DrJack54

"Bit of an imposition" for YOU. "No Go" for ME.. I would find that ridiculous and demeaning. Also the witness thing (if required) I wouldn't be happy with. As I stated previously...to each their own

Different strokes for different folks. I regard myself as the friendly type at places such as bars etc. however as far as some random official coming to do a home visit that's a No No for me. In any event I think the OP has decided not to do Non O extensions marriage..

I understood what you meant. In particular Non O popular at places in Laos... Savannakhet and Vientiane. Hopefully the process time will be under 5 days. Anything much longer would become unattractive option. Moreso as there is option to border bounce and obtain the Non O in Thailand from visa exempt entry. The added kicker is that seems no online payment possible for the eVisa in Laos as least in initial months.

You are comfortable with what your office requires so stick with that. My point is that does not apply across the board. Good summary from @Tod Daniels from another forum. Note the word SOME "The 400K baht banked money method for proof of funds for an extension based on marriage to a thai need to be in the bank account for 2 months before you apply for the extension. SOME offices request you keep the funds in the account during the under consideration period (but this is not a posted requirement). After that you can do what you want with the money as long as it's back to 400K baht 2 months before your next yearly extension"

Think you won't find any written rule about maintaining the 400k during the under consideration period. What you will find is various immigration offices having their "rules" Here is one random post from thread one year back. " Cecil Right. Each renewal of my marriage visa I had to show 400k when picking up the stamp a month later. And one can hear the officers say the same to other applicants: leave the money in the bank until you get your visa approved" On other hand you will find many posts that it's not required at "their office" You have posted in few previous threads that your office does not have this requirement. On the rare occasion that head office would require something extra its best advised to maintain the 400k till final stamp is in pp. Edit: sorry for oversized font and bold type. I did not do that

Here is a cut and paste from typical sources.... "As of November 2024, visa-exempt nationals of 93 countries entering Thailand will need to apply for an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) for each trip". The ETA is only required for visa exempt entry. Still in the pipeline. That will be you as for such a short stay you would enter visa exempt. (it's not visa on arrival it's visa exempt) Currently visa exempt provides 60 day stamp. I would keep an eye on things. It will be simple online thing if/when it's introduced. If you have an return/onward flight for your visit that will be helpful for airline at departure. Some guesswork in recent thread on ETA https://aseannow.com/topic/1344826-the-thai-eta-electronic-system-for-travel-authorisation/

So bottom line: you obtained extension. Also OP is not dealing with Hat Yai. You ran into a nutter on a particular day and received extension. How did home visit go?

No problem. Marriage is 400k for 2 months prior to application. Retirement 2 months prior to application and 3 months after application and as low as 400k in other months. That is for money in bank method.

There is no back peddling. You left out first sentence to the bit you took out of context. I stated..... "I live on retirement extensions and currently changing to income method. No way I can live on as little as 65k per month. So it's easy to choose income method if you want to avoid the extra requirements and home visit" Clearly I'm pointing out to OP that he can use income method to avoid 800k in bank and do extensions based on retirement so no home visit.

Many threads with this type of advice https://aseannow.com/topic/1298009-money-in-bank-for-extension-based-on-marriage-minimum-must-be-kept-there-whilst-under-consideration/ You can choose what to do.

As usual you have taken my post completely out of context. The OP is concerned with keeping 800k in bank for retirement and also concerned with home visit if doing extensions based on marriage. Using income method for extensions based on retirement would solve both concerns. There are numerous threads concerning using money in bank for extensions based on retirement requires 800k to be locked into bank account. Using income method avoids keeping funds in bank account. Obviously if anyone has other assets such as real estate, car etc then WILL is required Such an obvious thing. As stated above.

Been reported several times of immigration giving slap on wrist and told to maintain funds until final stamp goes into pp in future. Never heard of the extension not issued due to using funds and going under 400k .

Tod would know. Thinking that will not be required (hopefully) in future. If you send month in Vietnam thinking you would be fine entering visa exempt even after a METV.. Did you consider obtaining Non O eVisa for Thailand while in Vietnam. Do you have a Thai bank account in your name only?

Why would you be applying for a tourist eVisa for Thailand when visa exempt entry provides same 60 day stamp. What does this mean

For marriage extensions the 400k only needs to be in bank for 2 months prior to application and maintained during under consideration period. Using income method for either marriage or retirement the transfers just need to hit the Thai account send can then be used. I live on retirement extensions and currently changing to income method. No way I can live on as little as 65k per month. So it's easy to choose income method if you want to avoid the extra requirements and home visit. Added bonus with income method is that removes need to have a WILL as wife/partner does not have 800k tied up in bank account in your name only.

Not usual for an OP to go off topic in own thread. Initially seems you were inquiring about the difficulty of doing extensions based on marriage. If you have issues about 800/400 baht in a Thai bank account then use income method.. At 65k for retirement and 40k for marriage you can run a balance of virtually zero balance. Don't understand what are actually asking about.

Laos changes to eVisa from start of 2025. Application for non O is not longer available at Thai consulates such as Savannakhet. We don't know at this point how long the online process will take. Vientiane likewise.

You were able to open the bank account because you had a Non O. The OP does not.

Just one person's opinion (I'm not doing extensions based on marriage) Thinking that most issues for folk complaining about extensions based on marriage is down to things such as errors in docs supplied etc. Many people do extensions based on marriage without any issues. On top of that those extensions have very easy financial requirements compared to retirement.

Thai friend won't help. Opening a bank account has changed completely since 2008. OP is married to Thai.

The advice will go something like this. "Go make police report and come back with this this and this"

Yes it does state 15 days. Once I did it at 12 days (CW) and it was processed and approved. Had hand written note to do it 15 days early in future. True at CW can take long time to receive approval. Past the 7 day grace period for in person. Have read couple of reports when mail was either not returned or not approved that with EMS recipe there was no fine. Another perk of the mail option is next report date is calculated from due date not from when application is made.

Have no idea what the problem with online payments being possible. This cut paste from Thaiger caught my eye. "Regarding the transition to online fee payments in countries where travellers currently need to show payment proof at embassies or consulates, a representative from Kasikornbank stated that the online payment system is under development and could be ready within six months"

You need to post the TM47, 15 days prior to due date. TM30 not tied to the report. It's pretty much bullet proof. Might be option for future reports.

I assume that you presented your marriage certificate and COR to bank and explained the intention to obtain Non O marriage. I'm not aware of any agents in Nakhon Sawan. Have you tried Bangkok Bank and suggested purchase of one year insurance. The agents in Pattaya/Bangkok etc charge ~4-5k most of that goes to the cost of insurance.