, in that case of self health insurance, it can NOT be in an equity trading account, but rather it has to be $100k cash in a bank account that is not an equity/trading account. And they wanted proof that amount was in there for some period of time ( I can't recall if it was 1 year or 2 years - it was not an issue for me). Clearly that (having to have $100k cash in a non-equity account) would be a 100% show stopper for many many many expats (re self health insurance) but having such in a bank account was not, and is not, an issue for me.