Answered4 years ago
Do my wife and I need 800,000 THB in a bank for a Thai Non-O visa if we get a tourist visa first?
My english wife and I plan to spend 4 to 5 months in Thailand every winter. we currently come for 3 months on a tourist visa. If we come on a 60 tourist visa, and then apply for a 90 day O visa in Hua Hin Thailand, and not extent the O Visa, we would not need 800,000 in a Thai bank and also not need insurance?
Answer summary
The original poster (OP) and their English wife currently stay in Thailand for 3 months on a tourist visa and are considering options for a longer stay. They inquire about the necessity of transferring 800,000 THB to a Thai bank for a Non-O visa if they first enter Thailand on a 60-day tourist visa. Comments clarify that applying for a Non-O visa in Thailand typically requires proof of funds (800,000 THB each), while alternatives like a Multiple Entry Tourist Visa (METV) allow for lengthy stays without the need for large bank deposits. Suggestions include applying for a Non-O visa from their home country to avoid funds and insurance requirements or using a trailing spouse option for banking proof.
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Paul ********
Not sure where OP is from but just a heads up that not everyone needs 800K in a Thai bank. Some Embassies/Consulates give affidavits of proof of funds. For example we just went to the Canadian consulate in Chiang Mai, showed them our Canadian tax return with our income and they gave us a letter that the local immigration accepted in lieu of 800K in a Thai bank. Other countries do the same. Not UK, US or Australia though. EDIT: This was for a Non-O retirement visa extension as we are both over 50. You don't need to show funds if you get the visa in your home country. Search in here for my posts and you should find a long thread about it (summer 2021 timeframe).
Tod *********
@David ********
get a 6 month METV, that visa will allow you unlimited entries for the 6 months it's valid for. Each entry gets you stamped in for 60 days. Each 60 day stamp can be extended ONCE for 30 more days at the immigration office for 1900baht. When that stamp runs out you go to the border, stamp out of thailand, stamp in and out of another country and then right back into thailand to get a new 60 day stamp. You can repeat this for the validity of the visa. That gives you the 6 months you want to be here with just one border bounce to activate a new entry on the METV
David *********
OP@Tod ********
that sounds a simple solution thanks
Geoff ********
just get a 90 day tourist visa before you go and then get a 60 day extension at 1900 baht that's all l do every year 🤗
Geoff **********
@Geoff *******
Not sure what visa and extension you are talking about. As far as I know; All tourist visas are for 60 days in Thailand (unless you are talking about the special STV that gives you 90 days at a time but that program is ending soon). Also the only extensions for 60 days are for visiting family (if you have a Thai spouse or child) or currently cannot travel due to Covid extensions (again that program will end before could help the OP). Regular extensions for tourist visas are 30 days.Tod *********
@Geoff *********
I think BOTH you and @Geoff *******
are misunderstanding a regular tourist visa. A single entry tourist visa is VALID for 90 days from the date it's issued. That means you have that long to ENTER thailand. AND when you enter, you get stamped in for 60 days like everyone who enters on a 'regular' tourist visa. You can get ONE 30 day extension on that for 1900baht at the immigration office giving you a total of 90 days stay.
Now that
@Geoff *******
gets a 60 day visit thai family extension based on marriage to a thai is neither here nor there to the O/P and their question because the O/P is married to another foreigner.
Ryan ********
Or...you can skip all those money deposits and seasoning funds, etc and just get a new multiple entry tourist visa each year, taking a trip to Cambodia or Vietnam or Laos or something once during your stay in Thailand.
Nigel **************
@Ryan *******
Tourist visa before you arrive, one extension on that. Leave the country, come back in visa exempt and extend that once = 5 months. No funds in bank required.David *********
OP@Nigel *************
can visa exempt be extended?
James ********
@David ********
yes...30 daysNigel **************
@David ********
it is my understanding that it can be extended once for 30 days.
Keith ********
@Ryan *******
sounds like good avice.
Nick *******
@Ryan *******
that's pretty much what I do.David *********
OPthanks Robert, John and Paul, so it's a decision on O-A and meet yearly insurance requirements or get O in Thailand and transfer 1.6m baht.
Paul ********
@David ********
Have you looked into your wife coming in as a trailing spouse so only you would need to show the funds? That's what my wife and I did. We are both Canadian so I just used the consulate for an affidavit of proof of income vs. transferring the funds and a letter confirming she is married to me based on showing them our Canadian marriage certificate.David *********
OPOk so I do need 800,000 each for the initial conversion to a 90 day O visa in Thailand. (i understand year extensions required 800,000)
John **********
@David ********
yes. And so would your wifeDavid *********
OP@John *********
yesJohn **********
To apply for a Non-O visa inside Thailand you need to transfer 800k into a Thai bank. You would need to both do this so 1.6M required. If you want to avoid this you can both apply for Non-OA visas before coming but then you can't dodge the insurance requirements (other than for Thai pass)
Robert *******
@John *********
Not the OA visa as that has an insurance requirement. I guess typoJohn **********
@Robert ******
I think language issue. Not dodge as in must have the required insurance
Paul *********
@John *********
yes. Your comment was perfectly correct. "Dodge" probably not understood.Robert *******
Everybody need insurance as part of the Thailand pass.
You need 800.000 Thb in a Thai bank account as foreign deposit to apply in country for a Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age
You need 800.000 Thb in a Thai bank account as foreign deposit to apply in country for a Non Immigrant O visa based on being over 50 years of age
John ***********
@Robert ******
quick question I get free medical care from local hospitals and the army
Do you think I still need insurance?
Tod *********
@John **********
there is no insurance required for an O visa gotten inside the country
Todd *********
@John **********
if it's from the Thai army, no problem. Otherwise, you need the insuranceActivity
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