Do I need a Thai bank account if I choose the 65,000B monthly income option for my Non-O visa extension instead of the 800,000B option?

@Kevin *********

@Brandon ***********

has given correct information as he always does. When starting this process, for a lot of people it is quite daunting and maybe also confusing if you're getting information from multiple sources and I think this is what's happening with you. I don't blame you though, so if you haven't been doing research for very long and following posts on retirement visas in groups like this for long, I would recommend listening to Moderators and other group members who provide information that's consistent with that of Moderators. Though my plan is to go via the Non-O Visa based on marriage, the basic process is pretty much the same. I've been following these types of posts in 3 Fb groups for the past two years and see confusion fairly often.

'IF' you were to go to Thailand on a 'tourist' visa, then, to apply for the Non-O Visa "based on being over 50" (Retirement), within Thailand, you would almost certainly need to use an agent to help you open A Thai Bank Account (into which you would need to deposit 800k Baht which is needed to apply for the Visa).

The other option is to apply for the initial 90 day Non-O Visa (based on being over 50) from the eVisa website of the Royal Thai Embassy in your home country before travelling to Thailand. Doing it this way, in the application process you can provide evidence of having the USD equivalent of 800k Baht or more, in your bank account in your home country and at this point you don't need a Thai bank account.

If you get the Visa in your home country, as described in the above paragraph, then you can enter Thailand on this 90 day Non-O Visa.

Then, once in Thailand, open a Thai bank account yourself, which you would be able to do without using an agent. Changes over the past year or so, have meant that Thai banks, most branches at least, will not allow people on tourist visas to open accounts, unless an agent does it for them. They WILL however, allow a foreigner who holds a long term visa, such as a Non-O open an account on their own.

Once your Thai bank account is open, transfer your 800k Baht (or whatever the USD equivalent is), into your new account Many people use the "Wise" app to do their transfers to Thailand, because it's less fees and a better exchange rate than most banks.

Keep in mind that the 800k Baht has to be in your Thai bank account AT LEAST two full months before you can apply for your first 1 year Extension of Stay. Also, start transferring your monthly 65k Baht into your new account, so that you have 12 monthly deposits showing as International Transfers before you return to Immigration to apply for your 2nd Extension of Stay.

After your 800k has been in your Thai bank account for a full two months, and before your initial 90 day Non-O Visa expires, go to the Thai Immigration Office nearest to where you will be living in Thailand and apply for the 1 year "Extension of Stay" which will allow you to stay for another year.

Once your 1st Extension of Stay has been stamped into your passport, you can allow your account to go down as low as 400k during this 1st Extension. If you choose to do the 65k monthly income method, you must keep up the monthly transfers (showing it's an International Transfer) every month without fail.

Should you decide on using the 800k method (minimum), that money must be in your account 2 months before applying for an Extension and 3 months after the Extension is granted. For the rest of the year, you must keep a minimum of 400k in your account. Choosing the monthly income method, once you are granted the 2nd yearly Extension, all you need to do is make sure you keep up with the 65k monthly transfers shown as "International Transfers" in your account.

yes....

Yes you need a Thai bank account and the rules to open one now is more difficult

It's pretty straight forward, though tedious. You need 800k in Thai bank for 2 months to get your first 1yr extension. You will need to effectively leave this in the bank (you can draw down during certain period but that only complicates the discussion). 2wks before your 90day non-o is to expire, take a trip to the bank asking them for a letter and 12 months of statements (generally they request 5 business days to process). 1wk before your non-o is to expire, go to the bank to pick up your statements and letter. Deposit a small amount and get your passbook updated. Go to immigration on that day with all required documents. Keep depositing at least 65k each calendar month forever.

When it's time to do your next 1 year extension, do the same process and ask immigration if you qualify for the 65k/month method. If yes, you can draw down your bank account to near zero if you need/want to.

Lots of steps but all very easy. Can be a bit tedious, but everything in Thailand is. Thai's love paperwork, rubber stamps and staplers!

Get a visa agent and be done with it

The US embassy will not supply you with proof of the 65k per month. I don’t understand what you are not understanding. Also, why wouldn’t you want a Thai bank account? That’s crazy talk.

Listen , whether you agree or not doesn't matter.

What you think you know doesn't matter.

You have been given the answers to your questions, by the top contributors.

There are many of us who have experience and are actually on these visas and some may have actual ties to Immigration.

The process is what it is, if you follow it works.

Not correct

Is this a joke?

Get OX before you come to thailand

I know it's different figures we're talking about but is it the same process for the marriage Visa

Wrong. How else you show immigration 65k month

No, proof of a bank account was not necessary. In my case, the certificate from the German embassy was completely sufficient to show that the income limit of 65,000 baht/month was reached or exceeded. However, like many things in Thailand, each immigration authority handles this differently.

I get the requirements as laid out above and plan to retire in Thailand with my wife. Presumably she must also follow the 800k - 65k procedure with her own bank account?

The 65,000 needs to land in a Thai bank.

You guys who advocate view that there’s no need to land monthly in Thai bank acct going forward in year 2 and beyond, please spell out how this alternative works, seeing as u need all banking updated and certified on the very day u renew your Non O yearly extensions? I’m honestly very curious for someone to lay out how to accomplish this - ideally in bullet-point form, for people who intend to self- renew, without resorting to Agent

@Kevin *********

no that's completely incorrect. ฿65k needs to be transferred in every month to a Thai bank account

No

The 65k needs to come into a Thai bank each month

And you have to keep 65’000 continually landing in the bank account

If you lodge the 800’000 will authorise the bank account

You need Both

You'll still need an account and can use monthly income, but there will be a year where you must have both the 800,000 baht in the bank as well as the monthly transfers of 65,000 baht as you make the transition from one to the other.