@Jim ******

yes, the Non O visa is for 90 days and is not a tourist visa, that's the reason you can open a bank account with it.

@Steve ***************

me too. I did it before it became impossible to open a bank account in Thailand without paying an agent. Much easier now to get the non O before you come to Thailand.

@Steve ***************

there is a choice in your home country;

1. Non OA (requires insurance, criminal checks and medical)

2. Non O does not require any of the above, but you must deposit 800,000 in a Thai bank account to be able to extend your stay when you get here.

Seems like you probably chose the wrong visa, most people choose the Non O.

@Steve ***************

there is no insurance requirement with the non O visa, you are confusing it with the non OA (hardly anybody uses that anyway). The non O - 90 day is the retirement visa, once here he can extend his stay by 12 months, but this is an extension based on retirement and not a visa.

@Jim ******

definitely to be avoided, I agree.

It's a very simple process, if you arrive with your non O visa, you can then open a bank account, deposit 800k, wait 2 months then apply at immigration for the extension of stay based on retirement. I have extended mine 3 times now and it takes me less than an hour. It is 1 simple form to complete and lots of photocopies of your documents etc, no need for an agent. Good luck.

@Jim ******

fair enough and yes there are lots of visa agents. Some people struggle with the process and need help, I understand that.

The illegal part is circumventing the 800k baht part.

@Jim ******

unsure what travelling here hundreds of times and 5 hour flight has to do with it, but I thought you said you got an agent here to apply for your visa?

Up to you, but if I was doing something illegal i would not advertise it on Facebook.

You are clearly looking at the wrong visa, you need to look at the non O visa not the non OA.

@Jim ******

you don't need insurance to apply for a visa outside Thailand. That is the non OA visa that very few use now. Most people get the non O visa instead, before they come to Thailand and that way you can open a bank account without an agent.

Using an agent to deposit 800,000 baht for you Is illegal. If the immigration officer is investigated all of their visas are cancelled and you will be deported (yes it does happen I have spoken to 2 people this happened to). My advice would be to delete your answers on here and get a legal extension next time.

@Peter ********

non oa requires criminal checks and annual insurance. Non o requires proof of funds, so to extend each year you need 800k baht in a Thai bank account. Most people choose the non o, as you don't need the specific insurance and you don't need to leave Thailand to extend year on year.

@Angie *********

it is a very easy process. Each immigration office ask for slightly different things, but this is roughly it. One form to complete that asks questions like; date you arrived in Thailand and passport number etc.

You need lots of photocopies of everything.

A lease contract for a minimum of 6 months (I think this varies between offices) and a hand drawn map of the location. Some passport sized photos. Information from your bank (they know what is required). A payment of 1,900 baht.

It has taken me less than an hour each time to get my visa and then extensions each year 3 times, so it definitely is not worth paying an agent.