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

90-Day Non-O Visa1-Year Extension of StayThai Visa RequirementsBank Account SetupTM30Residency CertificateExpat AdviceImmigration Process
Dec 15, 2024
a month 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
For a 90-day Non-O visa holder in Thailand seeking a 1-Year Extension, it's crucial to prioritize tasks effectively. Start by securing a temporary residence, such as booking a hotel, which can suffice for initial TM30 requirements. Next, obtain a residency certificate from immigration to facilitate the opening of a bank account. Transfer the required ฿800,000 into this new account, ensuring the funds are documented as remittances from overseas. While organizing these steps, maintain a folder with all necessary documents and tackle tasks one at a time to avoid feeling overwhelmed. It's advisable to check the specific requirements of different banks and to gather the full list of needed documents from the immigration office.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
  • Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
  • For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
  • Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
  • Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
Steve ********
Buddy Visa Service
@Annie **************
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Sue *********
 thanks for useful mandatories!
a month ago
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Mark ********
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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
a month ago
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Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tim ********
 - exactly the essential info I’ve been seeking.
a month ago
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Tim *********
@Mark *******
 Good luck. Some offices still seem to apply their own rules so I wish you well 🙏
a month ago
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Tim *********
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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
a month ago
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Tony **********
@Mark *******
 is a requirement for any dealing with the bank. Driver's license isn't for bank account.
a month ago
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Tony **********
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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.
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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Tony **********
@Mark *******
 probably is okay. But always best to just go to immigration and ask. Take city of lease with you
a month ago
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Tony **********
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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?
a month ago
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Tony **********
@Mark *******
 don't think the length of the lease is an issue for extension, only that you have a lease.
a month ago
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Tony **********
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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.
a month ago
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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?
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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Tony **********
@David ******
 I think only some Bangkok immigration offices want 90 day report prior to residency certificate...
a month ago
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Tony **********
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Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Stuart **********
 - thanks for comprehensively laying out the bullet points.
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
 - i re-read your post and think i have it wrong. I will be applying for Extension from within Thailand, hence looks like I need to transfer into Thailand my foreign funds and season them in a Thai Bank for 2 months prior to even applying for the Extension.
a month ago
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Tony **********
@Mark *******
 yes
a month ago
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Tony **********
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Joseph *******
@Tony *********
 Problem is, immigration officers nationwide seem to have wide latitude to not have to fully understand or follow the rules to the letter, though they generally cannot loosen the requirements. Meaning, it’s a safer bet to ensure the funds are transferred in.

And I concur 100% that the first order of business is to open a bank account, though you’ll need a local address to do that. When I opened my first account in 2004, I had a Thai friend accompany me to the bank; we used his address for my account.
a month ago
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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?
a month ago
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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.
a month ago
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Mark ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Tony *********
 - hi Tony. Found this post most intriguing. I did apply and receive my Non-O out of the country. I used my bank balance (over the equivalent of 800,000tbt) as proof of funds for the 90 Day. I am honestly gobsmacked that I can keep this balance in my home country and still qualify for “extension of stay.” This info is invaluable and I can’t believe no other poster on this site is spreading word of this. You mean the rest of us have been needlessly worried about opening and transferring their money into an actual Thai bank in time to season it for 2 months bf their 90 Day Visa expires? When we are already set with the source from which it was originally reported for the 90 Day Non O? That’s crazy good news if 100 factual!
a month ago
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Mark ********
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Lynnette *******
Get the list from your immigration office.
a month ago
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Lynnette *******
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