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Stuart **********
This is a summary of
Stuart **********
's contributions to the platform. They have posed 6 questions and added 910 comments.

QUESTIONS

COMMENTS

Stuart ***********
@Martin ******
no, you can use your UK bank statements to prove you have sufficient funds to apply for the non O in the UK. Then when you enter Thailand with the non O visa you are able to open a bank account because you have a long term visa already. That's why I said it's the easy way to do it. If you open a bank account as soon as you arrive and deposit the 800,000 baht, it's then easy to apply for the 12 month extension of stay, once the money has been in your Thai account for 2 months.
Stuart ***********
There's an easy way and a difficult way...

Easy - get a non-O retirement visa online from the Thai Embassy before coming to Thailand.

Difficult - Travel to Thailand without the non-O and hope a visa agent can sort it for you.

It used to be quite easy to come to Thailand without a visa and apply inside Thailand, but the banks will not open a bank account for you now, so it makes it very difficult.
Stuart ***********
@Ismael **************
retirement visa is much easier. Many people that are married to Thai women (like me) get the retirement visa to avoid the difficulties. Go to your local immigration office to get their list of requirements as every office has different requirements. If it's the 800,000 baht that's making you choose the spouse visa, you can switch to the monthly 65,000 baht method at the second extension and withdraw the 800,000.
Stuart ***********
I think I read that Bangkok insist on 90 day report first, but other immigration offices (like Hua Hin) don't require the 90 day report, so you might be better stating which office you use.
Stuart ***********
This situation seems to be happening a lot since the recent crackdown, it must be really annoying for them. Have they asked what they need to provide to open an account? They might need an agent to help or maybe travel Surat Thani to see if they are more accommodating there?
Stuart ***********
Get the non O retirement or marriage visa from the Thai Embassy before coming back to Thailand. They last for 3 months but then can extend for 12 months and you will then need to extend annually, but extensions are relatively easy to do yourself. The retirement option is the easiest. They require funds in a Thai bank (
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k), but if you transfer a monthly sum to your account (
*****
k) you can use the monthly deposits instead of having money in the bank for the second extension and withdraw the lump sum. Good luck.
Stuart ***********
@Robert ********
never thought of that. I remember a Canadian friend told me his beautiful house in Vancouver was not really worth anything, it was the land that was valuable. Seems alien to people from the UK like me as the house itself has at least equal value.
Stuart ***********
@Carla ******
I thought you were from the USA and if so, that Embassy will not provide the affidavit required to negate the requirement to have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account. If you are from another country, double check the Embassy definitely provides the affidavit.