@Ray *******

*** that’s the price nowadays for circumvening many requirements:

*** you can’t get a Thai bank account opened on a tourist visa.

The agent can!

*** you can’t apply for the “change of visa type” without 800,000 THB in your Thai bank account

The agent can!

*** you can’t apply for the 12-months Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement without own funds in your Thai bank account

The agent can!

Thus, 49,000 THB is a good price for all those services that require a bribe under the table. I guess it includes a multi re-entry per mit for the 12-months extended stay permit.

I know agents that take from 60,000 up to 90,000 for this service

***the 16,000 you mentioned, is probably the price for the service to obtain the next year 12-months extension

*** keep in mind: you are caught inside the agent hamster wheel unless you exit Thailand, let everything expire, start again on a 90 days Non-Imm-O Visa and have your own funds

@Tony ******

the 20,000 THB in CASH is a requirement, no matter what you think, dream or smoke . . . . . and if it doesn't get asked it still is a requirement. I have never been asked for my driver's license in 40 years, so, according to your opinion, it is not required to have one? Immigration will only ask for the 20,000 THB in CASH if they want to deny entry. In this case the "reason" they will write into the denial form, will ALWAYS be "Section 12, §2, no proof of required funds"

@Al *******

the 20,000 THB in CASH is a requirement, no matter what you think, dream or smoke . . . . . and if it doesn't get asked it still is a requirement. I have never been asked for my driver's license in 40 years, so, according to your bolsterous opinion, it is not required to have one? What a stvpid comment of yours. . . . . . . . . . . . .Immigration will only ask for the 20,000 THB in CASH if they want to deny entry. In this case the "reason" they will write into the denial form, will ALWAYS be "Section 12, §2, no proof of required funds"

@Zbigniew ********

he cannot do it by himself. He is caught inside the agent hamster wheel

@James ******

no. You won't be able to do the next extension by yourself. Because you violated the requirement to keep the 800,000 THB in the account for three months after being issued the extension. You are caught in the agent hamster wheel

@Harry *******

did you arrive with a 90-days Non-Imm-O Retirement Visa you obtained in your home country before you flew to Thailand? On this visa, you can get a bank account opened (it would cost 5000 THB to an agent service for getting a bank account opened for you) . . . And do you have the minimum of 800,000 THB you can transfer to your Thai bank account ? Then it costs 1900 THB on Immigration to get the 1-year Extension of the Stay Permit based on Retirement

@Henry *********

baby: cash proof means cash. . . nobody will care about your multi coloured fancy cards. You can stove your cards into the place where the sun never shines onto 😎😂😂

@Henry *********

and a Charles Bukowski would probably get denied entry if he dared to show up at the border in shabby postman clothes wearing that worn leather case

@Henry *********

sorry to say: a credit card is no proof of sufficient funds. That credit card can actually have ZERO Dollar on it

@Karmaa ******

Proof of funds when entering Thailand

Basically, immigration only asks people who got an extensive travel history to Thailand stamped in their passport and who have taken advantage of the visa exemption in quick succession, for a proof of cash.

A border official will start asking if he suspects visa misuse – a misuse of the visa-exempt entry for a long-term stay. It means they will only start asking for the “famous 3 proofs” if they are looking for a reason to deny entry.

The criteria according to which immigration at the border decides on an entry permit are listed in the so-called "Section 12" of the Thai immigration police. This can be found by googling "Section 12 Thailand".

In addition, an immigration officer has individual freedom of decision. The presence of a visa does NOT entitle you to entry if the officer is of the opinion that you are violating an article of "Section 12", or have been “misusing” touristic entries for a long term stay in Thailand.

The fact that many people claim that the have never been asked for proof of funds, does NOT mean that you got a guarantee that you won’t or can’t be asked.

Proof of cash is one of three instruments that immigration uses as a reason to refuse entry.

They ask people for the THREE famous proofs, which you ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE ON YOU, as per see this is a law!

***20,000 THB in cash (accepted as well in another currency, but NOT accepted in form of a credit card or bank statements),

*** proof of booked accommodation for the next few nights

*** proof of onward travel out of Thailand within the 60 days that you get stamped with when entering without a visa.

"Real" tourists are generally not asked for the three proofs!

If you are actually asked for cash, it is better to have the approximately 650 Euros/$700 USD with you. Because inside the area before Immigration counters of the BKK Suvarnabhumi Airport, there are no ATMs where you could withdraw cash.

Unconfirmed reports are that there is an ATM in the space where citizens of some countries buy the “visa-on-arrival”.