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Can I bring a bank cheque to Thailand instead of transferring 800,000 baht for a non-O visa?

Thailand Immigration Non-O Visa Bank Cheque Visa Requirements Proof of Funds Expat Visa Visa Extension Financial Requirements

Jul 13, 2024

5 months ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thinking of moving to Thailand in about months from Australia. In regards of the 80.000 baht needed in the bank, could I bring a bank cheque from here instead of doing a funds transfer? Thank you

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A user inquired about the possibility of bringing a bank cheque instead of transferring 800,000 baht when applying for a non-O visa for Thailand. Responses indicated that if the non-O visa is obtained from the Thai embassy in Australia, proof of fund transfer may not be required. However, if applying from within Thailand, most immigration offices request proof of international transfer. The discussion also highlighted the challenges of opening a bank account in Thailand and the importance of providing correct documentation for visa applications.

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Patrick ********

8bht

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Detlef ***********

🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣🫣

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Gary *********

It’s 800k not 80k mate, hope that helps you a bit

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John **********

800,000 at today's exchange rate 32,655.99 AUD

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Joe ******

800,000 baht.

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Lee *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

yeh I realised my

mistake after I posted. Sorry

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Lee *********

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Kal *********

Thailand is cheap to live but not that cheap ... you'll be broke in no time ...

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Max *************

Why do you think everyone is on a tight budget?

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Joseph *********

avsolute and utter rubbish.

Pre covid I heeded an income of

*****

THB/ month for tge retirement visa. I rarely spent more than

*****

including rent.

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John **********

@Joseph ********

hehehe I suppose it depends on his activities. In my early days of coming to Thailand I spent 19,000 in one night. But what a night 😂

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Kal *********

the dude is bringing 80,000 ... to move to Thailand

hotel , travel , food ... party ... he will go broke ..

not 80,000 per month ...

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Lee *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

My typing mistake should be 800,000 Bht

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Lee *********

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Jim ********

Apply for an LTR prior to arriving.

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Max *************

Jim Ramsey Really? Why would he do that? Please tell. 🤔

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Max *************

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Jan ******************

Best to apply at home

with your 800K baht or income/pension. Done online in some days, easy to open a bank account in Thailand and transfer the 800K baht within a month and apply for your first year extension of stay after two months.

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Peter **********

@Jan *****************

Easy to open an account provided you choose the right bank.

There are only three banks which accept international transfers up to 2mln baht.

I tried Kasikorn, showed them my papers (including a residence certificate from immigration), and the girl immediately and without further questions started to open an account. Perfect! I landed 400k and a bit and was all set for the extension.

Then I went to SCB. Omg!!! They asked one document after another. Then the girl noticed my passport number had changed. Big problem! We don’t get our old passport in Netherlands.

Fortunately I had a picture of my old passport on my phone. She accepted that and then said “ We have everything. I will send it to headoffice (Bangkok) and I’ll call you when it’s approved.”

A few days (!) later she called and said my marriage certificate was missing. It wasn’t so I decided to visit the bank again to inquire about the certificate. It turned out they also wanted a K.R.2 which is a document from Amphoe detailing the specifics of the wedding (witnesses and such).

So went to Amphoe where the lady promptly gave us the wrong document. I told her I needed Kor Ror 2 and she told me she gave me the right document. I asked again, she repeated her statement. Then the next lady interfered and finally we received it.

Back to the bank. They took copies and told us again it would be sent to head office. That was a week ago and we are still waiting. All in all this theatre takes already more than 2 weeks.

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Frangipani *******

@Peter *********

Hi, I wonder what you need to show Immigration in order to obtain a residence certificate? I have rental receipts for the past two years. Would that be sufficient, even though I’m only n the country for 6-7 months each year at this point?

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Brandon ************

@Frangipani ******

that will vary from immigration office to immigration office. They each have their own requirements.

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Frangipani *******

@Brandon ***********

Thank you 🙏

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Peter **********

@Frangipani ******

My sister in law came with me and had her housebook.

The embassy had made a mistake on my evisa, not showing the reason for the non-O. Pay attention when you get it. It should have stated “based on marriage”. That would have saved me lots of trouble with all those documents. Immigration, Kasikorn and SCB all wanted to see the marriage certificate (and my wife’s ID) because of this.

Obviously I needed to show my passport. The lady made all required copies and even took me to the hall to make a photo.

I didn’t fill out any form as the immigration lady did it all for us. First the TM30 registration and then the residence cert.

Very very painless procedure. I see all those terrifying stories here about expensive agencies and such and it surprises me again and again. There is really nothing to it, provided you follow the rules. Thai people are just amazingly friendly.

I paid 100 baht for the certificate, received an official receipt, so it wasn’t some sort of bribe.

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Jan ******************

@Peter *********

Thank you for sharing. I’m happy I managed to open in both Bangkok and Krungthai bank on visa exemption myself some year ago, today I guess I’d just used an agent. Done in 30 min at a 3500 baht fee.

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Peter **********

@Jan *****************

For 3500 I would also use an agent. But the fees I read here and there are a lot higher.

Things became a lot more complicated with the new regulations from early this year. SCB is in that respect the champion of giving me trouble. However, I have read you can use an SCB savings account, giving 2.5% interest, for your deposit. So I am quite anxious to get an account there.

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Jan ******************

@Peter *********

yes I understand. I know one agent in Pattaya I once have used. She charges 3500 baht for opening in Bangkok Bank without any mandatory insurance.

Are you from the NL? If so and if you have a regular income/pension I believe your embassy also offers to give you an affidavit letter as our Norwegian if you can meet the required 65K baht a month. Or else you’re sadly stuck with the deposit alternative.

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Peter **********

@Jan *****************

I am completely happy to bank 1 mln baht and never look back. I consider it 1) My entrance fee to Thailand and 2) a little security in case something happens to my wife (i’ll need to convert to retirement visa in that case) and 3) a little security for my wife in case I come to pass away.

As I wrote above, she has my codes. I also landed some 700k in her savings account and told her never to touch it as long as I live. We take care of each other.

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Jan ******************

@Peter *********

Great, take care.

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Frangipani *******

@Peter *********

thank you 🙏

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Frangipani *******

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Steve *******

800,000 baht not 80,000

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Lee ********

800.000

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Brandon ************

That depends.

If you get the non-O visa from the Thai embassy in Australia before you travel to Thailand, the 1-year extension at most offices does not require proof that the funds were transferred from overseas.

But if you plan to convert to the non-O visa inside Thailand, most immigration offices require proof of international transfer as part of that application.

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David ****

@Brandon ***********

That’s interesting. So essentially, one could spend 15 months in Thailand without even opening a Thai bank account? Do you happen to know if Chaeng Wattana requires proof of transfer?

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Brandon ************

no, not with the non-O. You need 800,000 in a Thai bank account to apply for the 1-year extension. You'll only get 90 days if you enter with the non-O visa obtained from the Thai embassy.

But if you use the non-OA visa with mandatory insurance, you can get almost 2 years in Thailand without a bank account.

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Tony *******

@Brandon ***********

what do you apply for at the end of the 2 years?

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Brandon ************

you either return home and apply for a new non-OA visa (many people will visit home at least once every 2 years) or you apply for the extension in Thailand. But you should never extend a non-OA in Thailand because you'll still have the insurance requirement.

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Ross ********

@Brandon ***********

I know the insurance component is expensive, but is it a largely useless policy as some people say?

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Michael *******

we are not compelled to buy insurance for our Non OA as we arrived before it became necessary - but we kept our policies anyway, and with 4 years no claims we pay less than B40k a year with Pacific Cross….it’s reassuring to have it especially for major issues……

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Graham ******

The insurance is from a list of 12 specific Thai providers so not what many people would choose themselves to meet their personal requirements for a 12 month stay

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David ****

@Brandon ***********

I misunderstood your original response. So if I obtain my non-O 90 day visa in the Thai embassy in DC, I’ll need the 800k in my Thai account to apply for the extension. And it needs to be there

2 months prior to renewal.

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Brandon ************

correct. The difference for op is that for the extension there's usually no requirement about where the funds in the Thai bank came from. But to convert inside Thailand there is a requirement to show it was an international transfer

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David ****

@Brandon ***********

Got it! Thank you the clarifying the details.

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David ****

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