@Tim ********

it doesn't take 4 weeks to do it, I used mots visa services in Pattaya, I think you need to have 30 days remaining on your current stamp in your passport, they sort it all out in a few days, it's really easy, you accompany the agent to the bank, you don't even queue up. I think it was ฿4000 agent fee, to open the account, + 700 for the ATM MasterCard + deposit ฿2000 in your new account.

@Stuart **********

mark Jacobs they don't just let you open an account because you have had a shave and got a nice clean shirt on, if you meet the criteria, you can turn up in your bermuda shorts and Chang beer vest, there is another guy in these groups that always comments when anyone posts about needing a bank account, "I'm a physician and I dressed as such" the bank don't care, and why would any bank be so excited for you to deposit ฿5 million into an account, and then proceed to withdraw it by buying a condo.🤷🙆🤦

I've heard people mention that they used an exchange booth in the Arab district, in Bangkok, to change money that wasn't accepted elsewhere, apparently they are less strict about the quality of the notes.

@Allen *******

visa agents, there are lots of them in the tourist areas, Pattaya is probably the best place to get everything sorted.

@Allen *******

just use the services of an agent, they can open a bank account for you, I did it recently on a tourist visa, i also converted my home country driving licences, along with an IDP into full car and motorcycle licenses.

@Cliff ********

I was told a lot of the rules and regulations changed sometime around march 2023, making it very difficult or impossible to open an account on a short term visa, it's a catch 22 situation, because most people enter Thailand on say a tourist visa, and then want to open a bank account to make a deposit to meet the financial requirement, for acquiring a long term visa, but now the banks are saying you can only open an account on a long term visa, that's why now most people are just using the services of an agent.

@Cliff ********

I assume you're doing the "copy and paste" with this comment every time someone asks about opening a bank account, it's out dated information, the rules and regulations have recently changed regarding opening a bank account, if you don't already have a long term visa you will be refused by most or all the banks you visit, you will likely need the assistance of an agent if you're on a short term visa.

@Rick *****

you don't need to buy a re-entry permit, if you have got a multiple entry tourist visa (METV) when you cross the border back into Thailand by most land borders, you just need to fill in the TM6 arrival card, and present that along with your passport and a printed pdf copy of your METV to the immigration officer, and make sure you check they have stamped you in for 60 days, before you walk away.

@Steve ******

I would say it's a ticket to the Thai/savannakhet border, not savannakhet itself, but anyway it's a matter of opinion I suppose, but the opinion that matters, is the opinion of the people issuing visas, and I read these visa pages quite often, and people seem to always suggest they will only accept a flight ticket, showing your exit plan within the time you're stamp in for, and a bus or train ticket will be rejected, personally I've only ever purchased a cheap flight ticket to a neighbouring country, and it's always been accepted.

@Steve ******

yes I've been on that bus from mukdahan to savannakhet, but what Brandon thurkettle is trying to tell you, the bus stops at the Thai immigration, you stamp out of Thailand, it then it goes across the friendship bridge and stops at Lao immigration, you then need to buy a Lao visa, and walk around on to the Lao side, and arrange another bus or taxi, to go into savannakhet, the bus you crossed the bridge on, it then turns around and goes back to the Thai immigration, and then back to mukdahan bus station, I've done it few times doing border bounces.