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What are the options for applying for a Thai Non-O visa after visiting China, and can I open a Chinese bank account in Hong Kong?

Thailand Visa Non-O Visa SETV Extension Visa Application Locations Visa Requirements Volunteering in Thailand Chinese Bank Account WeChat Wallet Hong Kong Visa Processes Immigration Advice

September 20, 2017

7 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, I'm a British passport holder. I have a SETV that I think I will extent in Chiang Mai for another 30 days.  After that I need to fly to China to open a Chinese Bank Account before returning to Thailand (as I need to set up wechat wallet/pay). I am most probably going to re enter on a no-o 90 day visa to then apply for a work permit before doing some voluntary work with a local foundation I have been in contact with. 

From what I have read online, it seems that I cannot apply for any Visas for Thailand in China, it only allows for Chinese nationals to apply in China.

In light of this, where would be the best options/countries to fly to apply for my no-o 90 day volunteer visa after my China visit.  Hong Kong probably makes sense as I can also enter visa free. I'm still trying to ascertain also if I can open a Chinese bank account(mainland) in Hong Kong or Macau, to save me having to fly to China.

If anyone has any sound advice/experience in relation to anyof the above, it would be good to hear from you.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The user, a British passport holder, plans to extend their SETV in Chiang Mai and then travel to China to open a Chinese bank account for WeChat payments before returning to Thailand on a Non-O visa for volunteering. They are seeking advice on where to apply for the visa after China, noting that only Chinese nationals can apply for Thai visas in China. Suggestions include Hong Kong and Vientiane, Laos, based on the documentation from a local foundation. Community members share experiences and advice on bank account options in Hong Kong and the visa application process.

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Richard *********

I will send you a pm regarding opening a Chinese bank account. Check your message requests.

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Ian ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Will do Richard

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Ian ********

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Shahin **********

Be careful with any short trips to China. I did China for holiday (Xi'an and Shanghai) last year around November, and cut my trip short to only 5 nights.

Going through Pudong airport passport control they took my passport for 40mins while I sat in no mans land between passport control and security baggage checks before going to the gates, wondering what was going on. Until she came back with my passport and 4-5 other officers all standing around me interrogating me asking what I was doing in China, Thailand, Malaysia and so on, if I was working in China and these countries.

I had to pull out my phone and show them touristy photos I took all over the place before they let me go with the biggest angry greasy look on their faces.

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Andrew *******

I'd be a bit surprised if you can open a mainland Chinese bank account in HK (though I might be wrong; but BOC HK is a separate legal entity). Even more so for Macau.

While you're in China I'd suggest (i) getting a Chinese SIM card, (ii) doing whatever activation thing it is you need to do so it works abroad for as long as possible (I think you have to pay a separate deposit of a few hundred RMB for this, at least with China Mobile circa 2015), (iii) setting up internet banking and payments, (iv) linking your wechat wallet to the bank account, and (v) maybe registering with Alipay too.

Some of these things are difficult or impossible to do once you don't have a Chinese phone number anymore and can't visit the branch. :)

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Andrew *******

(vi) Maybe also see if the bank will let you register a Thai number or something with them. (these are mostly things I wish I'd remembered to do ;) )

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Andrew *******

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Glen-do **********

Hi mate, HK will open you a bank of China account.

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Andrew *******

IIRC, the wallet isn't installed by default on the English version. It should appear there when you receive money though. (You can pm me your wechat ID if you like. I'll send you 1 Mao and the wallet should appear.)

You only really need a bank account if you want to actually withdraw from or deposit money into wechat. For just sending and receiving over wechat you don't. :)

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Ian ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

I have installed the app on my phone and when I go to 'Me' the wallet isn't listed, possibly because its not the Chine version and I downloaded from Google Play Store. I understand that to send money to and from a Chinese national I have to have a Chinese bank account. Could you possibly pm me with further info if you can help?

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Dan *********

Don't need to travel anywhere to get a wechatpay account in china.

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Ian ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks Glen. Would it be a mainland Bank of China account though? I need a mainland China bank account number to be able to send and receive we chat payments from Chinese Nationals. I recently went to the Bank of China in Melbourne with the intention of opening a Bank of China account, but it would have been an Australian Bank of China account only.

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Ian ********

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Tod *********

The foundation that gives you the documentation to get the Non-O visa usually recommends which thai consulate to use. I would check the thai consulate's website and see what the requirements are for getting a 90 day single entry Non-O based on volunteering because they all don't have the same requirements.

, you're the volunteer visa expert, can he pull a Non-O in Hong Kong ?

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Ian ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for this info

@Ivan ***********

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Ivan ************

Shayne I've only got a tourist visa from Hong Kong but it is one of the easiest consulates for that, they needed nothing except the form passport photocopies and photo. Also, only around 10 people there so it was quick. 3 airlines fly direct to/from Chiang Mai so it's convenient for that as well, and remarkably cheap (I flew HK Express). HK also give your passport back the next *morning*, unlike other consulates, so easy to fly back in the PM. As I say I don't know about the other visa types, but certainly worth a try if Ian was going to be there anyway.

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Ian ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks for your info

@Shayne *********

👍

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Shayne **********

If your foundation paperwork is perfect, you can get a visa anywhere in Asia.

Vientiane is always the suggested option because it is the closest and easiest and less hassle.

I don't know currently about Hong Kong, but it's like a 1% place, because most people don't choose to go to expensive cities to get their visas especially from Chiang Mai.

One possibility is trying since you are going to be there, and having Vientiane as a backup.

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Ian ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

OK

, I think it makes sense to fly there then, afer China/HK. I appreciate your advice.👍

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Tod *********

, okay, they recommend Vientiane. Which probably means that they've pushed paper thru there before and there's a high chance it's gonna work there.

I think you're on your own taking their documentation to another consulate. They are NOT the same...

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Ian ********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thanks Todd. I have copied and pasted this from the email that the Foundation sent me. 'Take paper work form foundation then leave Thailand apply Thai Embassy in any country. (I am recommend in Vientiane(Laos)'.

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Ian ********

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