Thinking of Coming to Thailand next year

[vox2]

I am currently living in the Philippines but wish to move to Thailand within the next six months. I have helped my girlfriend and her family enormously and no longer feel any obligation to be here. Our relationship has become one of business and friendship and there is little if any romance left between us. I do find the people here wonderful and the country beautiful but it's time for me to move on. I am wondering if some of you can provide me with some assistance as to Visa, banking and living advice? My plan is to relocate to Chiang Mai.

My questions are:

1. If I enter with a 30 day tourist visa from the Philippines may I then apply for a 30 to 60 day extension in order to have time to apply and qualify for an retirement visa? I am over 55 and have the 800,000 Baht required funds available if a bank in Thailand would accept a check and gives it the time to clear. My bank will not allow a wire transfer to Thailand unless I make it in person at a local branch. My pension is about 70,000 Baht per month and I have a decent savings account.

2. The other option I am considering is processing a One year Educational Visa with UniThai in Chiang Mai over the Internet which would not only give me the opportunity to get some Thai language skills while already living in Chiang Mai, but also give me a years time to process a retirement visa.

3. I would be looking to rent a Studio or 1 Bedroom apartment within Chiang Mai city and hoping to pay 10 to 12,000 Baht per month. Considering my 70,000 Bhat budget would that budget provide a decent living for an expat in Chiang Mai? I'm looking to live a simpler life. I'm not a nightclub / bar person. Just looking for decent place to hang my hat, do some photography and traveling around the country.

Thank you all in advance for your generous time and advice.

[ubonjoe]

Your income is enough to meet the 65k baht income for an extension extension of stay based upon retirement.

You should check with the embassy in Manila about getting a single entry non-o visa based upon being 50 or over. Then you could apply for the extension during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa. Some proof of your income should be enough to get the visa.

You should at least get a single entry tourist visa before traveling to here.

If you enter with only a 30 day visa exempt entry you would only have 15 days to put the money in the bank and apply for a conversion to a 90 day non immigrant visa entry at Bangkok immigration. It would require 2 trips 15 days apart to get the visa/entry stamp.

You could get the extension based upon retirement and study Thai at your leisure.

[Kannikapor88]

Ubonjoe took care of your visa-Q so thats clear.

70,000B is plenty per month and a studio/condo for about 10-12,000B absolutely possible for a decent place. TW and I live in a very quiet and well run condominium - not too big and close to Mountains, lake, beautiful nature - PM me if you want the name and location.

You have probably already investigated your self but before you decide for CM as your future home you might want to consider 2 Things :

# Smog season, very bad for many people

# CM Immigration, not good at all and things can take a very bad turn - try read the thread about the new Promenada Imm.

Good luck with your move and let me know if I can help