Do I need to keep 400,000 baht in a savings account for a marriage visa in Thailand?

I'm going to shut down comments; I can't see the value in keeping the post open. IF anyone wants this post reopen, please send a mod a message.

There's some confusion in this post about the difference between a VISA and an EXTENSION OF STAY. I think it's time for a quick view.

A VISA is (almost always) a sticker that is placed in your passport by a consulate office OUTSIDE of Thailand. GENERALLY, they let you stay in Thailand for either 60 days (for tourism), 90 days (For Non-O and Non-B) or one year (Non-OA). These can be sold as single entry, or multiple entry. A single entry visa is 2K THB (or local currency) and a multiple entry visa is 5K THB (or local currency).

An EXTENSION OF STAY is a stamp that is placed inside your passport by an immigration office. It says "Extension of Stay" on the stamp itself. An EXTENSION OF STAY IS ALWAYS "Single entry" (since you're inside Thailand). ALL Extension of stays are 1,900 THB. Below is an extension of stay.

The account doesn't have to be saving, but it has to be accessible anytime. meaning you can draw money whenever you need it, even have to pay some fee. Some fix account is not accessible until the specified date. That type of account you cannot use to prove your financial requirement.

You are asking for the process to get a one year extension of stay based on marriage to a Thai national ("the stamp"). This is the requirements:

1. Your passport and a copy of:

- Your data ("picture") page

- Your Non-O visa

- Your entry stamp

- Your departure card

2. Your wife PHYSICALLY next to you, and

- Her ID card and a copy of her ID card

- Her housebook, and a copy of the first page

3. To meet the money requirements, which are:

- 400K THB in a Thai bank account, seasoned for 2 months OR;

- 40K THB in income OR;

- a letter from your embassy saying you make 40K THB a month

4. Marriage certificate (either the rose border certificate, OR a translated copy from your home country)

5. The application form

6. 2x passport pictures

7. 1,900 THB for the processing fee.

Different immigration offices have different requirements, and this may include:

- A copy of the TM30 filed where you live

- A hand drawn map to your house

- Pictures of you and your wife in various locations in the house (front of the house/ condo, in all rooms, etc)

- Witnesses or interviews with neighbors

- Rental contract (if renting property or a condo)

ASK your immigration office.

The bank account needed is either in a savings account, OR a term fix account that allows immediate withdrawals. Checks are *NOT* used by individuals in Thailand to pay bills, and I doubt most banks would offer a personal checking/ current account.

The easiest account to open is a savings account. POST on a local Thai group on the best/ easiest bank branch to open an account; this isn't the group to discuss banking accounts.

You are asking about a marriage visa, but pretty sure you mean one year extension of stay based on marriage. Not a visa

You need to have 400.000 baht on a bank account in your name only, I personally have a savings account, be sure that your 400.000 baht has been in the bank for at least 2 month prior your application. Make a copy of your bank book of the last two months prior your apply... after you've applied and you get a 30 day under consideration stamp, leave the money on the bank and when you return to your immigration to get you yearly extension make sure you have a new copy of the last month from your bank book.

This is what I know

Remember though the account must be in your name, not a business name or your wife name.

As local as the account is in a Thai bank that can be drawn down easily, from a normal retail bank it should not matter. But virtually no one has a personal checking account.