SeeAyOh

Awesome. I am in the same boat and I had read that applicants for some of the elite type visas were getting pushback about using brokerage account cash, so I was concerned about Non-O. Happy it worked for you, hopefully the same for me. Thanks for reply.

OP, thanks for posting your experience. Quick Q for you: You used brokerage accounts as evidence of your financial means? I assume so since you mentioned Schwab. The Thai embassy accepted cash balances in those accounts as proof without issue?

Ah...gotcha. Yes, that makes sense. That link was helpful too. The OP said he used his Charles Schwab brokerage statements. Schwab is not a commercial bank, so that suggests he used securities accounts, etc. If so, I don't see why a money market account would be an issue. I'll ask him. TY for your help.

Thx again Now I know that some of these threads take on lives of their own and become he said she saids, but to your last statement re: agents and bank acc't as a stand alone service---I spoke to a well known visa service and they specifically told me that yes, they would do the bank acc't seasoning as a stand alone service. Even quoted me a price. I also had assumed that they couldnt do that so I made them repeat it to me. That's the agent I referred to above who advised me to get the visa outside Thailand and the bank a/c on my own in the first place. Not trying to start an argument or anything, but that is what they told me in writing. It is entirely possible that something was lost in translation but that was my understanding. Valid point re: Wise, etc., but I'd lose less sleep if I didnt wire money to and fro Thailand. If there is an economic way to use an agent, I'd prefer that, but I will look into your suggestion. Still, this can all be moot if the Thai embassy shoots down my application ha.

Yeah, I've been seeing north of 50k baht consistently for the whole visa agent package. One agent had told me that getting the O visa from outside Thailand, entering Thailand with it, and then opening the bank account on your own cuts the cost of using an agent substantially. (as you mentioned, one cannot open a bank account with a tourist visa.) So I am trying to do that route. Unfortunately, at this rate even if I moved assets tomorrow, I wouldnt be able to generate three months of statements with it as I am applying soon. I just didnt think it would be an issue because I didnt think it mattered what kind of bank account the cash had to be in. Just that it had to be in a bank for the requisite amount of time, etc. and that I could get official bank statements, etc. I'd prob use Chonburi office.

Thanks for reply. Im not familiar with an OZ Super Acc't but based on your description it sounds like the assets in that account are stocks/securities. In the US a "money market" account is just an account in which the "cash" is invested in very short term instruments. You can withdraw from it using an ATM, write checks from it, etc. You can liquify assets in seconds. The advantage of a money market is that your cash generates more interest than sitting in a simple checking account. Still, it is at best a "cash equivalent" account and I don't know if the authorities will note that distinction even though it literally has nothing but cash in it. I hope they do because I simply wont have time to move assets to a checking account because I am applying in November. FWIW, I am trying to obtain the O-Visa from outside Thailand so as to cut the costs of using a Thai agent, prices of which are very high to me.

An applicant needs to show $30,000US cash on three most recent months of bank statements. Fair enough. Question: Does anyone know if the Thai Embassy (Wash DC) will accept money market assets (cash equivalent) at a bank to meet this requirement? I don't know if the authorities only consider "checking or savings accounts" as proof. Technically a money market account is a savings account just with a couple of minor distinctions. Still it's not a plain vanilla checking or savings account. I read in a couple of threads elsewhere that some applicants for LTV visa specifically have run into problems applying with money market assets while others did not cite issues. I wrote to the Embassy for guidance and all they did was reply they wanted bank statements and put the two words in bold.

Yep...this is my rationale. ty Plus, it gives one year straight away so it's just one less thing to do on arrival. Ill have to set the bank etc up eventually. Also, I already have global health insurance so I am not incurring an added expense there. I've checked. It will meet the initial requirements. So really all I have to do is prove I am not a leper ha and get the background check.

TY.....Yes, I suppose I meant Thai embassy for the application. It's actually easier to obtain an FBI background check because many US Post Offices can take the fingerprints. Plus there are "channelers" to whom the FBI outsources background checks. Police stations can be a hassle (we are too busy, there's no one here at moment...., etc.) Plus you have to visit the station in person. I'll double check whether local police check is mandatory though. Thank you for pointing it out. I did find this below so I assumed FBI check would work for a visa. https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/Criminal-Record-Checks-Updated-4-10-25.pdf

Sorry....I searched but couldnt find an answer. For the Non O-A criminal background check, an FBI fingerprint check will suffice. The application requirement is that the fingerprint check submitted has an "authorized signature." The report from the FBI is emailed to the applicant and it will have an "authorized signature" on it, but it is, after all, an emailed document. Does Thai immigration want the document authenticated, i.e. sent to the State Dept, before it is submitted? Or does the report as rec'd from FBI already meet the requirement? Many thx