Can I enter Thailand on a Visa Exempt Status and later apply for a Non-O Visa without issues?

Mar 18, 2022
3 years ago
Michael ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Can this work? Fly to Bangkok, entering Visa Exempt on US passport (with Thai Pass), then at the right time requesting 30 day extension. Then before visa exempt extension expires, applying in country for Non O Immigration visa. Thank you.
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user inquires about the feasibility of entering Thailand on a Visa Exempt status using a US passport, requesting a 30-day extension, then applying for a Non-O Immigration visa within Thailand. Comments suggest that applying for an in-country Non-O visa based on monthly income transfers may not be viable unless certain conditions (like having prior international income documentation) are met. It's recommended to secure the Non-O visa from home beforehand, and questions about cash transfers versus wired funds for the 800,000 baht requirement for the O visa are also raised.
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Jim ********
Question: for the 800,000 baht for O visa can majority of it be brought in cash from home country or does it have to be wired! Thanks
Tod *********
There's no way to get an in country 90 day non-O visa with monthly income method unless you come from a country whose consulate here still issues the affidavit of income from abroad notary letter, period end of story.

I have NEVER <- as in not even a single time ๐Ÿ˜ฎ seen someone show up at an immigration office with a couple 3 months of 65K baht international deposits and successfully apply for the 90 day Non-O visa ๐Ÿ™ To my knowledge it has never happened.

Now what you might do is start the incoming transfers NOW so you get as many in as you can BEFORE you wing your way here, AND get the 90 day Non-O visa in your country FIRST.

Then you'd show up, get stamped in for 90 days, keep bringing in the 65K baht a month transfers and when you go to try for the year extension you'll have 4 or 5 months. All you can do is try it.

To be completely honest ๐Ÿ˜• if I was to guess, I doubt they'd let that fly either ๐Ÿ™.

It specifically states monthly income by international transfers for the previous 12 months before you apply for your extension.

I mean you're out nothing by trying it that way (getting the Non-O before you come here) as it's the ONLY way you're gonna get a Non-O based on monthly income

Sorry if the saltiness offends your delicate sensibilities ๐Ÿ˜› , the advice is spot on, take it for what it's worth or leave it ๐Ÿ™‚
Tod *********
or as you mentioned get the transfers started, find a way to stay during the year you're building the transfer history and then apply once you're close to the year (they'd probably let you apply for the 90 day Non-O with 9 or 10 months of transfers because they know by the time that 90 day stamp runs out you'd have a year's worth to get the extension
Michael ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
Bingo! that is the simple plan just as you've now said. Live, creatively, in Thailand and rack up the transfers. Then move on to the brass ring. At the outset of this thread I was trying to understand how much baggage and when, came with the Non O Imm. Now abundantly clear and will steer clear until close to or at 1 year of transfers. Thanks
Tod *********
@Michael *******
good luck with it, now that you have a workable plan, plan your work and then work your plan (y) totally CAN be done, just took a bit to get the particulars worked out
Tod *********
EDITED,

Strike the previous comment I made.

Totally NOT a workable plan using monthly income method ๐Ÿ™

read my comments further down the thread
Michael ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'll appreciate your leaving out the salty euphemisms in future, thanks. My details, - bank account is open now, for years, and by the time the Visa exempt with extensions runs out there will be 3 months of of 65k deposits in the Thai account, (towards a full year of same). I understand the timing issues to apply for the Non O. But is getting the Non - O predicated on an 800K in bank deposit or a full year of 65K deposits? 800K in the bank would not happen, should of included that in my original post.
Tod *********
Sadly for you
@Michael *******
nope you won't get a Non-O visa OR a year extension with just starting the monthly deposits ๐Ÿ™
Wannikea *********
@Michael *******
wow, been in the group for almost a year and totally blind to the personalities that regularly answer posts.
John **********
@Michael *******
not going to work. You need 800k baht transferred in from overseas, and able to be shown as successful in your bank book
Michael ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
Thank you. Would one be able to hold off applying, salting in 65K baht per month, then apply with a verifiable bank history of twelve monthly 65K bhat deposits? *Source of transfers to the account from outside Thailand.
Tod *********
@Michael *******
Yep, good idea,

The 12 months of existing transfers WOULD work for the in country Non-O and the year extension after it

BUT

the question is how will you stay here for the year while you bring in the money?

One way is you could get a 6 month METV <- multi-entry tourist visa, bounc out and back every 60 days and get almost 9 months of stay out of it (that buys you close to a year) ๐Ÿ™‚
Patrick *******
@Michael *******
I'd answer but I'm too salty
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