K bank account opening question. I’m visiting Pattaya to visit friends today, travelling from Phetchabun. Has anyone opened an account in Pattaya on a non O retirement visa with Kbank recently? If so which branch was it? My local branches refused me due to their particular rules.

Thanks in advance

Will soon submit my request for extension of stay with one year this week, based on the appointment with the IO in Koh Samui (Non-O Retirement). With regards the usual bank paperwork for the thb 800k (held over past 12 months) , has anything changed this year?

I ask so because I just saw a YouTube video stating several retired people were rejected in their extension request by their IO because they reportedly could not prove the 800k originated from sources abroad, whilst this same money was already in their bank for last few years, and during last year extension this was not an issue.

Note 1: the example stated the person had taken some funds over past year and replenished this later to the required 800k, from local sources he held in Thailand.

Note 2: the checklist I received from IO last week does not indicate any different requirements, except I had to agree that they have the right to investigate my data and documents provided.

--> Please your advice on this matter of the 800k (which I have held in my SCB account for 2+ years, and have never taken any of it.

Much thanks.

hi i would like to ask if the 800000 have to be send to thai bank before applying for the extension or can the money be already there if i have thai bank account before applying

For the Non O retirement visa, would you recommend using a visa agent or not? I'll be in Bangkok.

Also what bank would you recommend for opening an account? From what I've read on this forum Bangkok Bank used to be good but now they're not anymore. People say Kasikorn is good, any others?

Thanks!

Hi everyone, my wife (44 years old) and I (51 years old), both New Zealand citizens / residents are planning to retire to Thailand in a couple of months and wanting to sanity check our approach with this group given my wife is under 50.

Firstly I'll apply for the Non-O Retirement from New Zealand so that I can easily open a bank account in Thailand upon arrival, deposit the THB 800k, and then apply for the 1 year extension.

As for my wife, the two options based on advice from visa agencies and forums appear to be as follows:

Option 1. Travel to Thailand visa exempt, apply for ED granted for a stay of 90 days, extend once for a further 3 months, then apply to change to a Non-O dependent (on my Non-O Retirement).

The issue we're finding with the ED is that schools seem to be catering only for DTV now and not supporting ED. I expect we'd also not be able to leave the country and travel until the conversion to Non-O dependent is complete and immigration appear to be taking a dim view of people on ED visas travelling when they should be studying. But the ED duration is intended for only 6 months so that's not really an issue.

Option 2. Apply for the DTV from New Zealand based on Thai soft power activities. The 5 year duration of the visa will be sufficient to cover the period until my wife is 50 at which point she can apply for the non-O Retirement.

The concern with the DTV is the soft power category seems to have a lot of problems with immigration based on the forum posts, particularly when reentering the country. This creates the risk she will be denied entry.

Greatly appreciate your expert opinion as to the best approach given the current lay of the land in Thailand right now. Thanks!

# Can I do my first-time 90-day reporting at the One Stop Service Center in One Bangkok? I am here on a Non O Retirement visa, but have always traveled before the 90-day report was due. I live near One Bangkok, so it seems a great option, if this is true. Thanks

I am currently in my first one-year extension of a non-immigrant O retirement visa. I kept 800k balance for 3 months after receiving the extension, and it has dropped below that but remained above 400k since then.

I have also been transferring 65k+ every month since the start of the extension.

My question is whether i need to bring the balance back up to 800k for 2 months or 3 months before applying for the next extension, or can it remain 400k+ and rely on the past 12 months of 65k transfers?

I'm having trouble getting a definitive answer for this. I was just at Chaeng Watthana immigration to do a 90 day report and just can't seem to find the right person to give me the information.

For Americans…applying for non-immigrant O retirement visa. How long from the time you apply online to the time of an in person interview? And from the day of interview to the time of acceptance?(or denial). And then one would have 90 days from that day of acceptance to arrive in Thailand? Thanks!

Hi, i am going to apply for the yearly O retirement Visa using the monthly 65.000 transfer system soon. ( Currently doing the 800.000 system.

Q- what do you guys do if you are out of Thailand as far as the 65.000 transfer every month. Do you stop the transfer while you are away, or do you have to transfer 65.000 every month regardless of where you are? Thanks.

Hi. Im trying to make sense of this DTV and Im constantly coming up with more questions the more I read!!!!

1) Is the 10.000 baht fee the full cost of the visa? (Without using an agent)

2) If accepted, do you only need to complete the first 6 months of the activity in the whole 5 years?

3) If accepted, are you required to leave EVERY 180 days and if so, how long do you need to be outside Thailand for and when you return, do you get another 180 day stamp?

4) Is teaching online accepted?

I am over 50 and would qualify for the Non-O retirement visa but I want to continue receiving an income rather than just watch my own bank account reduce as I age! You cannot jump from a retirement visa and then start working or at least that is what I was advised but that was over 5 years ago

Online teaching supplies me with enough to live on easily in Thailand so I would much prefer to take this route if I am eligible.

I have the funds required (500.000)