My wife and I are from the USA and we received our Non-O (over 50) visas this week, with different dates because I had to resubmit my application. We have a flight to Thailand in just over a week, and we plan to settle in Pattaya initially.
My big concern now is how to open Thai bank accounts, and particularly in how to open them quickly enough for our visas not to expire before the 60 day seasoning period is over.
As I understand it, we need Thai sim cards, passports, visas, etc. to open the accounts (preferably with Kasikorn bank), but I'm unclear on the residence requirement.
If I have it right, then the TM30 form will be done initially by our hotel upon arrival, but it seems that's not enough for the bank to open an account.
Rather, it seems we need a Thai Certificate of Residence (TM13) from the Thai Immigration Office to open the bank account, which if I understand correctly, requires a rental/lease agreement (along with a new TM30 from the owner).
To complicate things even further, it seems that it might not even be possible to get a Certificate of Residence without living in said residence for several months, unless you are in a particular jurisdiction where the immigration officer might break the rules, possibly with the encouragement of an agent.
Assuming you get a TM13, it seems that it takes two to three weeks to actually get it, (by mail only ?).
Maybe I have this wrong, but that's why I'm asking. That said, I have a few questions:
1) Do our 90 days start with what's on our visas or do they start upon our arrival in Thailand?
2) Is a TM30 from a hotel enough to open a bank account or is a TM13 from Immigration required?
3) Can you get a TM13 from the Immigration Office with a TM30 from a hotel or is a signed rental/lease agreement required?
4) Can you get a TM13 at the Pattaya (Chonburi) office without living in a rental for an extended period of time, or do you need the assistance of an agent to avoid the waiting period in a residence (if there even is one)?
5) Must you get theTM13 by mail, and does it actually take two to three weeks to arrive?
5) Assuming a hotel TM30 isn't enough for the bank (as discussed above), then what's the fastest (recommended) way to quickly obtain a signed rental/lease agreement?
6) Am I missing anything regarding how to open our Thai bank accounts as quickly as possible?
Thank you everyone!
TLDR : Answer Summary
The discussion revolves around opening a Thai bank account with a Non-O (over 50) visa upon arrival in Pattaya, highlighting concerns about residency requirements. The crucial points include the necessity of a Certificate of Residence (TM13), which typically requires a rental agreement, and the complications of obtaining it quickly. Various community members shared experiences, clarified that the TM30 (hotel registration) alone might not suffice for opening a bank account, and highlighted the possible need for assistance from agents or alternative solutions to expedite the process.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
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- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
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