Is it acceptable for my friend to enter Thailand on a visa-exempt entry with a return ticket while I come in on a Non-O visa?

Feb 24, 2024
8 months ago
Sharron *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
I hope this can be answered in simple terms. I am moving to Thailand in a few months. A friend is coming with me for 29 days. She will fly back home then. I want to stay in Bangkok a few days them go to Hua Hin, and get an agent. I will open a bank acct. and deposit $26,000.00. I will look for a condo, with sea view that allows one domestic cat with in my budget. I plan on coming on a non-o visa. My friend will only have her passport . Is that expectable if she has a return ticket for 29 day back to USA?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The poster is inquiring about the visa situation for both herself and her friend as they move to Thailand. She plans to enter on a Non-O visa, while her friend will travel on a visa-exempt basis for 29 days, returning to the USA afterward. The responses clarify that as long as the friend has a return ticket and meets entry requirements, she should not encounter issues with her stay. The poster's questions also touch on the process of opening a bank account and applying for a non-O visa, which can be done before arriving in Thailand but requires timely action once there. Overall, the community confirms that both travelers should be fine under their respective visa statuses.
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Steve *******
I have never read a sentence with "expectable" in it... and i used to read 250+ books a year. (too busy now with a startup).
Robert *********
Buy nothing for one year .

You will change and you will be so much better informed of prices and location

Do not value things compared to home
Sharron *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So, I have to get my non-o visa there? Do I just get a 90 day visa in USA? Then when I come I get agent in Hua Hin ,open a bank account, or do I have to wait 60 days after bank acct. to get non-o visa? I wont have a permanent address for almost 3 weeks after I get there. Spending a few day in Bangkok, before heading to Hua Hin to look for long term condo rental. Then finishing up Visa, I hope. will get Wise to transfer the 800,000 for deposit when I open bank account..
Brandon ************
@Sharron ******
Yes you can get the non-O visa before you go to Thailand. You will need to get your bank account in order ASAP, within your first 30 days on arrival. This is because to apply for the 1-year extension the money needs to be in your Thai bank account for 2 months already.
Sharron *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
So I can get non-o visa online here in USA? Will it make any difference if I open bank account in Bangkok, but do my banking in Hua Hin?
Brandon ************
@Sharron ******
yes you can get it online in the USA.

It's best to open an account where you'll be living since you will have ATM fees if you use ATMs outside of where you opened your account and sometimes bank branches that aren't your own branch will refuse to provide you with the documents you need for immigration.
Sharron *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thats what I was not sure about. Make good sense. Thank you
Sean ********
Hi there. You mean you are coming on a non-OA, right? Non-o is issued in country only. For the bank account that was the hardest part for me to take care of on my own here in Bangkok. The rest was not bad so your plan sounds fine. If your friend is on a 30 day visa exempt stamp then no issue with the 29 days.
Sean ********
As an American citizen only a Non-OA is available from applying in the US. Non-o is only available in Thailand. Not sure how so many can be wrong about this.
Sharron *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
James *********
@Sharron ******
Under NO circumstances should you consider any advice from Sean M.
Sean ********
Also, you don't necessarily need an agent. It is pretty straightforward to get a visa on your own. If you have further questions about this please let me know as the people in this group were so helpful to me when I first moved to Thailand over a year ago
Sharron *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Sean ********
This will help explain the differences in visas. I preferred getting the non-o in country because it didn't come with the insurance requirement and since I was on a deadline didn't have time to get the certificate of good conduct requirement for the non-OA from my city of New York since it had a 4 month lead time to get it.
Sean ********
@Sharron ******
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Jeffrey **********
@Sean *******
Non O is issued at an Embassy
Steve *******
@Sean *******
Incorrect. An O can be obtained in your own Country or Thailand. An OA can only be obtained in your home Country.
Brandon ************
@Sean *******
This is not correct information. You can get a non-O or a non-OA from your home country. I assume the op is indeed talking about the 90 day non-O visa.
Sharron *******
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tyler *******
What type of visa you enter on has no bearing on your friends. Depending on her nationality, she may be able to enter on visa exempt which is 30 days.
Brandon ************
If your friend has their ticket out of Thailand and can show it then there should be no issues
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