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Is it easier to apply for a Non O visa in the USA or do it in Thailand?

Non O visa Thai visa application visa rules expat advice bank account requirements USA Thailand

Oct 27, 2024

a month ago

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Is it easier to apply for Non O visa in the USA or wait and do it in Thailand ?

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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.

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Steve *******

Easier in your home Country

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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.

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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)

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Stuart ***********

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).

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Jim **********

@Stuart **********

blah blah, and yet still every high street in every tourist location is full of visa agents. Cop on.

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Jim **********

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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 😆

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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.

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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!

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Jim ********

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Steve *******

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.

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Brandon ************

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.

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Andy ************

Wrong. You can apply for EITHER a non-O or non-OA from an Embassy or Consulate

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Andy ************

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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.

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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 already

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Sinsupa ********

@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 ?

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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.

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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?

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Jim ********

@Sinsupa *******

A non-O visa expires after 90 days. You then go to immigration and get a 12-month extension

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Sinsupa ********

And if I get 12 months, do I still need to stamp every three months?

Thank you for your information

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Jim ********

@Sinsupa *******

No. The only requirement is 90-day reporting

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Jim ********

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