thaibreaker

You can't open an account on a 60 days visa exemption now. That's what we are discussing here. Not even on a DTV. You just can't. You will need a proper visa, like a 90 days Non-O or such. Or an agent can help you get one, if you join their retirement visa process. Keep up, mister.

It sure does. You are misinformed. My best friend opened a new bank account at Krungsri Bank on Sunday in Pattaya. From a 60 days visa exemption. Using an agent, on route to his retirement visa. Several agents do it as well. They required two IDs, passport and a driving license, and proof of residence. And he was accompanied by an agent employee to the bank, who explained the procedure. Done in less than an hour. I did the same thing btw. PM me if you want the name of the agent we used.

It works though, if using an agent, who guarantees for the bank that you're on route to a longer visa, like a retirement visa. But I understand we're not discussing that here.

Lol. Deported by the same immigration that actually ALLOWS this to happen? Dream on. This is a too lucrative business for them to stop their practice. It won't change the next decades.

Lol. You know every farang in Thailand, do you. Don't confuse other farangs with yourself.

Why do you assume these "riff raffs" are only living on 20-40k baht a month? I assume you know the financial requirements are much higher than that, 65k and 800k, and a lot of foreigners may be just under that threshold, and will use an agent to be able to live full time in Thailand. Foreigners spending 50-65k a month in Thailand, or even a lot more, just choosing to not keep 800k in a bank, are contributing a lot to the Thai society. They might even buy a condo, a car or a motorbike. Your post makes no sense to me.

They already have, by at least 6 countries.

It should obviously have been a joint demand from USA and NATO. But USA chickens out of course, with Trump at the wheel.

NATO..

BS.

This should of course be addressed to Putin, not Zelensky. If Putin withdrew his forces from all of Ukraine's land, the war would be over. It's as simple as that. Talk about turning the tables. What a noob.

You don't know squat what you're talking about, do you. I'm Norwegian, and I can assure you that Trump won't have a chance on getting that peace price. Even if by a miracle he did get it (Norwegians are laughing at it, so it won't happen regardless of the Ukraine outcome), the earliest he can get it, is in late 2026. The last date for nominating this year's price was back in February..

It is not up to Trump, is it. He can make as many deals as he likes, they are useless without Zelensky and Ukraine's (with European leaders' advice and support) signatures.

No problem, we all may have different opinions. I just can't see it. If anything, I think the financial requirements may be lowered instead, because of the strong baht compared to when the financial requirements were set in the first place. Maybe 600k and 50k income. That would attract more retirees to live in Thailand. Time will show.

This. In fact you don't need all the updates they try to make you buy. I have never had anything else than free anti virus service, but I'm using AVG. They will also tell you need to update drivers, but just ignore. All drivers are just fine. Mike Bell, you have absolutely nothing to worry about. Keep it simple, keep it free.

Me too. And the retirees moving from The Philippines to Thailand (there are quite many lately), say the exact same thing.

It's based on the O-A retirement option outside of Thailand. Even when most retirees, by far, use the Non-O retirement option inside Thailand, without any insurance requirements. That is not even mentioned in the article, so it's completely useless. No changes of rules inside Thailand, so this article should never have been published. If anything, there has been more choices for long stayers these last couple of years, with LTR, and the latest DTV. They are an addition to existing rules and choices. Come on, asiannow, you know better than this.

Scaremongering. I am pretty sure immigration won't change current rules on the Non-O for retirees. This is their bread and butter, they can't afford to lose tens of thousands of retirees, who are also contributing with 50-100k baht to the society every month. Especially not this era, and these years, where there are some other good choices out there, trying to capture some of Thailand's retirees. Thailand can shoot themselves in one foot, but even they learn before they shoot their other one as well.

I can understand the convenience and financial attraction, but I would never even consider living in Cambodia. The standard of living is just too low, the infrastructure so much worse imo. Go for it, by all means. I expect you back in Thailand in a few months. If not, best of luck.

What a load of rubbish. The Non-O visa based on retirement, which most retirees use, has no changes in rules, no insurance. This article should be deleted.

Can't trust Americans these days.. 80 millions of them voted for a lunatic 😉 Vietnam is at least going in the right direction. No TDAC to fill out, no forwarding ticket to show, and no accomodation or funds for the visa waivers. Just showing up with your passport, that's it. I've just been going through in Ho Chi Minh, smooth as butter, but a freakishly long queue. I guess tourism is increasing already.

As I said, it is really that simple. But what you need to do if Canada isn't giving you a Non-O 90 days visa, is to arrive visa exempt to Thailand, then just travel to Laos to get one. Vientiane or Savannakhet. Or travel directly to Laos. You have to make an appointment there online, and you will have your Non-O 90 days visa in a couple of days. All you need is the money in bank, 800k, in your own country. From there, it's straight forward. No insurance required, and you'll have your bank account. This is routine, and tens of thousands have done it before you. I completely understand the insurance issue, police check and all that through the O-A, so I wouldn't recommend that. There are cheaper insurance options, and most want to self insure. Older people may not even get insurance at all, or it's becoming very expensive. The option is there on a Non-O visa. Personally I self insure. But if you don't intend to get a retirement visa or extension after all, that is your choice. I did mine a while ago, and am very happy I did. I love Thailand, this is my chosen retirement destination, from Norway (also a snowbird). Maybe a 60 days visa exemption, plus 30 days extension, then travel a week to Vietnam (many do these days), and doing it all over again, could be an option? Gives you 6 months or so in Thailand. Half the year in Canada sounds good to me (would much rather live there than in the US now..), and you don't have to think about taxes as well. My initial reaction was when you wrote it wasn't possible to open a bank account anymore, and to get a retirement visa. Which still is very much on 😉 Just trying to help, best of luck 😊

Just read my post again. These are the facts in Thailand. Again, here is what you need to do, to get your retirement visa: Apply for a Non-O 90 days visa based on retirement from your own country, or from outside of Thailand, Laos or Malaysia. No insurance required. Just the same financial requirements, 800k baht in a Canadian bank, or showing 65k baht income. Then you can open a bank account yourself in Thailand. No agent needed. All banks in Thailand let you open an account on that visa. The rest (12 months extension) is straight forward, no change of rules. These are the facts! Regardless of what you have been told, or have understood/misunderstood. Just follow the above, and you will get your retirement visa (or extension is the correct term). After you have entered Thailand on a 90 days visa, and gotten your bank account from that visa, you can apply for a 12 months extension. You must have had 800k in your Thai bank for two months to get that. An income guarantee letter from the Canadian embassy in Thailand is no longer an option, only 800k in a Thai bank for your first extension is. For the second extension, you can change your status to the income method of you want, if you have had 12 consecutive monthly transfers from abroad, of no less than 65k baht. It's all straight forward. Forget anything else. Dr.Jack, the visa guru on this forum, would tell you exactly the same.

Read my post again (one did even give me a thumb down 😂 I'm only stating facts!). Retirees now are recommended to get a Non-O 90 days visa based on retirement, from outside of Thailand. No insurance required, only the financial. That is sufficient to open a bank account, and from there you are good to move forward. No change of rules, no insurance required. Not being able to open an account from a tourist visa or a visa waver, has been the case for a long time already, that is not new.

Say what? Retirement visa is definitely still on the table. Come to Thailand on a Non-O 90 days visa from your own country, or from outside of Thailand. No insurance required. Then you can open a bank account yourself. No agent needed. The rest (12 months extension) is a piece of cake, no change of rules. Where do you get your information from? Even agents are still doing them, and helping you open a bank account.