Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing O Retirement Visas. This is just kind of a general piece of insight about getting into this status sooner rather than later. 

I'm going to do a rather deeper dive into some of these topics in our upcoming paid news service episode on Integrity News Service. Those who are interested in that, check us out. Send us an email, [email protected] where I get into politics, international relations, how all of this stuff impacts expat land here in Thailand; banking, tax, immigration stuff just general expat discussion if you will or monologue, in the case of me, because oftentimes that is what I engage in, monologue rather than discussion much to the chagrin of those in conversation with me, I am sure. So if you are interested in that, [email protected]. While I'm talking my book as well, if you are interested in diner style American food or breakfast anytime, check us out at Pancake Palace. My better half and I set up a restaurant here in downtown Bangkok, the link is in the description below. 

So the reason again for this video pertains to the issue of O Retirement Visa status and whether or not you should get into it sooner rather than later. The reason I am bringing this up is because I think we are in a very fluid situation at the moment. In fact I think we are in a very transitional moment sitting here at this particular moment right here at the very end of July, early August 2025. I think 3 months from now, we could be looking back on this and be like, "wow that was a weird moment!" 

But one trend I have been noticing over, call it the last five or six years, even longer really, more like seven at this point if you are going back into like 2018 regarding Retirement Visas is one, the requirements have become increasingly complex, let's put it that way. So for example, some years back they added on an insurance requirement; now it only pertained to the O-A Visa. Now that is why I am talking in this video specifically about the O Retirement Visa which does not have that requirement. That said, as folks may be aware in the last call it 6 or 9 weeks here in Thailand, we have seen a pretty significant clamp down and policy change that has resulted in a lot of Immigration outcomes. Now most of these policy changes have come from the banks where affidavits regarding basically documenting money in the bank account for proving up funds to get a Retirement Visa, it has become more onerous depending on which bank you are dealing with. Also getting a bank account now is very difficult on anything but a Non-immigrant Visa which is kind of changing the game in terms of being able to get banking even set up. 

Now we have solutions for these things, and we have assisted a number of clients here recently at the firm in getting banking solutions in a Retirement Visa context. So be aware that there are solutions out there. But the reason for the video is the fact that look, I have said it before and I'll say it again, if they ever fundamentally change the Retirement Visa system, it is my belief they will grandfather in those who are already in the system. If you go back into the '90s that is what they did when they changed the financial thresholds associated with the Retirement Visa at that time, which to the best of my knowledge it changed three times back in the '90s and each time as it went up, those who were already in the system at the lower threshold, got to basically remain in that status and continuing extending based on that status. 

So my thinking is they are not going to want to just overnight get rid of the Retirement Visa category or the O specifically category and then just displace a bunch of people. I don't see that happening for no other reason than the fact that it would displace a bunch of people who are spending money in Thailand and who would that be good for? So my point is, I think what would happen is one day they would just make an announcement with a grace period or not, that basically says, "hey for anybody that gets this type of Visa status here in the future, if you want to retire in Thailand you have to be in O-A for example. Not saying that would mean what they would do, or they would say we are changing the O Retirement Visa's financial requirements moving forward, but if they did, they would grandfather in those who are already in. 

That is the point of the video. The point of the video is if you are not in O Retirement Visa status and you want to be retired in Thailand, you want to have a Retirement Visa, I think it would be a good idea to get into that status sooner rather than later.