@Alistair *********

I went into several banks in Chiang Mai last week to make enquiries.. every single one of them told me to go to Bangkok Bank.. stating that it was the only bank able to open an account for a foreigner.. ie. a non-citizen.. so maybe it depends on your province and individual banks/branches interpret the rules differently 🤔

@Paul ******

They want to know where you were residing between the date you entered the country and the date you file your TM30.. and want to see proof of stay such as a hotel receipt if you are claiming to have just moved into a private residence.. so that won't wash I'm afraid!

Some of the advice here contradicts what i was told by immigration in Chiang Mai just a week ago.. they explained that if i stay in a hotel, then it is the hotel's responsibility to register my residence there.. ie. file an online TM30.. but if i later move into a private residence, then i must register again.. if you live with a resident landlord (or with family or friends) then it is their responsibility to register you and they should assist you in your attempt to file the TM30 by providing copies of any documents needed.. in my case, i recently arrived in CM to stay in our own property.. which is owned by my Thai wife.. but i failed to file my TM30 in good time.. because of my ignorance over the hour deadline to do it.. and of course we got fined for this indiscretion.. but immigration stated that if i could prove any prior residence in a hotel etc (which had failed to register me) then they would review the imposition of the fine.. but they indicated that i would still have needed to register a TM30 after leaving the hotel and going to live in a private property.. judging by earlier comments it sounds like different provinces operate different practices then

@Bob **********

I went into numerous banks in CM in the hope of opening an account with just my TM30 slip and my passport.. i have a Thai wife who accompanied me and produced her ID and the blue book for the marital home as well.. but was told that only Bangkok bank could open accounts for foreigners (meaning non-citizen) now.. regardless of our documentation.. and they said 'no' without the formal certificate of residency !!

Sharing my personal experience at Chiang Mai immigration just last week.. my TM30 registration was same day no problem.. but this process simply acknowledges your residence in a private home.. it is not the 'certificate of residence' needed to open a bank account.. which you have to apply for separately on the 2nd floor of the main building.. and Bangkok bank made it very clear to me that i couldn't open an account without the pukka certificate.. the immigeation clerk told me that it would arrive in the post by 20 April.. and when i queried why that was 27-days away i was informed that that's how long it takes.. and there was no 'express' service available to me.. eg. upon payment of a higher fee.. so i simply have to grin and bear it.. no doubt others have had different experiences with different outcomes.. it seems to me that it's all a bit of a lottery.. in the words of forrest gump.. you never know what you're gonna get!

This question really isn't as stupid as some of the people here are making out.. just because a country issues a visa that gives you the right to multiple entry.. it does not necessarily mean that you have limitless entry.. it may well be so with Thailand (currently at least) but its quite feasible for a country to place a restriction on it.. so i commend the person who posed the question for being intelligent enough to check their rights before risking an immigration breach.. and remember this is an information sharing forum at the end of the day.. imo it's a reasonable question posed in a civil manner.. and it deserved a civil response.. rather than an avalanche of sarcasm!

I flew to Thailand from Uk with Emirates around 3 weeks ago.. it was a one-way ticket with no onward flight booked.. since my plan was to extend my tourist visa and then apply for a longer term married visa.. i wasn't asked whether i had an outward flight booked at checkin or at any point on my journey.. though when making a similar trip a few years back i do remember airline staff questioning me about it at checkin.. my reply was that i had a Thai wife and the marital home was in Thailand and i was still awaiting my married visa.. which was sufficient to pacify them at the time.. but that has been the only such conversation in many years of visiting Thailand on a one-way ticket.. that said, as anyone who has lived and worked in Asia for a number of years will testify.. the rules can change at any time as can the attitude of the staff charged with enforcing them.. so it is dangerous to rely on the fact that they rarely check you have an outward flight pre-booked.. best to set aside some money and give yourself enough time to book one (ie. online at the airport) when you go to check in for your flight.. just in case you get collared 😉

If she's staying with you in a private property you will need to file a TM30 with immigration to register her residence.. should be done within hours of arriving at the residence or the home owner will be fined.. the fine is 1600 Bht in Chiang Mai.. if you've stayed in a hotel or other accommodation prior to reaching the private residence then the hotel handles the registration so responsibility is not on the individual.. so if you've been in Thailand longer and can prove where you stayed previously.. eg. up until the day before you file the TM30 then the fine will be waived.. just jumped through these hoops myself and I'm 1600 Bht lighter.. lol 😆

@Kool ******

Many thanks for your guidance.. the 90-day option was not mentioned on my last visit at all.. but it is perhaps what they had in mind.. we're awaiting the translated copy of our marriage certificate to progress with the registration at our district office.. so that is already in hand.. but have been delayed opening a bank account because Bangkok bank won't accept the TM30 acknowledgement as proof of residence.. i had to complete an additional registration with immigration to obtain a 'certificate of residence' that is needed to open an account.. and that unit told us it will be mailed to us around 20 April.. have no idea why it would take nearly 4-weeks from date of filing all correct documents.. but without it Bangkok bank won't budge!

My goal is to obtain a married visa not a retirement visa.. but evidence of income will come from a pension that is in payment.. so i was reciting my experience with CM immigration.. your information suggests applications going through other agencies are handled differently when it comes to evidencing income etc 👍