As a new expat-to-be, can I enter Thailand on a one way airline ticket for "tourism", then apply for my Retirement Visa 90 days after I have transferred my $20K into a Thai bank? I don't want to purchase a one way ticket and be denied entry due to not meeting the criteria for entry/exit based upon having no itinerary.

How goes the process for conducting this visa journey from inside Thailand. What documents will I need to bring with me?

Thanks for any help!!!

Gary

If you have a 60-day tourist visa then you do not need a return ticket.

If you are over 50, then you may be better off getting a one year multi-entry (can stay three months at time) which will give you more flexibility and can be converted to a one-year retirement visa when you have complied with the 800k/three month rule. These are best applied for at consulates (not embassy) in your home country, you probably need to show money in home bank and state reason for visa as retirement research. They are generally easy to get if you are over 50.

The best deal for retirement is the retirement long stay non immigrant O-A multi entry visa available in your home country. Although it requires a police report (routine item for most people) it allows entry with a one year stamp based on your money in home country bank and you can enter/exit at any time during its validity to obtain a new one year stamp (effectively giving you almost 2 years before you need to visit immigration with income/bank proof in Thailand).

Second would be a normal non immigrant O visa, multi entry (as if you use the bank deposit it will require 3 months and that is limit of non immigrant visa single entry).

Third is tourist visa entry as you intend. But you will need to exit country and obtain another tourist visa to cover the 3 month bank requirement.

You should not have a travel problem as long as you have a visa in your passport.

You will need bank deposit book/copies and letter from bank, letter from Embassy if you use any retirement pension/income, passport/copies, entry card/copys, 2,000 baht to convert visa if required, 1,900 baht for extension of stay, 4x6cm photo(s), filled out TM.86 and TM.7, and a smile.