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What are the seasoning requirements for extending my stay in Thailand based on financial proofs?

visa rules extensions of stay seasoning of funds Thai immigration proof of funds Marriage Visa

Tod *********

OP

asked Nov 22, 2018

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Lesson of the day; 

Seasoning of funds using banked money for extensions of stays.   

There are a several types of extensions of stays that require proof of funds AND if someone is using the "banked money" method (where they have the funds in a thai bank account in their name) there are specific "seasoning" requirements for those extensions.

By seasoning I mean the money must be in the account a specific number of days BEFORE you apply for your extension (not before your extension is due).

--Extensions based on marriage the seasoning of the 400K baht is ALWAYS 2 months (even though some immigration offices tell you it's 3, it's really 2) 

Police Order 327/2557 Clause 2.18 line 6

--Extensions based on being over 50 (retirement) the seasoning of the 800K baht is 60 days for your first yearly extension and 3 months for every yearly extension after that. (NOTE: 60 days may or may not be 2 months and 3 months may or may not be 90 days, that's just how the rule is written)   

Police Order 327/2557  Clause 2.22 line 4

--Extensions based on raising half-thai children the 400K baht has NO seasoning requirements 

Police Order 327/2557 Clause 2.18 line 5

--Extensions based on raising foreign children the seasoning of the 500K baht is 30 days for the first yearly extension and 3 months for every yearly extension after that.

Police Order 327/2557  Clause 2.11 line 5

NOTE: this is ONLY for applying for extensions of stays at the thai immigration offices INSIDE of thailand. These seasoning rules have NOTHING to do with applying for VISAS from thai consulates in other countries. 

Sorry this was long, hopefully it was helpful

And thus ends the lesson of the day.. ;) :P :O

Answer summary

This discussion elaborates on the "seasoning" of funds required when applying for extensions of stay in Thailand, particularly the stipulated amount and duration that money must be held in a Thai bank account prior to the extension application. It outlines specific rules for various circumstances: 2 months for marriage-based extensions (400,000 THB), 60 days for the initial retirement extension (800,000 THB), with different requirements if raising Thai vs. foreign children. Participants clarify the documentation needed and resolve misunderstandings about how funds can be accessed and used.

65 repliesnewest first

24

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David ************

David ************

if married to a Thai can the 400K be in a joint account? Or would a joint account require 800k.

0

David ************

David ************

what I thought. Thanks

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

the way it's written the money must be in a thai bank account in YOUR name only

BUT

some (not all) immigration offices will allow a joint account IF you have double the amount required for the extension in the account,

Their reasoning is half is yours and half is your wife's.

1

Tom *********

Tom *********

Tod

Just received my first extension based on marriage yesterday

I have a joint account with my wife and had more than the required double amount of 800,000 so no problem this year

I want the open a new account in my name only to just keep the 400,000 in and use every year

When I do that can I transfer the money from the joint account or does the money need to be transferred from overseas ?

0

Tom *********

Tom *********

thanks

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

nope, there is no mention in the rules of where the money comes from for extensions of stays

0

Gregory ******

Gregory ******

Thank you

0

Keith *******

Keith *******

Great info, many thanks

0

Shiree ***********

Shiree ***********

Tod, if both husband and wife are foreigners and extension is for over 50 (retirement), do both have to have 800k baht in a Thai account for 3 months?

0

Shiree ***********

Shiree ***********

Thanks Tod

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

ONE of them would have to meet the financial requirements but the other one could 'piggy back' on their extension without showing any funds based on being married to someone on a long term extension here.

Usually once a 'trailing spouse' hits 50 the immigration offices will try to shoe-horn both people into meeting the financial requirements based on 'retirement' individually BUT there is nothing in the rules that says you HAVE to do that.

2

Colin **********

Colin **********

....does the money have to come from abroad or can be deposited inside Thailand at anytime

0

Colin **********

Colin **********

cheers mate thank you

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

the only time the money has to show an origin of coming from overseas is if you are getting a 90 day Non-Immigrant visa INSIDE of thailand from the immigration office. Doing that has a stipulation that says the money has to come from abroad.

NONE of the yearly extensions you can get using banked money have that stipulation. It can come from inside the country without a problem.

1

Gregor **********

Gregor **********

Allow me to add, when doing the extension, some Immigration offices ask you to draw a small amount like 500 Baht from the account at an ATM near their office and show the receipt to the officers. So keep in mind, always bring bankbook and Debit Card along when doing your extension

2

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

That is so you can do a transaction update and show your balance on the date you apply for the extension. Some banks can do a "forced update" <- meaning update the bank book without any transactions BUT most banks make you do a transaction so that it will update in the bank book and show the balance on the date you apply.

It's TOTALLY okay if the bank letter and the balance of your bank book don't match as long as they are both over the amount you need.

0

Tony *********

Tony *********

Thanx go to the O/P Bobby Bo for the heads up, so that means ONLY Savannakhet and Ho Chi Minh City offer the year long multi-entry Non-O visa without proof of funds. Penang and Yangon will issue yearly, multi-entry Non-O's WITH proof of funds (no seasoning required and the money can be in your bank in your country).

We're done. :)old post Tod Daniels commented on

1

Mehran ******

Mehran ******

Very good value post #extensions #seasoning

1

Mary ********

Mary ********

400k if married to a Thai. But what about non thai spouse? How much then? 800k?

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

I have seen couples where one comes here, gets the O visa then the yearly extension and several months later their spouse arrives here on an O visa and the immigration office DOES give them an extension good until the expiration date of their spouses (even though it is less than a year), and then that way they both expire at the same time going forward.

I'd go to the immigration office and see what they can do, and remember that the police order says "extensions can be granted for up to a year" <- meaning they CAN issue you an extension for less so that it matches your husbands current extension.

0

Mary ********

Mary ********

that answers it. Thanks

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

as a rule you apply for an extension at the same time your husband does. If you are still on the 90 day initial entry of the Non-O you could go to the immigration office and see if they will give you an extension that matches the current expiration date of your husbands.

Then once you have that you BOTH apply when it comes up for the new yearly extensions

0

Mary ********

Mary ********

thanks. We are out of sync. I left to visit dying brother and let my Visa lapse. Got a new non O A last June but won't be able to meet income requirements due to my income being investment income. Husband is due for extension in March. Do I abandon the balance of my Visa to become dependant on his. Or can I run out my Visa and then apply for dependant on his?

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

That's the extension where people "piggy back" (get their own extension) based on the fact their spouse has a long term extension here.

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

there are no financial requirements to get a yearly extension based on being married to a foreigner who is on a long term extension of stay..

1

Bent ******

Bent ******

You didn’t mention seasoning for extention based on ED visa. We were told that first time we extend, the money had to stay in the thai bank account 1 month, and next year they have to stay 3 months. Thanks for your advice in this group, Tod, always very clear.

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

and this highlights the difficulties in understanding paperwork handed out by a school for parents who have foreign kids enrolled.

The top part is to get an extension for the child enrolled in school (and as you can see requires NO funds at all).

The bottom part is for a foreign parent to get an extension based on having a foreign child in school here (guardian extension) and that DOES require 500K banked 30 days for the first year and 3months for every year after that :)

3

Bent ******

Bent ******

Tod I knew I had to get up early to beat you. You win again. Thanks

1

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

@Bent ***************

, read the paper carefully :O

That is to get an extension based on being the parent of a foreign child in a school here. It clearly says "guardian extension"

That has nothing to do with YOU being on an ED visa

I listed the 500K baht needed for raising foreign kids here in the varius extensions that require funds

1

Bernd ***********

Bernd ***********

@Bent ***************

Always bring in originals for showing and copies for leaving there.

1

Bent ******

Bent ******

One of the applicants from the same school was refused the extention because she didn’t bring the original bank saving book, only a copy. This paper is not from Immigration but still....

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

The clauses in the current police order that cover any extensions based on education are 2.8 (government institution), 2.9 (private institution) & 2.10 (training or research in a university) and NONE of those clauses list any proof of funds.

What immigration office is this, what is the amount they're asking for and what subject are you studying?

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

there is no seasoning or proof of funds for an extension on an ED visa :/

0

Nikki **********

Nikki **********

No seasoning for raising half Thai children? Krabi immigration always make me have the 400k in my account for 60 days. So I'm really allowed to have it in there for one day?

1

Mark ******

Mark ******

Thanks alot, thet is helpful for me 👌🙏

0

Danny **********

Danny **********

Same thing for me...Had to have the money in for 2 months for child support extension at Chiang Wattana 2 weeks ago.

0

Awais *******

Awais *******

Yes, that’s true.

Thanks mate.

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

Awais Anwar here's the thai version. Find the clause in english then look it up in thai.

Remember the immigration office ONLY goes by the thai version of the rules

******************************************

%E0%B8%84%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B1%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%97%E0%B8%B5%E0%B9%88%

*****

_2557%20%20%28%E0%B8%AA%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%B1%E0%B8%81%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%99%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B3%E0%B8%A3%E0%B8%A7%E0%B8%88%E0%B9%81%E0%B8%AB%E0%B9%88%E0%B8%87%E0%B8%8A%E0%B8%B2%E0%B8%95%E0%B8%B4%29.pdf

2

Nikki **********

Nikki **********

Thanks

for the info. I'll ask them again about the seasoning and see what they say.

0

Awais *******

Awais *******

Thanks Tod.

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

It's also on the immigration website too in thai

2

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

Here is the police order

********

in english

******************************************

%20Bureau%20order%

*****

-2557%20%

*****

4%29%20-%20extension%20criteria%20&%20conditions%20en.pdf

4

Awais *******

Awais *******

I mean, where can we get a copy of this law from?

0

Awais *******

Awais *******

Dear

,

Can you please share this law with us?

So that at least we can argue with some Immigration official over this problem.

2

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

Please note I am only posting the REAL requirements as far as what the seasoning of the funds is for various extensions.

If you won't stand up for yourself and call out an immigration officer when they are wrong, I can't do anything about that.

I am sincerely sorry for you people who are being told wrong information by the officers. :/ It makes me sad.. :(

2

Awais *******

Awais *******

Nikki Thompson

Similar thing is happening with me. One year ago, I kept money (400K THB) for few days and I got my visa extended easily. This year, I heard different perspectives. One Immigration officer asked me to keep money for 1 month and after a week the same Immigration officer told me to keep 400K for 60 days.

I didn’t argue with her and hence still trying to fulfill 60 days requirement to get my visa done. I am sure that they are going to ask me to keep the amount for the third consecutive month as well.

I don’t know where shall we go and ask for helping us from Immigration officers’ changing regulations?

😢

1

Nikki **********

Nikki **********

They did let me have the money in my account for one day a couple of years ago and said that it only needed to be in there for one day anyway. So, I asked if I can have it in there for one day next year and they said no, 60 days! I don't fancy having an argument with them though, and pointing out what it says in the police order!

0

Arslan ********

Arslan ********

Even in Bangkok they have started asking people to deposit money for 60 days. One of my friend experienced the same thing few days ago. He had to take 2 months extension now he is completing his 60 days period so he can apply again.

1

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

There is NO mention of seasoning in the clause that covers extensions based on having half thai children.

2

Jamie ********

Jamie ********

can the money be locked in a term deposit account with the Thai bank. Like fixed for 2 years. The reason I ask is a friend had 3Mil in the government bank (lottery) and was told it wasn't accepted as retirement funds.

0

Joe ***********

Joe ***********

Liquid Account are good words

0

Jamie ********

Jamie ********

that is the fixed deposit I was referring to. You access your money but forego any interest if the duration isn't reached.

0

Stuart *********

Stuart *********

OK. I understand. Thank you

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

Stuart Collins, as I understand it there are two types of "fixed accounts" here,

One where you leave the money in for the length of time BUT you can access the money IF you need to and you pay a penalty and lose all your interest. <- that one you CAN use for proof of funds

The other one is where the money is "locked" into that account <- meaning you can't get at it come hell or high water until the term is up. <- that's the one you can't use for proof of funds.

0

Stuart *********

Stuart *********

I've used a 6 or 12 month fixed account for 12 conecutive years without question

0

Jamie ********

Jamie ********

thanks for the heads up. Obviously the reason my friend was rejected on. Not accessible

1

Biff *******

Biff *******

The money is supposed to be what the person will live on for the duration of the extension, so that’s why I think it needs to be accessible.

1

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

nope, It cannot be in a fixed term account where you cannot access the money :/

2

Adrien ******

Adrien ******

Fantastic Advice as always

1

Peter ******

Peter ******

Agreed with you on this group. The service is fantastic. Sidestepping a bit - is there a similar group for Work Permits? Anyone know?

1

Adrien ******

Adrien ******

Haha. But it's probably the best informative group on FB. Fairplay

1

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

I can be fooled by a LOT of things here in the glorious "Land 'O Thaiz" but it's pretty hard to fool me about visas or extensions of stays ;)

I'm a legend in my own mind :P

15

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

You CAN use money in fixed deposit accounts here as long as you have access to the funds (even if you get a penalty or lose the interest)

You CANNOT use money in a fixed deposit account where you can't access the money for the term of the deposit. :/

You CAN use foreign currency accounts in a thai bank to meet the financial requirements.

0

Tod *********

Tod *********

OP

To further touch on the way you show seasoning at the immigration offices when applying for extensions;

At least in Bangkok you get a letter from your bank. This is just a b/s form letter that states your name, passport number, bank account number, date you opened the account and the balance on the day the letter was written.

This letter is (in theory) good for 7 days from the date it's issued although some offices want it the same day or not more than a day before :/

You also need to update your bank book on the date you apply for your extension (so it shows you STILL have the money IN your account and didn't pull it out right after you got the bank letter :P ).

Some banks can update your bank book without a transaction BUT most require you to either take money out or put money in to the account to print a transaction on the bank book and show the balance. It is totally okay IF the amount on the bank book and the amount on the bank letter are different as long as the balance is OVER the required amount.

Using the bank letter and copies of your bank book pages the immigration officer can look back and see that the funds were indeed in the account the proper amount of time.

8

Tony *********

Tony *********

would i be right in saying that first time immigration want proof from the bank that the money was sent from overseas.

In form of a letter from the bank.

0

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