Can I use cash forex for my first extension of the ME OA (R) Visa despite having only 11 months of bank statements?

Thai Visa Extension ME OA (R) Visa Income Method Thailand Immigration Bank Statement Requirements Expat Financial Regulations Lamai Koh Samui Visa Rules for Seniors

Nov 1, 2024

4 days ago

John ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I am 71 years old and on ME OA (R)  Visa issued in South Africa. Valid until 27 Feb 2025. I need to do first one year extension in Feb 2025.  I want to use the Income method but my problem is that I only managed to open Bank Account in April.

(We arrived in March) I do have proof of arriving with Forex in excess of Baht 100 k cash for March but will only have bank statements for 11 months to prove 65k income. Will immigration accept the cash forex as income for March to meet the 12 month requirement?

If it is an option could I use  a combination Income plus 400k bank

balance ? 

We are in Lamai Koh Samui 

Thanks folks.

875

views

likes

all likes

replies

images

users

TLDR : Answer Summary

The user, who holds a ME OA (R) Visa valid until February 2025, is concerned about meeting the income requirement for a one-year extension. They have proof of arriving with Forex exceeding Baht 100k but will only have 11 months of bank statements after opening a Thai bank account in April. Several comments suggest that a combination of cash Forex for March and monthly bank transfers might be acceptable, but ultimately, immigration rules require consistent proof of income for twelve months. Additionally, it's noted that renewal of insurance and possible border exits could impact their visa status and duration.

OA RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES

Go to the OA Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
Explore recent discussions by using the OA Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.

Bob **********

Get a new year of insurance exit just before expiration and get stamped in for another year or until the insurance runs out the third year will involve monthly transfers and you’ll need more insurance for that

3 days ago

Graham ******

Renew your insurance (as you would do for an extension) and do a border bounce before your Non-OA expires to get a new 12 month entry stamp. This 12 months will not be multi-entry so a re-entry permit will be required if you plan to travel at some point.

4 days ago

Ellie *******

Another point is,

IF 27 Feb 2025 is the "must be used by" date on your visa eVisa PDF, NOT the date on your entry stamp, you can leave and re-enter Thailand on or just before that date and you will be stamped for another year (or until the insurance policy expires). Then you can manage your monthly transfers.

If it's the date on your entry stamp, and the visa itself is already expired, your choices are limited.

4 days ago

Ellie *******

For a 1-year extension based on being over 50, some immigration offices accept a combination method for proof of funds, you can use monthly transfers to Thailand and banked money in a Thai bank account, summing up to at least 800k Baht. BUT, you still need monthly transfers for 12 months.

You have no other way than putting 800K baht in your Thai bank account, and season them for 2 months as of application day. unless your embassy in Thailand issues an affidavit of income.

4 days ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

Thai Visa Advice

... members · 40% approval rate

The Thai Visa Advice group is a specialized Q&A forum for visa-related topics in Thailand, ensuring detailed responses.

Join the Group

Thai Visa Advice

View the Conversation

Thai Visa Advice

What documents do I need for financial proof when extending my OA visa in Thailand?

4 comments