This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
How can an American citizen open a Thai bank account and obtain a criminal record report for a retirement visa?
Thai Retirement VisaNon-O VisaBank Account Opening in ThailandCriminal Record ReportUS Criminal Background CheckExpat Guide Thailand
Dec 5, 2021
4 years ago
John ********
ORIGINAL POSTERHi I am an American citizen and looking to apply for a retirement visa in the US. I visited the Thai embassy web site about the requirements and there are 2 I have questions about. How do I open and securely deposit money in a Thai bank account? Where do I get the report on my criminal record? Look forward to help from fellow Americans especially if you are from Arizona.
TLDR : Answer Summary
An American citizen seeking to apply for a retirement visa in Thailand has questions about opening a bank account and obtaining a criminal record report. To open a bank account in Thailand, one must provide necessary documentation including a passport, visa, and residency certificate, with an initial deposit of around 1,000 THB. It's advisable to consult local expats for guidance on bank options. For the criminal record report, applicants can contact the FBI or their local Department of Justice, or use reputable third-party companies known as 'Channelers' that specialize in processing background checks for visa applicants.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Pelle Eriksson★★★★★
Absolutely Bangkok's best service I highly...recently on Facebook
Luca G.★★★★★
I used this agency for my DTV Visa...recently on Google
Trusted Retirement Visa Agent
OVER 100,000 EXPATS SERVED
#1 VISA AGENT IN THAILAND
Benjamin ******
I'm shutting this down because this is not a banking advice group or a how do I get my criminal record group.
>How do I open and securely deposit money in a Thai bank account?
You would open a bank savings account (NOT a current account). You will need the following:
1. The applicant’s passport and a copy of:
a. The data “picture” page.
b. The most recent visa (if applicable).
c. The most recent entry stamp or extension of stay (if applicable).
d. The departure card (“TM 6”) that should be stapled in the passport.
2. A Residency Certificate either issued from the local immigration office or issued from the foreigner’s embassy. The US Embassy issues these on the Affidavit.
You will also need an opening account balance, usually around 1K THB. Expect the first couple of bank branches to reject you. There are over 6,000 banks in Thailand, and one will open an account for you. ASK on one of the many local Facebook for the best bank branch where you are going to live.
> Where do I get the report on my criminal record?
You would contact the FBI, or your local Department of Justice, or your local police department. There are 50 States in the United States, and different processes exist for each state. The Thai government is looking for major crimes, such as murder, rape, etc., or being wanted as part of a pending investigation. These crimes will be pulled up on a transnational criminal report.
Thank you
>How do I open and securely deposit money in a Thai bank account?
You would open a bank savings account (NOT a current account). You will need the following:
1. The applicant’s passport and a copy of:
a. The data “picture” page.
b. The most recent visa (if applicable).
c. The most recent entry stamp or extension of stay (if applicable).
d. The departure card (“TM 6”) that should be stapled in the passport.
2. A Residency Certificate either issued from the local immigration office or issued from the foreigner’s embassy. The US Embassy issues these on the Affidavit.
You will also need an opening account balance, usually around 1K THB. Expect the first couple of bank branches to reject you. There are over 6,000 banks in Thailand, and one will open an account for you. ASK on one of the many local Facebook for the best bank branch where you are going to live.
> Where do I get the report on my criminal record?
You would contact the FBI, or your local Department of Justice, or your local police department. There are 50 States in the United States, and different processes exist for each state. The Thai government is looking for major crimes, such as murder, rape, etc., or being wanted as part of a pending investigation. These crimes will be pulled up on a transnational criminal report.
Thank you
Mike ******
For the criminal background check that meets the OA Visa requirements I have used a company that is commonly known as an "Channeler". I do not believe I am allowed to mention the company name but use Google to find these companies.. In short you go to a local fingerprint/notary type location and electronically submit digital fingerprints and a criminal background check will be conducted either with the FBI or State Police. Then the background report will be emailed to you. The Los Angeles Thai Consulate has accepted my past criminal background check reports from this company. The days of going to your local police department for a simple name only criminal background check are over.
Tracey ****************
I agree. Come in as exempt tourist and apply for non O while you are here. That is what my husband and I just did from USA in October. Hardest part was opening a bank account....
John ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Tracey ***************
Is there a good way to do that?Benjamin ******
@John *******
You should ask on a local Facebook group; however what you LEGALLY need is only your passport, a residency certificate either from the local immigration office OR from your embassy (the US embassy charges $50 USD for it), and a minimum opening balance. You will have to go to various bank branches until you find one that will open an account for you. Let them know you want to deposit the 800K THB as soon as the account is open.
Reply to
Benjamin ******
Reply
A.c. ***********
John, I was/am in the same boat and was urged by multiple folks to go with this way:
<You come in on a visa exempt or tourist visa entry, get your funds in place then apply for the 90 day Non-O visa inside the country at the immigration office where you live, THEN after you get that you wait and apply for the yearly extension.>
That is my plan at this point. It sounds like it's the easiest. Plus I was a bit worried about the police clearance certificate thing because I have an expunged 27-year-old misdemeanor on my record, and no one could tell me whether the Thais would understand that it was an expunged charge or would just deny me because there was something there on my record. Thus, I will need to go with the Non-O applied for within Thailand because with that route they don't do the police clearance thing.
<You come in on a visa exempt or tourist visa entry, get your funds in place then apply for the 90 day Non-O visa inside the country at the immigration office where you live, THEN after you get that you wait and apply for the yearly extension.>
That is my plan at this point. It sounds like it's the easiest. Plus I was a bit worried about the police clearance certificate thing because I have an expunged 27-year-old misdemeanor on my record, and no one could tell me whether the Thais would understand that it was an expunged charge or would just deny me because there was something there on my record. Thus, I will need to go with the Non-O applied for within Thailand because with that route they don't do the police clearance thing.
John ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@A.c. **********
Thanks. That sounds like a viable option.Benjamin ******
@A.c. **********
Regarding the police reports, what they are looking for are international crimes that would pop up on any of the international databases. We're talking murder, rape, child molesting - OR being wanted as part of an investigation for those crimes.Kathy ********************
@A.c. **********
the flip side of that is my ex - felon, armed robbery, took a woman hostage at gunpoint, calif pen for 5 yrs. has a retirement visa 🤷♀️🤷♀️🤷♀️. Can’t get into Canada nor get a global entry passport - but Thailand was welcoming lolReply to
Kathy ********************
Reply
Marty *********
Do you plan on getting an OA visa purchased in the US or is your goal to get an O visa? There are two different sets of requirements.
John ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
I have the NON - O-X in mind.Marty *********
@John *******
You would be one of the very few. Good luck. But knowing which visa you are pursuing will give you better answers to your question.John ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Marty ********
Why is that?Marty *********
@John *******
It has been ages since I looked at the OX requirements. It didn’t seem very favorable to me at the time but if it meets your needs then OK.Reply to
Marty *********
Reply
James ********
As you are in Arizona .
You follow the Los Angeles Thai Consulate...
You follow the Los Angeles Thai Consulate...
***************************************************************************************************************************
John ********
ORIGINAL POSTER@James *******
Yup, that's where I got the requirement. I emailed them but have not got a response yet.Reply to
John ********
Reply
James ********
By doing what
No police report is required...
And no one year health insurance is required for the tourist visa or visa exempt entry.
@Tod ********
has suggested in his replies...No police report is required...
And no one year health insurance is required for the tourist visa or visa exempt entry.
Kathy ********************
Your state police usually run the criminal report. In Oregon I had to go to the local sheriff and get prints. Then mail them off with a check to the state police. And since it needed to be an apostled report - that took a bit longer and cost a bit more. Arizona probably works in a similar manner.
James ********
@Kathy *******************
a police report is not needed unless he is applying for the OA visa for retirement.Kathy ********************
@James *******
I was answering his question about where to get a criminal reportJames ********
@Kathy *******************
Thank you...but its only needed if he applies for the OA visa for retirement. Which is not recommended if he has the funds to deposit into a Thai bank account in his nameReply to
James ********
Reply
James ********
Keep it simple..
Get a tourist visa and enter Thailand...that gives you 60 days on arrival plus a 30 day extension from Thai Immigration for 1,900 Thai baht.
Once you are in Thailand go to your local Thai Immigration office and ask for their list of requirements for the Non O as retiree plus one year extension of stay as retired.
Read Tod's reply here...
There are three ways to meet the proof of funds for extensions based on retirement;
800K baht banked in a thai bank account in your name only. The funds need to be there 2 months before you apply for your extension, the balance needs to stay above 800K baht for 3 months after your extension is granted and then the balance can't go below 400K baht the rest of the year
OR
65K baht a month in income from abroad transferred into a thai bank acocunt in your name only each month, every month for the previous 12 months
OR
A combination of banked and monthly income
The way the process works is you either get the 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement from a thai consulate in your country before you come here, then get your funds in place and apply for the yearly extension
OR
You come in on a visa exempt or tourist visa entry, get your funds in place then apply for the 90 day Non-O visa inside the country at the immigration office where you live, THEN after you get that you wait and apply for the yearly extension.
Get a tourist visa and enter Thailand...that gives you 60 days on arrival plus a 30 day extension from Thai Immigration for 1,900 Thai baht.
Once you are in Thailand go to your local Thai Immigration office and ask for their list of requirements for the Non O as retiree plus one year extension of stay as retired.
@Tod ********
gave a good post about the steps ...you open a Thai bank account when in Thailand and do wire transfer of the 800,000 Thai baht into a Thai bank account in your name only.Read Tod's reply here...
There are three ways to meet the proof of funds for extensions based on retirement;
800K baht banked in a thai bank account in your name only. The funds need to be there 2 months before you apply for your extension, the balance needs to stay above 800K baht for 3 months after your extension is granted and then the balance can't go below 400K baht the rest of the year
OR
65K baht a month in income from abroad transferred into a thai bank acocunt in your name only each month, every month for the previous 12 months
OR
A combination of banked and monthly income
The way the process works is you either get the 90 day Non-O visa based on retirement from a thai consulate in your country before you come here, then get your funds in place and apply for the yearly extension
OR
You come in on a visa exempt or tourist visa entry, get your funds in place then apply for the 90 day Non-O visa inside the country at the immigration office where you live, THEN after you get that you wait and apply for the yearly extension.
****************************************************************************
**********
**********
*****
*****
*****
3/permalink/*****
*****
*****
8/Reply to
James ********
Reply
42 comments
2 years ago
35 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
3 years ago
33 comments
3 years ago
72 comments
3 years ago
83 comments
3 years ago
36 comments
4 years ago
5 comments
4 years ago
14 comments
4 years ago
16 comments
4 years ago
15 comments
5 years ago
17 comments
5 years ago
53 comments
5 years ago
36 comments
5 years ago
3 comments
5 years ago
25 comments
5 years ago
10 comments
7 years ago
12 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
0 comments
7 years ago
6 comments
7 years ago
37 comments
8 years ago
35 comments
8 years ago
46 comments
8 years ago
7 comments
a month ago
9 comments
a month ago
21 comments
a month ago
16 comments
a month ago
8 comments
a month ago
The ask:thailand community, consisting of multiple Q/A groups with over 100,000 members, powers this platform. It is not an official government resource. Our members actively contribute to this resource, and while we strive for accuracy, we cannot guarantee its complete reliability. Assistance to travelers is provided as a community service.