I pretty much have my mind made up but wanted to ask what most think

We use to live in Thailand for 5 years on marriage visa extension 2012 -2017

We moved back to USA & are moving back to Thailand in May permanently

I can go either way but am thinking it is infinitely easier to use Retirement rather than the 50% cheaper marriage visa paper work wise

I also think although I will lose interest at this time by keeping 800k in Thailand it serves a dual purpose even for emergencies. (I of course will have more but )

Since I have only ever done the somewhat complicated marriage extension I wanted to hear form retirement extension guys that it is way easier right?

Thanks!

Immigration certainly think so - and they can approve retirement extensions locally.

Personally, I am not prepared to lose circa THB 30k in lost interest for the sake of a slight inconvenience.

3 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Immigration certainly think so - and they can approve retirement extensions locally.

Personally, I am not prepared to lose circa THB 30k in lost interest for the sake of a slight inconvenience.

True & I agree but I also remember these things are cyclical.

Back in 2012 I was getting 4+% at Bank of Audyha when USA was paying 0.25%

So I know these things shift

6 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Immigration certainly think so - and they can approve retirement extensions locally.

Personally, I am not prepared to lose circa THB 30k in lost interest for the sake of a slight inconvenience.

You get 30K interest on 400K baht, as that is the difference between retirement and marriage extension?

WOW

14 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Personally, I am not prepared to lose circa THB 30k in lost interest for the sake of a slight inconvenience.

So you are sticking with marriage extensions based on dodgy math? 30k interest lol.

54 minutes ago, mania said:

Since I have only ever done the somewhat complicated marriage extension I wanted to hear form retirement extension guys that it is way easier right?

I do extensions based on retirement.

Simple paperwork and no home visit also no need for wife to attend + docs.

My last extension I switched to income method and that money is used to live off.

Same as USA my embassy does not proved income letter.

I'm not losing the opportunity cost of having 800k earning 1% in Thai Bank.

Not married and if I was, I would use retirement extensions.

Switching to retirement, income method, next year.

Started monthly deposits in Feb, will have 12 months in for next March.

I'm not going through the marriage fiasco again.

2 minutes ago, MIke B Bad said:

Switching to retirement, income method, next year.

Started monthly deposits in Feb, will have 12 months in for next March.

Clever man. Took me years to bother with changing to income method.

Did it last extension and has added bonus.

No need for WILL as basically nothing is kept in the account.

Certainly not 800k.

1 hour ago, Digitalbanana said:

So you are sticking with marriage extensions based on dodgy math? 30k interest lol.

My bad...it is only 28,800 Baht equivalent.

My maths is sound.....800k not transferred from the UK and out into my cash ISA

Simple.

1 hour ago, CallumWK said:

You get 30K interest on 400K baht, as that is the difference between retirement and marriage extension?

WOW

It is a bit more complicated than that.

400k for 2 months to get the marriage extension.....then that money is free to do what I want with. In 2027 I will use the income method.

My point was that by NOT transferring 800k from the UK I can earn 30k Baht equivalent (28,800 actually).

With a marriage visa, your wife can kick you out of Thailand at any time. Sure, you can go through the hassle of switching to another visa, but there's a psychological power thing going on when a wife thinks she can do this.

1 hour ago, davb said:

but there's a psychological power thing going on when a wife thinks she can do this.

If anyone's wife thinks like that, that marriage is on rocky ground.

1 hour ago, davb said:

With a marriage visa, your wife can kick you out of Thailand at any time. Sure, you can go through the hassle of switching to another visa, but there's a psychological power thing going on when a wife thinks she can do this.

Plenty of other VISAs available.

Plenty of other countries available.

Plenty of other younger women available in SEA.

Unless you spent all your money on buying her a house, and nobodies that stupid!

I just renewed my retirement visa extension for the 10th time 2 weeks ago. Very easy. I always go to immigration about 2-3 weeks early to check with them to make sure nothing (it does a little every year) has changed. It was super easy and took about 15 minutes.

I just realized I can do the income method. Two years ago, I changed the way my retirement money comes in every month. Direct from my USA bank account to a Thailand bank account. Showing international transfer monthly. So next year I'm going to immigration and confirm i can do that. If so, I can free up my 800,000.

Just make sure your monthly income comes into your Thailand bank as an international deposit.

19 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

Just make sure your monthly income comes into your Thailand bank as an international deposit.

I use WISE. Transfer on 14th of each month from Oz Bank to WISE wallet then to Kasikorn Bank a/c.

All done instantly.

Request the 12 month Bank statement in Thai Language and the notation on the transfers so as "funds from abroad"

I highlight the 12 transfers.

26 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Request the 12 month Bank statement in Thai Language and the notation on the transfers so as "funds from abroad"

I highlight the 12 transfers.

Good to know about Thai Language. My Bangkok Bank account shows the transfers as

International Transfer with date and time of transfer

(I tried to copy and paste but it didn't work)

I just got the renewal two weeks ago. Do I start next month (April) to show income? If so, I might use my other Kasikorn account instead. Easier to get statement. Thanks.

Actually, I usually transfer at the end of the month, so it would be something like March 30, 2026

2 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

I just got the renewal two weeks ago. Do I start next month (April) to show income? If so, I might use my other Kasikorn account instead. Easier to get statement. Thanks.

Just me.

I would start the monthly transfers now.

Get one in the book for March.

Also maintain the 800k

I did report of my extension (income method) will search for it. May be helpful

https://aseannow.com/topic/1375440-extension-retirement-cw-report/?do=share

3 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

If anyone's wife thinks like that, that marriage is on rocky ground.

If he thinks his wife thinks like that, that marriage is on rocky ground.

1 hour ago, LivingNThailand said:

Actually, I usually transfer at the end of the month, so it would be something like March 30, 2026

Transfers at the end of the month are extremely dangerous for trying to base your extension on. What happens if this month it goes through on the 30th, but next month there is a delay of 2-3 days? That means next month you won't be able to show any transfer that month, and now you cannot get an extension. Always best to do your transfer mid-month or end of the month to ensure you can account for any potential issues.

28 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

Transfers at the end of the month are extremely dangerous for trying to base your extension on. What happens if this month it goes through on the 30th, but next month there is a delay of 2-3 days? That means next month you won't be able to show any transfer that month, and now you cannot get an extension. Always best to do your transfer mid-month or end of the month to ensure you can account for any potential issues.

1st of the month for me.

Job done.

(although I may well have transferred to WISE earlier in the month, if I like the look of the exchange rate).

1 hour ago, hotandsticky said:

1st of the month for me.

Not good policy IMO.

My schedule transfer from income stream is 14th.

Because this month that's a Saturday the transfer automatically is done tomorrow Fri 13.

Suggest to anyone using income method to make transfers mid month.

No reason not to.

Ignore exchange rates. Just do it

36 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Not good policy IMO.

My schedule transfer from income stream is 14th.

Because this month that's a Saturday the transfer automatically is done tomorrow Fri 13.

Suggest to anyone using income method to make transfers mid month.

No reason not to.

Ignore exchange rates. Just do it

That makes sense.

I like to get it out the way and set it up as a regular payment with WISE.

It is solely for the benefit of Immigration, having the same amount, same date every month. I usually also transfer more than that at other times of the month.

13 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

It is solely for the benefit of Immigration, having the same amount, same date every month. I usually also transfer more than that at other times of the month.

Immigration can be touchy.

For others I suggest transfer every month on approx same date.

In my case it's ~ 120k each month on 14th.

Yes exchange rate affects the amount. That cannot be controlled.

"Shopping" for good rate is not clever

19 hours ago, mania said:

True & I agree but I also remember these things are cyclical.

Back in 2012 I was getting 4+% at Bank of Audyha when USA was paying 0.25%

So I know these things shift

Needed really for 5 months in account.

can't see why marriage ext is deemed so difficult.. if doing ness paperwk 1 day a year is a hassle ..... well ??????

your money is only "tied up 2 months befor and the 1 month of under consideration

and it's only 400k

total time invested to get the necc paperwork ( for me ) 5 mins at local amphur, 15 mins @ bank and usually 45 mins in and out of immgration

not a hassle to go back to get the pp stamped ( 15 mins away for me )

imm only came to the house 1 time .. all other times they call and have us stand outside in front of house and they capture the photo/address on line ... piece of cake

IMO, retirement extension is easier, less steps, no photos at your house, and no immigration officials visiting, and about the last point, I like to keep my head below the radar.

19 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

My point was that by NOT transferring 800k from the UK I can earn 30k Baht equivalent (28,800 actually).

Since you have explained this the math is correct. So its more a case of risk, independence and immigration inconvenience that comes into the equation on whether its worth doing marriage extensions. For some the added price for the ease of the retirement route is worth it.

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

I do extensions based on retirement.

Simple paperwork and no home visit also no need for wife to attend + docs.

My last extension I switched to income method and that money is used to live off.

Same as USA my embassy does not proved income letter.

I'm not losing the opportunity cost of having 800k earning 1% in Thai Bank.

Not married and if I was, I would use retirement extensions.

I retired here over 20 years ago on a retirement visa when embassy was issuing letter of earned income and when they dropped that, I did the monthly still on the retirement O and it was easy with a minimum of papework although i married a Thai, I had heard all the stories about paperwork so opted out of that, then the LTR - the perfect visa for me! but I would go back to a retirement O monthly deposits when that 10-years is up.

18 minutes ago, Digitalbanana said:

Since you have explained this the math is correct. So its more a case of risk, independence and immigration inconvenience that comes into the equation on whether its worth doing marriage extensions. For some the added price for the ease of the retirement route is worth it.

I agree entirely with that. It is not all about cost....but I intend to minimise the amount I transfer in and, as I want to use marriage/income criteria in future, the extension based on Marriage suits me.

I have previously paid agents to save me the inconvenience of dealing with Immigration but (because I don't want to bring in 800k) that route has become too expensive IMO and I will also be switching to a more user-friendly Immigration office.

I p

21 hours ago, mania said:

We moved back to USA & are moving back to Thailand in May permanently

I can go either way but am thinking it is infinitely easier to use Retirement rather than the 50% cheaper marriage visa paper work wise

I also think although I will lose interest at this time by keeping 800k in Thailand it serves a dual purpose even for emergencies. (I of course will have more but )

Since I have only ever done the somewhat complicated marriage extension I wanted to hear form retirement extension guys that it is way easier right?

Thanks!

Are you going to Work.

Marriage Visa allows you to Work something Few mention.

Retirement Visa you can Not Work.

Marriage Visa once you obtain a Work Permit if the Work ends your Marriage Visa and "Right to Stay" are still 100% Valid until expiration.

You need to better specify all Your details and specifics before we can provide the best option for your scenario.

The Main reason I read and hear for Retirement Visa are:

Ease to obtain and Extend.

Less paperwork, time, and interactions with Immigration to complete. You mentioned the financial requirements are No problem to qualify for the visa.

No one really knows their future or Marriage better than you and your partner. Marriage has many specifics that Favor the Thai partner but there are some documents you can use to help protect anything you value and want to reduce the risk of losing. Usufruct, Wills,

Regarding a Prenuptial in Thailand.

Warning, for it Not to be Voided both parties must follow steps like, signing Prenuptial and registering at Amphur with Marriage.

Recorded in Official Marriage Register and needs to be in Both Languages.

Must have Two Witnesses.

"Schedule of Assets"

Lastly documents, receipts, deeds, bank accounts, and everything proving ownership Prior to Marriage Must be in order

Separate Bank Accounts, one for Prenuptial/Pre-marriage Assets. Do Not Commingle Assets, it can cause the account to be seen as a "Marital Asset"