This topic popped up on the thread about a guy with a three year visa, and I thought it deserved a separate thread.

I'm a US citizen, teaching half time, and I just got a new one-year B visa in Houston. Michelle was being as nice as ever in Houston, and seemed to think it would be easy, next year, to come back to Houston and get the retirement visa, for which I qualify (age, income, savings, health, no criminal record, etc.). But - could I do it in Chiang Mai, without numerous trips to Bangkok? My mate just got an O based on marriage to a Thai - I think he finally did, after many monthly trips to BKK just getting another extension each time.

I wouldn't mind a single visit to BKK to drop off the papers or pick up the new retirement visa, but a monthly commute is unreasonable.

However, would Houston be infinitely easier to get the visa than Thailand?

IMO if your going back to the States at some point during next year do it there..........see if you can get a multi Non Imm O-A then you wont have to meet the yearly requirements the year after........i.e arrive here get a years stay stamp then just before the multi expires nip out and back in for a fresh years stay stamp.

Naturally you wont be able to work on the O-A.

I don't see any reason you can not do it in Chiang Mai and have no idea why your friend was going to Bangkok for a support Thai wife extension; and have never heard of Bangkok using 30 day extensions as it is one 40-45 day here while they evaluate your paperwork. For retirement it seem to be immediate approval is you have the paperwork ready.

I would talk with Chiang Mai immigration and get the procedure direct from them as it should be easy for you.

Lop if he is (hypothetically) going back to the US next year and everything coincides wouldnt it be better (on the financial front) to get the O-A there ? (he seems to be friendly with the staff there)

Why? He seems to live and work here in Thailand so would assume his money is already here in any case, and if not will be coming to pay the bills now that he is retired. The extension seems to be a done thing if you have the money in the bank.

I'm a US citizen.

  My mate just got

You're hangin' around dem Aussies far too much, dude....

My mate is English; or I should say, 'me mate is English.'

Thanks for all the advice.

I can transfer the money to Thailand without going back. I'm here indefinitely, and don't want to return in the next 15 to 18 months.

Likewise, I could prove the 3 pensions, or the savings, to the US Embassy (how about the Chiang Mai Consulate General?).

Mind you, a trip to BKK is a just a minor nuisance; a trip to Houston (where I'm friendly with the staff) is at least US$2,000 and this time it was $3,000.

So, I guess you're saying that even if I had to go to Bangkok, if I have the paperwork sorted (say, 10 months from now, before my new 12-month B visa runs out), I could either do it in Chiang Mai or make one trip to Bangkok, at most two trips. Okay.