Answered2 years ago
Can I use monthly bank transfers to qualify for a Thai visa if I earn a minimum income in my home country?
From Siam Legal updated 2024. This reads as if one can simply transfer 40k from an American account each month to qualify. That sounds quite lenient to me.
Answer summary
The conversation discusses the nuances of qualifying for a Thai visa through income requirements, specifically focusing on the transfer of funds from abroad. While some users mention that transferring a minimum of 40,000 baht monthly from a foreign bank can be sufficient, others argue that it requires proof of consistent income for 12 months. It appears that immigration offices have differing interpretations of the rules, with some insisting that the money must be earned within Thailand. Furthermore, there are discussions about the implications of age and tax payments related to income verification, particularly when applying for a marriage visa extension.
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James ************
So you have to make 40k a month within thailand? I love in Thailand, but travel to work in the US. I make well over that. Just curious
Brandon ************
@James ***********
it depends on your immigration office. If your immigration office only accepts income in Thailand and your embassy doesn't offer income verification, then you'd have to use 400,000 in your Thai bank account.
Marcus ************
OPJames Vanderwall good question. Most of us make our money elsewhere, not here. So confusing.
Jeffrey **********
It is 400,000 in the bank or 40,000 a month. But each province interprets that a little differently where the money comes from how long it has to be there
Terary **********
Transferring money is the easy part. You have to also live with her and not piss her off too much. Compared to that Immigration is the easy part :)
Marcus ************
OP@Terary *********
😂🤣 right
Kent *********
Honestly it ticks me off a bit, I’m in and out of Thailand supporting my family for over twenty years, put kids through college, yet still have to jump through hoops to live with my family. Insane.
Randy ******
@Kent ********
your kids look 100 percent thai!
Paul ********
@Kent ********
Well said. The point is, there is no ADJUSTMENT of the rules in our favour that take into account the kind of long responsible history you describe. Why should it all be so demanding after 10 or 20 years as it was right at the beginning ?Brandon ************
@Kent ********
what kind of hoops would any Thai have to go through to even visit your country, let alone live there?Kent *********
@Brandon ***********
welp I’m just being bitchy having contributed to Thai society in a positive manner…lol
Bill *********
@Brandon ***********
Thais can get a 10 year multi entry tourist visa to the US if qualified and can stay up to 6 mos at a time with no other cost or paperwork for $185. Let's see the Thai government do that for foreigners. Oh, wait, they do that but charge you thousands of dollars and still make it a pain in the ars.Brandon ************
@Garrett **********
actually it's MUCH better now. 3-4 months for the initial application then another 2-3 months wait for the embassy.
Garrett ***********
@Marcus ***********
Not for a tourist visa, but yes a K-1 visa is about 18 months.Marcus ************
OP@Bill ********
I’m a U.S. citizen. I’ve spoken with attorneys here and at home. It’s not a process I can handle myself. I was told 18 months.Bill *********
@Marcus ***********
my friend got a tourist visa for his wife in less than 6 mos last year but she was well qualified. Why does everyone always exaggerate how hard it is to get a US Tourist visa! Be qualified and you'll get it!!! It's the stupid people who keep trying to push a square peg through a round hole that always fail. Oh, and a US tourist visa costs $185. I don't know where you are getting your numbers from and your from the US!Marcus ************
OP@Bill ********
after 18-24 months of grueling paperwork and expense yes…maybe.Brandon ************
Recent reports that the transfer method is no longer working for marriage extensions at some immigration offices. They're now only accepting 40,000 per month if you work in Thailand and can show your salary is above this.
Glenn *****
40K is for married, 65K for single
Graham ******
@Glenn ****
65k is for over 50, married or singlePaul ********
@Graham *****
Really ?Marcus ************
OP@Paul *******
nowhere does it say that in writing…that I’ve seen.Jonathan *******
You need to show you've paid tax
Chris *******
Glenn *****
Jonathan *******
@Glenn ****
yes, I wanted to use that method and they asked me for a PND 1 I.e. yearly income tax payment.Glenn *****
@Jonathan ******
JomtienJonathan *******
@Glenn ****
interesting, which office did you use?Glenn *****
@Jonathan ******
I just did an extention using 65K. No tax info requestedJonathan *******
@Glenn ****
working, the OP is referring to a marriage visa extension. Requirements are the same for income regardlessGlenn *****
@Jonathan ******
based on working or 50÷
Cassius **********
I was told at immigration that the 40k a month had to be income made in Thailand and I couldn't just use my transfers from my UK bank to my Thai bank over the last year.
Kool *******
@Cassius *********
it depends on how old you are.Marcus ************
OP@Kool ******
what’s the difference for age?
Nick ************
@Kool ******
no need to worry if from uk as they tax everything they can get their hands on and then some.Kool *******
@Marcus ***********
whether the money you get from overseas each month is from a pension that you are of age to receive in your passport country. If younger than that then Thailand is getting concerned about taxes having been paid on it.
Jan ******************
This is the requirements from the immigration regarding extension of stay based on Thai marriage. More and more offices are saying if you don't legally work in thailand and make the minimum 40K baht a month salary to meet the monthly income requirements based on marriage extension you cannot use monthly incoming transfers from overseas of 40K baht a month for the previous 12 months. It's just a crap shoot on whether your immigration office will or won't allow it, and they wouldn't allow it on the first yearly extension off a 90 day Non-O because you wouldn't have a year's worth of 40K baht a month transfers <- meaning you either legally work here with a work permit and the appropriate minimum salary, your embassy still issues the income affidavit OR you bank the funds.
Nigel *********
@Jan *****************
good answer.
Carsten ************
As John said, you need a history of 12 transfers from abroad into your Thai Bank account.
Andre *********
Following
John **********
It depends where you are in the process. You can't use 40k baht per month for either an initial visa or the first annual extension of that. You need to have 12 months worth of 40k per month to get the 2nd extension if you are not going to use the 400k method
John **********
@John *********
I only used the 40k per month. I was never asked for 400k in account.Graham ******
@John *********
That might be true but the current rule is you cannot use the 40k transfer method for the initial Non-O and/or for the first 12 month extension (unless your Embassy issues the income affadavit). It has to be the 400k method.John **********
@John *********
do you work in Thailand? The rules are a bit different if you doActivity
23 joined23
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