Does one need to go through an agency (paid service) to receive a retirement visa for Thailand from US. Or can you just apply through a USA embassy?

Why would a USA embassy deliver a Thai retirement visa? I'm assuming you are a US citizen in the US? If so ask at your nearest Thai consulate. You can do it on your own. A retirement visa is also called an "O" visa. More info here: Getting a non-immigrant visa outside the country - Thaivisa.com

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

the retirement age to qualify for an O visa is 60, but I am not sure. Basically if you have a certain amount of $, you can get an O visa without too many problems; but you can not work under an O visa.

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There are two categories of travellers, those that experience a country and those that take their home with them wherever they go.

Be warned, as with any forum, picking a fight with the admin guy is not recommended!

Actually it's 50 not 60. They are mainly interested in making sure you have enough money.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kingdom of Thailand : : Visas & Travel Document

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“Not all those who wander are lost.” Tolkien.
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

note that you can apply for a 1 year retirement visa at age 50 OUTSIDE Thailand the first time, and one time ONLY
Need to show the equivalent of 800,000 baht in the bank that has been there for 3 months
then after your visa expires ( 1 year) you can apply for a 1 year extension IN THAILAND.
need to show 800,000 baht in the bank for 3 months
Sept 1st laws changed that no longer can your wife if she is under 50 tag on to your extensions.
if she is under tough luck, if she is over needs to show her own money in the bank
as to your kids, they also can not tag on to your extenison or visa

You can also apply for a 1 year mutiply entry type O visa, in your home country, but that means you need to leave every 90 days. They do not issue this type o visa outside your own country and doubt they would give it to you twice.
the extension you do not need to leave at all ever.

It does not have to be 800.000 Baht in the bank, it can also be an income of 65.000? Baht per month, certified by the embassy, or a combination of the two.

Retirement visa (which is what i have) from USA, any Thai consulate/embassy should be able to process. A simple process, application form, income verification, does not necessarily have to be in a bank, but once in country, depending on what immigration office used, these rules are interpreted differently by different offices, so try to renew in Bangkok if possible, since they are consistent on applying rules as written. Health and police report and that’s about it. Over 50 yr of age for USA. Good for one year, with 90 day check ins at immigrations once in country, to make sure you still have a pulse and nothing changed. If planning on departing within that year, you will need a exit/re-entry stamp, single or multiple, or you will violate you visa. Renew visa in country within 30 days of expiration or original. All quite easy. For USA, an affidavit for USA embassy verifying income, honor system, I swear and notarized. This may change in future, but nothing official yet. 800,000 baht is the financial requirement, this is the iffy one some immigration officers seem to require differently from law, which states, and/or any of the following three.

800,000 baht in Thai bank

Income and/or savings, totally 800,000 baht

65000 baht a month, deposited in Thai bank for out of country.

Nong Khai immigrations wants to see ttl income/saving, and want to see the working bank acct with 65000 a month deposits, and very picky about the wording of the bank statement of same.
Which is incorrect as the law says, income ‘and/or’ savings totaling 800,000. So to be on the safe side, i recently have been depositing the monthly allotment and will have certified income statement from embassy, until hopefully someone makes the rules apply the same everywhere, yes, I’m dreaming.

But a simply process, contact your local Thai embassy and ask them what ‘they’ want, since they will be processing the application. Good luck, and let us know how it turned out.

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