What should I do if the Thai embassy requires a £20,000 bank balance for my Non O-A visa application?

Oct 1, 2021
3 years ago
Alasdair ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Non O-A (Long stay) Visa question. (hope okay to post this)

I am having an issue with applying for the Non O-A visa (retirement type visa) from the UK and wondered if anyone else has experience of doing this.

I gave 12 months of bank statements which show that my monthly income is over £1,625 per month, however, without giving a reason the Thai embassy wants me to show a bank statement with £20,000 on it.

Below is the exact text from the Thai embassy website about the requirements.

"Non-Immigrant Type O- A (Long Stay) 1 Year/Multiple entries"

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of not less than 65,000 THB (approx. £1,625)

or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (approx. £20,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings, for at least 1 month"

Does anyone have any ideas?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is facing difficulties in applying for a Non O-A (retirement) visa from the UK, specifically with the Thai embassy's demand for a bank statement showing £20,000, despite providing monthly income proof of £1,625. Community members suggest that demonstrating a source of this income may be necessary, as well as confirming whether notarized statements are required. They advise reaching out to the embassy for clarification on their requirements.
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Mark ***********
"and anything else the officer requests "

Those and other words are written into the "requirements guidance notes
Nongnuch ********
Mike Park had a valid point. And you should try to see it from the point of view of the embassy staff. The embassy doesn't want to see bank receipts of money coming into your account. They want to see "financial income proof" , they want to see the source the regular monthly funds are coming from. Just showing them bank statements is a bad proof: You could theoretically have set up a money carrousell, shifting 1,625.- GBP back and forth every other month
Alasdair ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Benjamin ******
IMPORTANT RULE REMINDER: We keep everything in the group. Do not send messages to other members. Thank you.
Martin *********
@Benjamin *****
I was only going to send photos of my notary to him .. but ok point taken I won’t . 👍🏻
Benjamin ******
@Martin ********
You can post the photo of your notary here, so we can all learn.
Stuart *********
For what it’s worth I went in person to the London embassy to apply for my last OA visa. I used the method you did. (This was in 2018). The lady at the counter was very unhappy with the monthly income statements and told me that although she would approve it this time next time they would only accept the full £20,000 in the bank as evidence. It’s not the rule certainly but obviously it was her/their preference.
Alasdair ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Bobby ********
Instead of posting a picture of a dog, why don't you post a picture of the letter or screenshot of the email which rejected your application? This is actually more beneficial if you want a constructive answer. I've a lot of experience directly with the OA and could possibly assist. Just ensure you block out any personal details
Mike ******
@Bobby *******
Possibly the Embassy wants to the know the source of your monthly income. I have applied for several OA Visa’s from the Los Angeles Thai Consulate and they require an Income Certificate to prove the 65,000 Baht in monthly income. I have never submitted bank statements for my past OA applications and all have been approve.
Bobby ********
Mike Park. Very likely. When I've applied for an OA in Australia I sent the past year's statement from my Superannuation Fund, which pays me a pension which is in excess of the required amount. This was sent with two copies and the original. They were not required to be notarised.
James ********
@Bobby *******
good helpful suggestion 😊
Ray ***********
I think you may need your bank statements notorised.
Alasdair ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Ray **********
thanks. If they are originals which they are I think it's fine but I will ask outright of the bank statements I sent are acceptable or not.
Ray ***********
@Alasdair *******
Notorisation would be by a notorary public
Alasdair ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
James ********
I approved your visa post with my suggestion you ask your question on the UK based group of expats who are most familiar with the UK Thai Embassy practices.

If the UK Thai Embassy says you need to show proofs of bank balance of $20,000 or more that is what they are asking for... Provide the proof and you will get the O-A visa.

HOWEVER...

I have read the listed requirements for the O-A visa on the UK Thai Embassy website.

Clearly it says you can do EITHER

"Financial evidence showing monthly income of not less than 65,000 THB (approx. £1,625) or having the current balance of 800,000 THB (approx. £20,000), e.g. bank statements, proof of earnings, for at least 1 month"

Suggest you ask the Thai Embassy again for review of their request made to you.

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Alasdair ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
thanks so much.
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