3 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Not quite sure I understand.  I get that the first extension requires the 800k.  For my second extension I would want to use the 12x65k method.  Can I do that?  I do not need to withdraw any of the original 800k if that confuses things.

You would need to get your initial 1-year extension with 800k in the bank.  The account must remain at 800k for at least 3 months after your extension, and can never drop below 400k the rest of the year.  During this year you would also need to be making the required monthly international transfers of at least 65,000 baht.  You need to be very careful to make sure each month has a transfer you can show.  Either do the transfer in the beginning of the month or middle of the month, because there are many reasons a transfer can be delayed so if you wait until the end of the month and then it doesn't arrive in time, you've already lost the game.  Miss a month and there's no extension possible using this method.

When you go to apply for the 2nd year extension, one of the requirements will be a 12 month bank statement.  They will use this statement to check that you met last year's requirements which is the 800k for 3 months and 400k for 9 months.  And they will use it to check for the 12 monthly transfers.

 

3 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

I understand.  I will have a bank account in my name.  I just thought the visa agents might literally act like a loan, deposit the 800k, I pay them their fee, etc..  Money is seasoned.  Stays in the account as long as is needed.  I then start the 12x65k deposits on my own.  And I thought I would withdraw or start withdrawing the 800k at some point.  I imagined I would pay back the agent just like a loan?  I figured maybe 10% charge to them for one years use?  I guess I did not fully understand what the visa agents do initially.  In retrospect it sounds dodgy.

Agents don't loan you money.  You go to the bank with them, they put the 800k in your account, get a letter and update your bank book, then the money is transferred out.  Part of the fee you pay the agent is passed on to the immigration office so they ignore the fact the money was not in the account for the required amount of time.

4 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

 I guess I did not fully understand what the visa agents do initially

OP, BrandonJT has explained how the agents "cover" the financials. 

I suggest that if you plan to DIY ongoing then don't use an agent. 

 

My most recent extension (October) I changed from money in bank method to income method. 

That involves planning. 

For first extension use money in bank method. 

Very importantly you start the monthly transfers at the same time. 

This is because immigration will want a 12 month bank statement for your next extension showing 12 transfers. 

I did mine 14th of each month. 65k+ 

In effect you are running both money in bank requirements and income method in concert. 

If you use an agent for first extension then this change to DIY income method will not be possible. 

9 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

I understand.  I will have a bank account in my name.  I just thought the visa agents might literally act like a loan, deposit the 800k, I pay them their fee, etc..  Money is seasoned.  Stays in the account as long as is needed.  I then start the 12x65k deposits on my own.  And I thought I would withdraw or start withdrawing the 800k at some point.  I imagined I would pay back the agent just like a loan?  I figured maybe 10% charge to them for one years use?  I guess I did not fully understand what the visa agents do initially.  In retrospect it sounds dodgy.

 

Thanks

from the outside looking in and i could be wrong on 'agent assisted  retirement'  extensions it appears that the agent has 800,000 which they transfer to a person and then withdraw after that person submits their application, the 'agent' then transfers to the next person to apply, rinse and repeats as many times as is required  for the people needing assistance that day, they then have the 800,000 available for the next days applicants,  I have never obtained an extension this way, but have talked to a few people that have, I think they receive their interest in the fees that they charge for their assistance

On 11/8/2025 at 1:23 PM, DrJack54 said:

OP, BrandonJT has explained how the agents "cover" the financials. 

I suggest that if you plan to DIY ongoing then don't use an agent. 

 

My most recent extension (October) I changed from money in bank method to income method. 

That involves planning. 

For first extension use money in bank method. 

Very importantly you start the monthly transfers at the same time. 

This is because immigration will want a 12 month bank statement for your next extension showing 12 transfers. 

I did mine 14th of each month. 65k+ 

In effect you are running both money in bank requirements and income method in concert. 

If you use an agent for first extension then this change to DIY income method will not be possible. 

yes.  That all makes sense.   First extension need money in bank quickly.  Start the monthly transfers as soon as possible so that 12 months will have been done by the time you file for the second extension.  

 

Thank you.  I did get my 90 day non Imm O visa approved and in hand.  Have booked flight to Thailand finally after a fiv year hiatus.  Arriving EVA Air Dec 2, departing Feb 27

10 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

Arriving EVA Air Dec 2, departing Feb 27

Don't understand this part. 

So you enter Thailand with a Non Of that gives a 90 day stamp. 

Then exit Feb 27? 

When do you apply for 12 month extension

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Don't understand this part. 

So you enter Thailand with a Non Of that gives a 90 day stamp. 

Then exit Feb 27? 

When do you apply for 12 month extension

 

 

Arrive Dec 2025.  currently booked to depart Feb 23.  I booked a roundtrip flight because I am far from certain I will fully retire this year and do a one year extension.  I got the 90 day O visa for convenience and to be able to open a Thai bank account should I decide to stay longer in Thailand, now or in the future.  I understood it is challenging or impossible to get a Bank account there on simple Visa exempt or even Tourist visas so I got the O.  One step at a time while I scope things out.  while I have been to Thailand 15 times since 2004, much has changed there and where and how I want to retire or visit often now 

2 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

 

 

Arrive Dec 2025.  currently booked to depart Feb 23.  I booked a roundtrip flight because I am far from certain I will fully retire this year and do a one year extension.  I got the 90 day O visa for convenience and to be able to open a Thai bank account should I decide to stay longer in Thailand, now or in the future.  I understood it is challenging or impossible to get a Bank account there on simple Visa exempt or even Tourist visas so I got the O.  One step at a time while I scope things out.  while I have been to Thailand 15 times since 2004, much has changed there and where and how I want to retire or visit often now 

If you apply and obtain the 1 year extension, don't forget to obtain a re-entry permit at the same time.

Just now, Liquorice said:

If you apply and obtain the 1 year extension, don't forget to obtain a re-entry permit at the same time.

Thanks.  I would to that for sure as I know I would travel around a bit, maybe even back to the States.  My only concern with the long stay is the 180 day tax thing floating around.  Frankly, I hate the idea of filing any paperwork about my home monies and in the end, I may just end up doing two 60 day + 30 day visits keeping my stays in Thailand below 180days.  I will scope things out a bit on my upcoming 85 day stay.  My home circumstances are fluid.  I always originally liked the idea of having the Thai yearly extension and then come as go now and then.  sometimes a year long lease on a condo can be cheaper than renting two different three month stays even if I am not in the unit for several months.  I knkow I have a friend or two that could use my condo while I am not there so  keeping a unit all year long is a thought

20 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

My only concern with the long stay is the 180 day tax thing floating around. 

Now mute and not applicable.

7 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Now mute and not applicable.

Do you mean "moot"?  why is this not applicable?  I read a lot of possibilities on what must be filed or reported, whether monies end up being owed or not.  how in the world would a Thai person understand my taxable traditional IRA distributions versus my Non taxable ROTH IRA distributions, my tax free municipal bond fund monies, etc..  Dual Tax treaty not withstanding,, what is assesible or not, etc.  I doubt that no reporting will have to be done

59 minutes ago, gk10012001 said:

I booked a roundtrip flight because I am far from certain I will fully retire this year and do a one year extension.  I got the 90 day O visa for convenience and to be able to open a Thai bank account should I decide to stay longer in Thailand, now or in the future. 

Now, I understand. 

Good plan. 

#1 objective is to open the Thai Bank account with the Non O in this visit Dec. 

The bank may (will) require a certificate of residence. 

Which immigration office would you be obtaining the COR if required by bank 

Also which bank? 

3 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

Do you mean "moot"?  why is this not applicable?  I read a lot of possibilities on what must be filed or reported, whether monies end up being owed or not.  how in the world would a Thai person understand my taxable traditional IRA distributions versus my Non taxable ROTH IRA distributions, my tax free municipal bond fund monies, etc..  Dual Tax treaty not withstanding,, what is assesible or not, etc.  I doubt that no reporting will have to be done

Mute, as in not worth talking about, not applicable.

https://vbapartners.com/income-tax-for-foreigners-in-thailand/