This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.
Is it easier to apply for a Non O visa in the USA or do it in Thailand?
Oct 27, 2024
2 years ago
Ken *********
ORIGINAL POSTERIs it easier to apply for Non O visa in the USA or wait and do it in Thailand ?
TLDR : Answer Summary
Applying for a Non O visa is generally easier in the USA compared to Thailand. The requirement to show 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account complicates the process for applicants in Thailand, especially since opening a Thai bank account as a tourist is nearly impossible.
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
Steve *******
Easier in your home Country
Brandon ************
It will be easier to get it in the USA, because in order to get it in Thailand you must be able to show you have 800,000 in a Thai bank account, and it's basically impossible to open a bank account as a tourist.
Jim **********
@Brandon ***********
it is not just about the bank deposit. Firstly, if you apply from your own country, it not an O it is an OA visa. So, as you say, an OA avoids the need for a Thank bank account balance, but brings with it the need for medical health insurance with a Thai insurer (from a list).If you want an O then you can apply from within Thailand and it avoids the need for medical insurance, but as you say it does require the Thai bank account and min balance of 800k (the easiest way around this issue is to pay an agent who will then sort out both the account and the min balance)
Stuart ***********
@Jim *********
it is illegal to use an agent to circumvent the 800,000 baht financial requirement. If the immigration officer is investigated all of their visas issued illegally are cancelled and you would be deported (yes this does happen).Jim **********
@Stuart **********
blah blah, and yet still every high street in every tourist location is full of visa agents. Cop on.Reply to
Jim **********
Reply
Jim ********
@Jim *********
Keep in mind the cost of a dodgy agent visa might go through the roof with the changes to taxation in Thailand. The applicant might well have to pay tax in the 800k which suddenly arrives in their bank account. This will be around 45,000 baht. I doubt the agent will pay this 😆Jim **********
@Jim *******
the visa has nothing to do with taxation. The two are separate issues and you need to deal with the taxation issue separately - the situation from a tax perspective is the same either way.Jim ********
@Jim *********
I'm not actually talking about the visa, I'm referring to the 800k which suddenly arrives in an expats bank account, and a few days later just as suddenly leaves. There may well be a "please explain" as to the source of this money, and whether it will be classified as "income". Good luck proving tax has already been paid on it!Reply to
Jim ********
Reply
Steve *******
@Jim *********
Incorrect. You can get the O visa in your home Country and in Thailand but you can only get the OA in your home Country or a Country that you have PR in.Brandon ************
@Jim *********
you can get both an O or an OA visa from your home country. The O visa is not only available inside Thailand. That would make absolutely no sense. There's no such thing as a visa you can only get inside Thailand.Andy ************
@Jim *********
Wrong. You can apply for EITHER a non-O or non-OA from an Embassy or ConsulateReply to
Andy ************
Reply
Sinsupa ********
@Brandon ***********
Hello sir,I would like to share information about opening an account. My boyfriend 's friend can open an account by requesting a certification document from the embassy in Thailand.
First, he went to get a certificate from the German embassy in Thailand, and then my friend took me and him to open a bank account at the bank.
Brandon ************
@Sinsupa *******
yes a residence certificate is a common requirement. But even then most banks won't do it if you're on a tourist entry. They want you to be on a long-term visa alreadySinsupa ********
@Brandon ***********
I agree with you but in my friend's boyfriend's case, he only came on free visa ka…I think it depends on the employee and the bank branch.
Thanks for your information, in the future I will have to study about the visa because my husband is going to move to Thailand in the future.
In my husband's case, can he apply for a visa when he moves to Thailand if he already has a house registration in the yellow book and the Thai bank account ?
Brandon ************
@Sinsupa *******
yellow book has nothing to do with applying for a visa. Each immigration office sets their own requirements for visas and extensions. You would need to go to your immigration office and ask for their list of requirements if you want to apply for a visa.Sinsupa ********
@Brandon ***********
I am deciding to apply for a visa from Germany or in Thailand.- If we get a one-year NON - O visa, every three months I have to take my husband to get it stamped at immigration, right?
- Is there any way to avoid having to stamp every three months?
Jim ********
@Sinsupa *******
A non-O visa expires after 90 days. You then go to immigration and get a 12-month extensionSinsupa ********
@Jim *******
And if I get 12 months, do I still need to stamp every three months?Thank you for your information
Jim ********
@Sinsupa *******
No. The only requirement is 90-day reportingReply to
Jim ********
Reply
Can I obtain a Non-O visa upon arrival in Thailand, even if I have trouble getting health insurance?
22 comments
2 years ago
16 comments
2 years ago
1 comments
2 years ago
36 comments
2 years ago
24 comments
2 years ago
4 comments
2 years ago
9 comments
2 years ago
20 comments
3 years ago
1 comments
3 years ago
66 comments
4 years ago
15 comments
4 years ago
24 comments
4 years ago
20 comments
4 years ago
36 comments
4 years ago
6 comments
5 years ago
13 comments
5 years ago
25 comments
5 years ago
3 comments
5 years ago
8 comments
6 years ago
8 comments
6 years ago
7 comments
7 years ago
10 comments
7 years ago
6 comments
8 years ago
4 comments
8 years ago
12 comments
9 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.