It is so confusing …. So my  details 

 

Over 50

Married to Thai national and living in Canada

Have property ( Land / Condo in Thailand) in wife’s name 

want to stay in Thailand for at least 6 months or 9 and then return.

Can I avoid checking in.

I have sufficient funds in Cdn bank to satisfy any requirements 

 

Bruce 

What do you mean  "Can I avoid checking in" ?

Sorry I meant the 90 checkin process … maybe it’s better than before but it’s a pain every 90 days

12 monthly extensions based on having a Thai Wife will work.

You have to do 90 day reports whatever kind of visa/extension you have.

No big deal.

OP, 

Open Thai bank if you don't have one.

Obtain non O (marriage) you can do that in USA or in Thailand. 

Subsequently every year obtain annual extensions. You will need to time your trips according.

The 90 day report is irrelevant. You can do it in person or online or via mail or use agent. I use mail as sometimes online hit and miss (for me). It's a walk in the park.

On 90-day reports, specifically, be aware that you can simply have someone else do those for you. As long as you remain compliant with the rules, you only ever need to visit Immigration to apply for extensions of stay. It appears that you want to spend time in Thailand without any hassles from Immigration. A completely hassle free experience is not going to happen unless you are willing to spring for a Thailand Elite membership, I am assuming you want to spend significant time in Thailand every year. That being so, and excepting a Thailand Elite membership, I can see the following options:

• Use an agent to arrange extensions of stay. This costs some money, and may involve a more or less fraudulent application on your behalf for a retirement visa. (Risks to you personally are low but not zero. Almost hassle free).
• Enter Thailand on a Non O visa and apply for an extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai. Once a year, this is liable to be a little aggravating if you have a low tolerance of officialdom. Very cheap.
• Enter Thailand on a Non O visa (over 50) and apply for an extension of stay based on retirement. As long as you spend a long period (3+ months) each year outside Thailand, you can treat any extension of stay as a "first" extension, and the requirements are less onerous (except for financial proof) than a marriage extension. In principle, very cheap.
• What I would choose in your position, and what may become available again in the future, is to combine Non O visas (allowing 90-day stays) with 60-day extensions to visit your wife, and pleasure trips every now and again outside Thailand. No 90-day report is ever necessary, and the 60-day extensions are trivial to get, albeit you and your wife must visit Immigration. 

If you can make do with a five-month visit, go for a Non O visa and 60-day extension to visit your wife. If planning to visit every year for a significant period, and willing to pay for a comfortable experience, consider a Thailand Elite membership and having someone else do 90-day reports for you.

The 90 days report is a non issue as long your residence is not far from immigration. It usually takes about 10 mins for me. If you have to travel long distance you could use an agent or do it by post. Or you could get a 90 days non O and extend it by 60 days before it expires but that would still involve a visit to immigration...