What should I do if the bank claims my Non-O retirement visa is a tourist visa?

Thailand bank account Non-O visa retirement visa expat life immigration residency certificate Bangkok Bank KASIKORN Bank account opening challenges

Nov 1, 2024

20 days ago

Dave *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

*Update*

I eventually managed to open an account with Bangkok Bank. What I had was correct and the only additional thing required was a certificate of residency which I got today from immigration. One other thing you really should get is your own Thai mobile number to use the banking app and get alerts about your account which I also got today. I did have to point out my visa was an e-visa but the lady behind the desk listened and understood unlike in the other branch last week. Looks like I’m here for at least a year yay 🥳 

Please could someone who is knowledgeable help me out? I applied on the Thai embassy in London’s website for a non O retirement visa which was granted and it even says retired on the visa print off which I received from the embassy via email. I have just been to the Bank of Bangkok to open a bank account so I can transfer the 800,000 baht to start the two month process off in order to be granted a year’s extension but the lady in the bank is telling me that I only have a tourist visa. I’m confused as there was nothing else I could apply for on the embassy website so now I’m worried that I won’t find a way around it. Thanks in advance for any help. I have heard that Bangkok bank can be difficult to open an account with so if there is another bank that is more leanient I would try there. I’m going to call immigration and see if they can help but I get the worrying feeling that I’m back to the start again of going to be a forever tourist which ideally I don’t want to be as I wish to buy a vehicle and have the full benefits a retirement visa offers.

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TLDR : Answer Summary

The original poster successfully opened a Bangkok Bank account but faced challenges related to their Non-O retirement visa. They were initially told by a bank employee that they had a tourist visa, which caused confusion. The community suggested obtaining a residency certificate from immigration, a Thai mobile number for banking alerts, and trying different bank branches or banks such as KASIKORN Bank. The importance of showing the correct visa documentation to bank personnel was emphasized, as some employees might be unfamiliar with the requirements for foreign accounts.

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.

Giovanni ****************

Just opened bank account. On the residence paper, bring your tm30 to immigration and ask specifically for a residence certificate “to open bank account”.

I went to the bank the first time with a certificate of residence issued to “buy a bike” but not accepted

Kasikorn bank

18 days ago

Raymond ******

This might be like my 1 year family visa I did. Visa was good for 1 year, but every 90 days I had to go to an embassy and give proof of address, they stamped it and I was on my way, till the next 90 days, continuously. Just a thought, it is what I had to do. They have offices all over the place so I didn’t have to travel far.

18 days ago

William **********

That is not an Non o visa,a non o visa is a large sticker stuck on your passport

18 days ago

Jeffrey *******

@William *********

E Visa is read when passport is scanned going through immigration,in my case had to show the pdf doc from my home countries

Thai embassy because the scanners where not working,there was no paper attached to the passport,only the 90 day stamp as I passed through immigration

18 days ago

Jeffrey *******

@William *********

I had a non immigrant O E visa,passport scan was down when I came through so had to show the visa email from the consulate in Aus and got the same 90 day stamp

18 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@William *********

it is an entry stamp! It grants him a 90-days stay permit. He entered showing the Immigration official the printout pdf. of his 90-days single entry Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa. You will get no visa stickers any more since the start of the E-Visa online system . . . . . . . . It is clearly marked at the right upper corner that he used a Non-Imm-O "visa class" upon entering Thailand

18 days ago

Dave *********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Nongnuch *******

correct. I think that’s half of the trouble is the bank are still looking for the old style sticker and not realising everything is done online now.

18 days ago

Reply to

Dave *********

Jeffrey *******

Three weeks ago went to immigration HuaHin with Non immigrant O visa with all required docs for 12 month extension marriage visa. 1 hr later walked out with fully stamped passport for a 12 month retirement visa.was tossing up which one to go for anyway so went with it.

About bank account I opened mine February on a tourist visa Bangkok Bank but had to take out a 7,000 baht a year accident insurance policy. With Non O Visa you should have no problems,Bangkok Bank beside Market Village Route 4 HuaHin

18 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Jeffrey ******

you went to apply for the marriage 1-year extension but left Immigration with a retirement extension? How much THB did you prove in your bank account, 400K or 800K ?

Jeffrey *******

No surprise there

Jeffrey *******

probably because was all done on the spot within I hr meaning the agents fee was probably shared around,

18 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Jeffrey ******

well, I do the application all by myself since 16 years, it takes 20 minutes on the bank for the bank letter, and then 20 minutes on my Immigration for the "1-year Extension of Stay", together with the purchase of a single re-entry permit for 1000.- THB. I spend 1900+1000=2900.- THB, plus the trip to my immigration. If you got that bank deposit in your account, why would you need an agent? It's the same documentation needed every year

18 days ago

Jeffrey *******

@Nongnuch *******

it will cost me 1900+3800 next time in 11months if fees stay the same

18 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Jeffrey ******

keep in mind if you hand over two 1000.- THB bills, they will say "sorry we have no change" 😂😄

18 days ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Jeffrey *******

@Nongnuch *******

I had more than that in there,but would have needed 800,000 It cost a bit over 13,000 baht for multi entry

18 days ago

Nongnuch ********

@Jeffrey ******

why would an application to a 12-months Extension of Stay based on Retirement cost more than the usual 1900.- THB fee, plus the 3800.- THB for the multi re-entry permit? Did you use an agent ?

18 days ago

Reply to

Nongnuch ********

Sylvia ********

I went with a friend last week and an agent, new rules at Bangkok bank, needed his country social/national insurance number, SIM card setup as must load app and also take insurance out for 1 year, total fee was 5000 baht including ATM card

18 days ago

Sylvia ********

You have a non-O visa, stop is valid for 3 months, so not for one year, this is the problem.

18 days ago

Ian **********

It is very difficult to open a bank account now due to money laundering rules. You need a permanent address and proof you live there. Just because you have a non O visa is not enough. Some banks will open an account if you sign up for their insurance and some will accept a sponsor. Your best bet is to find a visa agent and pay them to open an account for you or you could just keep trying different branches.

18 days ago

Sylvia ********

@Ian *********

and most certainly they need a certificate of residence from immigration so need a permanent address, you have a TM30 already?

18 days ago

Ian **********

@Sylvia *******

Unfortunately you cannot get a certificate of residence until you have extended your non-O visa as immigration does not know where you live until then. It is a catch-22, you cannot extend without a bank account and you cannot open a bank account until you have extended your permission to stay. 😃

18 days ago

Sylvia ********

@Ian *********

If you report a TM30 on arrival they obviously know where you live?

18 days ago

Reply to

Sylvia ********

Tor ******

Just try a different branch. This lady was clueless, you have a non-o.

19 days ago

Cameron *******

It may take you several times at different banks. Having less than a year left on your Visa does not help your case.

19 days ago

Max **********

Get visa agent for bank account save all the hassle otherwise you could end up on merry go round.

19 days ago

Tim ******

I suspect that the banks in Bangkok recently issued an internal directive not to open bank accounts on the basis of a tourist visa.

Since dozens of tourists still come every day and want to open a bank account with a tourist visa, the bank employees are getting increasingly annoyed.

The fact that so many people still want to open a bank account in Bangkok with a tourist visa is also because in Facebook groups like this one, many people still claim that it is easy to open a bank account in Bangkok with a tourist visa.

19 days ago

Stephen ********

@Tim *****

what on earth has that got to do with the OP having a NON-O visa? 🤷‍♂️

19 days ago

Tim ******

@Stephen *******

The bank employee may have been annoyed and did not read the documents properly.

19 days ago

Stephen ********

@Tim *****

agreed, but that's the fault of the bank employee and nothing to do with a tourist visa. 🤷‍♂️

19 days ago

Reply to

Stephen ********

Gary ******

Try another Bank. You definitely have a

Non O Visa. I have BKK Bank. They can be difficult! Good luck