I am coming to Thailand at the end of the month to check it out as a retirement locale. I will only have a tourist stamp and I want to upgrade to the non-immigrant O visa. Is it better to do that in Bangkok or is Chiang Mai the same? I rather not stop in Bangkok because Bangkok wears me out.

A few more questions relating to immigration for the NIOV for Retirement:

- Do you need a visa to open a bank account? I get the impression it is really up to the whim of the bank clerk. Any bank recommendations? As I'm not sure where I will settle, I would like a Thailand wide bank.

- I was planning on going to immigration in khaki pants, white shirt and tie. Is that appropriate attire?

Can one find good quality 38" pants in Chiang Mai?

Thanks for your patience with my questions!

Sorry I posted in wrong forum...

Sorry I posted in wrong forum...

No problem I'll move it now.

You don't really have to wear the tie but if your style go for it. I wear safari or Thai type shirts myself.

Banks are a mixed bag. But you should be able to find one to accept your money but it may take a few tries.

I am coming to Thailand at the end of the month to check it out as a retirement locale. I will only have a tourist stamp and I want to upgrade to the non-immigrant O visa. Is it better to do that in Bangkok or is Chiang Mai the same? I rather not stop in Bangkok because Bangkok wears me out.

A few more questions relating to immigration for the NIOV for Retirement:

- Do you need a visa to open a bank account? I get the impression it is really up to the whim of the bank clerk. Any bank recommendations? As I'm not sure where I will settle, I would like a Thailand wide bank.

- I was planning on going to immigration in khaki pants, white shirt and tie. Is that appropriate attire?

Can one find good quality 38" pants in Chiang Mai?

Thanks for your patience with my questions!

Is it for a short visit? You might be as well applying for a tourist visa.

If you can, get trousers from your home country - some of the cuts of the larger sizes of trousers can be questionable.

Is it for a short visit? You might be as well applying for a tourist visa.

If you can, get trousers from your home country - some of the cuts of the larger sizes of trousers can be questionable.

I plan to stay 5 months. I think that will be sufficient to determine if I want to stay for retirement. But I don't want to have to do a lot of visa runs so I wanted to get a visa that would allow me to stay awhile. One or two visa runs would be OK.

I will only have a tourist stamp and I want to upgrade to the non-immigrant O visa.

You cannot apply for a VISA within the country.

Is it for a short visit? You might be as well applying for a tourist visa.

If you can, get trousers from your home country - some of the cuts of the larger sizes of trousers can be questionable.

I plan to stay 5 months. I think that will be sufficient to determine if I want to stay for retirement. But I don't want to have to do a lot of visa runs so I wanted to get a visa that would allow me to stay awhile. One or two visa runs would be OK.

You could apply for a double entry tourist visa - that would give 2 stays of 90 days each. You would need to do a visa run.

Do you have a Thai wife? You could apply for a Non-Imm O multiple entry based on visiting wife's family.

It wouldn't really be worth going through the hassle of getting a retirement visa for a 5 month stay.

You can convert from 1 visa type (and even visa-free-entry currently) to another IN Thailand (with the proper docs of course). Cheers!

I will only have a tourist stamp and I want to upgrade to the non-immigrant O visa.

You cannot apply for a VISA within the country.

Try getting a REAL visa, the longest term you can get, from the country where you are now, especially if it's the country of your citizenship. Chances are a consulate will give you a long enough visa (say, 90 days plus you can do two or three border runs). Try for an O or B six month visa; ask for 12 months.