Martyp

You can always transfer your visa from an old to new passport. Also you don’t want to be traveling outside your home country with less than 6 months on your passport.

The nice thing about Kasikorn is they can give you a 1 year bank statement same day while you are sitting there. A 3 month statement . . . of course. It's a small fee for either.

The incident occurred about 3 weeks ago at the Kasikorn branch in Siam Paragon, Bangkok. The bank officer in front of me flipped through a printout of what I now assume to be a list of approved visa types. She didn't say anything to me but then made a phone call to a central help desk. I've seen this before when I previously had a Kasikorn account. The representative on the phone speaks fluent English and we talk about whatever it is that I came in for. This time she wouldn't approve opening an account based on my LTR. I informed her, politely, that it was a 10 year visa but she immediately repeated that she couldn't approve my account. I was surprised but I've heard so many stories about searching for another branch that I decided to do the same. Not any branch though. I went to One Bangkok, to the BOI office to explain the situation. They confirmed that the LTR is not a non-immigrant visa and suggested that I used the Kasikorn branch downstairs . . . which I did. Even the lady handing out queue numbers had heard of an LTR. The bank officer inside also flipped through the printout. I'm guessing she didn't see an LTR in her printout either but had heard of the LTR. She smiled and then processed the account. Back in October 2024, in Sisaket province, the Bangkok Bank officers were thrilled to see an LTR. They had never seen one before. She called other employees over to look at it. They processed that account in 45 minutes.

No. I know how to get a bank account. I got a Bangkok Bank account in 2024 with my LTR. Even with this recent experience with Kasikorn I had all the right documents. All the BOI office did was suggest i use the Kasikorn branch downstairs from their office. That Kasikorn branch didn't deny me because I didn't have the right documents. They denied me because they said they can't open an account for a foreigner without a non-immigrant visa. The LTR is not a non-immigrant visa. The BOI said is was a "special" visa . . . whatever that means. In any case, the Kasikorn representative on the phone simply didn't know what an LTR was. I mentioned that the LTR is a 10 year visa and she repeated that she couldn't open an account for me. I wasn't going to argue the point. I knew she was wrong and I sought out another branch.

Just try another branch of Kasikorn. I was recently denied an account at Kasikorn because they didn’t understand what my LTR visa was. The next branch opened an account without any problem.

I've had a Bangkok Bank account for a year and have had no problems with it however, as you say, I thought it would be a good idea to open a 2nd account. I opened a Kasikorn account on Monday.

Like I suggested - different branches -> different results. Not everyone has seen an LTR before. When I first got my LTR I went up to the Sisaket Immigration office and they had never seen one before either.

There is a YouTube channel called Cal. His significant other is an immigration officer. He posted a clear discussion of the current rules today. One thing he said is that a pattern of continuous stay is not necessarily confined to a calendar year. It doesn't reset in the new year. It sounds to me that you would be likely to be denied.

They asked for a residency certificate. I gave them my current (new) condo lease agreement and my TM30. They asked for another US ID not knowing that I had been living in Thailand 8 years. They accepted my Thai drivers license.

I read that too on the BOI LTR website as I was on my way to One Bangkok. Neither branch asked for it. The Paragon branch didn't seem to know what an LTR was so why would they ask for it? Plus if it at all indicated that the LTR was not a non-immigrant visa then at least the lady on the phone would have refused to open the account. The One Bangkok branch knew about LTR's. I got my pensioner LTR in January 2023. When I opened my Bangkok Bank account in Kantharalak, Sisaket province late last year they were excited to see my LTR. They had never seen one before. All I needed for today's Kasikorn account was my passport with the visa and my condo lease/TM30. They copied my Thai drivers license as well. Of course, be prepared for any request when doing this.

Getting a Kasikorn account - a bit of difficulty I have a Bangkok Bank account. I've had no problems with that account but considering the current banking issues I thought getting a second bank account would be a good idea. I went to the Kasikorn branch in Siam Paragon mall, Bangkok. I went to the desk that said new accounts for foreigners. I gave the lady my passport. She looked at my LTR visa and then started looking at what must be a list of foreigner visas. She then called someone. I talked to the lady on the phone. She asked if my visa was a non-immigrant visa. I said that I don't think it is classified as a non-immigrant visa. She then told me that they cannot open an account for any foreigner that is not on a non-immigrant visa. I asked even a 10 year LTR? She repeated the no account without a non-immigrant visa. I chose not to argue. Went to the LTR office in One Bangkok. He confirmed that the LTR is not a non-immigrant visa. It is a "special" visa. He then suggested using the Kasikorn branch in One Bangkok, which I did. The lady in One Bangkok also looked through a list of visas and then said I could open an account. It took about 30 minutes and now I have a Kasikorn account. I'm not sure if the lady in Paragon just didn't see it or if it wasn't on her list. However, the lady on the phone was very definite, in fluent English, about no accounts for anyone not on a non-immigrant visa. I don't think there is anything to conclude from this other than different branches -> different results . . . which should not be news to anyone. I was just a little surprised . . . By the way . . . Chat GPT will tell you that a pensioner LTR is a non-immigrant visa. It is just wrong. It said it is in the BOI documents; It is probably just making this up.

I got 18 months on my OA. I just happened to go to Cambodia the first year. Otherwise what is the point? I already had a bank account with money in it. I just went for the 1 year extension. The goal, as I see it, to get to 1 year extensions.

Correct but note the phrase "timed to invalidate your OA visa". If you were to leave just before the OA expired but didn't return until after the OA expired or left during the 2nd year without a re-entry permit then your OA is finished and you can apply for a new OA. You don't have to take advantage of the 2nd year option.

There is a difference between getting the original visa and getting extensions of that visa. There is also a difference between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and it’s consulates and the Department of Immigration inside Thailand. The rules for acquiring a visa from a consulate are different than getting a visa or extension from the Department of Immigration inside Thailand. Thai Immigration says that funds for visa extensions must be in a Thai bank account.

I had an OA for 6 years. You have to show the proof of funds in a Thai bank account to get a 1 year extension of stay in Thailand. With an OA you should be able to get a Thai bank account and you have plenty of time to get the account. I believe you have to continue to use the deposit method with your first extension. You then simultaneously make 12 monthly deposits of 65,000 baht to your Thai bank account to qualify using the monthly deposit method for your second 1 year extension. I have had Pacific Cross insurance for the past 7 years. I’ve never made a claim but otherwise am happy with them.

I had an OA for 6 years. I will repeat what others have said. How much you pay will depend on your age, the amount of coverage you purchase, the amount of deductible you choose, and your health status. Expect pre-existing conditions to be excluded so you will have to have the ability to pay for those yourself. Some pre-existing conditions will probably prevent you getting insurance at all. Now having said that - I bought into Pacific Cross in 2018. I was 62 years old. I have a 10 million baht policy. I have a 40,000 baht deductible. I pay once per year. My premium now, at age 69 is 78,000 baht. I have never made a claim so I am getting a no claims discount (I think 20%). For me the premium was about the same or less than my US insurance was 10 years ago. Also, in 8 years, I have never had an out of pocket hospital bill over 21,000 baht (remember my deductible is 40,000 baht). I have always used private hospitals. I have money set aside for future medical bills for whatever insurance may not cover. I wouldn't recommend the OA. I don't see a reason to have your insurance tied to your visa. With the O visa you will have more freedom to buy into more insurance options. Yes, 3 months later, you will have to apply for a 1 year extension of an O visa. I would suggest you just go through this process. Eventually, both the O and OA visas are subject to the same year extension process with the same stack of documents except the OA visa holders have to add an insurance certificate. Go for the O. Also . . . I would be surprised if you could get an OA through the Philippines Consulate. I believe you have to apply from your passport country. It's been so long I haven't kept up with those issues though.

You only report to Thai immigration if you are in Thailand for a continuous 90 days. If you are really going to be traveling in and out of Thailand frequently and you are not in Thailand for a full 90 days at a time you may never have to do a 90 day report. Even if you do a 90 day report it is free and doesn’t take much time depending on the immigration office you are using.

It’s 6 months of data. It was high season earlier. It’s slow season now. The doom & gloom videos are clickbait. If the year totals out at 40m or even 30m you can’t scoff at those numbers.

I did my 2nd 1 year report last month. They did not ask me for a TM30. Bring the documents listed on the BOI website for 1 year reports.

I used to have an OA and extensions but I have no recent experience. My OA was in 2017. I currently have a 10 yr pensioner LTR. The LTR doesn't require money in the bank. Anyways, I am just suggesting it as an option to consider. Google BOI LTR to go to the Thailand Board of Investment website to look at the full requirements. Good luck.

I did my 2nd one year report today at the new BOI office in One Bangkok. Take the MRT to the Lumphini station. You walk directly into the building. It’s in the Parade building, TIESC office, 6th floor. If you haven’t been here before the ask the information desk which elevator to take to TEISC. The TEISC information desk can direct you to the BOI office. It’s functional and not nearly as nice as the old office. I was asked to scan a QR code to sign in. I was then directed to the Immigration office across the hall. I went to window D1 to get a queue number. Then I went to window D7 which was labeled 90 day reports. I gave the officer my passport and TM 95 form. I don’t think the officer had encountered a 1 year report before. She went to ask a question of another officer. Then she came back and handed back my passport and report receipt with a friendly smile. The receipt is the usual 90 day receipt with “1 year” hand written on it. No lines. It all took about 15 minutes.

Targeting wealthy expats in no way changes the options for the traditional average income expat. The most popular retirement visa is the O visa and it doesn’t require insurance.

The pensioner LTR is 50,000 baht. If your passive income is a simple pension then it is easy to apply yourself online. If your income is more complicated than an agent might be useful. You can apply for the LTR either inside Thailand or outside Thailand.

I have the pensioner LTR. I doubt you will be approved if you can’t submit 1-2 years of tax returns showing passive income. There is no cost to trying but I don’t think it will happen. I applied for my pensioner LTR in 2022 while I was in Thailand on an OA visa. It was easy to apply online from inside Thailand. When you go to get your LTR stamp in your passport they will move you from your existing visa to the LTR.

I used to arrive at 8:15am. I would have my section queue number by 8:45. For my 1 year extension I would have to wait about an hour to see an immigration officer. I saw no advantage to arriving at 5am or 6am.