It is whatever suits you.

Both are easy to do.

Retirement needs more money in the bank.

14 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Wondering what's the opportunity cost of using an agent instead of keeping the money in a Thai bank?

 

Not many do corrupt marriage extensions, too many bribes to pass out 

28 minutes ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

Wondering what's the opportunity cost of using an agent instead of keeping the money in a Thai bank?

The opportunity cost of locking up 800k per year is significant compared to eg money in shares etc.

However the OP did not ask about agents 

Retirement visa requires less paperwork and keep your privacy.

No officers will bother you at home

🧑‍🎄

 

15 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

Marriage. 400k+wife.

Retirement. 800k+health insurance. 

Insurance is only required if you have an OA visa or extension of the visa. O visa does not require insurance

16 hours ago, KhunBENQ said:

nor photos of house, with wife, in room etc

That depends where you live Trat want 4 photos even for retirement.

13 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The opportunity cost of locking up 800k per year is significant compared to eg money in shares etc.

However the OP did not ask about agents 

But you do not need to lock up 800,000 in the bank, you can transfer 65,000 in EVERY month which you can spend the day it is brought in

I stick with a Marriage extension, because I'm self funded when it comes to health care, and want access to my other money in the bank, also for any other emergencies that may occur.

16 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

Marriage. 400k+wife.

Retirement. 800k+health insurance. 

I think the retirement extension requires health insurance if on “O-A” Visa. That is why I switched to marriage while remaining in Thailand (did no have to exit and apply for a new “O” Visa to avoid health insurance requirement).

They're "extensions of stay" and not visas. If you have the 800k a retirement extension is by far the easier option. 

1 hour ago, flexomike said:

Insurance is only required if you have an OA visa or extension of the visa. O visa does not require insurance

 

42 minutes ago, Wrwest said:

I think the retirement extension requires health insurance if on “O-A” Visa. That is why I switched to marriage while remaining in Thailand (did no have to exit and apply for a new “O” Visa to avoid health insurance requirement).

 

What retirement visa and extension do people from most developed countries get that is based on retirement and isn't an 'O-A'? Why would retirees get an 'O-A' that requires insurance if there is another retirement based visa and extension that doesn't? 

1 hour ago, flexomike said:

But you do not need to lock up 800,000 in the bank, you can transfer 65,000 in EVERY month which you can spend the day it is brought in

I was informed of this (65000/month transfer for retirement extension) by immigration this year.

Have you actually done this, and were you approved?

14 minutes ago, Ricky HKT said:

I was informed of this (65000/month transfer for retirement extension) by immigration this year.

Have you actually done this, and were you approved?

Yes, no problem, Rayong

2 hours ago, newbee2022 said:

No officers will bother you at home

One home visit in 18 years, for me, not really bothersome IMO

No difference in price getting it. 
 

Main differences (without listing all other items required) are:

Marriage needs wife to accompany each year when renewing; and 400k.  

Retirement needs health insurance; and 800k.
 

Which one is better? Comes down to personal preference. 

43 minutes ago, bluemoon58 said:

They're "extensions of stay" and not visas. 

A visa is any entry in ones passport extending permission to stay.

18 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

I should be so lucky. I have children to support so I'd go down that road.

So then you would have to get a retirement extension. 

I was originally on married extension but when I changed to retirement it was a lot less paperwork and no photos in this or that room. Unfortunately, a couple years after I got divorced but that did not affect the yearly extension. On a marriage extension then divorce what happens? I assume one has to change.

2 hours ago, flexomike said:

But you do not need to lock up 800,000 in the bank, you can transfer 65,000 in EVERY month which you can spend the day it is brought in

Being from Oz I cannot provide income letter from embassy.

Currently I am using funds in bank method.

At the same time am doing monthly transfers and hoping to change to income as I will be able to show 12 months of transfers when my next extension is due.

The difficulty I cannot show funds come from "pension" 

AU is very different to UK and USA 

23 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

A visa is any entry in ones passport extending permission to stay.

 @bluemoon58 is 100% correct. Visas and extensions of stay are as different from each other as are apples from oranges.

 

41 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

One home visit in 18 years, for me, not really bothersome IMO

Others got a visit every year. 

40 minutes ago, CecilM said:

Retirement needs health insurance; and 800k.

 

Posters on here are saying the health insurance is only needed if your retirement visa and extension are an O-A visa.

 

Though none of them are saying what other retirement based visa and extension there is and why others would still choose the O-A visa when there is apparently another retirement based visa and extension for aliens from most developed world countries. 

43 minutes ago, OJAS said:

@bluemoon58 is 100% correct.

Total tosh.

 

"A Visa extension allows a traveler to stay in the country for a little longer until they can go back to their homeland. "

 

Any entry made in ones passport giving one permission to stay is a visa. So basically an extension is a visa. Doh

3 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Total tosh. "A Visa extension allows a traveler to stay in the country for a little longer until they can go back to their homeland. "

No such thing as a Visa Extension.

You extend your permission to stay.

You cannot extend a Visa.

3 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

Total tosh. "A Visa extension allows a traveler to stay in the country for a little longer until they can go back to their homeland. "

The visa isn't extended. 

 

 

1 hour ago, JeffersLos said:

 

 

What retirement visa and extension do people from most developed countries get that is based on retirement and isn't an 'O-A'? Why would retirees get an 'O-A' that requires insurance if there is another retirement based visa and extension that doesn't? 

I’m originally from the US.  It was possible to get a non-O there then extend my stay here in Thailand based on retirement.  Instead I arrived on a tourist visa, applied and received a non-O in Thailand which was much easier than applying for it back in the US.  The past 4 years I applied for extensions of stay based on retirement based on income.  I bring in 65000 each month.  Never had any trouble.  I am married to a Thai and could do the marriage extension but as others have said, there is more paperwork and the 30 day under consideration period.

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

What do you mean by price.

Assume that you plan to do this by yourself without agent.

 

Financials for marriage are ridiculously easy compared to retirement.

 

Paperwork for marriage requires more (much) than retirement.

Also extensions marriage require home visit (most) and an under consideration period 

Up to You

Have another question about retirement visa.I will arrive in dec with a new non O 90 days SE that I received in Sweden and wish to make an extension 12 month.Is it an option to only show so called "Embassy Letter" for The Immigration office in Rayong(Sweden still does have this service) to replace other financial documents?The reason I ask is that I read it in the official application paper as a "or" option and will make things more easier compared to the bank method.

I will be grateful if any one have any experience to to tell about this.

 

 

 

2 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

 

 

What retirement visa and extension do people from most developed countries get that is based on retirement and isn't an 'O-A'? Why would retirees get an 'O-A' that requires insurance if there is another retirement based visa and extension that doesn't? 

You are digging a hole for yourself.

A Non OA only available from own country requires insurance. 

A Non O available from own country or Thailand does NOT require insurance. 

Both can be used for an extension of stay based on Marriage or Retirement. Your original statement about retirement needind insurance is simply incorrect.

48 minutes ago, Anrude said:

The reason I ask is that I read it in the official application paper as a "or" option and will make things more easier compared to the bank method.

I will be grateful if any one have any experience to to tell about this.

If your Embassy issues guaranteed letters of income that should be the normally accepted method for extensions of stay - the 65k per month into Thai account was a special provision allowing those from the major countries not providing such letters to qualify using income rather than bank deposit.

53 minutes ago, jimn said:

A Non OA only available from own country requires insurance. 

A Non O available from own country or Thailand does NOT require insurance. 

 

So why on Earth does anybody get a Non OA visa for retirement when they can simply arrive, then get a Non O based on retirement in country and not need insurance?