What are the financial requirements for obtaining a marriage visa extension in Thailand?

Jun 24, 2021
3 years ago
Napalak **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
To get a new marriage visa this year, I have to show that I kept 400k in the bank account for the previous visa, 3 months after I got the visa last year !!!! I hope I make sense. In Phuket. Has anyone heard something like this ?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion addresses the financial requirements for applying for a marriage visa extension (Non-O) in Thailand. It clarifies that for the extension, one must maintain 400,000 THB in a Thai bank account for at least 2 months prior to the application, although some may require it to remain for the entire 30-day consideration period post-application. Misunderstandings arise regarding these requirements, particularly the time the funds need to be in the account.
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Rob **********
Just leave the 400K in your account all year round, no worries or hassle then.
Tod *********
Jeezus H Christ you got some b/s answers (and probably some good ones, but I only skimmed the reponses)

FIRST we're going to go under the assumption that you aren't getting a new VISA at all and instead that what you want is another yearly extension of stay based on marriage

To get that using banked money method (no matter what any poser :O err poster on this group OR any wing-nut immigration officer tells you) you need to have 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you APPLY for your next extension (not from the date your current stamp expires)

NOW some offices also request you leave the 400K baht in the account for the 30 day under consideration stamp you get when you apply for the year marriage extension BUT not all offices do this and they'll tell you IF you have to do it or not.
Jeff **********
People will argue about anything on Facebook!
Thomas *********
I've a Kasikorn Asset Management Account. Very few expats know about it because they don't offer it. I had 1m THB in there as a rainy day account. You need to choose your funds. I have chosen 3. You must have a minimum in each account is 10,000 THB.

After 3 years took 1.4m out leaving 1m THB. Some of these funds can perform as high as 35% per year.
Jeff **********
If "they don't offer it," how did you get it?
Thomas *********
@Jeff *********
I'm a day trader on the LSE and NYSE. I was going through World top performing investment funds. I saw they had a number in the top 250.. So contacted them through their website and went into the bank to set up. Simple

The truth is the top 1% don't want people like us getting rich. So we have to think like them.

Good luck
Steve *******
Yes. 2 months for the 1st yearly extention based on marriage and then subsequent extenions the 400k needs to be seasoned for 90 days.
Tod *********
@Steve ******
totally NOT correct

There is no extension on the books now (except the one based on raising foreign children here) that require 3 months seasoning, period end of story

For extensions based on retirement and marriage using banked money method the seasoning is 2 months before you apply for your next extension
Charles ********
There is a very easy way to solve this problem.

Open an account and put 400,
*******
,000b in it (depending on marriage or retirement) and FORGET about it!

Have a seperate account that is your daily account. Get used to living without it and you will never have to ask this question again.

The money is a Quasi Bond in case you get sick or other issue to cover things.
Ron *****
Not sure i got you, which 3 months, last 3 months from now?
Kool *******
That is not true at all. For a type O extension based on marriage, which I've had for the last five years, you need bt400k in your Thai bank account for at least two months before you apply, and then during your 30 days under consideration. That is all. You do not have to keep the money in your account for any other time. You are confusing the financial requirement for a retirement visa extension, that has that bt400k requirement for the full year. The marriage extension does not have that requirement.
Steve *******
@Kool ******
The 1st yearly extention of stay based on marriage is 2 months, subsequent extentions are 90 days
Tod *********
@Steve ******
not correct :/
Napalak **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
I’m not confusing anything. That’s the info I got. I asked 3 times to be sure I understand well.
Kool *******
@Napalak *********
that is not the requirement for a marriage extension, and whoever is telling you that is confused, or just lying. I have been getting my marriage extension for five years, and what you are saying I have never heard, or experienced, or heard anyone else saying that.
Garrett ***********
Not for a new visa, for a yearly extension of stay yes. The money needs to stay in your account.

If you've broken the cycle you need to apply for a new Non-O.
Tod *********
David Broadfoot was that a "compli-sult?

Where you compliment me and at the same time back hand insult me? :P ;)

Easy now, I resemble that remark :)
Garrett ***********
As someone whos just about never wrong, I'm really surprised by this. I'm always willing to admit when I'm wrong though, I'd have to find my notes and I can almost guarantee it was a rule at some point. But if you guys (who I trust) say it's not, then I guess it isn't.
Steven ***************
@Garrett **********
. Speaking as someone who is on their 4th marriage extension, I am also telling you that you are wrong too.
Garrett ***********
David I'll have to look, I know for 100% certainty when the new regulations came out in 2018 they required marriage visa holders to keep 200k in the account for the duration of their visa.
Tod *********
you are 100% incorrect
@Gar****
.

The seasoning for banked money method for retirement and marriage extensions is like this

Retirement - bank 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you APPLY for your extension. Keep the funds in the account for 3 months after the extension is granted and then the balance can't go below 400K baht the rest of the year

Marriage - bank 400K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months before you apply for your extension.

SOME OFFICES request you keep the 400K baht in the account during the under consideration period and update your bank book when you go back after the 30 days to get the extension inked in BUT most do not.

Then there is nothing stopping you from draining the account to zero if you want to
Kool *******
@Garrett **********
no it doesn't. That is a requirement for a retirement extension, not a marriage extension.
Napalak **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
You don’t understand. They’re saying I should have kept the money in my bank account after I got my visa last year , for 3 more months in order to qualify for this years visa 🤪🤪🤪
Kool *******
@Napalak *********
that is the requirement for a RETIREMENT extension. Are you legally married to a Thai person?
Garrett ***********
@Kool ******
Only difference for a retirement or marriage is the amount. 800k vs 400k.
Kool *******
@Garrett **********
there are lots of differences. For retirement you must keep at least bt400k in the account for the whole year, and keep the bt800k in the account for at least 3months after you get your extension stamp. The only requirement for a marriage extension is bt400k in your account two months before you apply, then for the 30day under consideration. That is all. You can take all the money out and do whatever you want with it as soon as you get your extension stamp. There is no three more month requirement, and there is no minimum that must stay in your account. They are completely different. I've been doing this for five years, just as I explained it. By the way, what visa extension are you on?
Napalak **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Kool ******
I’m on a marriage visa. Non o
Nigel *********
@Napalak *********
@Kool ******
is correct. Same for me (Phang Nga immigration) 2 months prior to application (actually 60 days for Phang Nga) then during under consideration. After that you can do what you want with it. Then 2 months before next extension
Garrett ***********
@Ko**
Marriage needs 400k, can drop down to 200k but needs to be 400k in 2 months before reapplying.
Kool *******
@Garrett **********
who told you that because it is not the truth for a Marriage extension. You only need the money in your account two months before your application, and during your 30 day under consideration. As soon as you get your extension stamp you can do whatever you want with all the money. None of it has to stay in your account in order to get your next year extension. I've been doing this for five years. Whoever is telling you that is wrong. That is the requirement for a retirement extension, but not for marriage.
Garrett ***********
@Kool ******
You're wrong.
Kool *******
@Garrett **********
well, I've been doing it just like I explained for the last five years, most recently in May. Some immigration offices might be a little different, but not to that extent. I have no problems, and move my money out of that account every year, then put it back in two months before, and that is all Chiang Wattana immigration wants to see, and that is the head office.
Napalak **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Garrett **********
they said that I should have kept the money in my bank account 3 months after I got the visa last year. In order to get this year visa
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