One thing that is not 100% clear in the OP's query is: does he actually want to retire to Thailand for ever and a day? (In which case he will need a note from a psychiatrist, surely?). But the mere fact of obtaining an O-A retirement visa does not necessarily mean (as in my case) that one intends to stay here for even six months, let alone for ever.

I apply each year (for my mostly 6 month stay) for an O-A retirement visa, which costs $65 for single entry and needs notarised paper re monthly salary and medical (no leprosy) and criminal record check. Whole thing costs about $120 if you can find a cheap way of notarising.

So, I only stay for six months. I could, as an alternative, get a double-entry 2-month visa with one month extensions, amounting to 6 months.

But this in fact costs, when you take into account having to visit Immigration twice and leaving the country once, much more than the cost involved in getting a one-year O-A retirement visa.

I don't think his long term intentions are all that relevant. He said he wanted an O-A visa. He realizes there might be a problem with that with a criminal record. We have steered him towards an alternative, starting with retirement extensions IN Thailand. Whether he stays for life or not is a separate matter.

I just got my O-A Non- IM yesterday from the Thai Embassy in Washington, DC. It cost $200 and I requested 3 reentries. I am a 60 y/o American who plans on staying in Chiang Mai for 4 -5 months beginning in October, 2012.

I can answer a few questions. I haven't made my airline reservations yet but I said that I would arrive on October 15th and would stay until February 15th. I fly in on Korean Air from Atlanta so I used the flight segment number from Seoul to Chiang Mai. I have tentative reservations at a long stay apartment building in Chiang Mai that i have used for 3 years now so I used that address.

I went for my criminal records check at the County Clerks office in Henderson County, North Carolina, where I have my home. It only included a criminal records check for Henderson County, not state or nationwide. The cost here was $25 but that will vary. I was in and out in about 10 minutes. Accepted by the Washington, DC embassy with no questions.

For my financial records, I keep my money at Vanguard Mutual Funds. They just sent me a printout of my various accounts with an nice letter signed by a Vanguard employee. Luckily I have over way over the minimum requirements of about $30,000 so no problem here.

For Thai reference purposes, I used the name of a friend who lives full time in Chiang Mai.

I got my medical form filled out at Chiang Mai University Sriphat Medical Center before I left in February, 2012. They only had to run a blood test for syphilis. I forget the actual cost but it was modest.

My only error was that I didn't make 3 copies of the paperwork when I mailed everything in using Priority Mail. Luckily, the Thai embassy woman made them for me at no additional cost.

Prior to this I had used a tourist visa with a 30 day extension. I decided to pay the $200 and get the one year visa so I could stay over 4 months with minimal hassle.

The only thing I don't know is how to get my visa extended for another year when it expires in April, 2013. Does anyone know those requirements for someone in my situation?

Firstly you obtained a multi entry non immigrant O-A visa valid for a year - the single entry is also valid for a year. The advantage of your visa is that you have unlimited number of entries available during that year and each entry gets a new one year stay stamp from date of entry (so if you enter just before it expires it can be valid for almost two full years of stay - although you will need re-entry permits after current visa validity expires (April 2013) to keep current permitted to stay time if you travel).

When you have to extend inside Thailand you present proof of 800k in a Thai bank account for previous 3 months or Embassy letter of 65k per month income or combination to meet 800k per year. Other than that only passport copies and proof of address are required each year. Cost is 1,900 baht using Tm.7 form with 4x6cm photo.

I used a service for my visa from DC and I sent overnight and had it back in my hands in just a few days so was worth the price of service. I used local police check from Harnett Co sherriff's office, and letter from my bank showing I had a direct deposit and amounts, a letter from my local Dr, and gave an estimated date of arrival. Email me or IM me here and I can give you services name in DC and internet web address. I came here from NC on retirement visa O/A and been here 4 years now. Lot of sevices will walk your application through for a fee and they make all copies, so no guessing. Let me know if I can help!

Why haven't you ever looked into getting your record expunged? The process in Chicago is very easy. Go don't to the clerk of the circuit court fill out a little paperwork pay some money and bam they hand over your files.

The only thing I don't know is how to get my visa extended for another year when it expires in April, 2013. Does anyone know those requirements for someone in my situation?

One day before it expires next April, do a border run and you will be stamped back into Thailand with a stamp that will say :

Admitted till (day of the month) April 2014