@Terry **********

it is not as difficult as these comments are leading you to believe. You do not need an agent. Immediately get a Thai bank account in your name only, and get the bt400,000 in it, and it doesn't matter where the money comes from. As soon as you have that done, with copies of your wife's ID, and your passport, bank statements showing the money is in the account, and a letter showing it is your account, and finally copies of your marriage license and amphur registration document, you can go to immigration immediately and get your type O 90 visa stamp. This gives you 90 days for the bank money to season for two months, and to get the rest of the documents together. When the money's been in your account for two months, and you have the documents from the list immigration gave you, you can apply for your one year extension. Remember to keep copies of all the documents, as in following years all you'll need is updated bank letters, and pictures. Everything else is the same, unless you move. Most of the documents you need an agent can't help you with so don't even bother with one.

Start the type O visa application in the US before you enter Thailand, not the OA.

@Max ************

they used to be, until two months ago when a Bangkok Bank branch in Pattaya was tied to a bunch of mule accounts opened by Chinese involved in the scam centers in Myanmar, and used to transfer the money out of Thailand. Three executives at that branch, including the manager there, were arrested, with a number of Chinese there. Since then all banks have put a restriction on opening any bank account for a tourist visa. Because of the incident in Pattaya Bangkok Bank is very careful on new accounts now. When the crackdown on mule/proxy accounts used in scams all over the country started in April 180,000+ accounts have been shut down, frozen.

Bangkok Bank is still very good. It's simply much harder to open an account there now. I have accounts at both Bangkok Bank, and Kasikorn Bank.

How long was your money in your personal bank account? That's a big reason lots of people get rejected.

That is unique to cm, as in Bangkok for the type O visa based on Thai wife it doesn't matter where the money came from. That only applies to the visa based on retirement, not Thai wife.

@Innes *****

or you can just cross the border at savanaket, apply for her dependent visa. It doesn't take very long at all. Figure which is more cost effective.

You are trying to make your wife's initial entry into Thailand too difficult. Get a multi entry tourist visa for your wife, an METV. This visa is multi entry for 6 months, getting a 60 day stamp on each entry, that can be extended for 30 more days. Exiting the country, and returning for another 60 day stamp that can be extended for 30 more days. This puts you at six months with just one exit and return. If that is not enough, then about a week before it expires leave, and come back for another 60 day stamp that can be extended for 30 more days, taking you to almost 9 full months, which should easily be enough time. This is the smartest option with the intention of her being on a dependent long term entry in the end.

Stick deodorant is easy to find, it's just that it is written in Thai, and not English, so you have no idea what brand it is.

Now after you get your one year extension go back and get a Bangkok Bank account too. You'll find it is real convenient with how fast Thailand is embracing e-commerce, and scan to pay, that having different bank accounts at different banks makes it easier to track your spending, and expenses. Just something to think about later.