thaibreaker

Blame all the youtubers recommending people to retire in Pattaya/Jomtien, explaining how easy it is to get a retirement visa using agents. I think you are right about the overflow of new bank accounts (especially BBL) opened every week, for this purpose. One youtube channel in particular claims to have recommended and led hundreds of Americans to retire in Jomtien this last year, recommending one specific agent.

As usual, a lot of words and bark from Benjamin, but rarely any clear answer to anything. But he will "follow up as it evolves"... Standard phrase.

The signing up process while living in other countries is really not a problem. I signed up with Revolut while living in Indonesia for a year (using a family member's address), doing that with a VPN pointed to my home country Norway. I even got my 3 cards sent by DHL to my address in Indonesia, free of any charge (metal plan). Try using VPN for signups, if that's an issue. The same can be done in Thailand. (Not solving the home address "issue" though. I don't know if you can use a Thai address as your home address. They are not on this list. I use a family member's address in my home country for my Revolut address).

The newly appointed minister of finance, Jens Stoltenberg (former NATO Secretary General and Prime Minister of Norway), his comeback in Norwegian politics is a clear sign that there is not any collapse or even a energy crisis in the Norwegian government. This thing has been blown out of proportions. There are a few internal issues though, which will be taken care of. Norway will continue supporting EU with gas, and will honour all deals made. Their stand is rock solid, economically and in partnership with EU. Norway understands the responsibility they have. Norway has been a very important and increased provider of electricity sustainability in Europe after Russia's insane actions since 2022, and the subsequent need for Europe to cut all ties with Russia.

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No it can't. A visa based on retirement has specific requirements, the 800k in bank or the 65k income method. No other visas refer to retirement visa, by the definition of Thai Immigration. Other visas have different names. Of course you can retire on a LTR visa, on a privilege visa or such, but those are not by definition a retirement visa. Sorry, DrJack, didn't see your post before posting mine..

Wouldn't be surprised if he did. But not for assaulting me.

I had my balls and the whole chaluba grabbed by a ladyboy once, just walking along the street in Pattaya. It caught me completely off guard. It obviously happens.

"Police can do nothing to me".. Lol. I'll guess you choked on that one.

Exactly! Even the Immigration officers use this term themselves. The 90 days Non O visa based on retirement is certainly a visa, that is undeniable.

So what do you call a 90 days Non Imm. O visa, based on retirement? That is certainly a visa, which is based on retirement. The normal and logical term for that is a retirement visa. Everyone uses that term, even visa agents and immigration. The extensions are not a visa (those are permissions to stay), but your first 90 days Non O, definitely is.

To the OPs original question, as far as I know, one can apply for an extension, which subsequently will be denied. But that will give 7 days to leave the country (costs 1900 baht). I know one can do this from a visa exemption, from which one already have extended once, and from a tourist visa, with the same procedure. I can't see why doing it from a 12 months extension based on retirement, would be any different. Thoughts? Of course, 7 days is not what the OP had in mind, but just saying there might be a possibility if anyone needs 7 more days to leave.

That goes for Revolut as well. They also have a savings account you can transfer money to, done in a second, and you can't withdraw that with any card before you transfer it back to your main account. Without any limits. In addition to putting a temporary lock on any card of course, another option both Wise and Revolut have.

You won't be "put in one or any bracket". You will have to pay tax from several brackets if you exceed a certain threshold. Thai tax system is progressive in the way that if you end up paying tax from 1 million baht, you will only pay 20% tax of the amount between 750k to a million. Between 500k to 750k, you will still pay 15%, 300k to 500k you will pay 10%, and so on. You'll probably end up paying less than 10% of the total sum, after deductions. Been there, done that.

Chonburi Immigration stated 2 days ago at Pattaya Mail that there are no plans to link any visa or visa extension to any tax IDs, or TINs. So just forget that. Won't happen.