@Lynnette ******

yes that is correct. It does require 800,000 baht in the bank in Thailand if you want to extend beyond 3 months. Or you use the illegal agent route. It’s all about choice and preference

@Jack *******

fraud over the web is committed where the alleged perpetrator is based , therefore the home country jurisdiction would apply. I’m not sure where Paul is but if it is UK then for a fraud there has to be a deliberate misrepresentation that the other party ( the Thai government ) relied upon , paul have to intend that they rely on that and there has to be some gain by Paul or some loss to the intended other party.

I cannot therefore see that there has been a fraud based on UK law but as I said the legal jurisdiction to apply would be the one the application is made from.

So my view for what it’s worth , not a fraud and Jack please stop calling Paul “boy” it comes across as offensive and makes you look like a bully which I’m sure you are not.

Oh and by the way before you disagree and call me a “stupid boy” I’m 59 years old a solicitor of the Supreme Court of England and Wales with 40 plus years of legal experience.

@David ******

no problem David , the only application I have personal experience of is the non O-A as that’s the only one I’ve done. The rest of the info is what I’ve gleaned from this group and other forums. There will be differences with the non O-A depending on you nationality. The police check is the obvious one, as each jurisdiction will have a slightly different process.

I can’t say which is the least stressful but there are various ways.

From the UK - Non immigration O-A visa

You must be over 50 be able to show equivalent of 65,000 baht into UK bank for three months prior to application.

You need 12 months health insurance with minimum 3 million baht cover ( AXA cost about £250 PA) You need a police check ( ACRO not CRB ) cost £66. A health certificate certifying you are free from some specific diseases. You can get from a google search of Doctors who provide this service ( cost about £25)

You apply from London Thai Embassy using E Visa service.

You get a 12 month multi entry visa within 7-10 days. It’s a very easy user friendly application. When you enter Thailand you need to present your visa and a copy of you health insurance and will be stamped in for 12 months ( or the last date of health insurance cover)

Also for aged 50 or over

You can get a three month non immigrant O Visa. I’m not sure of the exact process but many in this group will help. In Thailand you use this visa and other documents to open a bank account. You deposit 800,000 Thai baht in the account. When it has been seasoned in the account for 2 months you can apply for a 12 month extension to your visa. As long as you keep at least 400,000 baht in this account and then three months before your extension runs out you go back up to 800,000 then you can extend again for 12 months. As pointed out below the non O option has no requirement for health check, police check or health insurance. My personal view is that if you are intending to live in Thailand you would be foolish not to have health insurance.

You also have the agent options. You can use an agent to open a bank account for you at a fee, then you deposit the money ( 800,000 baht under the same terms) then the agent can apply for you or you can. This is the legal way to use an agent.

The most popular way to use an agent is to pay him a large fee 20-40,000 baht depending which agent and how gullible they think you are. No need to deposit any money in the bank and they do it all for you. Then every year you must use an agent and pay a fee to get an extension.

That is the most common way to use an agent and thousands of ex pats do it. You must remember tho it’s not legal, you and the agent are conspiring to commit fraud on the Thai government. As I said thousands do it every year all over Thailand and get away with it and this will probably continue …..until it doesn’t. So the illegal agent way may be the least stressful in the moment but you are breaking the law and if there is ever a crackdown you will be without a visa and probably in some legal troubles.

I used the first option the Non O-A and found it totally without stress and user friendly , I have 12 months in Thailand ( multi entry) so I can come and go. If I leave then re-enter in the last month of visa and have renewed my health insurance I I’ll get a further 12 month extension ( not multi entry)

Hope that all helps and makes sense.

@Abey ********

yes that is correct badly worded my post I will change that

@Elías *******

haha yes I get that I mixed the letters up lol

@Graham *****

it was BKK branches of Kasikorn and SCB

@Graham *****

Hi Graham my post is about opening a bank account and

@Jesper ******

named the banks. I found his and Peter’s comments above exactly the type of help I was looking for.

I’ve been coming to Thailand for 6 months a year for 4 years. I’ve had the same Thai address for two years. I don’t get your point or the stupid assumptions you are making. I am asking for people’s experience in opening a bank account not someone’s best guess and misinformation.

@Jesper ******

thanks Jesper that’s the info I needed , I was asking for other peoples experience , like yours. Can ask which branches they were? What area.

Too many people make stuff up or have an uneducated guess.