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How can I show that my THB 800,000 transfer is legitimate for my O-A visa extension in Thailand?
O-A Visa ExtensionThai ImmigrationRetirement VisaBank Transfer RegulationsMoney Laundering ChecksFunds for Long StayVisa Application Process
Sep 2, 2023
3 years ago
Michael ******
ORIGINAL POSTERMy O-A visa expires middle of December and I plan on extending it in Thailand. I will therefore transfer 800k+ thb to my Bangkok Bank account. I expect a sum like that will trigger a money laundering question from the bank. How can I show that the money is legit?
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on how to provide proof of legitimacy for an 800,000 THB transfer to their Bangkok Bank account to extend their O-A visa, which expires in December. Comments suggest showing immigration requirements, tagging the transfer as retirement funds or living expenses, and emphasize that recent transfers of this amount typically do not trigger anti-money laundering checks. Some advice mentions alternatives to transferring funds, and clarifies visa application procedures related to switching from an O-A to a Non-O visa.
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.
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Andreas *********
@Michael *****
You received TONS of misleading advice here, so I am gonna try to get your ducks in a row“Okay, so I will come back to Thailand again on my current OA before it expires, with health insurance, and will get a one year stamp”
That’s alright, if you enter before the Visa validity is up, you will receive 365 days stay permit, however only if your health insurance will carry you that far, too. You will have to show the insurance policy (must be in English) at the border, together with the signed F.I.C. (foreign insurance certificate)
“Then if I need to leave TH before end of that year”
During this “second year” you have no more re-entry permit. You can travel freely and exit and re-enter Thailand, but you need to buy a re-entry permit (single 1000.- THB, or multi 3800.- THB) before leaving Thailand, in order to keep your last stay permit alive
“I will top up account to 800k+ baht and before I leave Thailand get a non-O visa with re-entry permit so I can come back again on that non-O visa.”
This is NOT POSSIBLE, not this way around. In order to apply for a 90-days Non-Imm-O visa in your home country or on Immigration inside Thailand. You firstly have to invalidate the last stay permit you got stamped. This is easy during the second year, because leaving Thailand without a re-entry permit, will invalidate your stay permit and you are free, again, to apply for another visa
„Question: Is there no benefit in already having a valid OA when applying for a new non-O?”
It sounds wrong, because that’s what it is
It’s actually not possible to apply for another or new visa, if you still got a valid visa or a valid stay permit
You can get around the health insurance requirement only with an initial “Non-Imm-O retirement visa” and a subsequent application for a “1-year Extension of Stay Permit based on retirement” (in brief: EOS)
For the application to the “EOS” (which by the way is technically NOT a visa but an extended stay permit) on the day of application your 800.000.- THB deposit must have seasoned in your Thai bank account for two months. SOME immigrations ignore the police order and ask for 3 months seasoning. Beware!
For the application to the EOS out of a Non-Imm-O visa which you received abroad, you don’t need a proof that the money came from abroad.
However if you want to enter visa exempt or on a 60-days tourist visa, and apply for the “change of visa type” on Immigration, the 800.000.- THB will have to sit in the account yet, no seasoning proof required, but you need to prove that the money came from abroad.
@Michael *****
The receiving Thai bank must code the transfer accordingly. To receive this by a WISE transfer and being coded as coming from abroad, you must mark the transfer as “Funds for Longstay in Thailand”If you have any more questions, feel free to ask here. I will stay with the thread
Michael ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Andreas ********
Thanks to everyone for helping me see a little clearer through the ever present Thai fog laid over everything. "Why make it simple when we can make it complicated?"Graham ******
@Andreas ********
When you transfer money using Wise under the reason for the transfer you scroll down to the bottom and select "Funds for long term stay in Thailand" as this will then show as an international deposit/receiptAndreas *********
@Graham *****
🥰 very good! Thanks a lot for he clarification!Reply to
Andreas *********
Reply
Cliff *********
Where did you invent that idea?
I transferred much more than that twice for property purchase this year.
No problem.
I transferred much more than that twice for property purchase this year.
No problem.
Kool *******
The bt800,000 must be transferred in from an overseas source. This creates a paper trail of where the money came from. He can't just deposit cash in his account. It must be transferred in with a bank to bank transfer.
Bob **********
People do it every day no problem
Peter ****************
And maybe a little bit more expensive, but you can transfer it in a couple of parts as international transfer. Only thing is that you reach the 800k฿ 2 months before you ask the extension (not end date of visa)
Marty *********
I transferred millions of baht to Kasikorn last year when I bought a car and built a house. No questions asked.
If you are an American and have over $10,000 in a foreign account at any time then you must file an FBAR around tax time.
If you are an American and have over $10,000 in a foreign account at any time then you must file an FBAR around tax time.
Colin **********
I doubt that 800kthb is enough to trigger anti laundering checks, as long as its not a regular occurance, if possible get the payment sent for "living expenses". If still concerned you call the Bangkok bank helpline, they could probably give you the latest details.
The recently introduced 50kthb per bank transaction or 200kthb aday limit in a day only checks who you are by face recognition.
The recently introduced 50kthb per bank transaction or 200kthb aday limit in a day only checks who you are by face recognition.
Mark ********
If you have an OA visa expiring in December all you need do is step out of Thailand a couple of weeks b4 expiry date then come back in and you will be stamped back in for another year. No need to tran 800K.
You will need to have another 12 months med insurance organised and possibly a re entry permit if your OA is not multi entry.
You will need to have another 12 months med insurance organised and possibly a re entry permit if your OA is not multi entry.
Michael ******
ORIGINAL POSTER@Mark *******
Okay, so I will come back to Thailand again on my current OA before it expires, with health insurance, and will get a one year stamp. Then if I need to leave TH before end of that year, I will top up account to 800k+ baht and before I leave Thailand get a non-O visa with re-entry permit so I can come back again on that non-O visa.How does that sound?
Question: Is there no benefit in already having a valid OA when applying for a new non-O?
Brown ********
@Michael *****
John is correct so take noteJohn **********
@Michael *****
you can't get another visa while you already have a current visa. If you want to switch to a Non-O then you need to leave Thailand on your OA extension without a re-entry permit, come in visa exempt and apply for the Non-O inside Thailand. Top up your bank account before you do so.Reply to
John **********
Reply
Steve *******
@Mark *******
All OA visas are multi-entry.Mark ********
@Steve ******
So you don't need a re-entry permit then so long as you step back into Thailand before the expiry of your OA visa?Steve *******
@Mark *******
That's correct.Reply to
Steve *******
Reply
Mark ********
@Steve ******
I did not know that. I thought you had a choice of single or multi when you applied for the OA.Steve *******
@Mark *******
There's no single entry OA visaReply to
Steve *******
Reply
Zap **********
When you make the transfer it needs to be tagged for living expenses or retirement purposes.
Graham ******
@Zap *********
Not living expenses, Funds for Long Term Stay in Thailand, the last option in the Wise menuZap **********
@Graham *****
not sure if it's worded the exact same with every transfer method from every country but easy enough to see which it is if doing online or asking if doing in person.Reply to
Zap **********
Reply
Vic *********
@Zap *********
How can it be living expenses if you can't spend it?Zap **********
The bank just needs a reason I believe they report due to money laundering issues you need a purpose for moving money.
Zap **********
@Vic ********
that doesn't matter and you can go down to min. 400,000 for part of the year.John ******
@Vic ********
Perhaps because it's needed to live here.Reply to
John ******
Reply
Graham ******
If you are on the first year of your OA and you border bounce just before it expires and you have the necessary insurance you will get stamped in for another 12 months.
Andi ***********
Show the immigration requirement for 800k THB in order to get a retirement visa. immigration issues a list of the requirements
Reply to
Andi ***********
Reply
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