This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Can I extend my visa exempt stay before applying for a Non-O 90-day visa in Thailand?
Visa RulesNon-O VisaVisa ExtensionVisa ExemptImmigration in ThailandBank Requirements for VisaExpat Guide
Nov 2, 2021
4 years ago
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTERHello. New member, first post... I'm a US passport holder who arrived in Thailand on 30 October under a 30 day VER. I have 800k baht on deposit with Bangkok Bank since 15 October. My desire is to apply for a non-O 90 day visa (and subsequently for the one year extension visa application) while in country. Am I allowed to first apply for a 30 day extension of my VER (to allow for the funds to "season" for a full 2 months) BEFORE applying for the non-O 90 visa?
TLDR : Answer Summary
A US passport holder currently in Thailand on a 30-day visa exempt entry (VER) wishes to know if they can first extend their stay for 30 days before applying for a Non-O 90-day visa. Responses indicate that it is advisable to apply for the Non-O visa promptly as it allows an additional 90-day stay, and the process varies by location. While money must be shown to have come from outside Thailand, the 'seasoning' period for the funds is debated, suggesting that the focus should be on proper documentation rather than waiting for funds to 'season' for any specific duration.
90 DAY REPORTING RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Use the trusted Thailand 90 Day Reporting Serviceto get your in-person report done and mailed to you for as low as 375 THB (even if the online system doesn't work for you).
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted 90 Day Reporting Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Benjamin ******
IMPORTANT REMINDER: We don't mention agents in the group, and if you get advice from an agent, don't always believe what they say.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
my apologiesReply to
ไมเคิล **********
Reply
Eli *******
Why is $24,000 needed
Ellie *******
@Eli ******
, Or, you can get an affidavit about that you have required funds in your home country IF your embassy issues it, and use that affidavit instead of banked money as proof of your funds.Tod *********
@Eli ******
you need 800K baht or the equivalent in a thai bank account in your name only to meet the proof of funds for banked money method. Benjamin ******
@Eli ******
That would be for the one year extension of stay based on retirement. The amount is in THB, which is 800K THB.Reply to
Benjamin ******
Reply
Kevin ***********
There is no seasoning for the visa but you must show the money came from outside Thailand.
Kevin ***********
@Cabra *********
You put *****
0 in a bank. It must be transferred from outside Thailand. Then you apply for a 90-day visa. Then you wait 2 months. Then you apply for a 1-year extension. Bryn ********
@Simonetta **************
Could you have that a Swiss franc account? Do they do that? Kevin ***********
@Simonetta **************
Should be ok as long as you have the evidence ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Kevin **********
thank you! 😁Reply to
ไมเคิล **********
Reply
Benjamin ******
I'm assuming you entered on a 30 day visa exempt (since I don't know wha a VER is).
You will first have to purchase a Non-O Visa inside Thailand at your local immigration office. You should do this as soon as possible; Bangkok Immigration requires 14 days, Chiang Mai requires 21 days; for other immigration office I don't know. The Non-O visa will let you stay for an additional 90 days.
You'll let your money season for 2 months (NOT 60 days), and after the two month seasoning is over, you can apply for a one year extension of stay when you have 45 days or less remaining on your existing "admitted to" stamp (some immigration offices require 30 days or less remaining though).
You will first have to purchase a Non-O Visa inside Thailand at your local immigration office. You should do this as soon as possible; Bangkok Immigration requires 14 days, Chiang Mai requires 21 days; for other immigration office I don't know. The Non-O visa will let you stay for an additional 90 days.
You'll let your money season for 2 months (NOT 60 days), and after the two month seasoning is over, you can apply for a one year extension of stay when you have 45 days or less remaining on your existing "admitted to" stamp (some immigration offices require 30 days or less remaining though).
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Benjamin *****
thank you! You are correct, I entered 30 Oct on a 30 day visa exempt (Visa Exempt Rules, a.k.a, VER). Just to be clear, I don't need to meet the 2 month seasoning requirement as part of the Non-O 90 visa application, but do need to meet the seasoning requirement for a one year extension of stay application? Therefore there is no reason to apply for a 30 day extension prior to purchasing the Non-O 90 visa. Correct? Tod *********
@Cabra *********
you need to check with your immigration office as far as how many days you need left on your current stamp to apply for the in country Non-O visa. MOST offices require that you have at least 15 days left on your current stamp because the application goes under consideration for 14 days before you go back to get the Non-O and new 90 day stamp inked in. Chiang Mai requires you have a minimum of 21 days left on your stamp to get the in country Non-Imm visa issued.You MAY need to get the 30 day extension just so you have enough time on your current stamp to apply for the Non-O visa. Check with your office to see what they require.
ไมเคิล **********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tod ********
thank you for the reply. I'm based in Bangkok and had planned on going to chaengwattana immigration on 8 Nov for the Non-O 90 visa. My current VER entry stamp expires 28 Nov. It would be less stressful, I think, to have more of a time cushion by first getting the 30 day extension at muang thong thani immigration. I just don't want to run into any issues if getting the 30 extension first then returning for the Non-O 90 visa later is problematic. Thoughts? Tod *********
@Cabra *********
, well you have plenty of time on your current stamp. There's no reason you couldn't go on the 8th and apply for the Non-O visa in section C-1 at Chaengwattana. OR
Take the 30 day regular extension if you want to (the 30 days will be added to your current expiration) and do it when that stamp runs down.
Either way it will work out fine. No issues at all applying from a 30 day extension as it ties back to your original entry stamp.
Reply to
Tod *********
Reply
Benjamin ******
@Cabra *********
>Therefore there is no reason to apply for a 30 day extension prior to purchasing the Non-O 90 visa. Correct?That's correct!
Reply to
Benjamin ******
Reply
27 comments
2 years ago
16 comments
2 years ago
11 comments
2 years ago
5 comments
2 years ago
11 comments
2 years ago
14 comments
3 years ago
6 comments
3 years ago
13 comments
3 years ago
19 comments
3 years ago
18 comments
3 years ago
15 comments
3 years ago
3 comments
4 years ago
9 comments
4 years ago
13 comments
4 years ago
13 comments
4 years ago
4 comments
4 years ago
18 comments
4 years ago
11 comments
4 years ago
12 comments
4 years ago
5 comments
4 years ago
11 comments
5 years ago
24 comments
5 years ago
8 comments
6 years ago
25 comments
7 years ago
15 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.