I need some advice regarding my plan to move to Thailand. I have a baby with my Thai girlfriend, and I’m planning to come to Thailand on a tourist visa to marry her. My goal is to extend my stay and eventually apply for a Non-Immigrant O visa based on marriage.

However, I’ve read that opening a bank account with a tourist visa can be an issue, and I understand that having a Thai bank account is usually required for the Non-O visa application.

Has anyone been in a similar situation? What’s the best way to go about this? Any advice on banks that might allow me to open an account, or alternative solutions for securing the visa?

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I have read many of the post in this group and they have mainly been about people in Thailand or in neighboring countries getting a visa.

My questions : I am in the US and want to apply for a Non-Immigrant Visa Category “O-A” (long stay). I have gone to the Thai Embassy website and read the requirements. I understand that I will need a medical form and a criminal record.

The requirements about the finance is puzzling. Does the 800K THB need to be in a Thai bank since I am not applying in Thailand.

Do I need to go to Thailand and open an account and transfer the money for the US to the Thai bank. Is so, how would I prove that the money is in the account and most important, how would I be able to open the account.

Thanks in advance.