Can I transfer money from my wife's Thai bank account to mine for a Non O visa application in Thailand?

May 5, 2022
3 years ago
Greg *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Greetings,

I may have made a critical mistake. I am retiring , married (Only in US) to a dual Thai/American citizen. As I don't have a Thai bank account in my name yet, we just transferred our savings via bank wire transfer to my wife's Thai bank account. I thought I could then transfer funds into my Thai bank account once I arrived in Thailand and opened one. It seems transferring funds from my wife's account to mine will not satisfy the 'international transfer' rule for a Non O visa. Is this correct?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking clarification about their ability to transfer funds from their wife's Thai bank account to their own to meet the financial requirements for a Non Immigrant O visa in Thailand. The responses indicate that funds must be deposited from abroad directly into their account, or they may apply for the visa based on marriage if they register their marriage in Thailand. Some responders shared personal experiences and suggested alternatives, including applying for the visa from outside Thailand or providing adequate proof of fund transfer.
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Peter **********
that's it, exactly what we did recently. you then go to

the US consulate and write an affidavit, 50 bucks,

the get the affidavit and original marriage certificate translated to thai.

then of to the MFA office to get approval.

then off to your Amphur with 2 thai witneses to get your thai certificate, called Kor Ror 22

then follow the immigration requirements, photos, map bank letters etc

they give you 30 days under consideration period where immigration may visit you

then after the 30 days you go to receive your full one year visa on the date they give you.
Tod *********
OR you get the marriage to your thai wife recognized in thailand and you just put 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name only and apply for the Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai which does NOT have a proof of origin of the funds
Lee **********
It's down to the discretion of the immigration officer. I had no problem doing that. Get a bank statement showing the transfer from your account to your wifes 'If' they ask. I used World Remit and would of used that as proof if I was asked.
Ellie *******
@Lee *********
Then you are talking about different things. You did apply for a 1-year extension at the immigration office. OP was talking about applying for an in-country Non-O visa, not an extension. Those requirements are different, including the proof of source of your funds.
Lee **********
Robert *******
@Lee *********
and you applied for the conversion of a visa exempt entry or tourist visa into a Non Immigrant O visa at the same Immigration Office as the OP?
Lee **********
@Robert ******
the same method of seasoning the money in a bank account in your name applies for both
Kevin ***********
@Lee *********
Robert is talking about a non o bought from an embassy versus a non o obtained within Thailand. They definitely have different requirements for where the money comes from. Seasoning is only for extensions which is not the OPโ€™s issue.
Lee **********
@Robert ******
ahh...I had entered Thailand on a Non o based on marriage..BUT I don't see how that would change anything (going from tourist to none o).
Robert *******
Alternative: Apply for the Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age at a Thai Embassy or on line
****************************
before you make your way into Thailand. Get 90 days of stay on entry and after 45 days you can apply for the 1 year Extension of Stay based on being over 50 years of age. For the Extension of Stay there is no proof needed that the money comes from abroad.
BD *******
@Robert ******
ok I guess I should have looked further down. Yes this is the path I took ๐Ÿ‘
Steve **********
Or do it based on marriage. It requires half the money but it is more paperwork.
Greg *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
That sounds like a winner. Much appreciated!
Robert *******
YEs, to apply inside Thailand at Immigration for a conversion of the visa exempt entry or tourist visa into a Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age the money (800.000 Thb) needs to come from abroad as a foreign deposit into your own bank account, or double the amount if it is a joint account with the missus.
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