Answered3 months ago
What are the current rules and options for applying for a Non-O visa in Thailand, specifically regarding funds and account requirements?
what are your thoughts on this video?[members only] looks like word on the street is cracking down to DTV
Answer summary
The discussion revolves around the process of applying for a Non-O visa in Thailand and the requirements regarding bank accounts and funds. Several users share their experiences, highlighting the need to have funds in a Thai bank account and the complications surrounding opening one on a tourist visa. They emphasize the importance of having initial funds transferred from abroad for the application process and suggest ways to manage the visa transition from a tourist visa to a Non-O visa, including the role of visa agents. Concerns about applying for the visa from neighboring countries and the associated requirements are also expressed, along with recommendations to check with local immigration offices for specific rules.
48 repliesnewest first
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Osian ********
Jomtien 100% requires that the initial funds were transfered from abroad. The letter you obtain from the bank will state the funds came from overseas. For 2nd and subsequent extensions I'm guessing they can't really prove it, as some leave the initial funds in an account, some spend 400k then transfer more in. Nothing stops you from keeping that same funds and living on transfers from the wife (you lucky fuker 🤣🫣)
Excellent**********
Osian Ledger well…if the initial 800k must come from overseas, then I cant fund it with cash either. It’d have to be by wire only.
Osian ********
ExcellentQuince2984 it seems others are saying the opposite so maybe check with your immigration office. But why can't you use a wise transfer, using the money you had in home country that you originally showed your embassy to get your NON-O, and no that is correct, just finding the cash will not help (at least not in Jomtien)
Yuie **********
Have to be on your own Name accout. not hard to open one.
Curt ********
Yes you can
Mark *********
Go to the immigration office in which you plan on doing your paperwork and see what they require.
Maik ******
It doesen‘t matter where the money coming from just should be in your Account in your Name
Laurie ********
It doesn't matter where the money comes from. As long as it is in your bank for the required period
Bob **********
Some offices have required the first extension 800k come from abroad,I would check first
Yu-Li ****
Bob D'Andrea yes
Terry **********
Best to confirm the requirements at your local immigration office. Unfortunately rules and requirements can be opened to interpretation.
Excellent**********
Terry McMullen thx
Tori *******
@Brandon ***********
I’m new to the forums so I hope it’s ok to post my question here, since you mentioned “doing a conversion from tourist to 90-day non-O visa”. How does one approach this conversion? We are U.S. citizens traveling to Thailand soon and plan to use visa-free entry. Hopefully we’ll still receive a 60 day stamp.
It’s highly likely that we will want the non-O visa and it would be so nice to be able to stay in Thailand during the process. Once we have the 90-day and open a bank account, it’s no problem to wire the 800k THB from the U.S.
Thank you in advance!
Kirsten *********
Japan is more restrictive than other countries for the Non-O retirement visa.
The Thai consulate in Japan's published Non-O retirement requirements state that a non-Japanese applicant must provide a Japanese residence card valid for at least three months, along with an itinerary. That means American tourists spending three months in Japan under visa-free visitor status would not qualify to apply for the retirement Non-O. But Malaysia and Laos both currently allow people who are in the country to apply via the Thai e-visa portal, irrespective of residency status. So basically you have simple choices: 1)apply for the Non-O via USA, go to Thailand and go through the process of gaining the extension, 2)take the Non-OA from USA and go to Japan before coming to Thailand and use the Non-OA for entry, 3) enter Thailand on a tourist visa and leave to do your Non-O in a neighbouring country, 4) do your Non-O in a neighbouring country before entering Thailand 5) Use a Thai visa agent ((higher price that can vary on location) be aware that once you use an agent you may get stuck with always using an agent, particularly if they use an immigration office that's in a different province to where you decide to live (quite common))
The Thai consulate in Japan's published Non-O retirement requirements state that a non-Japanese applicant must provide a Japanese residence card valid for at least three months, along with an itinerary. That means American tourists spending three months in Japan under visa-free visitor status would not qualify to apply for the retirement Non-O. But Malaysia and Laos both currently allow people who are in the country to apply via the Thai e-visa portal, irrespective of residency status. So basically you have simple choices: 1)apply for the Non-O via USA, go to Thailand and go through the process of gaining the extension, 2)take the Non-OA from USA and go to Japan before coming to Thailand and use the Non-OA for entry, 3) enter Thailand on a tourist visa and leave to do your Non-O in a neighbouring country, 4) do your Non-O in a neighbouring country before entering Thailand 5) Use a Thai visa agent ((higher price that can vary on location) be aware that once you use an agent you may get stuck with always using an agent, particularly if they use an immigration office that's in a different province to where you decide to live (quite common))
Tori *******
Thank you very much for this reply, Kirsten. We did review the requirements on the Thai Embassy Tokyo website and discovered exactly as you said. Our thought is to obtain the non-O in the U.S., then enter Thailand within 90 days (after travel to Japan).
Once we are in BKK, we thought it might be easier to have the assistance of a visa agent for opening the bank account and then processing the 12 month extension of stay when the time comes.
In the future, couldn’t we do the 90 day check-ins and annual renewals ourselves and only use the agent for getting started? Also, is your province/immigration office of jurisdiction “locked in” when you process the 12 month extension of stay (as opposed to it being the office near the BKK airport because that’s where we’ll enter)?
If we move provinces while we are on the 12 month extension, I know about the TD30 (filed by the landlord). I assume then we’d go to the immigration office in that new province for future renewals?
We may move around a bit in the first year to figure out a long-term location. Thanks again, Kirsten!
Once we are in BKK, we thought it might be easier to have the assistance of a visa agent for opening the bank account and then processing the 12 month extension of stay when the time comes.
In the future, couldn’t we do the 90 day check-ins and annual renewals ourselves and only use the agent for getting started? Also, is your province/immigration office of jurisdiction “locked in” when you process the 12 month extension of stay (as opposed to it being the office near the BKK airport because that’s where we’ll enter)?
If we move provinces while we are on the 12 month extension, I know about the TD30 (filed by the landlord). I assume then we’d go to the immigration office in that new province for future renewals?
We may move around a bit in the first year to figure out a long-term location. Thanks again, Kirsten!
James **********
Tori Knits if you have the funds ready to go, then an agent will be able to arrange this and make the process easier, costs can vary between agents, so worth shopping around. People posting here make this out to be very simple, it's not always, especially if youre new to it all. Documents can vary between immigration offices depending how strict they are. getting all documents can be a PITA too if youre not computer savvy.
Getting the nonO first means with a couple of documents you can open an account.
Getting the nonO first means with a couple of documents you can open an account.
Peter *******
James Mitchell, this is good advice. I used an agent, and everything was handled for me. The cost was quite reasonable and my peace of mind was well worth the price. My agent took care of everything, set up the bank account, took care of all immigration paperwork, phone number, etc. All I had to do was make two 5 minute appearances: one at immigration and one at the bank.
Steve *******
Tori Knits Get the Non Imm O from a neighbouring Country
Brandon ************
@Tori ******
Then you cannot do the conversion. To convert you must have funds in a Thai bank account, and you cannot open a Thai bank account as a tourist.Why are you traveling to Thailand on visa exempt if you plan to get a non-O visa? Get it before you go.
Tori *******
Thank you, Brandon. We are leaving the U.S. before the end of July, heading to Japan for 90 days, then to Thailand.
We've been told we cannot apply for the non-O from Japan because we will be there on a tourist visa and have no proof of residence there. Since you have to enter Thailand within 90 days of obtaining the non-O (I believe?) even if we apply now, from the U.S., we won't be able to enter Thailand within 90 days.
Hence our plan to enter Thailand using visa-free entry (for the 3rd time this year), and are trying to figure out if we can convert in-country.
Another question, if we were able to figure out how to get to Thailand within the 90 days, how long will it take for non-O approval from the U.S.? We only have maybe 3 weeks ...
We've been told we cannot apply for the non-O from Japan because we will be there on a tourist visa and have no proof of residence there. Since you have to enter Thailand within 90 days of obtaining the non-O (I believe?) even if we apply now, from the U.S., we won't be able to enter Thailand within 90 days.
Hence our plan to enter Thailand using visa-free entry (for the 3rd time this year), and are trying to figure out if we can convert in-country.
Another question, if we were able to figure out how to get to Thailand within the 90 days, how long will it take for non-O approval from the U.S.? We only have maybe 3 weeks ...
Tori *******
Can you please clarify “if you don’t use an agent to do the conversion”? We are not opposed to paying an agent. But we also don’t know any in BKK.
Tori *******
We did meet in person with an agent in Chiang Mai when we were there, to begin gathering information / requirements. That is where we were told we could not apply from Japan. I’ll have to dig deeper.
Karl *********
Tori Knits I can’t think of a reason that you can’t apply for the non-o while you are in Japan. It is all done on line. You simply need to apply thru the web portal at the Thai Consulate in your home area in the US. Once issued your non-o is valid for a period of 90-days.
Brandon ************
@Tori ******
it can take up to 15 business days. You'll likely need to go to Laos or Vietnam to get the non-O visa then if you don't use an agent to do the conversion.
Robert **********
Sounds like you are already in Thailand. So yeah, from same bank as your girlfriend's sounds fine.
Excellent**********
Robert McGregor thx
Nongnuch ********
Robert McGregor doesn't need to be the same bank. Just needs to have seasoned the required time. It's okay if it is from the same bank or any other bank
Excellent**********
Nongnuch Kamdee thx
Excellent**********
Nongnuch Kamdee yes. My account would be in my name but I’m considering just having her fund my 800k. It’d be simplest and fastest way to fund it. Schwab says international transfer might take 3 days and I tend to worry about most things.
Nongnuch ********
ExcellentQuince2984 the account must be in your sole name
Brandon ************
That depends if you mean the actual 90-day non-O visa, or if you are talking about the annual extension.
If you do things the way they are meant to be done, you would get the non-O visa from a Thai embassy outside of Thailand. Once you are in Thailand and want to apply for the extension, immigration will not care where the funds came from. They only care that the funds have been in your account the required amount of time.
If you are talking about doing a conversion from tourist and applying for the 90-day non-O visa from Thai immigration while you are inside the country, you will not be able to do what you are asking about. To convert from tourist to non-O visa, you must show that the funds were transferred from overseas.
If you do things the way they are meant to be done, you would get the non-O visa from a Thai embassy outside of Thailand. Once you are in Thailand and want to apply for the extension, immigration will not care where the funds came from. They only care that the funds have been in your account the required amount of time.
If you are talking about doing a conversion from tourist and applying for the 90-day non-O visa from Thai immigration while you are inside the country, you will not be able to do what you are asking about. To convert from tourist to non-O visa, you must show that the funds were transferred from overseas.
James *********
@Brandon ***********
this is exactly what I am researching. I’m applying for a tourist visa and will be getting married during this time. Then I plan on applying for a conversion to the 90 day non-o visa. Do I need to have the funds in a bank during the tourist visa time or do I need to deposit funds during the initial 90. Iday Non-o visa time. I understand that you cannot open up a bank account with a tourist visa so I’m a little confused. Any insight would be greatly appreciated.Brandon ************
@James ********
the funds must be in your Thai bank account in order to apply to do the conversion. Unless you already have a Thai bank account, you won't be able to open one. So you'll need to leave Thailand to apply for a new non-O visa.Kirsten *********
James Shirley if you are over 50 and have the funds then apply for the Non O 3 month retirement visa - you dont need to be married to do this. You can then open the bank account, do the seasoning and either apply for the extension by reason of retirement or after you get married by reason of marriage to a Thai national. Although the by reason of marriage means you only have to keep 400,000 instead of 800,000 in your bank account (or transfer
*****
in every month for a year) to gain the extension, some people just keep the by reason of retirement because the by reason of marriage requires more proofs and paperwork.James *********
@Brandon ***********
thank you I appreciate your inputJames *********
@Brandon ***********
thank you, I appreciate your knowledgeJames *********
@Jay ******
I appreciate your input. The Thai embassy in Los Angeles said they cannot issue a Non O since I am not married yet. I am planning on going to Thailand to get married. They suggested a tourist visa so I can get married and leave the country and apply for the Non O.Brandon ************
@James ********
just because you don't want to leave doesn't mean that's an option. Visas are meant to be purchased at embassies. You won't be able to get a bank account without a non-O visa. So you'll need to leave to get that. Then when you get to Thailand you can open a bank account since you'll be on a long term visa, and you can deposit the 400,000 you'll need to prepare for the extension.
Jay *******
James Shirley why would you come on a tourist visa or am I reading it wrong? Get the non o before you come so you can open a bank account.
Graham ******
James Shirley leave to get your initial Non-O somewhere and return to open your bank account to season the 400k for your extension
James *********
@Brandon ***********
so this is what I’m trying to do. I want to go to Thailand, my fiancé and I plan to get married. She’s a Thai citizen. I do not have a bank account in Thailand. Once there I would prefer not to have to leave. I want to get to the point where all I have to do is a yearly extension. What would you suggest?
Jim *********
James Shirley you can’t open a bank account on a tourist visa. If you already have a Thai bank account, you can convert to an O. If you don’t have a Thai bank account then you will have to apply from outside of Thailand for an O.
Brandon ************
ExcellentQuince2984 No problem that way
Robert **********
@Brandon ***********
yep, no problemExcellent**********
@Brandon ***********
thanks. No I’ll apply from outside Thailand for the initial non O but in order to fund the extension, I wondered if my gf could just fund it to keep it simple.
Jake *****
John N Kwan buddy i think you read this totally wrong. She's sending him the money
Christopher ******
John N Kwan that’s a highly presumptuous question!
John *********
Christopher Frey I hope I am not correct.
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