Okay I just want to stay put here in Thailand for a bit longer and do not want the hassle of VOAs or short term (reletivily) tourist visas. I just want to stay here and also be able to go back home to see my kids (in college).

This is me:

I am 57.

Male

US Citizen

Have address in the California

have kids in college that I would like to see without endangering my Visa.

Been here on a Double Entry Visa (second part now activated and going into its extension in two weeks)

Have no need to work for a salary

Know that I can get the letter showing 65k bht per month from my embassy/consulate (have appointment end of this month in CM)

Have friends here and some are government (medical) staffers

Rent a house here in Mae Sot

No criminal record (here or elsewhere)

New passport with only present tourist visa in it.

No Visa Run abuse in the past

Have great Immigration office here where they all know me due to the other friends I have here.

So what do I have to do? I know that Ubonjoe told me once... but for the life of me I cannot find the message he sent me. Please only real suggestions... I am trying to get my ducks in a row now. Many thanks out there!

The first thing you need is a non immigrant visa. You have a choice of going to Bangkok immigration twice to do a change of visa status to get a non immigrant visa entry. Or going to Vientiane to get a single entry non-o visa.

As soon as you have your income affidavit I suggest you go to Vientiane to get the non-o visa. You will just need your passport and and a copy (show original if asked) of your income affidavit to get the visa.

Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry you will get from the visa you can apply for an extension of stay. You can use the income affidavit you will already have to prove your income of 65k baht.

After you have your extension of stay you can get a single re-entry permit (1000 baht) or a multiple re-entry permit (3800 baht) that will allow you to leave and re-enter the country without loosing your extension.

The first thing you need is a non immigrant visa. You have a choice of going to Bangkok immigration twice to do a change of visa status to get a non immigrant visa entry. Or going to Vientiane to get a single entry non-o visa.

As soon as you have your income affidavit I suggest you go to Vientiane to get the non-o visa. You will just need your passport and and a copy (show original if asked) of your income affidavit to get the visa.

Then during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry you will get from the visa you can apply for an extension of stay. You can use the income affidavit you will already have to prove your income of 65k baht.

After you have your extension of stay you can get a single re-entry permit (1000 baht) or a multiple re-entry permit (3800 baht) that will allow you to leave and re-enter the country without loosing your extension.

Ubonjoe thanks for all your helpful input. I am about to do a similar trip for a non-immigrant O. Please can you confirm that at Chaeng Wattana Immigration you have to apply for an extension in the last 30 days of the 90 day entry, I seem to remember reading it was possible in the last 45 days. This is critical to me as I leave Thailand on the 47th day of entry so would not be able to apply for a 1 year retirement extension.

CW-road accepts 45 days early up to the very last day of your permission to stay.