When I came to Thailand I acquired an OA visa in Los Angeles. It made everything a lot easier, when moving to Thailand a couple months later. I was able to bring in 800,000 and open a bank account the day after I arrived. The next year I transferred to the Non O in Thailand and had everything set up from before. Now they require you to have health insurance but that wasn’t a deal breaker for me. And why would anyone move to a foreign country without health insurance? You can get basic in hospital coverage for one hundred dollars a month for the minimum requirement. I’m 70 and my health insurance is $150 usd a month now for $200,000 in coverage.

I used Airbnb by the month rather than sign a lease. A bit more expensive but no hassle and no deposit.

I’ve been getting my visa at Korat immigration for five years and never had any problems. In and in two hours max.

You know they need their tea 🍵 money!

Just hand over 1000 baht and say that’s all you have. A bit of compromise and they’ll still be happy. 😃 Then you can mention that you’ll bring the other 1000 baht to the immigration office the next day. Would be interesting to hear what their response would be.

@Wannikea ********

will, then they screwed up their planning for what it takes to live in Thailand. They could come as tourists then after ninety days go back home and get the OA visa sorted out. I think they can apply online and maybe it’s one trip to immigration but I’m not sure about that. And OA lasts for two years.

Get a non OA in your own country and you won’t have to do anything about it at immigration except checking in every 90 days. Bank account then easy to open .

Easiest way to do this is get the OA nonimmigrant visa in Los Angeles, good for one year and can extend for second year. You have to fulfill the requirements but then when you arrive in Thailand you can open your bank account and put 800,000 in and then can change to a non O in Thailand if your not wanting to pay the health insurance costs. You can do all of this without an agent.

@Nick ***********

The bank manager at Krunsri at Westgate mall in Nonthaburi opened my account years ago when Bangkok bank was making my life difficult. Also Kasikorn is good.

@Anna ********

I said most banks won’t open an account with a 90 day non O visa. I guess you can’t read.