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What steps should I take to obtain a retirement or marriage visa in Thailand while currently residing in the US?

Jan 22, 2026
3 months ago
Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I qualify to obtain any of the retirement visas. alternatively, I can marry my Thai National girlfriend and apply for a a marriage visa. I'm currently in Thailand staying with my girlfriend at her house and must return to the USA in a week's time. I want to come back to Thailand to stay permanently. not interested in going back and forth between Thailand and the US. Don't know how to open a bank account here as I don't have a Thai address, so no way to deposit the required funds into a Thai bank account. can somebody tell me how this is all works as my head is spinning
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is exploring options for obtaining a long-term stay visa in Thailand, either through a retirement or marriage visa. They are currently in Thailand but must return to the USA soon. Several community members recommend applying for a NON-O visa for retirement before returning to Thailand, as it's necessary for opening a bank account and meeting other visa requirements. They advise collaborating with a reputable visa agent to navigate the process smoothly and discuss the importance of getting a residence certificate by registering with local immigration.
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.
Paulus *********
You should also state which part of Thailand you are going to live in as some immigration officers have different rules.
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Tony ********
Thailand they did everything for me. They even do my 90 day stamp . Where are you in Thailand.
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Ally ************
You clearly need to apply for the non-o based upon retirement when you are back in the USA.. then return to open a bank account and season funds in readiness for the 12-month extension.. personally I'd explore the possibility of switching to the married visa once your ducks are all in a row.. people say the retirement visa / extension is easier or less cumbersome in terms of the paper chase.. however the married visa / extension is not overly cumbersome anyway.. and imo being married to a Thai and want to live in Thailand permanently then it is going to be much easier long term if your permissions are based on marriage.. meaning if immigration requirements change or get more stringent in the future.. spouses of Thai citizens are likely to be less impacted or 'favoured' so to speak.. just my tuppence worth!
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ally S Inglish Thank you for the advice šŸ™
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David *****
Eric Duggan of you're going the marriage Visa route, definitely get married in Thailand, it makes that process much easier. Certifying a US marriage is a pain in the a$$ and takes weeks if not months to do
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
David Dye Good to know. Thank you!
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Eric ********
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Christopher **********
I know this is a visa group, but ā€œalternatively, I can marry my Thai National girlfriendā€ should involve a lot more consideration than just getting a marriage visa.
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Incognia **********
this is an egg chicken problem
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Anita **************
Just one ? Why is everyone advice different? Look at all the comments. There is no consistency. So you don’t know who is correct. IJSšŸ¤”šŸ™„
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Flemming ******
If only 1 week

No way you can get marry there..I know

.Becours I have Thai wife
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Wayne ********
Where are you located if your in Pattaya my friend is awesome
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Robbie *******
Whereabouts in Pattaya ?
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Robbie *******
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Patrick ************
You can get a letter from the United States embassy that allows you to open a bank account
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Brandon ************
@Patrick ***********
The US embassy does not offer these anymore, along with many other embassies.
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Brandon ************
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Asfand *************
Use your spouse address... your wife gonna be....simple
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Kim **********
If you qualify for multiple different ones, look and see if you can qualify for the LTR wealthy pensioner. You have to get insurance, but you only have to check in once a year, your tax exempt you don’t need reentry visas, etc..
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Trevor ******
Go to a visa agent and let them sort it out
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Tony ********
Go talk to a reputable visa agent in your area and get information. About 600$ and they will take care of you. Or get advice and go from there
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David *****
Tony Caruso the agent can help you with a bank account, the rest you can do on your own
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Tony ********
They take you to the bank they work with they will do everything. It’s stress free. I have been with my agent for 5 years.
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Greg ******
Tony Caruso yeah who ?
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tony Caruso Thank you. Can you tell me who you're working with and what might be the cost?
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Eric ********
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Tony Caruso do you mean Visa agent in Thailand or USA where my citizenship is?
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Eric ********
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Neil ********
Marriage visa more painful each year than a standard visa.

Just go for a standard retirement visa outside of Thailand and put the
*****
0 in the bank when you are here next. Needs to be in the bank 4 months before your renewal so you have time.

You could do with a residency address but that can be done through a written agreement
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Rick *********
Neil Fowell I’ve just gone through the process of an extension based on marriage and didn’t find it very painful šŸ™
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Rick *********
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Joe ******
Your better off seeing a agent they do it all for you got to pay more thow
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Joe Kane you have somebody you recommend?
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Joe ******
Eric Duggan are you in pattaya
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Joe ******
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Gordon *******
Joe Kane šŸ’Æ correct
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Gordon *******
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Jesper *******
Since you are not married yet and will be going back to the US....I suggest u apply for a 90days nonO retirement visa in the US ....after you get your nonO.....fly to thailand with that visa and start your journey of preparation of your 1yr extension.....1st priority is getting a thai bank acct within 30days of your arrival .....transfer your funds to thai bank acct and seasoned for 2mths to apply for 1yr extension before your 90days expires
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Incognia **********
It is NON O-A
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Incognia **********
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Andrew ********
Either way you go your visa here will expire- you will still have to leave and apply for another visa. You do not have to go back to the US to do it.

If you are married leave and apply for a 90 day NON-O visa for marriage get back into thailand open a bank account and start depositing funds as required by marriage visa for extension while they process your marriage visa - keep in mind its not quick they do home visits to make sure its a legit marriage
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Greg ***********
Andrew Romine he leaves in a week's time, there is no way to get married before he leaves. So he needs to apply for the Non-Imm-O retirement visa in the USA before he comes back, because only on such a visa type he can get a bank account opened. For the visa application he needs proof of a minimum of 25,000 USD in his home bank account. For the application to the 1-year extensions, he needs proof of a minimum of 800,000 THB in a Thai bank account in his sole name. . . .After he got married, he can switch from the retirement extension to the married extension as soon as a 1-year extension is about to expire
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Andrew ********
Greg Alexander i know thats why I said he had to leave - apply for 90day Non-o visa if he wanted to go marriage route or retirement - can get married and registered once he gets here while in the states he would or could visit the embassy to sign an affidavit saying he can legally get married in thailand
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Andrew ********
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John **********
Unless you have a Non-immigrant visa you will struggle to open a bank account currently. The next time you plan to return to Thailand apply for a 90 day Non-O visa before you come. Once you arrive go to immigration and get a residence certificate (your girlfriend will need to register you as staying at her place, so get her to do that first) and then get a Thai SIM registered against your passport. With both of these visit a bank and request they open an account for you. Once you have the account transfer in a minimum of 800k baht from overseas and once it's been in the bank for 2 months apply for a 12 month extension of stay
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John **********
@Eric *******
no its a Non-O
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
why not just get an non O-A from the beginning?
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John **********
@Eric *******
you can do but the Non-OA can only be obtained in your home country and requires a police check and ongoing insurance. The Non-O doesn't require either
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
understood. Thank you
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Eric ********
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Jo**
Stanners What is my Visa type once I have the 12-month extension? Is it then an O-A
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
Thank you very much John. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to set me straight. Can you please explain to me how My girlfriend can get the necessary documentation to show that I live with her? My girlfriend doesn't have a clue as to how to do the registration as you put it
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John **********
@Eric *******
she can either go to immigration with you and do it there taking her housebook and ID with her or she can do it online and print out a copy of the receipt to give to you

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Gary ******************
@John *********
I might be wrong John but I had togo to immigration to do the first one then you can do them on line afterwards..
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John **********
@Gary *****************
is that not for 90 day reports?
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Gary ******************
@John *********
I know 100% you do for 90 reporting John,Am old school so just went to immigration and got the TM30 all sorted there it only took 10mins,Staff are really helpful
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *********
fantastic! A million thanks šŸ™
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Eric ********
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Gary ******************
Eric Duggan You and your girlfriend need togo to your local immigration and fill out a Tm30 form,Registered living at her home,You'll need to take her house book and her Id card photocopied,You need your passport,Photocopys of your visa stamp and photo page.Takes 10 mins..Once you have done it you can then do it online everytime you stay away from where your living..
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Gary Baldy Wilkinson Thank you so much Gary! At the immigration office if she requests in Thai to complete form TM30 they will understand? So I can explain to my girlfriend what is a house book? The end result of all this is I will have a resident certification that I can show the bank in order to open an account. Is this correct?
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Gary ******************
Eric Duggan Eric they will know what a TM30 is mate it's wrote out in Thai and English.The house book is her baan book she'll know what it is its the book where everyone living at that address is registered via the local district office(ampher)..
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Eric ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Gary Baldy Wilkinson got it. Thank you!
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Eric ********
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