@Jeremy ********

You should be set then. Immigration was my biggest concern from your post but if you have another bank account with passbook, you're good to go.

I THINK there are Facebook groups around this type of thing, but I'm not sure. I definitely know there are agencies that deal in this type of thing, and you'll basically be hiring the staff through the agency who will be collecting your money and then paying the staff. Probably better to hire direct if you can to cut out the middleman.

Of course the price is going to vary widely based on location.

@Chris *****

If you purchase a re-entry permit you can leave during the 90 days. But you have to be back before the 90 days ends to apply for extension. If the 90 days runs out you can leave and return as a tourist, yes.

@Chris *********

maybe not 3 days, but probably a week would be do-able. For Non-O visa there's no interview normally. Pre-fill the application, as soon as you cross into Laos upload your entry stamp from your passport and submit the application. Then first thing the next morning go to the embassy and pay (Between 9-11AM). Then wait.

@Mark *******

No one is being "flagged." The rule is clearly posted at the branches. If the money you want a letter for immigration has not been in your account for 4 months, then you must sign a letter that allows them to freeze the money for 4 months after that date. It literally makes no sense, since that's not the immigration requirement. And it's actually the exact opposite of the intent of the immigration requirement, which is to prove you has the funds to support yourself in an emergency. Frozen funds are useless for that purpose.

If someone puts the 800,000 in their account and then never touches it, this policy will not affect them at all. But many do not do it that way, they drop it down as needed then bring it back up just for their extension. Even then it barely affects retirement extensions, but greatly affects marriage extensions.

@Mark *******

There are plenty of Bangkok Bank branches that still work with agents. Just not in Pattaya because of the headlines. As I said, that's why the agents in Pattaya are putting their customers on a bus and taking them to Bangkok Bank branches in Bangkok. Those branches will still happily take the agent money and hand out the letters.

The reason I'm opposed to Bangkok Bank is because they are punishing EVERYONE for something a few people are doing. Collective punishment is stupid in this case. It would be trivial for the headquarters to find accounts where 800,000 are deposited and then removed immediately, and punish those specific bank managers where this is happening. Instead they make a policy that only punishes those following the rules and doesn't stop a single thing.

@Mark *******

Yes. Best advice for anyone using Bangkok Bank is to speak with your feet, and get a new bank. Kasikorn is probably the best, but SCB is also popular

@Mark *******

I don't represent anyone. I'm just here as a volunteer to help people. New rules always inconvenience people who have to follow those rules.

The requirements of a marriage extension are that you have to have the money in your Thai bank account for 2 months before your extension and no requirement after that. That means 2 months in the bank.this new rule means if you only put the money in 2 months before your extension, the bank will freeze it for 4 more months. That's 6 months total instead of 2. And if you put the money in 4 months early so it isn't frozen, that's still 2 months longer than immigration requires.

For retirement, the bank account must always be at least 400,000 and must be at 800,000 for 2 months before the extension and 3 months after. This means if you just raise it to 800,000 the 2 months before, you'll have to freeze for 4 months, which is 1 month longer than required by immigration.

It also means you can't use that money if an emergency happens which normally you could, but it would just affect your next extension. Now you don't have access to it at all if the bank freezes it.

It would be better for everyone if this rule wasn't implemented at all because it's not going to achieve anything except inconveniencing people who follow the rules, because agents pay to not have to do so.

Because it's a conversion and you'll receive an under consideration stamp, you likely need 14-21 days (depending on immigration office) left on your stamp in order to apply to convert to ED from tourist entry.

@Meg ******

I don't know about recent reports, haven't seen any in months. But Vancouver very fast. A week at most.