Can agents assist in obtaining an O visa with help funds?

@Neil ******

Agents charge about 32k for 15 month starter pack. Then 16k or so for annual renewals. The obvious financial advantage being that you don't need 800k in the bank for an agent. 800k at 5% makes 40k annually. Pays for your 16k annual fee and leaves you 24k every year in your pocket. Up to you

@Graham *****

although true, it's a hassle. And as you are well aware it's not like you can send it out and back into country without incurring costs that would far exceed the value. Agents make perfect sense to anyone with a tiny bit of financial savvy

@Todd ********

except that when entering through BKK with an agent obtained Visa extension I was in no uncertain terms told, by an immigration Officer, to get my extension myself next time.

@Todd ********

fair comment fella

@Roberto ********

It's about relatively new accounts, nothing else. You sound like a rabid scaremonger.

@Max ************

Just living in the real world

@Todd ********

Why park those 800k in a savings account when there are for example Fixed Deposit Accounts? It sounds like you think 800k baht is a fortune?

@Max ************

why does it sound like that lol? It’s beer money. But as they say, a fool and his money are easily parted. What do here with with micro amounts reflects how you handle money in general.

It sounds like you have no clue about the value of time.

I wouldn’t park mine in savings account or FD accounts. Don’t be ridiculous. They don’t even keep up with inflation especially on an after tax basis

@Todd ********

I don't see 800k as a lot of money,maybe you do. It's a small part of what I have. You are just another person whining about parking money in a Thai bank like it's the end of the world.

@Max ************

clearly reading comprehension is not your forte.

@Stephen ********

" To get a 12 month retirement visa you need 800k in the bank but he’s saying you can’t get a bank account unless you’ve got a 12 month visa WTF " . . . . this is utter bollocks. Kick the advice of the other guy into the bin . . . . You enter on a 90 days non O visa. The visa becomes invalid or "used" upon entry. You are in Thailand on a "stay permit". You get a bank account opened as soon as possible after you entered. You transfer a minimum of 800,000 THB into it. Then up from 30 days before your 90-days stay permit expires (NOT your "visa", you don't have a visa any more!!!) and that's as soon as the 800,000 THB have been sitting in your Thai bank account for 2 months, you apply on Immigration for the "12-months Extension of Temporary Stay Permit Based on Retirement" which is NOT a visa but an "extended stay permit"

@Stephen ********

We can still help with opening a bank account on a tourist visa and with exempt entry if your goal is to obtain a Non-O visa.

There is a lot of misleading information circulating online, so it’s best to get the facts directly.

If you have any questions, our team is available on LINE:

@Stephen ********

Why do you listen to rubbish? And you're not applying for a 12 months retirement visa, you're applying for a 1 year extension to stay based on retirement.

@Max ************

is the 1 year extension the only option for retirement, or is there a more long term option?

@Stephen ********

The 1 year O-A applied for in your country. But it comes with a mandatory health insurance and a couple of "odd" requirements.

@Max ************

I’ve heard of some people doing pay as you go for medical costs. How is this an option if it’s mandatory to have health insurance? Let me guess. This is where the agents come in 😜

@Stephen ********

One official requirement for the Non-O-A is the health insurance. The main differences between a Non-O and the Non-O-A is the fact you can only apply for the O-A back home at an Embassy/consulate and you don't need 800k baht in a Thai bank account.

@Max ************

you can apply for the non o in home country by showing the funds there. It gives you 90 days to open an an account in Thailand and deposit the funds there for two months before applying for 12 month extension based on being over 50, married etc. Or is that what you meant?

@Nick ***********

No, he asked if there was another option, a long term visa based on retirement instead of the 90 days Non-O and the 1 year extension at immigration. The only one is the O-A.

@Max ************

to be honest, taking another look, I'm not sure what he was asking.

@Nick ***********

He's totally clueless. He's just rambling about visas and illegal actions by agents and opening an account on a 90 days Non-O is not possible etc etc.

@Stephen ********

you can still get a bank account opened fully legal if you enter on a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa. If you happen to meet incompetent banking staff, just use an agent. Costs around 5000 THB to get a bank account opened with any of the many agent's in Pattaya. No health insurance requried on a Non-Imm-O, but it might be wise to have secured a good health insurance just for peace of mind

@Stephen ********

watching some Facebook group I’ve seen guys mentioning they transfer money in to Thailand 3 months before their renewal then once approved transfer back out of Thailand until next approval cycle.

With the continued uncertainty nobody wants to have a Thailand a store of money.

@David *********

that would not work as the full amount has to stay in the bank for three months after getting the extension and not go below 0 (for retirement) for the rest of the year. Monthly payments can be spent or sent back to home country but to swap you need to do both for the first year.

@David *********

Those guys don't have valid extensions if they're doing what you described.

@Max ************

I’m not gaming it or trying to game it so I don’t really know.

@David *********

Don't you know how a 1 year extension at immigration works?

@Stephen ********

Why not?