I’ve been trying to get my head round the whole visa situation and the more I read, the more conflicting stuff I find.

I’m basically choosing between going down the retirement route or switching to a Thai wife visa… and now people are throwing this DTV thing into the mix as well.

On paper the retirement one looks simpler, but tying up 800k isn’t exactly ideal. The marriage visa looks cheaper, but then you hear about extra hassle, home visits, different offices doing different things… not sure if that’s overblown or not.

What I can’t get a straight answer on is what it’s actually like in practice now.

Which one is genuinely less hassle year to year?

Is the Thai wife route more grief than it’s worth, or is that just forum noise?

And where does the DTV even fit into this — is anyone actually using it properly long term or is it a bit of a side option?

Would be good to hear from anyone actually dealing with this now rather than what the rules say on paper.

4 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

Would be good to hear from anyone actually dealing with this now rather than what the rules say on paper.

Very little has changed for both extensions based on retirement and marriage.

It's easy to read threads what both involve.

The organized guys sail through marriage extensions.

Fact is they require wife to attend and extra paperwork.

There is also an under consideration period.

Some have home visits.

Everyone is different. If I was married I would still do retirement extensions.

Which immigration office will you deal with.

13 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

On paper the retirement one looks simpler, but tying up 800k isn’t exactly ideal

Be aware that without embassy letter your first extension would tie up 800k.

Indeed that previously was my situation.

I now use income method and that involved both options parallel for a year.

65k monthly transfers is easy option.

41 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

And where does the DTV even fit into this — is anyone actually using it properly long term or is it a bit of a side option?

For someone with options...

Both married to Thai and also retirement option then DTV not best option IMO.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Be aware that without embassy letter your first extension would tie up 800k.

Indeed that previously was my situation.

I now use income method and that involved both options parallel for a year.

65k monthly transfers is easy option.

I was thinking about going the income route either for retirement or marriage extensions but it seems the immigration office I'll be using won't accept rental income as a source of income and I'm not yet old enough to receive a pension.

Looks like it'll have to be sticking the cash in a bank or using an agent for me.

1 hour ago, Colonel_Mustard said:

I was thinking about going the income route either for retirement or marriage extensions but it seems the immigration office I'll be using won't accept rental income as a source of income and I'm not yet old enough to receive a pension…

Get the sheet of paper with the requirements from the unnamed office you're using and read it carefully. If it says that monthly remittances from abroad are not acceptable to meet the financial requirements if these remittances are from rental income, please post it here and name the office and someone using the same office may post how he is handling this situation.

No reason really to consider the DTV if you qualify for 2 better options.

Retirement and Marriage both cost the same, 1900 baht per extension. The money in the bank is not a cost, it's just a financial requirement. That's still your money.

How far away from the immigration office do you live? How busy is your immigration office?

If you live very far and your office is busy, retirement is probably better since you only have to make 1 trip per year.

If you live close and it's not busy, marriage is a good option since you'll have to go twice per year. Not much to the extra paperwork really. Only thing that bothers some is the possible home visits, but retirement can get those as well based on reports.

7 hours ago, BrandonJT said:

If you live close and it's not busy, marriage is a good option since you'll have to go twice per year. Not much to the extra paperwork really. Only thing that bothers some is the possible home visits, but retirement can get those as well based on reports.

Marriage, 2X a year, why ?

@The Cobra never read source of funds being an issue, just from overseas.

Retirement via monthly income transfer deposit the easiest.

65k monthly is the way to go.

I've done marriage extensions for seven years......(married for 20)......and the checks, double checks, requirements, demands are becoming more and more extreme.

8 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

never read source of funds being an issue, just from overseas.

Retirement via monthly income transfer deposit the easiest.

One needs to check with their particular immigration office.

By way of example CW does not seek source of funds.

Rather just bank statement to show the monthly transfers and denoted as international transfer.

Some offices unfortunately want to see some evidence of source such as social Security, pension etc

1 hour ago, KhunLA said:

Marriage, 2X a year, why ?

I think that includes the return visit to the office after getting the 'under consideration' stamp to get the full extension stamped in the passport.

3 minutes ago, rwilem said:

I think that includes the return visit to the office after getting the 'under consideration' stamp to get the full extension stamped in the passport.

If that's considered an inconvenience, I'm really impress people here are lazier than me. Didn't think that was even possible. My Imm office for extension is 100 kms away, and I actually welcome the day out.

I can even drive about half of that, surfside. Hate them damn speed bumps at Pranburi beach though 😂

I'm in a similar situation, married with kids, thinking about a retirement visa with an agent (don't need the headache with docs etc and need hand-holding).

My question is: I live in the South and need a reputable agent who can take care of my this via post. I don't want to go to Pattaya, I might not get back lol.

Can anyone recommend an agent that can handle this type of request?

If you live outside of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, who did you use?

10 minutes ago, BillyBobzTeeth said:

If you live outside of Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket, Chiang Mai, who did you use?

Take by way of example. If you live outside of Bangkok you can still use Bangkok agent to assist you with extension.

The process will be up country.

You don't travel to Bangkok

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Take by way of example. If you live outside of Bangkok you can still use Bangkok agent to assist you with extension.

The process will be up country.

You don't travel to Bangkok

Thanks Jack

My stamp ends on the 4th of May ( exempt entry 2nd this year ).

How do they handle things like TM30, because I'm moving home at the end of this month?

If I go to immigration to update my address and they look at my passport, I imagine that would be a red flag. This is why I ask, can I update it online?

Also my Thai driving license expired 3 months ago, so I imagine I can't go to immigration for a COR, so can agents help with that issue?

2 minutes ago, BillyBobzTeeth said:

My stamp ends on the 4th of May ( exempt entry 2nd this year ).

You need to get ball rolling.

You need Non O from your visa exempt stamp.

The agent can obtain the Non O + 12 month extension.

That won't be cheap..

Subsequent extensions easy and only cost for extension. The Non O is one time. Do you have a Thai Bank account?

5 minutes ago, BillyBobzTeeth said:

Also my Thai driving license expired 3 months ago, so I imagine I can't go to immigration for a COR, so can agents help with that issue?

Things you give as example is best to discuss with agent.

Have a chat with an agent. Maybe start with ThaiVisaCentre.

I will need do same thing at some point due to mobility.

I will discuss options for such things as 90 reports etc

34 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You need to get ball rolling.

You need Non O from your visa exempt stamp.

The agent can obtain the Non O + 12 month extension.

That won't be cheap..

Subsequent extensions easy and only cost for extension. The Non O is one time. Do you have a Thai Bank account?

Things you give as example is best to discuss with agent.

Have a chat with an agent. Maybe start with ThaiVisaCentre.

I will need do same thing at some point due to mobility.

I will discuss options for such things as 90 reports etc

Okay, brother, good luck with the mobility issue, hope it all works out.

14 hours ago, Maestro said:

Get the sheet of paper with the requirements from the unnamed office you're using and read it carefully. If it says that monthly remittances from abroad are not acceptable to meet the financial requirements if these remittances are from rental income, please post it here and name the office and someone using the same office may post how he is handling this situation.

My wife went in and asked on my behalf and she was told that it had to be guaranteed income for the marriage extension (such as pension/work etc) and they would not consider rental income as guaranteed. For the retirement extension it had to be pension income.

I'll probably do the money in the bank for the first extension and give it a try with monthly income for the 2nd. I'd have to run them both side by side anyway, so if they don't allow the rental income, I'll still have the 800,000 in the bank for the money in bank option. Either that or just use an agent.

5 minutes ago, Colonel_Mustard said:

My wife went in and asked on my behalf and she was told that it had to be guaranteed income for the marriage extension (such as pension/work etc) and they would not consider rental income as guaranteed. For the retirement extension it had to be pension income.

I'll probably do the money in the bank for the first extension and give it a try with monthly income for the 2nd. I'd have to run them both side by side anyway, so if they don't allow the rental income, I'll still have the 800,000 in the bank for the money in bank option. Either that or just use an agent.

If you show up in year 2 and show them 800,000 in your bank account and monthly transfers, they'll smile and nod at whatever you say, and use the 800k for your extension. They don't like doing the monthly transfers, and will always use the 800k if it's there.

5 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

If you show up in year 2 and show them 800,000 in your bank account and monthly transfers, they'll smile and nod at whatever you say, and use the 800k for your extension. They don't like doing the monthly transfers, and will always use the 800k if it's there.

I'll use different banks for the money in bank and income methods, so I guess I could show them the account with just the income and if they won't accept that, then I'd have to show them the other account with the 800,000. An agent is sounding more attractive by the day!

29 minutes ago, Colonel_Mustard said:

I guess I could show them the account with just the income and if they won't accept that, then I'd have to show them the other account with the 800,000

In my 12 month bank statement I had balance not below 800k for the year.

I also highlighted the 12 monthly transfers of 65k+

There were marked as international transfers.

CW did not question source of funds.

Which immigration office?

16 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

In my 12 month bank statement I had balance not below 800k for the year.

I also highlighted the 12 monthly transfers of 65k+

There were marked as international transfers.

CW did not question source of funds.

Which immigration office?

Korat.

Thanks for the comments so far - - Ive done the "wife" visa and the wife says dont change it- just stay with what works even though the paperwork volume is a pain- Im in favor of doing retiement as there is nowhere near the volume- its done an dusted in a day and no return visits for consideration. She has a point that if something happens you need the money for something- then you cant do that one again you have to start all over !

37 minutes ago, The Cobra said:

She has a point that if something happens you need the money for something- then you cant do that one again you have to start all over

As pointed out in the thread... Retirement extensions can be done using income method.

Aside from that if an expat lives in Thailand without the ability to cover unforseen financial demand etc then that's reckless IMO.

Shouldn't need to rely on access to the 800k if using money in bank method

On 4/5/2026 at 2:43 AM, MIke B Bad said:

65k monthly is the way to go.

I've done marriage extensions for seven years......(married for 20)......and the checks, double checks, requirements, demands are becoming more and more extreme.

It would be extremely helpful if members stated the immigration office they use along with any comment on difficulty or otherwise.

On 4/4/2026 at 8:11 PM, DrJack54 said:

Fact is they require wife to attend and extra paperwork.

Not as much paperwork as a Business Visa. Just for comparison.

Home visit? Maybe once on the first application. It is really no different than a mate with his friends popping round.

As far as I am aware the "under consideration" is more bureaucratic and paperwork rather than real.

The real bugbear is that not all wives have the ability/skill to deal with it.

7 hours ago, NanLaew said:

It would be extremely helpful if members stated the immigration office they use along with any comment on difficulty or otherwise.

I have been on the receiving end of the comment "Your not saying which office is helpful -- NOT"

With some smaller offices they do not do a lot of 65K monthly retirement extensions and, in describing some of ones recent experiences, it would be pretty evident to them who you are.

So I have not responded to:

Your office as described is a bunch of pedantic hayseeds. Which office is that?

I used the 800k deposit method even when married. No hassle at all. Did all my extensions myself. It's really a personal choice if you can afford the 800K deposit.

Bangkok Immigration office

17 hours ago, NanLaew said:

It would be extremely helpful if members stated the immigration office they use along with any comment on difficulty or otherwise.

Chaiyaphum.

If you are married, just do the marriage visa and let your wife do it.

The only thing I do is drive is the driving and the bank letter. The wife does everything else, including booking the queue and waiting in line.