Can my wife and I switch visa extension justification methods after the first year in Thailand?

Visa Extension Non-O Visa Trailing Spouse Thai Bank Requirements Monthly Transfers UK Expat in Thailand Visa Rules

Sep 17, 2022

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

My wife and I are from the UK. We intend to put THB 800k into her Thai bank and ask for a one-year extension with me as the "Trailing Spouse". I will at the same time open a bank account in my name and send THB 65k each month for a year. For a second year extension can we switch to using the THB 65k per month as justification for the visa extension with my wife as the "trailing spouse"? Will that allow us to move the THB800k back to the UK during year 2?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user seeks clarification on switching the justification for their visa extension from using THB 800k in a Thai bank account to monthly transfers of THB 65k. They inquire if this change can occur in the second year of their stay in Thailand and if they can move the THB 800k back to the UK after the first year. The advice given includes ensuring the initial funds remain in the account as per regulations and the need for a legalized marriage certificate for visa purposes.

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Barrie *************

Don't forget you will need to have your marriage certificate legalised for Thai Immigration purposes.

2 years ago

Martin ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Barrie ************

For people married in the UK who want their marriage certificate legalised go to

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2 years ago

Reply to

Martin ***********

Tod *********

Might work, remember you (as the trailing spouse the first year) need to get the Non-O visa outside thailand seeing as they don't issue that visa for people married to retirees.

If I understand you correctly

the first yearly extension from the Non-O visas would be your wife, using the 800K baht banked money method and you as the 'trailing spouse'. <-keep in mind that 800K baht needs to be in the account 2 months before she applies for the year extension, it has to stay IN the account for 3 months after she gets the extension granted and then the balance can't go below 400K baht the rest of the year <- that's until you apply for a new extension the following year.

and you will be transferring in 65K baht a month each month every month so that next year you will have 12 months of transfers and change the reason for your extension to one based on retirement using monthly transfers and your wife will then become the trailing spouse without any fund requirements (other than the ones on the banked money from her previous extension)

As I said it COULD work, but it sure is convoluted. Why not just transfer the funds into your bank account you get the banked money extension and let her be the trailing spouse and then start bringing in the monthly transfers into your account and change the method of proof of funds the following year, rather than trying to take one person off the retirement extension to trailing spouse and the other one off of trailing spouse to retirement?

2 years ago

Blake ******

@Tod ********

- ok I know nothing about any of this really but have been reading your visa advice for a couple of years now (great job, btw). In the OP’s scenario, and based on your explanations, would it not be the case at flip-flop, the wife would have to go back to the UK to get the “trailing spouse” visa?

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Blake *****

nope once they have the first year extension all they do is change the reason for the extension the following year not get a new visa

2 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

Martin ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Tod ********

Thank you for your suggestion to do the THB 800k deposit and THB 65k monthly transfers into one bank account. I am delighted and will follow that advise. Presumably the THB 800k can be transferred back to the UK immediately after the second yearly extension has been approved using the monthly income basis?

2 years ago

Steve ********

On paper it would work, but the plan does not take into account the sometimes "unusual" idiosyncrasies of Thai immigration. I agree with Tod to keep the money under both financial methods (800k deposit and 65k/month) in the same name, and even the same account. Some years back I switched from the 800 to the 65/month method, and it takes great care as your account has to show very clearly that you are meeting the criteria of TWO completely separate extensions, both of which must show the requirements for the full year. When I switched it was quite easy, as there was only one bank account, and I'd highlighted in a copy of the account printout in separate highlight colours the requirements for the expiring extension and the new one. Immigration officers don't like extra work, and if you make things streamlined I'm sure it pleases. And if you can please an immigration officer it's mega!

2 years ago

Tod *********

@Steve *******

yep, that switching from banked money method to monthly income is the trickiest one and as you pointed out requires you meet the seasoning requirements of the previous year extension AND the 12 months of transfers for the upcoming extension too.

Many MANY people come off the rails because they think once they start transferring the money in they can move the 800K baht or not keep the 400K baht in the account for the rest of the year 🙁

2 years ago

Reply to

Tod *********

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