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

Thailand Visa Extension ME OA Visa Income Method for Visa Extension Bank Account Requirements Koh Samui Immigration Foreign Exchange Cash Requirements Retirement Visa Non-OA Visa Financial Proof for Visa Extension

Nov 1, 2024

a year 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.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user is seeking advice on extending their ME OA (R) Visa in Thailand, noting that they opened their bank account only in April and thus will have bank statements for 11 months by February 2025. They have cash forex exceeding Baht 100k for their arrival in March and want to know if this can be accepted as income for the extension. Responses highlight the importance of understanding the visa expiry date, suggest using a combination of the monthly income method and bank balance for proof of funds, and recommend renewing insurance and doing a border run to secure another entry stamp if necessary.

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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

a year 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.

a year 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.

a year 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.

a year ago

Reply to

Ellie *******

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Can I apply for a one-year extension on my retirement visa if my required funds will only be in my account for 55 days before my visa expires?

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