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What steps should we take upon arrival in Thailand to extend our Non-O immigrant visas to one year?

Non-O VisaImmigrant VisaRetirement VisaVisa ExtensionThailand ImmigrationKoh SamuiBank Requirements
Oct 7, 2023
a year ago
Lester *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My wife and I have each been granted Non O immigrant visa's for 90 days based on retirement criteria.

Bank statements showing funds in UK banks were presented.

We arrive in the Kingdom on 17/10 and intend to live on Koh Samui.

What do we need to do on arrival, and how quickly, in order to ensure that we can get these extended to a year?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Upon arriving in Koh Samui, Thailand with your Non-O immigrant visas, you need to quickly open bank accounts to deposit 800,000 Baht for at least two months for your visa extensions. It's recommended to check with the local immigration office for specific requirements regarding your visas and inquire about the possibility of your wife obtaining a trailing spouse extension. Be aware that if her visa was issued based on her being over 50, she might need to secure her own funds for her extension.
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.
James ********
I believe that the OP has the answers needed for his question. Thanks All for the helpful replies. We wish the OP and spouse success in obtaining their retirement Visa and one year extension of stay in Thailand.

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a year ago
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Lester *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thank you both for this information.

As the Thai Embassy in the UK weren't answering my queries about applying for my wife as "trailing spouse" we applied separately for our non immigrant O, 90 day visa's.

We are prepared to, if 100% necessary, deposit 2 lots of 800K baht, but obviously if this can be avoided then this would be preferable.

Should we open a joint account or 2 individual accounts, and which bank is the recommended go to in Samui?
a year ago
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Nongnuch ********
@Lester ********
 the best option is a joint account in both your names, with DOUBLE the deposit (1.6 mill) IF the Samui (Surat Thani) immigration allows it for two separate extensions. Why do I recommend it? In the case of a sudden demise of the partner, the surviving one can easily access the account
a year ago
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James ********
@Nongnuch *******
 Nongnuch Kamdee that's one option if the Samui Thai Immigration office accepts. BTW, I completed the Thai Probate Court order for transfer of the Thai bank account in the name of the deceased to the designated beneficiary in 4 months total in the Thai probate court in Pattaya at a total cost of 60,000 Thai baht including Lawyer and Court fee. That was for a person who died without a Will. But with or without a Will still requires a Thai Probate Court hearing and final order to release the funds in a Thai bank account.
a year ago
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James ********
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Lester *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 so in 90 days I will apply for extension non-O and she applies for trailing spouse?
a year ago
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Ellie *******
@Lester ********
, IF your wife is issued Non-O based on retirement, not trailing spouse/dependent, she cannot apply for the first extension for the trailing spouse. She needs to apply for the first extension for retirement on herself. Read Tod's comment again carefully.

Or you need to upload photos of your visas with wiping sensitive data out (or send them to me or one of the mods) to get the correct answer.
a year ago
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James ********
@Lester ********
 once the one year extension of stay is approved and stamped in the husband's passport, the wife can Apply for the training spouse extension based on the husband's extension of stay.

ASK your Thai Immigration office for their list of requirements for the one year extension of stay for the husband and the training spouse for the wife.
a year ago
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James ********
Here is a recent Post of married couple who obtained their Non O Visa as retired in their home country and applied for the One year extension of stay as retired and the trailing spouse in Thailand.

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a year ago
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Lester *********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@James *******
 will do. Thanks for the info.
a year ago
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Lester *********
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James ********
@Lester ********
 you only need to Open One Bank account in a Thai bank in the name of Only ONE of you. The other spouse will seek to get a trailing spouse extension of stay based on the other spouse. THEREBY avoiding the need for two Thai bank accounts with 800,000 Thai baht deposits in each account.
a year ago
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Nongnuch ********
@James *******
 I recommend a joint account with 1.6 THB deposit, IF Samui immigration allows it. In case one of them passes away, the surviving partner has easy access to the account. If otherwise you need to CLAIM your partner's only account , that will be a very long process and must go through a court order - which can last over one year
a year ago
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James ********
@Nongnuch *******
 that's one option if the Samui Thai Immigration office accepts.

BTW, I completed the Thai Probate Court order for transfer of the Thai bank account in the name of the deceased to the designated beneficiary in 4 months total in the Thai probate court in Pattaya at a total cost of 60,000 Thai baht including Lawyer and Court fee. That was for a person who died without a Will. But with or without a Will still requires a Thai Probate Court hearing and final order to release the funds in a Thai bank account.
a year ago
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James ********
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Chris *****
@James *******
 good info thanks. Correct me if I’m wrong, so 1st is to apply for non-O 90 days visa at the Thai embassy in my home country. 2nd when come to Thailand then go to Immigration office to apply for 1year extension non-O visa. Once I get the extension then I apply dependent visa for my wife (below 50yrs old). Correct?

At which point to open the Thai bank account and deposit the B$800k?
a year ago
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Graham ******
@Chris ****
 You need the 800k banked two months before you apply for a 12 month extension for an out of country Non-O retirement visa
a year ago
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Graham ******
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Graham ******
@Lester ********
 In order to get a trailing spouse Non-O for your wife you'd need to be on a 12 month extension of your Non-O retirement so it can't be done up front
a year ago
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Ellie *******
@Graham *****
, you can apply at once for two initial Non-O, one as retirement and one as a trailing spouse, together at the Thai embassy/consulate (if they issue Non-O spouse)
a year ago
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Ellie *******
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Stuart ***********
Someone posted this list for Samui this week. I don't know if it helps, it will still be worthwhile going to immigration as Tod recommended.
a year ago
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Tod *********
@Stuart **********
 thanx for posting that,

REMEMBER people this is Samui specific, it may or may NOT be what your immigration office requires
a year ago
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Tod *********
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Tod *********
You can show proof of funds in your country to get the visas issued but you can't do that to get the year extensions inside the country SO you need to get bank accounts open and get 800K baht in the bank so it can "season" the two months required for you to apply for a year extension

Now keep in mind IF your wifes Non-O was issued based on her being over 50 (retirement) they MAY require her to bank her own funds and get her own year extension based on retirement too <- What I mean is they might not let her get a year extension based on 'trailing spouse' when you get your retirement extension.

The rule is you have to get the first extension for the reason the visa was issued.

As soon as you hit the ground you need to go to the Samui office and get the hand out listing the requirements for the year extension AND ask them if she can get 'trailing spouse' extension
a year ago
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Tod *********
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