soisanuk

The process at Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration for getting the initial Non-O Visa and subsequent extension are shown on the Pattaya City Expats Club website at: https://pcec.club/Applying-for-Non-Immigrant-O-Retirement/

You may want to consider checking into this company: https://www.wrlife.org/ It was recommended by a speaker a few months ago at the Pattaya City Expats Club. A couple of members in the audience mentioned they also have medical insurance from this company and were satisfied with their coverage. I have had no dealings with this company as my health insurance from USA covers me here and I have no need for their cover. I am mentioning it as a possibility and, of course, recommend due diligence before obtaining. But I did note they are listed by Bangkok Hospital Pattaya (BHP) as being one they accept - Listing from BHP website: https://bangkokpattayahospital.com/plan-your-visit/health-insurance/insurance-companies/

If applying for the Non-Immigrant O Visa at Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration [Jomtien], be aware that they require the 800,000 be on deposit for 2 months prior to the application date -- this is not in the Immigration rule which has no requirement for how long it must be on deposit, but it is required by Jomtien Immigration Office in Pattaya.

The above is the rule for "extensions," not for application for a Non-Immigrant O Visa. The rules for granting a Non-O Visa for purpose of retirement are: If using the 65k per month method, a letter from your Embassy is required. Thus, those from USA, UK, and Australia cannot meet this requirement as those Embassies no longer issue such letters.

Most of the answers so far relate to "extension" of stay rather than applying for the Non-Immigrant O Visa. Smokeandice's above comment notes the requirement for applying for the Visa at CW which is the requirement for getting the "Visa" - using monthly income is acceptable for the subsequent "extension" of stay.

Clicking the Long Stay option is to ensure Wise sends it to your bank if it is one of their partner banks (Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank, & one other, I think it is TMB but not sure). If click on one of the other options, Wise may use any of their partner banks to effect the transfer, e.g. you have a Bangkok Bank account and they use Kasikorn to fund the transfer which will be coded by Bangkok Bank as a domestic transfer from another Thai bank. They still could use Bangkok Bank to do the transfer and it would be coded FTT - the Long Stay option would ensure they use Bangkok Bank for the transfer, not another partner bank.

On my last transfer at the beginning of this month, I also encountered these questions and after answering, was as noted by the OP then given the purpose list which included the long stay Thailand option and proceeded on with the usual transfer process. Funds arrived around 2pm as usual in my Bangkok Bank account coded FTT. I use my desktop PC when I make the transfers.

The BAHTNET system is for funds sent through the Bank of Thailand's Bahtnet system. Per Wise, their Swift code is BOTHTHBPTS1 (https://wise.com/us/swift-codes/BOTHTHBPTS1)

April 13 is a Saturday. Motorway 7 will be toll free from 12:01am April 11 to midnight April 17 for the Songkran Holidays (per recent article in Thaiger). If your flight is on time and you have no unusual delays at Immigration/customs, it should not take much more than an hour and a half or less for the trip. Even if a bit late, Bangkok Hospital Pattaya is not rigid on their appointment times provided the doctor is still there. I am usually on time for my appointments there, but have sometimes been a late and never had a problem in still seeing the doctor. That said, unless of particular urgency, why not just contact them and reschedule your appointment for another day -- in the 20+ years I have been using BHP, I have on occasion done that when something came up to conflict with my original appointment. There is usually no problem in getting another appointment on the day I wish to see the doctor (I have also arrived without an appointment and still been able to see the doctor, but may have to wait a bit).

Wise is connected to my US Bank. When I initiate a transfer, it usually takes only a few seconds before Wise has the funds, no delay at that end. When I order a transfer on a weekday before 9am, the funds arrive in my Bangkok Bank account around 2pm the same day. If after 9am, it usually arrives the following weekday (M-F) around 2pm. If that weekday is a Thai holiday, then it will arrive the weekday following.

As mentioned, it will depend on the Immigration Office for your location. If it is Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration, then a new TM.30 will be required as for the past several months they are no longer following the "rule" that permits non-filing if using a Re-Entry permit and returning to the same address.

The usual expectation is that after entering Thailand and getting the 90 day permission to stay, the individual would apply for a one year extension at Thai Immigration for purpose of "retirement" which was the purpose stated for getting the Non-O Visa in the first place. If the individual planned to retire here, then why would they want a multiple entry Non-O? If you wish to enter and then travel outside of Thailand rather than remain continuously, you can always get a single or multiple Re-entry permit which will permit such travel and keep your retirement extension of stay valid.

Each Immigration Office may have their own requirements, which can differ from the main Immigration Rules. If you will be using Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration, they currently require that the 800k be on deposit in a Thai bank in your name at least 2 months before you apply for the Non-Immigrant O Visa (the "Immigration Rule" does not require this 2 month period, only that it be on deposit on the day of application). Also, the Application has to be approved by Immigration HQ in Bangkok and they require at least 15 days to process it. So, you will need at least 15 days remaining on your initial Permission to Stay at the time of application (best to check with the Immigration Office where yo will apply as there have been reports that some require at least 21 days be remaining). If you enter Visa Exempt and receive the initial 30 day stay, you can extend it another 30 days at an Immigration Office in Thailand if needed to allow enough time for for processing the Application for the Non-O Visa. After receiving the Non-O Visa, continue to keep the 800k on deposit as it is required to be on deposit at least 2 months before applying for the Extension of Stay (this is the "Immigration Rule," and is followed by Pattaya Immigration, but there reports that a few Immigration Offices will require 3 months on deposit beforehand).

The 18th (Naklua) & 19th (Pattaya) have been the big days for many years now (the water throwing was stopped during the Covid pandemic shutdown).

The Pattaya City Expats Club note on their website that they have received 3 very recent reports that Desk 8 (retirement) is honoring the online appointments, but they also have 1 recent report that the person having an appointment for 30 day extension of visa exempt entry was told to get in line and get a queue number. They have no reports as yet on the experience of anyone using the other reasons for an appointment.