Answered6 years ago
What are the current requirements for proving financial stability for O-A visa extensions in Thailand?
Yesterday was my annual day of self-flagellation at the immigration office for my O-A extension. Health Insurance ✅ , 800K banked for two months ✅, official bank statement (200B) ✅, Passport,photo,house book,a ream of signed photocopies ✅, completed forms and a big positive smile ✅.
So that should take 30mins right? Wrong! Because I did the 65k/month LAST year and the 800k THIS year they seemed to want me to still have the banked 800k from last year 🤷♂️ me neither. Anyway four and a half hours later after checking LAST years application they realised their mistake. I got there in the end but obviously without an apology or acknowledgement.
After LAST year and THIS years kerfuffle the back of my mind was telling me ‘it’s OK 😃 just enough Thailand for you now. Just go back to the U.K. and be happy’
Enough moaning now onto my question about THIS years extension. While there I also did a new TM.47 NOT online.
The IO returned me my passport and pointed out a new notice attached (see photo). They want to see my bank again to make sure I still have the 800k after three months as per the rules. Fair enough. My questions to this group are : Does everyone have to do this? Do you have to go and get the full 200B official bank statement or is a passbook update OK? Do you also have to do it again and again to prove you still have the 400K as per the rules.
I have no issue with the money side just this new process of potentially having to keep going to get bank statements and show immigration every 90 days 😔
So that should take 30mins right? Wrong! Because I did the 65k/month LAST year and the 800k THIS year they seemed to want me to still have the banked 800k from last year 🤷♂️ me neither. Anyway four and a half hours later after checking LAST years application they realised their mistake. I got there in the end but obviously without an apology or acknowledgement.
After LAST year and THIS years kerfuffle the back of my mind was telling me ‘it’s OK 😃 just enough Thailand for you now. Just go back to the U.K. and be happy’
Enough moaning now onto my question about THIS years extension. While there I also did a new TM.47 NOT online.
The IO returned me my passport and pointed out a new notice attached (see photo). They want to see my bank again to make sure I still have the 800k after three months as per the rules. Fair enough. My questions to this group are : Does everyone have to do this? Do you have to go and get the full 200B official bank statement or is a passbook update OK? Do you also have to do it again and again to prove you still have the 400K as per the rules.
I have no issue with the money side just this new process of potentially having to keep going to get bank statements and show immigration every 90 days 😔
Answer summary
The user shares their experience at the immigration office while applying for an O-A extension. After a lengthy process, they were informed about new regulations requiring proof of continued financial stability—specifically a bank balance of 800,000 Baht—for an additional three months post-extension. They inquire if all applicants must show bank statements and whether a simple passbook update is sufficient for compliance. Responses indicate that while the 800,000 Baht requirement is standard, the enforcement of additional checks may vary by location. Some comments clarify that immigration typically checks bank balance history yearly, not every 90 days, but some offices may ask for updated statements. The conversation includes suggestions for fulfilling the financial requirements more easily, such as using a fixed deposit account or opting for a monthly income instead.
43 repliesnewest first
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John *********
Imm. Now want 12 month statement , udon .
Jon ********
❌ never needed health insurance in 11 years
❌ never needed to prove 800k in bank after extension approved
Prachuapkhirikahn
❌ never needed to prove 800k in bank after extension approved
Prachuapkhirikahn
Garrett ***********
@Jon *******
What?
Frank ******
Yes I just updated passbook to show after 90 days nothing taken our
Malcolm *******
Yes Bank Book updated on the day is all thats required for showing
*****
0 Baht for 90 days after you recieve your Extention . Just done it this month .Andrew ********
Make a withdrawal on the day and update book. You must make the withdrawal, well I had to anyway.
Tod *********
As
@Bo***
pointed out correctly (y) Bangkok Bank is one of the ONLY banks that will do an 'update' without a transaction being done. At most of the other ones you need to do a withdrawal or a deposit to get the bank book to print the balance on the date you go in. 
Jon ********
I've heard savings accounts only too
Bobby ********
Jon Gwynne. With Bangkok Bank this "Fixed Account" passbook is acceptable to immigration, as the money is at call. The interest is a huge 0.5%!
Frank ******
@Andrew *******
no withdrawal just stickbookin machine and stamps present date with amount in it
Steven ***************
@Frank *****
. They need to know you have access to it. Fixed term deposit accounts aren't accepted. A transaction same day proves it is available to use . I've been told this by a senior imm officer in Bkk. Tod *********
That is not quite correct
The only type of fixed account that's not allowed is the "term deposit" type where the principle is frozen for the term of the deposit contract. <- that goes against the rule that you have access to your money at any time.
@Ste***
and fixed term deposits are indeed allowed for proof of funds for retirement/marriage extensions. They know you can't print the balance, they know you can't withdrawal/deposit money (except for the interest accrued) and they don't have a problem with it.The only type of fixed account that's not allowed is the "term deposit" type where the principle is frozen for the term of the deposit contract. <- that goes against the rule that you have access to your money at any time.
Steven ***************
@Henco *********
. In your case yes,because you proved you have access. Some fixed term accounts (by your choice) don't allow early access. Thats what immigration are looking for. All they want to know is you have easy access to funds to live here on long term. Proving instant access to an account with 800k in it is proof, regardless of its type. Take it up with the imm officer, not me, mate . There was a spate of people using other peoples money to do this (via dodgy agents for a fee) that weren't allowed to withdraw any amount during the process. Imm caught on to it and have clamped down. Again, instant access proves this isn't happening.
Henco **********
@Steven **************
also a fixed deposit is always available to use, the only thing is if you take money out before the deposit time ends you not get the interest.Henco **********
@Steven **************
not correct, the last 3 years I renew my retirement visa with my fixed deposit account. No problem at all. Ask for bankstatment from your fixed deposit account at your Bank the day you renew your visa before you go to your immigration office.Steven ***************
@Andrew *******
. A deposit does same thing. Only way to update your bank book that same day is a transaction of any sort. Andrew ********
@Steven **************
true.Andrew ********
@Steven **************
my local office insisted on a withdrawal on same day. Bobby ********
Andrew Murphy. Bangkok Bank it just prints "brought forward" and the current date
Peter *********
Just bank book updated is enough to show last 3 months statement
Toll ***************
I use colonel visa,located across the road from immigration. I have had 800.000 in the bank now for 13 months and haven’t been to immigration in all that time.
Jeffrey ************
I'm afraid this is why I went down the "Elite" route. Expensive I know, but none of this aggro on a regular basis. 😢😢
Charles *****
800,000 Is toy money in 2021 Show them your Bitcoin account 555
Sahil ********
The last country on the planet with oxygen, water & food 🙄
Sahil ********
It's everywhere In every update every week!
Bobby ********
Sahil Sareen. Antarctica?
Sahil ********
@Bobby *******
For now Thailand behaving like one...Bobby ********
Sahil Sareen. I think you may be on the wrong thread! 🤣
Tod *********
The mix up was that you used monthly income to meet the requirement last year AND they didn't catch it right away when you were using 800K baht banked money method THIS year.
The terms for using banked money method are 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you APPLY for your new extension, then the 800K baht has to stay IN your account for 3 months AFTER you get your extension granted and after that the balance cannot go below 400K baht the rest of the year.
MOST offices don't make you come back with the updated bank book 3 months after your extension (Jomtien does) and instead they check NEXT year that you met the requirements for the previous year by looking at your transaction history.
Just update your bank book on the date they say go back, make a copy of the first page and that updated balance page and go back to the office on that date. You'll be fine and it's how the rules really are supposed to work
The terms for using banked money method are 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you APPLY for your new extension, then the 800K baht has to stay IN your account for 3 months AFTER you get your extension granted and after that the balance cannot go below 400K baht the rest of the year.
MOST offices don't make you come back with the updated bank book 3 months after your extension (Jomtien does) and instead they check NEXT year that you met the requirements for the previous year by looking at your transaction history.
Just update your bank book on the date they say go back, make a copy of the first page and that updated balance page and go back to the office on that date. You'll be fine and it's how the rules really are supposed to work
Robert ********
OP@Tod ********
thanks. Tod *********
@Robert *******
glad it worked out, SUPER glad you persevered and hung in there. And once they realized that you were switching methods of proof of funds, you even admit that you got the extension with very little fanfare..Take care, stay safe, thanx for the update. Don't forget to go back on May 22nd :P
Bobby ********
The 800k is a two month before and three month after the extension date. So they might want to see the 800k still in your book at that date. It is NOT a 90-day requirement. Take some advice and go back to 65k/month. It's really much better, and you can actually spend your own money!
Robert ********
OP@Bobby *******
I thought the 65k/month was easier too but this office won’t allow me to do it after LAST year. Bobby ********
Robert Miller. Then they're bullshitting you. It's a national law, it's not discretionary between offices. Speak to the head honcho in a quiet polite manner, if possible take a Thai with you
Robert ********
OP@Bobby *******
I am British. They are not interested in what money I have in a U.K. bank just where it came from on an up to date monthly basis. A pension statement or salary slips. I had all the FTT transactions to show but didn’t care. Bobby ********
Robert Miller. Strange. I just did mine about a month ago. All they wanted (at CW) was bank book to show deposits had come from overseas and statement from bank listing foreign transactions. As well as all the crap of course. Never asked where the money originated. What nationality are you?
Robert ********
OP@Bobby *******
I went down that route LAST year and only by their grace I got LAST years extension. This office wants to see proof of monthly income in the U.K. BEFORE I do the international transfer. As it’s savings then they are not interested due to potential money laundering activity. That’s why I had to switch to 800K THIS year. 
Todd *********
#agent
Tod *********
David Broadfoot Good point (y) and a fair observation. However the O/P was NOT saying they threw up their hands and needed an agent they were outlining the issues they had changing the method of proof of funds (which they were able to work thru on their own)
Tod *********
@Todd ********
FAIL :( the answer to every problem or set back is NOT use an agent. :OTodd *********
@T**
haha. I totally understand. But the kind of case outlined above is the exact reason agents continue to thrive. The actual #fail copyright should be owned by the Thai immigration system. Just too confusing and arcane. 🤷♂️ It is something that desperately needs to be cleaned up. Nobody wants those headaches.Todd *********
@T**
the actual financial requirements are low already and not the issue. For damn sure, If someone is retiring here and can’t easily meet the requirements, they should reconsider. But not everyone dreams of hoop jumping and this is definitely not the issue in many countries. I love it here, but would love to see the process cleaned up and simplified.Tod *********
@Todd ********
Once they realized he didn't use bank money method last year, they were fine, FEW people switch from one method of proof of funds to another, AND I sure wouldn't run to an hand-holding, paper-pushing agent/agency if I met the requirements myself.. And no you don't need the 200baht bank letter, just update your bank book so it shows the balance on May 22nd.
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