@Luit ****************

the immigration office handled it for me when I got a new passport. After that, I didn't need to carry both passports.

@Andrew ******

you probably have a non O. Non oa requires a health check, a criminal record check and insurance. Non o has none of those requirements.

Visit your local immigration office (which you'll have to do anyway to get a residency certificate for the bank) and ask them for a handout for the requirements for the yearly extension. It varies a bit from office to office, so you need to get specific info.

And lastly, it's not reporting every 3 months, it's every 90 days.

But for now, just visit immi and ask for a residency cert and requirements for the yearly extension.

@Steve *******

it's much better to have a non-o than coming on a tourist visa, as it's practically impossible to open a bank account here on a tourist visa.

The sticking point for most people is getting a Thai bank account, which you need to have. It's now very difficult, if not impossible, to get a bank account on a tourist visa. That's why many people are suggesting you get a non-o visa before you come to Thailand. That makes it easier to open a bank account and deposit the funds and season them for the required 2 months so you can get a year extension.

@Richard ******************

I was replying to Bobby's comment, who was replying to Joseph's comment relating to the US.

@Bobby ********

The US government requires foreign financial institutions (FFIs) to report on accounts held by US citizens. That's why there's more paperwork.

Anonymous participant 201 how would they know you've switched visas?

@Josh ********

the fees are only one part of the equation. The exchange rate is where many transfer services make their money.

@Patrick ********

I think it's fairly clear. If your embassy doesn't provide proof of income, you can't use income to start. You have to have 800k in the bank for a non-o.

The bank issue is also fairly clear. It's nigh impossible to open a bank account on a tourist visa. So get a non o before you arrive, open a bank account, put 800k in it.

If you want to switch to the income method, start depositing 65k from abroad every month. Just make sure you meet the requirements for both the 800k and the income methods that entire year.

Most of the confusion is because people generalize when they should be specific. A non-o is not the same as a non-oa. A dtv or other tourist visa is not the same as a long stay visa in terms of being able to get a bank account.

@Peter *******

some visas require you to have money in a Thai bank.