Can I use the 400,000฿ in my Thai bank account for expenses while applying for my visa, and what are my options for banking in Thailand?

Here is the EXACT process as I have just done mine completed on the 23rd November.

I first opened a bank account at krungsri bank in em quartier, in order to do this I needed my wife’s blue book and my own passport. Wife came with me. I opened two accounts.

1 FCD (foreign cash deposit)

2 THB savings account

Once the account was opened I transferred £12,000 from Halifax account in the UK to the FCD account. Cost was around £20 not sure exactly how much.

The transfer took 4 days, then on the 12th August I went to chaeng wattana to start the process , you will need to go together with your wife, no need to bring children. They collected all the documents.

Marriage certificate

Affirmation of marriage certificate which I had to go back to where our marriage was registered to get a copy of.

Bank book and letter from the bank saying that I had more than 400,000 in the account.

Wife’s blue book

Her ID card

My passport

Babies birth certificate

Proof that we own property/ where we live

Pictures of us at home together and standing in front of the door number.

They collected all the documents and said somebody from immigration would come round to check our home , and I alone would need to return on the 26th august.

5 days later we had a call and two officers came to visit , took pictures with us, completed a form and left, nice guys i guess just to prove we are a couple and do live there. He also checked my bank book.

So on the 26th I go back they stamp my passport with the first non o visa then validity until 23 November, but also said I would need to come back after 45 days to get my one year non o. So I went exactly 45 days later and they again ask for updated bank book which I got from the bank downstairs I had to resubmit all the documents again which is strange as they already have them albeit at another desk. On this visit I needed to go with my wife.

They then told me to return alone on the 23rd November with an updated bank book , once they checked that, they stamped my passport for one year,

So basically the money needs to be in the account for 3.5months they check at 5 stages throughout the process .

Initially I started by issuing an agent who said they would help with the account opening and funds , they were completely useless and I had the money anyways but it was in the UK.

I would not suggest you use an agent, save the money and do it yourself. It’s an arduous process but as long as you have all the documents it’s ok.

There were a few complications along the way which I won’t bore you with on here , if you have questions PM me.

Final comment Tod Daniels helped me with guidance and where I could open the account. Thanks Tod

anyone heard of an "FET" form or "foreign exchange transaction" form. Do you need to show immigration one of these forms proving it came from overseas? how do you prove the money came from overseas? I was going to use Transferwise, a transfer service that is cheaper than swift because you send the money to them locally and then they send the money from their thai bank account to yours so it doesn't seem to be an international transfer. how do you prove the money came from overseas and do they ask for this.

Is that still a requirement ?Some visas it has changed on because the Chinese visitors not able to meet .

IF you are using 400K baht it means you are most likely applying for either the initital 90 day Non-O visa or a year extension based on marriage to a thai.

The 400K baht needs to be in a thai bank account in your name only and for the initial 90 day Non-O visa based on marriage it needs to show it was transferred in from abroad.

IF you already have the 90 day Non-O and are applying for a yearly extension the 400K baht needs to be in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months BEFORE you apply for the extension, then at SOME immigration offices it needs to stay in the account for the 30 days "under consideration" period, Once you get the year extension inked into your passport from the immigration office you can use the money

With an OA visa you just have to show that much in your bank account in your home country and that it has been there for at least 6 months. You then have 3 months after arriving in Thailand to transfer it to a Thai bank. I think these rules apply across the board for other visas as well.

400.000 marriage visa, 2 months before applying no tax. kasikorn bank.

For marriage visa {non o based on marriage} you need 0thb in your bank 2 months before and one month after application. Once you've completed your under consideration period you are free to use the money. You then need the 0thb 2vmonths before next extention.

No Tax in Thailand as You are Not Resident Unless Uou over There on Wirk VISA Ie Earning Money in Country Money that Comes From Abroard in Thailand is Non Taxable as Stated by KMPG Tax Consultants

You don't have to have the money anymore. They recently stopped the requirement.

Krungsri are great

400,000 has been scrubbed don’t need to show it anymore

Citi bank