How can I transfer funds and apply for a Non O visa in Thailand after my OA visa expires?

Feb 15, 2024
a year ago
Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi,

I am currently coming to the end of my OA 1 year + 1 year retirement visa and instead of returning to Australia and starting the whole process again I intend applying for the "in country" Non O visa based on retirement.

Today I approached my Kasikorn bank branch here in Chiang Mai and enquired regarding the document/letter regarding confirmation of transferring funds (800,000 baht) from my Australian bank account to my Kasikorn bank account, as an international transfer.

The service staff wasn't sure that they could provide that service and so I spoke to a service officer at " head office". That lady said she could email me a "bahtnet" document but she wasn't sure whether immigration would accept it.

Anyone on here dealt with Kasikorn re this issue.

Regards!

Graham
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Graham is seeking advice on transitioning from an OA retirement visa to an in-country Non O visa in Thailand. He mentions needing to transfer 800,000 baht from Australia to his Kasikorn Bank account but faces uncertainty about obtaining the necessary documentation for immigration. Community members suggest various approaches, including potential bank issues with documentation and the importance of using recognized methods for fund transfer. Some suggest alternatives like applying for an extension instead of changing the visa type. Others note that Graham must leave the country to apply for a new visa as he cannot switch from OA to Non O while in Thailand.
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Rob **********
You cannot switch from a OA visa to a Non O inside of Thailand, you need to leave the country to break the chain.
Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Rob *********
yes - border run on Sunday!
Bob **********
You’ll have to leave to cancel you O-A then return and apply for the non-o visa just tell the bank you need a letter for your visa shouldn’t be a problem as long as the 800k has been in the bank for at least two months
Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bob *********
yes - border run on Sunday!
Dennis ***********
As long as you have a residential address matching your retirement visa,it should not be an issue.
Nongnuch ********
@Graham *******
*** for transferring a minimum of 800,000.- THB from Australia to your Kasikorn bank account, you can use WISE or REMITTLY

Kasikorn, Siam Bank PLC and Bangkok Bank fortunately are the three banks that are not underlying the limit of 50,000 THB for one transaction. With WISE, the limit sending money to your account is 2 million Thai Baht.

*** for applying to the “change of visa type” to the “90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa” inside Thailand, you need first to INVALIDATE your existing stay permit.

Normally your most recent stamp becomes invalid when you leave Thailand without a re-entry permit

In case you bought a multi entry permit for your second year, you need to wait until the expiry of your current stay permit, before you can

EITHER

apply for a new visa in Australia,

OR

Enter Thailand on a tourist visa or a visa exempt entry

and immediately visit Immigration and apply for the “change” from a tourist visa to the 90-days Non-Imm-O retirement visa.

You need proof that a minimum of 800,000.- THB are sitting in your Kasikorn account. On some Immigrations you need proof that the money came from abroad (WISE knows how to code your transaction so it will show as a FET foreign transfer into your Kasikorn account)

As soon as 30 days are left on the 90 days from the Non-O visa, and the money has been sitting in your account for a minimum of two months, you can apply for the “1-year Extension of Stay Permit” on Immigration

Following are listed on a .pdf from Immigration, the requirements for doing the change

*********************************************************************************************************
*******
/9.FOR-RETIREMENT-PURPOSES-50-YEARS-OLD-NON-O.pdf
Stuart *********
You won’t be getting a Non O visa based on retirement in country off a non OA entry. You either extend the Non OA entry for a year using the banked money method and insurance from one of the 13 certified Thai companies, or you leave Thailand to “break” the Non OA and come back visa exempt or with a tourist visa or fresh Non O visa to start a new process without requiring insurance.

If you transferred funds from abroad using a bank to bank method then they will automatically show as an FET transfer. If you used a service like Wise then quite possibly they’ve shown as a domestic transfer but you can ask the bank to provide proof of an FET transfer.
Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart ********
thanks for your advice. I am actually doing a border run on Sunday and coming back in on visa exempt. I then intend on transferring the 800,000 baht from my account in Australia to my Kasikorn Bank here in Chiang Mai. It's the letter/document from the bank that is the stumbling block at the moment.
Stuart *********
@Graham *******
OK as I said if you do it by bank to bank then the transfer will show as foreign. If using wise it may not.

The letter from the bank is not an issue. It’s the way the funds that were transferred that may be. You’ll get a better rate using Wise but you’ll cut out the potential need for the bank to confirm as an FET transfer if you don’t use them.
Nigel **************
@Stuart ********
If you use Wise and you click the box saying 'Funds for long term stay' as the reason, and the transfer is to your own named account it will show as a Foreign transfer. At least it does with Bangkok bank.
Stuart *********
@Nigel *************
yes it does (mostly) for Bangkok Bank. They have some form of agreement that it should. With other banks that’s not always the case.
Stuart *********
I don’t know the policy for CM immigration. Some offices don’t seem to care about the source of funds, just that you have the 800k. Perhaps others with direct experience of CM immigration can advise.
John ********
For me Bangkok Bank is the best for your problem so if I was you I would change my bank account if possible or do you have any friends who are with Bangkok bank as they will have a letter from the bank to help you to show it to your bank
Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
thanks John - I think the agent I get advice from has a copy.
Kool *******
You need the SWIFT code for Kasikorn to make the transfer, plus other details you already have. Your Australian bank needs that for the transfer, plus account number, and name and address of the receiving bank account owner. It's actually pretty easy.
Graham ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
I already have that in place and have been transferring money to my Kasikorn Bank account for the last 18 months or so. My concern is the actual letter/document from the bank confirming the deposits are international transfers for the Non O visa application here in Thailand.
Matthew *******
@Graham *******
won’t a 12 month bank statement show that ?

The bank can print that out for you small fee
Kool *******
@Graham *******
you need deposit statements for the last year showing each month's deposit, and that should already show where it came from. You also need a letter stating that the account is yours only
SteBu ******
Why not apply for an extension of stay? You don’t need a fresh Visa?
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