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What are the best visa options for a US citizen planning to stay in Thailand long-term before obtaining a Non-OA visa?

Non-OA Visa Non-Immigrant B Visa Tourist Visa Retirement Visa Visa Options Visa Extensions Thailand Immigration Expat Visa Guide Financial Requirements for Visas

May 31, 2021

3 years ago

Christopher ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hey guys, quick question. US citizen. In the long run I’m going for a 1-year Non-OA which I understand requires certain deposits (400k/800k depending on some parameters) but for “first” entry in July, I can get a letter invite for Non-imm b ‘3-months’ or I guess do a tourist visa from USA. Which visa options will allow me to stay the longest time period, including available extensions, before I need to commit to a Non-imm OA? I’m quoted about 20k baht for the non-imm B letter, fine, but wondering if you guys in the know have other options?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user seeks advice on visa options available to a US citizen planning a long-term stay in Thailand. They are considering a 1-year Non-OA visa but have questions about obtaining other visa types such as a Non-Immigrant B visa or a tourist visa for an initial stay. Responses indicate that a Non-OA visa must be obtained outside Thailand, while a single-entry tourist visa could be a possible first step. Comments also suggest financial considerations and the possibility of applying for a Non-O visa within Thailand after meeting banking requirements.

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Thomas *********

I think you maybe confused. This is my experience:

1 Applied for a Non O single entry visa in my country. Easy approved in 5 days. Showed one bank statement 15,000 USD. One years insurance includes C-19. Through AA Insurance Brokers Bangkok 550USD for a year.

2, Arrived in Thailand opened a Kasikorn Asset Management Account. Very few expats have this account. Also opened a normal account. Really easy showed passport and proof of address.

3, Used Wise to transfer my money over to my account. Kept 100k in my normal account and deposited 1 million into my Asset Management Account. I had a choice of investments I went for a Gold account. 17% return last year. There are others.

4, Ever month I bring over 100k THB. So I can go with either method monthly money or 800k deposit.

Basically if you are OK financially. There is no issues with visas. Wishing you all the best. PS I never use agent's.

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Marlene ******

@Thomas ********

thought you can only apply for non o in Thailand and ox in your country....

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Marlene ******

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Zzyzx *******

OX visa allows you to stay 5 years. You just need 3 million baht in your bank account

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Marlene ******

10 years and 3 million in Thai bank account

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Marlene ******

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Salvador *******************

wow it is still very difficult to get a visa for thailand

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Ekkehard *******

@Salvador ******************

Really?

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Salvador *******************

@Ekkehard ******

yes.. for you not? Is easy?

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Salvador *******************

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Tod *********

I think you might be slightly confused :O

You BUY an O-A visa from the thai consulate in your country before you come here, period end of story. You're not gonna get an O-A here inside the country. To get it you meet the financial requirements using a bank in your country, you have the mandatory health insurance requirements using an insurance company in your country.

NOW, if on the other hand what you really want to do is come HERE and then get a "retirement visa" inside the country. I'd say get a single entry tourist visa, come in, get stamped in for 60 days, get your bank account open and get 800K baht transferred in, then go apply first for a 90 day Non-O visa THEN after you get that and run the 90 days down so your 800K baht can season apply for the year extension

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Jeff **********

Krabi

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Jeff **********

you always leave out the income verification method for non-O based on retirement, in other words showing 65,000 baht deposits for 3 months from a foreign source into a Thai bank account. And sometimes when you were first apply they only want to see 2 months.

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Tod *********

@Jeff *********

I have never seen anyone get an in country Non-O visa issued with less than about 8 or 9 months of transfers (from the countries that can't get the income affidavit) because even if they issued the 90 day Non-O visa with just a couple months income transferred in you couldn't get the year because every office I've dealt with says you need 12 months of transfers.

I know there's an exception that says "if it's the first time you don't need a full year" BUT I've never seen someone pull it off, SO that's why I leave it out

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Jeff **********

I did it with 2 months

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Tod *********

@Jeff *********

then you are indeed the exception to the rule ;) As I said I have never seen anyone get either the Non-O visa OR the year extension with so few of months of transfers.

Was this at Chaengwattana in Bangkok?

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Tod *********

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Christopher ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

okay that’s cool, thanks, I have already spent years in Thailand on Non-imm B with work permit on my own company, (I’m in USA currently, no current visa or wp) but that’s all over thanks to Covid 😞 now I still have bank account with over 400k but not 800k, yet. I see, I do a 60-day tourist then once inside, apply for Non-O since it’s the easiest path, but just bump my personal savings account at BBL up to 800k and never go below?

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Stuart *********

@Christopher *****

you can opt for the much easier option of never going below, but you can keep to the rules by staying above 800k for 3 months after applying and not going below 400k for the remaining months until your next application where it would need to be back up to 800k 2 months prior. Alternatively you have the option after your first year of using a monthly international transfers of more than 65k baht into your Thai bank for 12 months. The advantage of this method is that you can spend the amount the day it comes in and no need to hold any funds. It needs to be seen to be an international transfer so using TransferWise (Wise) can be hit or miss depending on your local bank. Be careful of currency fluctuations that could mean a transfer falls short of the required 65k minimum. Some get caught out on this and just one month below the threshold means you will be rejected

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Christopher ******

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Stuart ********

Hi Stuart, so if I want to get into Thailand on a visa exempt, I will need 800k in the bank account for 2 months prior to applying for the retirement visa, and I guess the 65k transfers need to be 12 months so the only way to keep only 400k (except as you say a draw-down and replenishment during the first 12 months) would be to have 12 months of transfer above 65k baht, so if I start now (and assuming the amounts don't need to be the same, just over 65k and just at least 1 every month) it wouldn't be until year 2 that I'd be able to keep the 400k since I only started transferring that 65k+ in June 2021 and will do transfer 2 in July 2021.

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Christopher ******

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Tod *********

and IF you do the Non-O and the year extension inside the country from the tourist visa you will not have to have the mandatory 40k/400k out/in-patient health insurance either but you will have to bank the 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only

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Tod *********

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