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Can I extend my visa exempt stay before applying for a Non-O 90-day visa in Thailand?

Visa Rules Non-O Visa Visa Extension Visa Exempt Immigration in Thailand Bank Requirements for Visa Expat Guide

Nov 2, 2021

3 years ago

ไมเคิล **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hello. 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?

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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.

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Benjamin ******

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ไมเคิล **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Benjamin *****

my apologies

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ไมเคิล **********

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Eli *******

Why is $24,000 needed

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Ellie *******

, 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.

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Tod *********

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.

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Benjamin ******

That would be for the one year extension of stay based on retirement. The amount is in THB, which is 800K THB.

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Benjamin ******

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Kevin ***********

There is no seasoning for the visa but you must show the money came from outside Thailand.

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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.

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Bryn ********

@Simonetta **************

Could you have that a Swiss franc account? Do they do that?

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Kevin ***********

@Simonetta **************

Should be ok as long as you have the evidence

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ไมเคิล **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Kevin **********

thank you! 😁

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ไมเคิล **********

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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).

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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?

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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.

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ไมเคิล **********

ORIGINAL POSTER

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?

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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.

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Tod *********

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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!

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Benjamin ******

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