You need to check with you local immigration office. In several offices (not Sakon Nakhon) they allow having GSB 2 year deposit certificates as proof of funds. They certificates represent lottery tickets for a monthly’s draw, but are immediately withdrawable. (If you withdraw within 2 years you get no interest but any lottery winnings remain - withdraw within 6 months at a 2% penalty)

After two years the deposit expires and the whole principal is refunded with 1% interest.

I deposited1 mln thb which guarantees me 700 baht lottery winnings per month with a chance on winning substantially larger amounts. (Plus 1.25% interest per year)

@Floyd *****

It’s neither the US nor Thai. It’s a clueless agency. Find another agency. They are happy to grab a substantial chunk of your money.

Probably they just needed an excuse to deny you. I had a similar nonsense excuse trying to get PA insurance at SCB.

I went online and arranged AXA within minutes. No problems, no greedy agents inbetween.

@Matts ************

Exactly. Book a hotel room for 30 days or so. Get them to provide a TM30. Go to immi to get the residence certificate, fix the bank problem and cancel the remaining hotel reservation.

Done.

Life goes on.

@Brian ****

They tend to use such tactics to discourage marriage visa. Retirement is much smoother. After last year’s experience I decided to change this year.

Did mine yesterday. One hour in and out, even when the lady was a bit grumpy…

We were asked photos on the bed, so we added a picture of us standing on the bed. The lady didn’t appreciate the joke. 🤣

We had added all the required pictures including us sitting on the bed, so she removed the joke and accepted the other pictures.

@Roberto ********

Those undertaking cooking classes can still be tax resident. Whether or not that results in having to pay tax is an entirely different matter.

@Roberto ********

The dta defines taxable income and location of the taxability.

But I’ll gladly get educated. Which dta and which article?

@Eamonn ******

Yeah. Sort for assistance in hyjacking the topic. 🤭

@Roberto ********

Then you have misread. The Thai tax code doesn’t care whether you are tourist or pregnant woman or illegal alien or whatever.

When you are 180 days or more within a calendar year in Thailand, you are tax resident. Period.