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What are the options for extending my stay in Thailand without banked money as a UK expat married to a Thai national?

Thailand Visa RulesExpat Visa InformationExtension of StayNON-O VisaMarriage VisaBorder RunsVisa Requirements MalaysiaImmigration Advice ThailandCross-Border Visa OptionsIncome Method for Visa Extension
Dec 5, 2022
2 years ago
Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Hi all.

I’m exploring other ways to stay and live In Thailand without banking money for Extension of Stay which I have done since living here since 2016 on both types of Extension of Stays firstly Retirement then Marriage which I’m on right now until February 2023.

I am

1. UK Passport British

2. Resided in Thailand since 2016 on EofS (marriage now)

3. Married to Thai National my EofS for the past 3 years.

4. Live very close to Malaysia boarder and i do visit frequently now.

I would like to know more and investigate options of doing what I think is called Boarder Bounce. I could be completely wrong with what I’ve just called it.

I would like details of processes and documents need and costs to do this in Malaysia.

I have visited Malaysia 3 times this year already with my Thai EofS and multi re-entry permit with no problems at all.

But have no idea what to do for getting the stamps or what it’s called (Boarder Bounc) and where to go in Malaysia to do this. And the pitfalls of this.

If there is a link to more info.

TYIA
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user, a UK expatriate married to a Thai national, inquires about alternatives to maintaining their stay in Thailand beyond their current Extension of Stay (EoS) related to marriage. They want to explore the possibility of 'border bouncing' to Malaysia to manage their visa situation without the requirement of having money in a Thai bank account. Community members provide insights into different visa options, including the multiple-entry NON-O visa, and explain the income method and requirements connected to these visas. The discussion revolves around the complexities of border runs, necessary documentation, and specific consulate requirements, particularly focusing on the Thai Consulate in Penang and Kota Bharu.
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Tod *********
and on that note we're done. Good luck
@Martin *******
 in your endeavor,

report back and let us know how it was in Penang at the consulate
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
 Thank you Ellie so if they do. Is it possible for me to move away from the EofS at my local immigration office based on marriage and not show banked money and stay in Thailand and do this type of visa (visa run) so so many answers that are all different. It very confusing
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Martin *******
, Penang was crazily popular and jammed with those Europeans, Americans, and other foreigners before Covid. Land borders in the south may not be/have been that popular for foreigners, but so-called sea borders were one of the top routes to go to get a visa.
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
 totally agree specially as Yala, Narathiwat, Pattani are the three trouble provinces. And general holiday tourist insurances will not cover them. So that another big reason why a lot of tourists especially westerners/Europeans don’t use the land boarder in the Deep South
2 years ago
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Martin ********
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
So still very blurry but I wouldn’t contradict your advice and you are the Thai Visa God to me. I’ve never never ever ever know you to be wrong with advice. It’s always gospel
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Martin *******
 Call up the consulate, once they re-open after the holiday, you have a thai wife, have her ask if you can get the year-long multi-entry Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai and what the requirements are.

(604) 226-8029, 226-9484, 228-6784
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Cheers Tod I’m there in Penang for 2 days 9th and 10th of December so might actually pop in if that’s allowed. But yes was going to be one of my next two steps get Su to ding them and see what they say
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Martin *******
 see what's what and report back. There just are so few reports from Penang or Kota Bharu at this time for ANY visas because most people are still milking their last covid extensions 😮 and haven't gone to get any visas there that much.
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Yes also it’s not a boarder popular with Farangs wanting to go get a visa. As very very few Farangs down the Deep South and that exactly the way I like it.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
careful with your broad brushing there
@Martin *******
The thai consulate in Penang used to have HUNDREDS of foreigners applying for a visa every day back before they closed due to covid. In fact they had so many show up they started limiting the number of applications they took per day to better manage the crowds.

It's not that way yet, but I would imagine once people run out of their covid extension and two free border crossings per year they'll be lining up down there to buy visas again
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 I certainly will 🇹🇭🇺🇸🇬🇧🇹🇭👍🏻👌🏼💪🏽
2 years ago
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Martin ********
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Ellie *******
@Martin *******
, Yes, if you get a multiple entry Non-O visa, you wouldn't have many things at the local immigration office.

You need to check the latest requirements in Penang or Kota Bharu if they issue multiple. Before Covid, you need to show a certain amount in your bank account, but the bank account didn't have to be in Thailand, you could use one in your home country. Even if you have to have funds in a Thai Bank account, it's only for applying for a multiple-entry visa (a one-time deal). You don't have to keep the money once your visa is issued.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
@Martin *******
, Something like,

NON-IMMIGRANT VISA (O) FOR DEPENDANT Visa for foreign spouse of a Thai citizen
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
 This is most appreciated. And thanks as I just wanted to get the terminology right. And the place to make my enquiry about this is at the Thai consulates in Penang or Kota Bharu?
2 years ago
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Martin ********
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ellie ******
 thanks Ellie when speaking with Penang or Kota Biharu what is the correct term used for what I’m asking for. Is it a multi entry Non-O Visa.
2 years ago
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Martin ********
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Tod *********
@Martin *******
IF you get a yearly extension of stay at the immigration office you either bank the correct amount of money for the extension type you're getting (800K baht for retirement / 400K baht for marriage)

OR

you have 12 months of international transfers of the minimum amount for the extension type you're getting (65K baht a month for retirement / 40k baht a month for marriage)

Where as;

If you're going to get a year-long, multi-entry Non-O visa you'd go to the thai consulate in Savannakhet (the closest one that issues it without proof of funds) and then you'd bounce out and back at the border every 90 days to get a new stamp for the year the visa is valid for.
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 I will report back if I find out anymore at all either way it’s worth reporting back to You’s gather info is the way forward
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Thanks Tod for the un-confusing definitive answer. But living in Yala doesn’t make Laos 🇱🇦 suitable or advantageous in any way or form to me. It would only be worth me considering Malaysia as I already travel there frequently. Thanks you’re a star ⭐️ for top answer.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Martin *******
 which is unfortunate for you indeed but there are NO reports of anyone getting a year long, multi-entry Non-O visa based on marriage to a thai from either the thai conuslate in Kota Bharu OR Penang. So if you're going to go that route you're gonna be 'breaking new ground"
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 So still very blurry but I wouldn’t contradict your advice and you are the Thai Visa God to me. I’ve never never ever ever know you to be wrong with advice. It’s always gospel
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 Hi Tod thanks for that. It’s no use to me other than where I’ve mention (Malaysia) And I’ve been on the Thai Consulate Website Penang and it show the visa that Ellie told me to look for. So when you say news you mean no one reported of getting or the do not issue them? And that has been confirmed
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Martin *******
 where did you get the requirements for the penang consulate on the Non-O visa, all I get it to do is bounce back to the home page when you click the correct tab
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 here the above link
2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Martin *******
 that link when you click it just goes back to the main "enter the website page" showing rama 9, or at least it does when I click it
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
 ok no problem still as foggy as ever about the whole thing but whatever I find out I’ll give feed back. I’d presume if they offered this visa service before Covid-19 they offer it again afterwards resuming the same visa services
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tod ********
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2 years ago
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Tod *********
@Martin *******
 i mean that since they re-opened the borders from the covid shit show there are no reports of anyone getting that visa.

Which means, when you go to either the thai consulate in Penang or Kota Bharu you will find out first hand if you can get it and what the requirements are to get it. 😕

Also unless I'm mistaken the thai consulate in penang just jumps you to the requirements for the visas from the thai consulate in Kuala Lumpur.
2 years ago
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Tod *********
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
It might be called a visa run but I called it a boarder bounce. This is the first time I’ve ever spoken on this subject and finding it a little confusing
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
1. I don’t want to travel back to the UK.

2. I thought it could be done without bank money some how. 3. I would just want to use my local boarder crossing which is Malaysia. As I live right next to the Malaysian boarder with Thailand and that is why this might have be advantageous to me. But it looks like it cannot be done without a EofS which is what I am on now and have been since 2016 and Bank Money. So am I correct in saying it cannot be done with banked money and being married to a Thai National?
2 years ago
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Dannie ***************
@Martin *******
Either the monthly income method of at least 40,000 baht per month in your Thai bank account or;

a NON O Married to Thai visa with multiple entry (no income needed) to Thailand from the Thai Consulate in Savannakhet in Laos.
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dannie **************
 your second option is what I’m talking about and what I think I’ve heard about and maybe be of interest to me. But using the Malaysian board to make it advantageous to me. But still confusing if it is actually suitable and how it actually works in the way of what I have to do and the documents I need to show. Where I go looks from what Ellie said Penang might do this. But I’m not sure. It’s just confusing with so many different replies.
2 years ago
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Dannie ***************
@Martin *******
Savannakhet is the ONLY Thai embassy or consulate that has the NON O ME married to Thai spouse visa available with no income proof needed.

If it fits your needs, you will find a way to go there.

This link helps with the requirements.

Good Luck

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40-non-o-visa-run-to-savannakhet-june-2022/
2 years ago
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Martin ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Dannie **************
 thanks but it most definitely doesn’t. Are you saying this isn’t available from any other country that boarders Thailand !?
2 years ago
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Tod *********
reports were
@Martin *******
 Penang WAS requiring proof of funds just before they shut due to covid for Non-O visas.
2 years ago
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Dannie ***************
@Martin *******
I am saying, as stated, it is the ONLY NON O ME Thai spouse visa that requires NO PROOF OF INCOME to apply for it.
2 years ago
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Dannie ***************
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Philip ****
You can get the multiple Non-O in UK as well via Evisa, in case you travel back there. Saves you the unnecessary trip to Laos, if you plan a “home”visit anyway. That’s the way I do it in Germany.
2 years ago
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Dannie ***************
2 years ago
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Dannie ***************
Either the monthly income method of at least 40,000 baht per month in your Thai bank account or;

a NON O Married to Thai visa with multiple entry (no income needed) to Thailand from the Thai Consulate in Savannakhet in Laos.
2 years ago
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Marty *********
Use the income method. Monthly income requirement and you can spend the money you deposit each month.
2 years ago
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John ********
@Marty ********
 is this correct if 40,000thb is deposited into your Thai bank from your overseas bank vis wise stating long term stay for 12 months before applying for marriage extension or retirement I have a Non-o you don’t need
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2 years ago
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Marty *********
@John *******
 Yes. I don’t use Wise but I know there is a way to get the documents from Wise that would satisfy Immigration. The is a Facebook group dedicated to this topic. As Elli said above, you have to have 12 months of deposits before you apply for the extension.
2 years ago
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Marty *********
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Ellie *******
@Marty ********
, sounds one of options. you just need 12 months international transfer 40k/m to be able to apply for an extension with this method unless he is working legally in Thailand
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
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Roberto *********
Get the married to a Thai visa from Savannakhet, bounce every 90 days, and you don't need money in the bank, although it's a fair hike from where you are
2 years ago
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John **********
It's feasible if you get yourself a multiple entry Non-O visa, but you have to then to a border bounce every 90 days. It's not feasible on tourist visa or visa exempt.

You can't get the multiple entry Non-O visa inside Thailand. I believe you can on Laos, I don't think you can in Malaysia but check with the Thai embassy there.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
KL doesn't issue multiple-entry Non-Os. Penang or Kota Bharu used to, but no report after Covid. You need to contact them.
2 years ago
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Ellie *******
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Lloyd ********
You are only allowed 2 land border crossings per year if you do not have an extension of stay and re-entry permit.
2 years ago
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Lloyd ********
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