@Scott ******

People don’t make wars. Governments do.

Just do your time and when you get out you’re over 50 and can apply for a retirement visa. 🤣🤣🤣

(Sorry, couldn’t resist)

@Kool ******

He clearly wants the ‘easiest’ option. There is always only ONE which is the easiest. The rest is more complicated and thus doesn’t qualify as ‘the easiest option’. You shouldn’t interfere with posts when you can not read. 😉

@Manfred *******

‘last year’ is the keyword here. Things changed since early 2024 and it should no longer be possible to open an account on a short term visa.

All answers which contain ‘I did it last year’ are no longer valid. Unfortunately enough.

@Lawrence *******

That’s the way to do it. Get the document from immigration and then go to the bank. Thanks for confirming!

@Scott ******

That’s good to know. Which bank are you using on the receiving end?

PS I have to add that it doesn’t matter to my case because I am entering on “reason of marriage” and not retirement. There is no requirement to show where funds originate with the marriage extension.

@Phil *****

There is no ‘private area’ in a public forum, so live with it please.

@John *******

Nothing is ‘sure’ in Thailand. When your specific IO accepts what you’re doing then be happy with it. Normally Thai officials wouldn’t (shouldn’t!) accept foreign documents for official purposes unless verified through a legalisation process. So if it works for you, be happy with it but don’t count on it to work in the future.

Note: I also use Wise, but it’s different when asking an extension based on marriage.

It’s well possible. First of all you don’t need to season three months before application, but two.

You travel to Thailand on a non-O visa with reason ‘retirement’.

Once arrived in Thailand you make sure you have an address of stay. If renting you will probably need assistance of the owner but I’m not sure about that.

You visit immigration and ask for a document stating your intention to ask for an extension before the non-O expires. When you explain that you need the document for the purpose of opening a bank account they will know which document you need. While there also ask them for a list of documents which they require for the ‘extension based on retirement’. The list varies form one office to another. The

Now visit the bank. Bangkok Bank is the most easy bank for incoming farangs. Don’t let them trick you into buying insurance or other obscure fees. You may have to visit a number of bank offices before you get the account.

As soon as you have the account (include a bank app on your phone - the bank people will assist you with installing) transfer money from your home country into the account. I have read the some immigration offices require that the transfers must evidence that they come from abroad, so you can not use Wise for this but must transfer from home bank straight into the Thai bank. Bangkok Bank will mark the receipt as coming from abroad.

This all can be done within the 1st two weeks after your arrival in Thailand. When ready, collect your documentation while waiting two months. In the end visit the immigration office with all required stuff and request your extension of stay.

It seems you will need an updated bank book, a letter from the bank and bank statements on bank paper, stamped by the bank. I’m not sure of this - This might only be necessary at the annual renewal of the extension.

The Dutch government did the same a year or something ago. I kept buying on Ali as the difference is just too big and after a month or so Ali started to bundle orders to reduce the basic per package handling fee.

I now store whatever I want in the cart or in a wish list and when it gets worthwhile I order the combined stuff. I do have to pay VAT but swiftly reclaim it as I have a tax registered company in Netherlands.

I don’t know yet how to handle this after my move to Thailand but guess I’ll figure it out soon enough.