What is the best order of tasks for a Non-O Visa holder in Thailand to apply for a 1 Year Extension of Visa?

Dec 15, 2024
3 days ago
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
ADVICE PLEASE: For a 90 day Non-O Visa-holder who’s now in Thailand and on the 90 day clock, there’s so many disparate puzzle pieces to accrue bf applying for “1 Year Extension of Visa.” For example: There’s setting up a Bank account & Transferring 800k Tbt, Getting local Phone service, finding a permanent address with lease and TM30…. PLEASE SHARE from your experience what is the most logical order to tackle the tasks above, AND don’t hesitate to list the many I haven’t even thought of in this moment. Thank god this FB Group exists. It is a gift to newcomers!
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TLDR : Answer Summary
When applying for a 1-Year Extension of Stay on a Non-O Visa in Thailand, it's essential to tackle several tasks in a logical order. Start by securing housing to establish your permanent address, which can be a temporary rental or even a hotel. Next, focus on obtaining certificates of residency that may be needed for a bank account. Afterward, open a bank account and transfer the required 800,000 Baht, ensuring the transfer meets the bank's requirements. Collect all necessary documents as listed by your immigration office, as each institution may have different demands. Completing these steps systematically will help manage the process efficiently.
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Steve ********
Buddy Visa Service
@Annie **************
Paulus *********
Just do one task at a time. It seems a lot when you are thinking about them all at once, it's not as daunting as you think.
Sue **********
The Bankaccount is the most important and most difficult thing to achieve even with non-O visa holder. You do best to get the list from several banks what they need. Every bank is different. And all should be settled within the first weeks after arrival as the 800k have to be in the account 2 months before applying for EoS.
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sue *********
thanks for useful mandatories!
Tim *********
1. Address doesn't have to be permanent, as such. A one month booking a hotel will confirm in writing will suffice. It also gives you time to look around.

2. After one night, ask hotel to confirm they've done TM30. Take the booking confirmation to Immigration to get a Residency cert.

3. Take Residency cert to bank to open account
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tim ********
- exactly the essential info I’ve been seeking.
Tim *********
@Mark *******
Good luck. Some offices still seem to apply their own rules so I wish you well 🙏
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Although — TM30 i have combined with Non-O will allow me to open a bank account, right. And since i have no intention of driving here, hopefully passport will be sufficient ID for bank account
Tony **********
@Mark *******
is a requirement for any dealing with the bank. Driver's license isn't for bank account.
Tony **********
I secured housing first. Then certificates of residency for bank account and mc&car drivers licenses (just got the 3 at one time so save trips later). Then to bank to open an account. Wire transfer the ฿800k from us bank to Thai bank. All easy. Can seem overwhelming but just go I step at a time. It took about a week to find a house to rent. But that might be harder and more expensive in high season.
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
- basically i’m kinda curious if Tm30 I received upon paying rent in this current place would be sufficient for meeting residential requirement for purpose of “year extension of stay”, but answer sounds like no in your opinion.
Tony **********
@Mark *******
probably is okay. But always best to just go to immigration and ask. Take city of lease with you
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
- I’m currently renting a private condo locked in for 2 months. I don’t want to sign a lease here for a year, but it is at the moment my actual “current address”. If a 1 year lease is absolutely pre-requirement to file an “extension of stay, I will eat the last 2 weeks of my 2 month requirement and shoot for Feb 1st as the date to move to a condo with 1 year contract. That still gives me at a month left of my 90 days to get my year extension approved. It seems like a catch 22 cuz what if u sign a lease and somehow don’t receive the Extension of Stay?
Tony **********
@Mark *******
don't think the length of the lease is an issue for extension, only that you have a lease.
Stuart ***********
Open a bank account first and transfer the 800,000 baht ensuring the transfer shows as coming from overseas. If you use Wise to transfer the money use the code, I think it's 'long term stay in Thailand' or similar.

Make a folder with copies of all your documents.

You might need a residence certificate from immigration to open your bank account and whilst there ask them for their list of requirements for a 12 month extension of stay based on retirement.

Then collect the information they require.

Good luck, it seems complicated, but it's very simple really.
David *******
@Stuart **********
I thought you couldn't get a residence certificate from immigration until you have done your first 90 days report? It you need the money in the bank before applying for the extension but can't open the account without the residence certificate aren't you in a catch 22 situation?
Kevin *******
@David ******
this happened to me. Immigration would not issue a resident certificate until I had done my 90 day report Kasikorn Bank did accept a rental agreement and I was able to open an account.
Tony **********
@David ******
I think only some Bangkok immigration offices want 90 day report prior to residency certificate...
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart **********
- thanks for comprehensively laying out the bullet points.
Tony **********
@Stuart **********
overseas transfer is only needed if applying for non-o in country or if your trying to use the ฿65k/month method for your 2nd 1yr extension.
Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
- I’d never heard that 800 transfer wasn’t necessary to receive initial year of “extension of stay” if somebody initially comes in on 90 Day Non-O Retirement Visa. Are u sure I would only need the 12 monthly transfers to renew “future extensions of stay”? (I DID SHOW PROOF in my US bank of the equivalent of 800k Tbt for the Non-O I received bf coming). Btw, were i to indeed only be required to show monthly 65k transfers for next years renewal, question becomes can I turn right around each month after reporting deposit, and use part of the monthly deposits for my monthly living expenses?
Tony **********
@Mark *******
that's not what I was trying to say.

If you are applying for your initial non-o in country, the 800k must be from a foreign source. If you got your non-o out of country or visa evisa, then it doesn't matter where is came from but must be seasoned for 2 months prior to applying for 12 month extension.

If applying in country, 800k has to be sourced from foreign funds and to be in the bank at time of application for non-o. If non-o was obtained out of country the 800k must be seasoned in bank for 2 months prior to application for extension.
Lynnette *******
Get the list from your immigration office.
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