Equatorial

For reference, here is the link - https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/non-immigrant-type-o-retirement And a screenshot... note the additional listed requirements - hotel and booked flight out...

Thanks, @Liquorice, yes, that is my understanding as well. I was just wondering if I need to bring the balance up to 800k for the last two months before the application, after the seven months of 400k.

I just read this requirement listed at the Royal Thai Embassy in Los Angeles. Is that true generally speaking? I believe it is possible to apply for a marriage-based Non Imm O at any embassy, doesn't have to be the passport country. Strange that the rule would be different for the retirement-based visa...

With Money in the Bank, one has to have seasoned 800k two months prior and three months after the EOS application, then 400k, and then back up to 800k two months prior. If one intends to switch to the Income Method, and can show 12+ months of 65k foreign sourced deposits, it seems logical that it is not necessary to bring the balance back up to 800k two months prior to the EOS application. Can anyone confirm, preferably based on experience? Would this also be one of those things that may vary from one office to another?

Agreed that that'd be a problem, however one has to make sure that the wife has access to the funds in case of the husbands untimely demise. Knowing how rules in Thailand change on a daily basis, including based on the bank clerk's mood, I am much more comfortable keeping the reserve funds in my wife's bank account, and keeping close to zero balance in my own account.

I am trying to decide which way to go. I think I understand pros and cons of both, and I am strongly leaning towards the income method. I am curious, what are your reasons for switching from the income method to money in the bank method (if you want to share, of course)?

"Yet cannot sell" would be worded differently - ยังขายไม่ได้

I used both, for the same reason as you - redundancy. Their cost and timing are different, and I take that into account. Adding money to Revolut balance from the US bank account takes 3-5 business days (vs instant with Wise). The weekend exchange rate premium is a nuisance to keep in mind and work around. Deposit from Revolut THB balance into a Thai bank also takes 2-3 business days (vs instant or 1 business day with Wise, for similar amounts). Also, deposits into a Thai bank end up with THB 224 less than was transferred. I assume this is a fee that Bangkok Bank charges, but it does not charge the fee for transfers coming from Wise. Because of that, the way I use Revolut is to add enough USD for spending money for a month, convert it to THB on a weekday, and use it for purchases via virtual Revolut debit card on Google Pay. For any money that gets transferred to a Thai Bank I only use Wise.

Can confirm. Takes longer than one would expect. No idea why. No fees by Revolut or my bank. Some other banks might charge, though unlikely. Your best bet is to test with a small amount to see if your bank charges any fees.

Beautiful is suay with rising tone. Pasa suay is with middle tone.

What is Gui? I have not heard of that one. In Sri Saket, there is also a dialekt called Suay.

Agreed! If you find the sleeping arrangements at the house not to your liking (heat, mosquitoes, no proper bed, no shower, etc.), I would definitely consider a more suitable accommodations. I've done so in the past, many times! Rerawadi has outstanding farang food. For accomodations, there are two resorts nearby (within 10 km of Rerawadi) that I prefer - Coco Bar in Pran (not the one in Khun Han), and also Pongsin Resort. Both under 1,000 per night (although might be higher during Christmas).

Could be. Things change. I visited a few years ago, from the Thai side... Right. That's in Khun Han. Worth visiting... While in Khun Han, go to Little Bird for some decent farang food...

Sri Saket is about as rural as it gets. Here are some of the options: One day trip to Sri Saket city. Go to Big C and/or Macro, get some higher quality food stuff than what's procured locally in the village. One day trip to Ubon Rachatani city; slightly bigger than Sri Saket City. Stay away from Khao Pra Wihan, which has nice ruins, but there seems to be the obligatory annual trouble at the border with Cambodia. Don't assume they have Wi-Fi in the house, get a package with 50-100GB 5G internet data on your phone. How far will you be from Kantharalak?

Post with the same OP/topic -

I am trying to do the same! I am in the process of researching it and I'll try and get it done this month and next. I'll keep this post updated as I go through the motions, and it would be great if you do the same, with your experiences. The big picture is as follows (as I understand it). I will go in reverse order, it actually makes more sense that way. 1/ Thai Immigration requires a KR22 (a.k.a. Kor Ror 22), in support of an EOS application based on marriage. (If you plan on doing retirement-based EOS or LTR, Thai Immigration does not need a KR22.) KR22 is not an MC - it is a document issued by your local Thai county (Amphur), certifying that you are married. 2/ In order to issue KR22, Amphur requires an MC certified by Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) (I am not 100% about this part). 3/ In order to certify an MC, MFA requires an MC to be translated and certified by the Thai Consulate (or Embassy) in the US. 4/ In order to translate and certify an MC, the Thai Consulate requires the MC to be certified by the US Department of State, and Apostilled by the State where the MC was issued. 5/ In order for the DoS and State to certify/apostille the MC, the DoS and State require an original certified copy of the MC issued by the county where the marriage was registered. Put another way, the sequence is as follows: 1/ Get an official MC at the county. 2/ Get the MC apostilled by the State. 3/ Get the MC certified by the Department of State. 4/ Get the MC translated and certified by the Thai Consulate. 5/ Get the MC certified by the Thai MFA. 6/ Get the KR22 from the Amphur. 7/ Include the KR22 as part of the marriage-based EOS application. I am still trying to figure out the details, working with the following information sources: Thai Consulate - I am on West Coast, and this region falls under the jurisdiction of the Thai Consulate in Los Angeles - https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/index The Certified Translations page at the Thai Consulate Website - https://thaiconsulatela.thaiembassy.org/en/publicservice/certified-translations?page=61b10e0827256e13033c1c62 The State Apostille - Select your state - https://www.nass.org/business-services/apostillesdocument-authentication-services The DoS Office of Authentications page - https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/replace-certify-docs/authenticate-your-document/office-of-authentications.html

I assume you're talking about insurance from your home country rather than from a Thailand-based provider, correct?

Agreed. Who cares if it's one transfer or 17? WISE has the ability to schedule recurring payments and, using the technology properly, one can just kick back and relax while consuming the adult beverage of their choice, and watch the 17 transfers (or 34 transfers, or whatever) roll by.

Foreign sourced funds are required in two cases: 1/ Initial Non Immigrant O Visa application inside Thailand (e.g. having entered visa exempt). 2/ Extensions of Stay (EOS) using the income method (the 40k/65k monthly bank deposits). The case you are describing is Extension of Stay (EOS) using the money in the bank method, for which the funds must be seasoned but do not have to be foreign sourced. Note that @DrJack54's comment referring to foreign source funds is in reference to the initial Non O visa rather than Extension of Stay:

I was unable to open a bank account with my marriage-based 90-day Non O. It's possible that the reason is that I live in a small town in Sri Saket, where they don't get many foreigners. (Although each time I go a bank I see at least one foreign customer...) I went to the three bank branches in my small town, as well as to all of the bank branches in a slightly bigger town nearby. That covers all of the big ones - BBL, SCB, Kasikorn; Ayutthaya. I was turned down by all of them. One required a 1-year visa (sic); another required a pink card; yet another required a COR; yet another demanded to see a translated and certified marriage certificate; and - my personal favorite - another one required an international driver license. WTF! Later, when I went to my Immigration Office to do my TM30, I told the officer that I was unable to open a bank account, so how exactly am I supposed to comply with the financial requirements. He did not seem surprised, and he actually wrote a letter for me requesting that a bank lets me open a bank account! It was only thanks to this letter that SCB finally opened an account for me.

Also, a long thread on the same topic -

For the same reason drivers in Thailand are often fined for "speeding" when they are not speeding.

Thanks, @omegaman, for the very comprehensive answer! My question was really only concerning the money that is tied up in Thailand because of the EOS financial requirements, but I appreciate your taking the time to draw the big picture. Lots of stuff to think about! You refer to, "she has access to the account." I assume that is an arrangement I have to make with the bank, so that my wife, who is not a joint owner (and cannot be because of the financial requirement restrictions) can have access to the funds. How does one refer to that type of arrangement (and if you know the Thai equivalent that would be even better)? When I go to the bank I'd like to be able to tell them exactly what I want. Thanks! Also, I am not well versed in financial matters - what do you mean by onshore and offshore accounts? (By the way, my home country is U.S.A., and my wife is a dual Thai and U.S. Citizen, in case it changes the picture.) Finally, for option (2) you wrote, "Make sure she knows to wipe the account as soon as you pass." Why? If it is a joint account and one of the owners passes, the other owner retains full ownership and access, and I was under the impression that the account doesn't even go through probate. What am I missing?

Is Thermae still there? It's been years since I've been there, and I figured it's gone...

Internet says,