drori

47 minutes ago, PadPrikKhing said:

So it sounds like I would have to immediately get down to Krabi or Hua Hin or wherever I have decided I want to live, and find a place to rent extremely rapidly, and that the reason I'd have to be in such a hurry to find a place is because I would need to have the contract for that in hand when I go to a bank to get a bank account so that I can do my transfer as soon as possible... because I can't get the non-O without having the money in the bank.

 

I was hoping not to have to select the place I'm going to live in a huge hurry. But if that's how it is, then it's how it is.

i still recommend on trying kasikorn bank (the green bank) as people including me seem to think its easier to open there an account for foreigners. when i opened my account i didnt even have a contract as i was renting an appartment service which is monthly but without contract. they just asked for my passport + address.

9 minutes ago, BritTim said:

The bank branches vary enormously in their willingness to open an account for a foreigner, and they are more reluctant with some nationalities than others. In general, it has become harder and harder. Mentioning a willingness to buy some fairly unattractive life insurance for around 3,000 baht or so if you can open an account will sometimes work. The bank employee gets a commission on the insurance.

im fairly sure that one of the branches will except him if he at least has a contract for a rent of an appartment. when i opened my account it was about 3-4 years ago and everyone said kasikorn was the easiest back then. anyway a bit of a showoff comment but i have no problem waging money that he will find a branch that will open for him an account in 1 day.

p.s. i am with an israeli nationality so i guess not the "best" relationships with thailand? still had no problem.

20 hours ago, Salerno said:

It would have been better if they kept the 45 days but swings and round abouts, hopefully from 1 November it's max 1 day quarantine. 

 

It can be tight if you run into problems opening a bank account. To go from exempt to Non O you need to apply with 15 days left on your existing entry and have the 800K in the bank on the day you apply; so, just short of two weeks to get that sorted. You have 2 plans of attack if banks are being a pain:

 

1 If you are running out of time you can always get a 30 day extension on your visa exempt (costs 1900 Bht), or

2 Throw some money at an agent to get it done. Current price is around 3500 Bht.

 

Personally, I'd probably hit the streets for 3 or 4 days and if no luck go for option 2. Given the cost, possibly even go that route from day 1 to save the messing around in your first week back in LOS.

 

Then it's just a case of transferring the money in and applying for a Non O (with at least 15 days left on your permission to stay and costs 2000 Bht) which gives you 90 days.

 

Then 60 days later you apply for the extension based on retirement (1900 Bht) and then you're all set to live happily ever after doing annual extensions. Or until you get bitter and twisted like a certain cohort on here of course ???? 

 

In between the annual extensions of course you've got the 90 day reporting either in person, online (can't do first one online) or by mail (and depending on IO, possibly going back to show you kept 800K for three months).

 

Depending how often you intend travelling, when able, you need to get either a single (1000 Bht) or a multiple (3800 Bht) reentry permit to keep your extension alive. Get it from IO when your extension is granted or can get it at Swampy on the way out.

 

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You could of course get a Non O from the US and miss out most of the above, again a personal choice, me I prefer just jumping on the plane without messing around with visas and Embassies but you have the eVisa option now that cuts out the hassle of mailing passports back and forth so could be worth it if you don't like winging it so much.

 

Re your question about Non O-A, are you sure expunged show up on records from the States? If so that kind of sucks and makes it pointless; pretty sure it wouldn't show on any other countries record. Can't remember reading any reports on it I'm afraid so no idea if it would affect your application for an O-A.

 

If you're fairly set on setting up base in LOS and can afford to just dump 800K in a Thai bank I'd forget about O-A. The plus side of the O-A is you can basically get 2 years out of it and no need to transfer money to Thailand, the downside is the extra paperwork (police check etc.) and you get stuck with the extra insurance requirement from then on if you use it after the 2 years for an extension. You could of course just let it lapse at the end of the 2nd year and get a new one but then you run the risk of requirements changing - been a while since it went to 800K and given the past couple of years, and noises being made even prior to Covid you never know. Previous rulings obviously not any type of guarantee of future but those already on extensions where grandfathered when it was changed.

correct me if im wrong but he should not have any problem if he goes to the bank with a contract of renting an appartment/condo + his passport? in my experience the easiest banks are kasikorn (the green) and bangkok bank.

little bit off topic but i wanted to hear opinions from people using wise for a long time now. i see a lot of bad feedback around the net of people saying they sending money same like to thailand through wise and the money never arriving and then their account get suspended for no apparent reason.

12 minutes ago, Salerno said:

Have you already bought one? If not grab a $12-15 throwaway.

well im scared to have problems with 1. the embassy when doing the app for TR visa.

2. when boarding the plane.

but anyway my flight is still long time head in september so wouldn't buy a throwaway now anyways. and yup i already bought one but thanks anyways ????

38 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That was never an issue.

 

BTW: I'm not sure how things work now with tourist visas to Thailand, however several + years ago I was never required to show onward flight for tourist visa application.

I realize it can vary depending on where you apply.

All that was required was proof of flight INTO Thailand.

well they didn't but due to covid stuff i dont mind shelling the extra few 300 as it's not what'll break me but it is a shame indeed

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

She didn't know airline rules.

If you have a visa or reentry permit, proof of onward flight is not required. 

The onward flight most often is required by the airline if flying to Thailand visa exempt.

yup she didn't know indeed haha. well my only concern which i know sound stupid is that thai embassy will go "why TR visa if your going for less then 60 days?" but thats over now and flight booked 7/9/22 ????

well i did it because of covid. but i do know 100% that back in 2014 when i flew to thailand, i had only a 1 way ticket the airline company didn't want to let in but as i showed that i have a TR visa in passport she went for a few minutes to talk with someone and then they said ok.

thank you, as i dont want to get onward ticket but also do not want to take risks (i really only need 1 way ticket).

i booked a ticket regardless of when the onward ticket is according to your help.

Hello,

I have a question, might be a stupid one but an honest one. if i booked a flight ticket for less then 30 days but wish to apply in my embassy for a TR visa will they then look at the ticket and go like "your flying for less then 30 days you don't need no TR visa so we decline your request"?

thanks in advance.