Is a 400,000 baht bank balance necessary for a Thai spouse visa?

Jul 28, 2022
2 years ago
Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Is it true that even for a spouse visa they want 400,000 baht in a Thai bank? My social security check is well enough to live modestly over there but I don’t have 10 grand floating around If between that and what a spouse makes I would never be classified as a burden
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The requirements for a Thai spouse visa can vary significantly depending on the immigration office and the method of application. While some applicants may be asked to show 400,000 baht in a Thai bank account for a one-year extension, there is an alternative option where you can demonstrate a monthly income of 40,000 baht, provided that you can show evidence of this income for 12 months. It's important to note that not all immigration offices may accept the monthly income route, and differing requirements may exist based on where you apply. Additionally, there are discussions about the necessity of health insurance for those receiving Social Security benefits while living in Thailand.
Otis ******
Excellent writ
Fizz *******
Getting in touch with an agent is a good idea because they can likely demonstrate the existence of the aforementioned THB 400,000 for you for less than $100 USD. Although I don't have that agent's contact info on me right now, a friend of mine has done something similar.
Frank **********
@Fizz ******
of course that is getting a visa under false pretenses. Also called fraud.
Ken ********
A friend was on a marriage visa without the 400k in bank he did visa runs and went home once a year to get a new visa he didn't extend
Kevin **********
Just write them a check from a defunct Southwestern Savings and Loan
Phillip ********
Go to an agent and get it done, about 25k bht, for an O visa...
Spencer *******
@Phillip *******
90 days for 25k - rip off lol
Phillip ********
@Spencer ******
no, for 1 yr retirement O visa, includes 3 mth non immigrant visa, totalb15 mths
Leszek *********
Spencer *******
Impossible to get the full 15 months for 25k from an agent. I'd be very surprised if you can find me a place that will do it for that price. I don't mean retirement visa though. I mean Thai child or marriage visa non o. The agencies I've spoken to quote me 40k plus.
Филипп **********
40👉🔑
Daniele ***********
I do 1 year multi entry visa, no money requirements and no visit at immigration at all, just need to travel every 3 months which I'd do anyway
Leszek *********
@Daniele **********
how. Explain , please.
Spencer *******
@Daniele **********
which immigration office is that?
Daniele ***********
@Spencer ******
can get at thai consulate in Savannakhet
Spencer *******
I can't help but feel the single entry 90 day might be better which also allows a 60 day family extension. That's 5 months before u leave and do it again.
Daniele ***********
@Spencer ******
not Vientiane, only Savannakhet, multi entry best option for me, do it once and never see an immigration office or consulate again for 15 months
Spencer *******
@Daniele **********
I've heard this too. Can u get the same in vietniane too do you know?
Alessandro **********
You don't need 400k baht in a Thai bank if you apply for a thai spouse visa at a Thai embassy. You need them in case that a. you extend it for one year (need at least 2 months seasoning) or b. you come to Thailand under Visa exemption/transit Visa and you do Visa status alteration at your immigration office (must file a TM86 or TM87)
Spencer *******
@Alessandro *********
not sure you can get the 90 day spouse visa in country though.
Alessandro **********
@Spencer ******
you can. Google TM87 form, TM86 form, TM88 form for alteration of visa status
Spencer *******
@Alessandro *********
you need 400k in the bank as proof of financial requirement if you are applying from inside thailand for a 3 month non o visa which gives you the yearly extension option after 90 days.
Alessandro **********
@Spencer ******
yep. Or you may go apply for a Visa in Savannakhet or Saigon as a plan B. Price for non immigrant O multi entry and valid for 1 year is 5000 baht in Laos and USD200 in Vietnam
Ken ********
Is your wife Thai?
David *********
Married Visa can be so much drama , easier to just get your own via alternate measures and options , I just don't have full faith in these banks .
Spencer *******
The 40k option doesn't work at some immigration offices even though it might say it's accepted on the immigration bureau website. Some immigration offices will only accept the 400k route.
Adam **********
If you can't show the money then a agency will be another option for you but it's gonna cost you 20x more for the visa.
กะลาสี *****
If you go the 40K a month route, then you need to be aware of the exchange rate issue. Looks like you are an American and right now the dollar is very strong at about 36.6 THB for 1 USD. Will your pension convert to 40K a month if the dollar falls down to say 30 THB for 1 dollar, like it was a couple of years ago? I would also ask what your plans are for health care? If you are receiving a SS pension then you are more than likely in your 60's or older (unless you are younger & disabled) and I don't believe medicare will cover you over here. This means that you will need to buy private health insurance.
Bob **********
@กะลาสี ****
why do you have to buy health insurance???
กะลาสี *****
@Bob *********
I don't believe he *has to* have health insurance but it would be wise to have health insurance. Most people (not all) develope issues which require health care in their 60's and beyond. All one has to do is to look at the price health insurance premiums to see this is true. Additionally, what if he has an accident? Like a scooter accident? These are very common here.
Ian *********
@กะลาสี ****
private medical insurance is available BUT when you get to late 70s plus most of us will not be able to afford it
Anthony *********
Yeah, I have just finally got mine last week by the 400,000k route but I believe you can do the 40k a month route but I'm pretty sure you have to show 12mths of being paid the 40k but could be mistaken I'm sure someone else will know. I would imagine the 40k a month route might be not as simple as it sounds as its a lengthy process anyway, takes a few months
Bobby ********
@Anthony ********
Yeah it just makes more sense to me. The money is yours to do what you want with as soon as it registers in your bank account. But yes, you do need to show 12 months worth, and in the anal Thai immigration system, that's one for each calendar month. If you have two in the same month and then skip the next month, they won't accept it, even though you will still have 12 payments!
Anthony *********
@Bobby *******
good to know but I should be okay and I'm paid every 4 weeks so there will be at least one in every month I would think
Steve *******
@Anthony ********
I think you are correct. You can transfer 40k a month but must be able to show 12 months of transfers to be able to get the extension.
Anthony *********
@Steve ******
thought so and I don't know anyone that has gone that way tbh either
Bobby ********
@Anthony ********
I use the 65k per month process for retirement visa. There's no way I could justify tying up 800,000 for the rest of my life
Anthony *********
@Bobby *******
I get that but on the marriage one its; only for 2 months you can spend it after that, just have to make sure you put 400k in again 2 months before you renew
Bobby ********
@Anthony ********
But why even bother when you can do the 40k/month process? So much easier. I need money to live on, not to look at sitting in a bank account.
Anthony *********
@Bobby *******
yeah you're right about that but I didn't have 12 mths of payments I can show but by the time I renew I will be able to show monthly payments of like 100k per month so I will most likely do that next time
Anthony *********
This is the amount of paperwork involved
Gordon *********
Need 65ooo per month
Dave ********
@Gor***
, it's 40k per month, 65k is for a retirement visa
Gordon *********
Andy ***********
Letter from Thai Bank certified money in thai account (Alien’s Name) more than 400,000 Baht 2 months before, bank book and ATM slip on date of application

OR

Income or Pension have to certified by The Embassy or Consulate in Thailand and Show income more than 40,000 Baht/month
Andy ***********
No....i do 400k....just posted to clarify that 65k is incorrect.
Scott ********
@Andy **********
are you doing the
*****
a month now mate ? I know some countries the Embassey won’t do stat decs for that anymore due to people taking the piss . I had to do the
*****
0 the last few years instead
Spencer *******
@Scott *******
my local immigration office told me they can't accept the 40k per month option. They need to see 400k in the bank.
Scott ********
@Spencer ******
mine said the same , 3 or 4 years ago it was ok thou but needed a stat dec from Embassey declaring over
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a month but I think quite a few embassies now won’t do that . Uk and oz Embasseys won’t do it anymore , my understanding that way with the
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is out the window now
Gordon *********
@Andy **********
if u are married
Steve *******
400k is for the 1 year extention of stay. The financial requirements for a Non Imm O visa based on marriage vary between different Embassys/Consulates.
Spencer *******
@Steve ******
Yeah, definitely.
Bobby ********
You can opt to use the 40,000 baht per month option.
Spencer *******
@Bobby *******
we've had this discussion before. The 40k per month option doesn't work at some immigration offices. They want 400k.
Bobby ********
@Spencer ******
I guess there are some that go their own way, but for most people the option would be there
Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
I get 44,000 per month I didn’t read anywhere about an option All I saw was 400,000 in the bank AND 40,000 per month
Kool *******
@Michael ******
I am assuming you are American, and that you are moving, or already live here permanently. The financial requirement for a marriage visa, type O Thai wife, is either bt400k in a Thai bank for at least 2 months, OR 12 monthly deposits from overseas of at least bt40k a month, with no month missed.

Now some details you might not be aware of to make this easy to do. Social Security allows direct deposit of your Social Security payment into a Thai bank account, and at the best exchange rate. I do this into one of my Bangkok Bank accounts. It is always there, and I do not have to do anything, like make sure I transfer it from my US bank into my Thai bank each month.

At the end of my visa extension and time to renew, I go to the main Bangkok Bank offices on Silom, and through two steps of requests I get the bundle of deposits, showing the exchange rate used each month, and where they came from. This meets immigration requirements. What makes that branch good is on the second floor at the first offices on the right at the top of the escalator is the section that deals with foreign clients exclusively, and knows exactly what you need. The whole process takes about a week, with two other visits to finish. Apply at immigration for your extension no more than seven days after you get everything from the bank.

Now something else you might not be aware of, and can increase what you get monthly from Social Security. As you should be aware Medicare does not cover any of your medical needs outside of the US. There are a few very extreme exceptions, but they do not relate to anything you might encounter living here. As such there is absolutely no reason to be paying for part B of Medicare. It is easy to cancel, and will give you about bt5000, to bt7000 a month. You still have inpatient coverage with the free part A, if you have to return to the US. You can re-apply for part B, but at a penalty of a 10% increase in premium costs for each year you were not paying for it. If you are planning to stay in Thailand, then no big deal, and more money each month in your pocket, and for Thai standards a significant amount.

Just some details to consider if you are staying here permanently. If you have some remote immigration office not accepting this, then just get ahold of the main offices at Chaeng Wattana and they will set them straight. Chaeng Wattana is great because they've seen the package of documents from Bangkok Bank so many times they don't even go through them checking all the monthly deposits.
Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
thanks for the info but I am wanting to move there in December of this year plus I need my social security to live on Guess I am screwed 😞
Kool *******
@Michael ******
Nothing about moving here affects your Social Security. With the marriage extension it doesn't matter where the bt400k comes from to meet the financial obligation. You could borrow it from your wife's family, or even use a loan shark. It doesn't matter, then next year you've got the 12 months of deposits for that method completed, and you are set.
Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
but I can’t let the money sit in the bank that is my income to live on once there
Kool *******
@Michael ******
the monthly deposits have no restriction on how long they stay in your bank account. They can all be spent as soon as you receive them. The only restriction is with the bt400,000 deposit method. It must stay in your account for two months before you apply, and most want it in there for the 30day under consideration stamp you get. After that it can all be withdrawn, so three months max that it is tied up, but under the monthly deposit method you can spend your money immediately
Michael *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
ok but I read you do that for 12 months before you get visa I wanted to move there in December Sorry if I sound confused Thanks for the help
Kevin **********
@Michael ******
no, you're good
Kool *******
@Michael ******
for December you need to figure out a way to get a loan of bt400,000 for three months, with maybe an extra week, or two time frame. After that, for the next year, you switch methods. You are not locked in to any financial method. You can switch from bt400k deposit to monthly deposit next year. You are not locked into the method you originally use. Ask your wife to ask her family, and you pay reasonable interest on the loan. Anything to get you approved this first year. There are services that do this if her family can't, or won't, help.
Dave ********
@Mic****
, if your income is equivalent to 44k per month at today's exchange rate, only transfer 40k a month, because if the rate drops back to what it was last year, your 44k will only be
*****
k, that way it will leave you enough savings to top it up to 40 until the rate rises again
Kevin **********
Dave ********
Cheers
@Ke***
,
Bobby ********
@Michael ******
It's one or the other. Just transfer 40k into your Thai bank account once a month and you're laughing
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