This is NOT an official government website. We are an independent resource providing information and assistance to travelers.

Should I hire an agent or attorney for relocation to Hua Hin and visa processing?

Jun 6, 2025
2 days ago
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My wife and I are presently divesting ourselves of our assets in preparation for retirement in Hua Hin.

As we are currently residing in the US, we plan to make Thailand our home by December 31st.

To ensure a smooth relocation, I have joined this group to conduct research and have noted that several members are experiencing difficulties with banking requirements. Following a review of the comments, I have surmised that hiring an agent would be the most advantageous approach.

I would like to inquire:

Is this assessment accurate?

Is it recommended that we hire an attorney or agent?

Could anyone suggest a trustworthy contact in the Hua Hin or Bangkok areas?

(Special recognition goes to Meta AI for a well written correction of my original post!)
2,401
views
2
likes
66
all likes
35
replies
0
images
17
users
TLDR : Answer Summary
The user discusses moving to Hua Hin, Thailand for retirement and wonders if hiring an agent or attorney would help with the transition, especially concerning banking and visa matters. The community provides insights on visa types, emphasizing that obtaining a Non-O visa or Non-OA visa before arriving in Thailand may negate the need for an agent. They suggest that if all financial requirements are met, the visa process can be handled independently, although some find hiring an agent convenient to alleviate stress. Recommendations for reliable contacts in Hua Hin and Bangkok are requested.
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.
Mark **********
"Meta AI"? That explains the overly wordy post. I could have asked the same things in half as many words. A.I is still struggling to sound like a normal human. LOL
Andy ********
Hua Hin have a great immigration office. You can get the information you need from this group and then get the visa extensions at Hua Hin.

The easiest way to go is apply for a Non Immigrant O visas in your home country this will require that you can both show the equivalent of 800k each in your own bank account. Once you come to Thailand you open a bank account and if you can maintain that 800k each in your Thai bank account in the first 15 months of stay the Non O route is the best way to go. Note you can let the balances to drop to 400k each during that period but if your mindset is we need to leave the money in the bank that is the best way.

In Hua Hin the best bank to use for your visa requirement is Bangkok Bank. They have two excellent branches that I have personally used. One in Blueport Shopping Mall and the other just outside Market Village Shopping Mall. Both will provide you with any financial documents you need for your visa. Other banks can also provide you with the correct documents but not as efficiently as Bangkok Bank. I personally have accounts with 4 other banks and my experience is that Bangkok Bank is the best in Hua Hin.

Beyond the first extension. You will of had your original Non Immigrant O and extended for one year by then. Depending on you income you can reduce or eliminate the lump sum needed in the bank. If your income is over 130k Baht you can both use the income method for your future extensions. If your monthly income is above 65k you can use the income method for one of you and maintain 800k for the others extension in a Thai bank.

There is other visa types but Non Immigrant O is most straightforward. Others have mentioned the Non Immigrant OA. This is an option if you are going to to get health insurance and maintain it,. If you are a high net worth couple then there is a 10 year Long Term Resident visa you can apply for.

I have given you a high level overview. There are more details to each of the visa types which you can get from this group. As for hiring an agent there is no need to do that but if you really don't want to be bothered with applying for a visa extension once a year then choose your agent very very carefully. A bad agent (plenty around) is worse than no agent at all. I personally couldn't recommend any of the agents in Hua Hin as I have never personally used them.
Jim ********
Look the
@LTR **************************
to see if you qualify. There is no bank account or deposit requirement.

**********************
Bill *********
In my mind your assessment is correct. I arrived into Thailand and then handled everything here with an agent. Got all the necessary paperwork and bank account opening and a nice visa stamp completed in under a day with no stress. I came to retire, not to generate extra work and I get no amusement in learning the intricacies of immigration. So an agent was perfect for me. Others have different opinions.... and more free time!
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bill ********
I agree. I’m tired and want to be retired.

I’ve looked at a few law firms in BKK. Will probably do a consultation next week.
Brook ********
@Richard ********
dumb waste of money. They will just sub the work out to an agent or an intern.
Rob **********
So easy to do your visa yourself if you are organized and meet all the financial requirements it’s not hard at all, no need to pay an agent to do it for you.
John *********
Your assessment is not accurate. You don’t need an agent or an attorney. My Thai wife who only went to school to the 4th grade in the Thailand countryside did it all for me. I’m fairly intelligent, but my wife is smarter than me. Simply apply for your visa online before departing the US. One for you and one for your wife.

Follow the step by step process at

***********************************
Website of Thailand Electronic Visa

Open a bank account in Thailand and deposit 800k THB. One for you only and one for your wife only. Avoid Bangkok Bank.

We live in Thailand mid-October until the end of April each year. Retired.

Enjoy Hua Hin.
Lee *************
Need a Non O Visa and proof of residency,
John ********
Meta AI didn’t include your ages, tell me again why AI is so great or just edit yourself.
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
Meta AI = My wife and I are presently divesting ourselves of our assets in preparation for retirement in Hua Hin.

Me = We’re selling our crap and jumping out of the shit show.

55 & 50 with monthly income to qualify for the 5 yr retirement.
Ernesto ********
@Richard ********
what 5 year visa ?
Wannikea *********
@Richard ********
exactly what visa are you looking at? The only 5 year visas are the Elite visa, the DTV, and maybe the LTR (10 year I believe). Each has advantages and drawbacks. Which exact visa type are you thinking about?
John ********
@Richard ********
I believe you have it all worked out.

Next question, have you visited Hua Hin in the past?
Jennifer ******
You can apply for the Non OA (not Non O) retirement visa in your home country and that allows you to use the balance in your country's bank as proof of funds (not Thai bank). Once you have that visa, come to Thailand and then open the bank account with the long term visa and no worries of time frame. Check with the Thai Embassy in the US for the requirements. It will give you 1+1 year stay. You have plenty of time to get yourself sorted on this Visa route.
Brook ********
@Jennifer *****
yes, but he will have to leave Thailand to convert to a non-o… and what if he can’t get insurance from one of the 14 Thai companies due to overweight or pre existing conditions? Then he is screwed. Not to mention the mandatory police background checks and elephantitus certifications.

Non O visa is a much better option.

Bank account is not a big deal and an agent is not mandatory at all unless your time is extremely valuable. Navigating the bureaucracy is a good way to start learning about how things work.
Stuart ***********
Like I stated, you are making a really good point about the non OA, but it reads like they can only apply for the non OA from their home country (not the non O). Many people are confused about this and think that they can only get the non O when they get to Thailand and as we both know that is not true, as they can also get the non O. Opening a bank account in Thailand with a non O should not be a problem as it's a long term visa. The problems people are having are with tourist visa or visa exempt entries.
Stuart ***********
@Jennifer *****
your post is confusing as it implies they can't get the non O in the USA and that's not true. They can also apply for the non O in the USA before coming to Thailand and avoid needing the mandatory insurance (that seems to have a sketchy reputation) and choose their own insurance company. The non O also allows them to use their funds in the USA to apply, they will need to open an account in Thailand to extend the visa, but this should be no problem as they already have long term visa.
Jennifer ******
@Stuart **********
No it's not. I'm letting them know to apply for the non OA instead of the non O so they do not need to season 800k each in a Thai bank that makes 0 interest. It's an alternative that no one has mentioned here. Also the insurance to apply is only about 25k baht or less for a year.

I'm sure they can check with the embassy and decide the best route. It's an alternative not a confusion.
Stuart ***********
@Jennifer *****
we will have to agree to disagree then. My reply clarifies it, so there's no problem.
Mark ********
@Stuart **********
you’re wrong! I applied for a non OA visa in Los Angeles California and came here on that one. It’s good for two years. Then I had no problems opening a bank account. If they check directly with the requirements at the embassy, then they’ll know exactly what they need to do. There are four or five hoops to jump through but it’s not difficult.
Stuart ***********
@Mark *******
what am I wrong about?
Jennifer ******
@Stuart **********
that it's confusing. I'm also on Non OA. Under the Thai Embassy site, there is a list of all the pre approved insurance companies. Nothing is sketchy. If you've not done it then you probably can't give the correct advice.
Stuart ***********
@Jennifer *****
I did not ask you, or are you Mark Hunton.
Jennifer ******
Stuart ***********
@Jennifer *****
pointing out that the non OA visa is an option is a really good point, but you are part of the reason that people get so confused about which visa to choose. You can easily edit your comment by adding the word 'ALSO' in the first line, between the words "can apply" and in a few other places. I realise you will not do this because it means admitting I am correct.
Jennifer ******
@Stuart **********
What are you correct about? You are talking about Non O and I'm talking about Non OA. We are both not wrong. I even mentioned to check with the Thai Embassy. I am answering the OP's concern about opening a bank account to season the money. With the Non OA he doesn't need to. No where did I say he cannot apply for the Non O. Only you said it.
Anna *********
No need for an agent or attorney Do as
@Lynnette ******
suggested and you’ll be fine. It’s not complicated if you have the required funds (800K THB)
Lynnette *******
All you need is to get your visa sorted before you leave USA. Enter Thailand. Open your bank account. Deposit the money. Then apply for the 12 month extension. No need for an agent.
Nongnuch ********
@Lynnette ******
correct, but for the opening of the two bank accounts, each of them needs a certificate of residence from Immigration. The clock is running, as the 12-months extension can only be applied for if the deposit has sat in the accounts for 2 months. That can bring them into crosshairs, as some Immigrations don't issue a certificate of residence before you haven't made your first 90-days report . . . .the typical CATCH22 situation . . . . . . . . . . Better use an agent for the bank account opening to avoid running around from bank to bank. After this is settled, they can do the rest by themselves without an agent
Nongnuch ********
Richard Spencer . . .this could get hairy . . . . most embassies have discontinued issuing a "trailing spouse" Non-Imm-O Visa, so you will most probably need to apply for the "retirement visa" and the subsequent extension each one by yourself, and supply the financial requirements each by yourself, too. . . . . . . In case you don't have the required funds of 2 x 800,000 THB and need an agent to get you through the process of opening a bank account for both of you (!), getting the 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement visa for both of you (!) and getting the 12-months extension of the stay permit based on retirement for you - then you should be prepared to pay an agent a minimum of 55,000 THB, each of you. That's the price a well known visa agent in Bangkok is asking for. It could even be higher in Hua Hin .. . . . . . . . IF you have the required funds, then do everything by yourself, you don't need the agent. But make sure you arrive - both of you - on a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. Only on this visa type, you can get a Thai bank account opened.
Richard *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Nongnuch *******
I knew it was going to be complicated.

We’re also bringing 2 large dogs. I thought that would be the most difficult part.

Thank you for the info, that helps.
Nongnuch ********
@Richard ********
I wish ya Good Luck in all your enterprises! You will definitely need it 😶
Bob **********
Just apply for your non-o visa before you come then you can open a bank account get the funds transferred
Frankie *****
@Bob *********
yes step by step
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
... members · 60% approval rate
The Thai Visa Advice And Everything Else group allows for a broad range of discussions on life in Thailand, beyond just visa inquiries.
Join the Group
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
View the Conversation
Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else