Best to look into a health insurance too.

3 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Best to look into a health insurance too.

Yeah, good idea.

i have travel insurance now, I will ask them.

30 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Just a thought, but maybe you should slow down just a bit and draw up a list of everything you need to do to get the retirement visa/extension. Maybe get some practical experience working with the bureaucracy. Check out the immigration office where you will be living and any quirks it may have. You've done well to start with this message. And it's good you're finding out about the bank accounts. But unless you have severe deadlines, I would just spend some time browsing AN topics and going in person to see what requirements you're going to need from your residence's owner, 90 day notification, notice of address change, bank, sending money into a Thai bank from abroad, and finally immigration and your passport validity.

Good idea.

The agent thing sounds easier.

Slow the f down would be my advice.

37 minutes ago, Eddie45 said:

MalcolmB, If you have trouble opening a bank account you can pay a visa agent 5000 baht to open the account for you, plus you can get your retirement visa processed at the same time but you need to go and see the visa agent when you have a new 30 day waiver. 

Good idea.

1 minute ago, Gecko123 said:

Slow the f down would be my advice.

I like to be prepared in advance

7 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

I like to be prepared in advance

You sound like you are in holiday euphoria, and are making major plans which involve financial commitments. Don't let the visa urgency cause you to rush into things. The number one rule here is things are not always what they seem, and it's doubly true if you have no knowledge of the language and a cursory familiarity with the culture. 

Great advice from AreYouGerman and Gecko123. Get your visa and bank account in your own name sorted out and then dont rush all the other tasks.

2 hours ago, MalcolmB said:

I have already learned some words. Spy Tee My

"Spy tee my"?   You need the ED visa, clearly.

8 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

The number one rule here is things are not always what they seem, and it's doubly true if you have no knowledge of the language and a cursory familiarity with the culture. 

That is why I thought a Educational visa might be a good one.

They teach you Thai and give you a visa. 

I was speaking to a guy yesterday who has been here over 15 years and never bothered to learn Thai. It will make life a lot easier for me I think. 
 

I really like Thai people.

The number one question the OP should have a firm answer to before he even thinks about moving over here, much less to his fiancee's hometown/village, is what are you going to DO with your time and life once you move there. What are you going to DO from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm every day? Not theoretically, but what will you actually do? That's what you need to figure out before you start worrying about bank accounts and visas.

 

 

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

I heard that if married in Thailand that the money gets split up 50/50? 

You need to do a lot of reading. 

Also check out "Marriage and Divorce" forum. 

He needs to do a lot of reading.

8 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"Spy tee my"?   You need the ED visa, clearly.

Spy tee car

MalcolmB..

 

I would take the advice of a lot of the posters on here... and slow down.....it's not always paradise here... and the rose tint on your glasses wears off quicker than you think....

 

But you are right it is better than living in that poo hole they call London ( North West London born and bred)....

9 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

That is why I thought a Educational visa might be a good one.

They teach you Thai and give you a visa. 

I was speaking to a guy yesterday who has been here over 15 years and never bothered to learn Thai. It will make life a lot easier for me I think. 
 

I really like Thai people.

 

It takes years to learn the language. I studied it intensively for 9.5 years before moving here. The idea you can move to some rural village and "immerse" yourself in the language is a total myth. The only way that could even happen would be if your domestic partner and you only spoke Thai at home, which is clearly not the case. 99% of the guys I've ever met in rural Thailand who speak English with their spouse never get out of the starting blocks in terms of learning Thai. Chances are you're going to be very socially isolated, no matter how much you like Thai people. 

I hope it all pans out for you but remember you will, almost invariably, be a guest in Thailand, irrespective of whether married to a Thai national.  I suggest that you do not cut all ties to the UK by maintaining a (small) place in the UK, in the event that you need it.  Aside from a bolt hole, a UK address can also be helpful to confirm that the UK government system, including NHS services, are available if needed. 

14 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

He needs to do a lot of reading.

As the thread has unfolded he seems to now have opted for non O retirement.

He could easily have obtained that in UK.

Entering Thailand would be given a 90 day stamp.

With a non O in passport would/should be able to open a bank account.

Season the 800 and obtain the subsequent 12 month extension.

Change changed to based on marriage in future if he wishes.

Tying more for others as the OP states not going back to UK 

16 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Who is Mia Farang?

The words "mia farang" mean "foreigner's wife".

1 minute ago, Martin71 said:

But you are right it is better than living in that poo hole they call London ( North West London born and bred)....

It has got worse the last ten years.

I don’t care if I never go back ever. Which is why I sold up and moved here.

 

If there is a better country to live I would be open to it if I could take my girlfriend.

 

8 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

17 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

"Spy tee my"?   You need the ED visa, clearly.

Spy tee car

Q.E.D.   Any other gems that show your command of the Thai language?

2 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

The words "mia farang" mean "foreigner's wife".

Thankyou.

easy to remember that one. Mia=wife

2 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

It has got worse the last ten years.

I don’t care if I never go back ever. Which is why I sold up and moved here.

 

If there is a better country to live I would be open to it if I could take my girlfriend.

 

 

Was back there for a few weeks in Jan....complete turd hole could not wait to leave...

Some rude and trolling posts removed. 

15 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

As the thread has unfolded he seems to now have opted for non O retirement eVisa.

He could easily have obtained that in UK.

Entering Thailand would be given a 90 day stamp.

With a non O in passport would/should be able to open a bank account.

Season the 800 and obtain the subsequent 12 month extension.

Change changed to based on marriage in future if he wishes.

Typing more for others as the OP states not going back to UK 

Yes Thankyou for your help.

can I easily get one in Vietnam?

 

I don’t understand the last sentence.

17 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

He needs to do a lot of reading.

Yes, which is why I wrote in to this forum.

Got to start somewhere.

 

Thanks everyone for your time to help me. 

Offensive post removed and reported

17 minutes ago, Gecko123 said:

 

99% of the guys I've ever met in rural Thailand who speak English with their spouse never get out of the starting blocks in terms of learning Thai. Chances are you're going to be very socially isolated, no matter how much you like Thai people. 

Can’t be that hard.

Three year olds can speak it.

i have always wanted to learn a foreign language 

Cop Coon Car

1 hour ago, MalcolmB said:

 

Girlfriend says her mother will ask the monk at the temple which is the best time to get married. 

If you go the marriage route, make sure that you get married at a local district office (amphur), not just the temple!

9 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

Yes Thankyou for your help.

can I easily get one in Vietnam?

 

I don’t understand the last sentence.

You can obtain a non O retirement at example Thai consult Saigon.

Located handy to Tourist area District 1

You require an appointment which can be booked out in advance.

Vietnam good choice for your mini trip out of Thailand 

20 minutes ago, Encore said:

I hope it all pans out for you but remember you will, almost invariably, be a guest in Thailand, irrespective of whether married to a Thai national.  I suggest that you do not cut all ties to the UK by maintaining a (small) place in the UK, in the event that you need it.  Aside from a bolt hole, a UK address can also be helpful to confirm that the UK government system, including NHS services, are available if needed. 

Perhaps.

i was wondering about getting a Thai citizenship. They get 30 baht hospital care and I wouldn’t need a visa.