@Andrew **********

Just had to do this myself and used an agent to expedite the process.. they were very efficient and with hindsight their fees were reasonable.. unfortunately ìm based in CM so of little use to you sorry

Where are you based?

I have been on the same bank account 'journey' myself.. only Bangkok bank would consider letting me open an account.. every other bank told me that only B/bank could now open accounts for foreigners.. and in the absence of a LTV they wanted a letter from Immigration granting permission.. also had to wait 4-weeks for this letter.. and upon finally presenting it to B/bank was also told about this 30-day rule (unexpired days) which prevented me from opening an account.. so i went to a different much larger branch since i was told their management had more discretion.. and didn't mention my earlier interactions.. they opened the account no problem with a modest deposit.. but i then transferred my visa fund into the account in front of them and got them to update the book.. so they could see i was genuine about my purpose.. but it was definitely a right old rigmarole!

I had exactly the same experience when requesting a residence certificate at the IO in Chiang Mai recently.. went to the 2nd floor as directed.. dealt with on a 1:1 basis by a very friendly lady.. was asked to pay 500 bht for it and was told it would arrive in the post 4-weeks later.. she even gave me the exact date it would arrive.. asked if there was an express service to expedite the process and offered to pay for it.. since i needed it urgently to open a bank account.. but was informed that there wasn't and i'd simply have to wait.. when i queried why the process took so long she was unable to offer an explanation and just said that was the processing time.. the letter/certificate arrived on the stated day and was delivered by courier.. not a day earlier or a day later.. this delay cost me the best part of a month seasoning my bank deposit and ate into my visa stamp.. i believe they knew this and contrived to ensure I'd have to pay for another extension before being able to submit my non-o visa application.. it seems other people have been offered an express service for the same 500 bht.. or weren't charged for the standard waiting time.. so it would seem to suggest that individual immigration officers can do what they want.. and may even vary their response dependent upon mood or the day of the week.. very frustrating if you're an expat thats arrived from a western country.. where govt agencies adopt a uniform practice across all branches and staff are not at liberty to do as they please!

I'm married to a Thai.. but our marriage was solemnised in Singapore.. so we have just had a similar experience in preparing for my non-o (married) visa application in CM.. the Singapore marriage certificate had to be certified by the Singapore Embassy in Bangkok.. was then translated into Thai and certified by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Thailand.. we used an agent to expedite the process and on this occasion it was money well spent.. have also had to produce it when registering my residence with the local Amphur.. who wanted to keep the original instead of the photocopy i offered them.. telling me i could 'borrow it' if i ever needed it.. unbelievable! .. but after kicking up a mighty fuss.. explaining that immigration will also need to see the original.. as well as UK immigration at some point in the future.. and insisting they indemnify me for the cost of obtaining another one if they should lose it.. they eventually backed down and accepted the stamped copy.. i should add that the translation was also mandatory to obtain a residence certificate from the local Amphur.. and is also needed to get a 'yellow book' from the Municipality.. which I've recently learned is responsible for issuing them.. ie. not the Amphur directly.. so if you weren't married in Thailand it's pretty much essential for anyone planning on living here long term!

@Chris ********************

Please feel free to skip past my posts my friend.. they are not compulsory reading for anyone.. but someone less experienced than yourself may get some value from what I've shared.. and from what I've observed.. the admins are constantly asking people for more detail in order to offer helpful advice.. like everything else in life 'one size' doesn't fit all!

@David ********

I used an agent recently to get my overseas marriage certificate translated.. that was good value because it saved me running around to embassies etc.. and expedited the whole process.. however i don't see any value in using an agent to obtain my visa.. imo an educated person with all documentation present and correct should not have any difficulty with the process.. long term visa's based on marriage or retirement are fairly straight forward.. the only real issue for a rookie is the plethora of different interim visa's.. which you are likely to need to season your bank deposit and enable you to finalise your ltv application.. slightly more complex when you are trying to avoid border runs and achieve a continuous stay in country.. I've managed to jump through all the hoops I've faced so far.. and i'm confident i will continue to do so with some occasional help to clarify my understanding.. the mixed messages that emanate from different immigration officials on different days can be frustrating.. but are certainly not detrimenral to my emotional health.. lol.. and managing the process myself is far more reassuring.. not to mention more cost effective for me.. i have oodles of shoe leather but sometimes need guidance on which board to walk.. this channel fills that void and provides a lot of constructive advice.. big thank you to the admins for shining the light 👍

@Chris ********************

Well that came out of the mouths of 4 different bank officers in the last 3-weeks.. most recently yesterday at BB who stated that is now the law.. I'm reporting a real life experience not stating a personal opinion. so i'm not sure how anyone has the right to contradict what i heard with my own ears.. unless you were stood next to me and heard something completely different.. or perhaps you think I'm just here to spread disinformation.. people need to understand that rules change (sometimes often) and that not all 'officials' will interpret or enforce them diligently.. something that is becoming more and more evident when holding discussions with multiple organisations!

@Chris ********************

The only bank currently authorised to open a bank account for a foreigner before they have been granted a long term visa is Bangkok Bank.. wasted shoe leather finding that out before BB confirmed it.. apparently its a fairly new law change to clamp down on money laundering.

@Cliff ********

It's not like my wife is a stranger to them.. she's banked there for nearly 40-yrs.. and i had funds resting in her account already.. have never experienced a system where individual branches of the same bank can make up their own rules like that.. effectively discriminating against certain categories of customer at will.. in the Uk banks adopt a uniform policy across all branches.. so you shouldn't get treated differently in my situation.. all banks are commercial entities of course.. and will go out of their way to be helpful if they see value in 'courting' you.. i worked in banking for over 20-yrs myself so I've got the tee shirt already.. lol.. but this system really takes the biscuit.. or perhaps i should have said durian.. cos it stìnks!