Expats Face Visa Uncertainty in Thailand Rules Shift

8 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Better get your savings over here, do it the Legal way…….ED visa abuse, border hop abuse, Agent abuse, back to 30 day exempt entry for all, looks like a PM Anutin crack down.

Should be a more pleasant long stay extension visit soon for those locking up money here

Is that a choice or an obligation ? Why would somebody bring their life long savings into thailand ? I know I certainly wouldn’t. A friend of mine showed me the difference earned by his French bank compared to what Thai banks offer. Is that the way it’s going now, bring all your money or go away ? Smells bad to me.

In 2025 I had a 60 days extension+ 30 days visa. After, I went to Vientiane for 2 nights. Back at Don Muang, hefty difficulties to get in to Thailand again. I had to prove everything: my Visa account, my European house + mortgage, my shares portfolio, my company ownership + bank account, my cash with me, my return ticket to Europe, my place to stay in TH at friends....

My idea was to make also a flight to Vietnam, but.. not allowed anymore: I got - after hours waiting - a 60 days stamp and a blockade for an additional in/out trip or even a 30 days visa.

And that after importing M A N Y containers of Thai stuff to Europe over 1993 - 2022. I had the idea to retire in Thailand, but now.. even when Anutin personally will invite me...

Thailand, la gogne, popgan chat na..

6 hours ago, JerryM said:

6 hours ago, potless said:

I doubt that those departments are even interested.

The reason they may be interested are because they will have tools available that not so before:

Fraud monitoring and detection: Providers must develop proactive processes to detect and monitor unusual transactions and utilize data from multiple sources (e.g., Central Fraud Registry and data obtained from other financial service providers) to identify potential mule accounts and fraud. This may involve adopting new technologies (e.g., artificial intelligence) to enhance efficacy and stay ahead of emerging fraud techniques.

NB: People like to say that there's no way anything gonna happen to the agent-assisted set-up because there's too much money in it.

The money in it is why those departments may be interested. They may be able to link large data amounts now that 3 or 5 years ago was impossible.

Thanks for your reply. What I was really getting at Is that there may be a reluctance for a government department to get too intrusive into the affairs of another department. Treading on toes etc.

5 hours ago, Presnock said:

7 hours ago, potless said:

There was a thread started by the AN moderator Charlie H 2or3 years back relating to his renewal experience, I think a Chiang Mai Immigration office. He had all his paperwork in order. He was sent away to get something else, then something else, backward and forward etc. I recall he ended up with over 80 pieces of paper before he was given his renewal. So yes, follow the kingdoms legislation but start with immigration offices.

Another thing to take into consideration is that if the agency route was dismantled, how would the powers that be supplement their income? The answer is simply that genuine applicants would then be the logical target. No pay no play.

Im not disputing your point of view, I just think that things arent that straightforward.

Well in my over 40 years here, I have never had ANY problem with visas nor with bank paperwork when necessary.

Thanks for your reply. I too have not had any problems with renewals. I was replying to a poster who said that he had never heard of a genuine application being rejected. Good luck.

5 hours ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Try being Thai and getting a US tourist visa or permanent residence in Canada! Now there's some scrupulous paperwork! And it's often denied, some with no chance to reapply but always have to pay the fees one more time. Believe me, here in easy.

Yes, it is easy here.

The 90 days report seems pointless to me, but far better than doing visa runs. As you say, a waste of manpower.

I never touch the 800k. Who knows if they may up it one day . The wife will get it.

1 hour ago, geisha said:

Is that a choice or an obligation ? Why would somebody bring their life long savings into thailand ? I know I certainly wouldn’t. A friend of mine showed me the difference earned by his French bank compared to what Thai banks offer. Is that the way it’s going now, bring all your money or go away ? Smells bad to me.

Don't be silly, if your life long savings is 800,000 baht, probably better to hang your hat elsewhere......think thats what Immigration is leaning towards......

3 hours ago, sambum said:

Also, why is it that for a visa extension based on retirement, the monthly financial requirement is 65,000 baht a month, and the financial requirement for an extension based on marriage to a Thai national (where the money is to cover the cost of living for 2 people (minimum), not 1, is only 40,000 baht a month?

what is the monthly requirement when a Thai man marries a foreign lady?

7 hours ago, smew said:

I guess another reason to relocate to Vietnam.

As far as I'm aware, there are no easy long term visa options for Vietnam and they have no plans to have any.

People are reading this wrong, It has been clear for many, many years, that the people in power only want money in the banks. It doesn't matter if you have hundreds of thousands of dollars. Or a struggling teacher. It doesn't matter if you are a good person, supporting your community and contributing financially.

People get stuck in Thailand with fantasy views, and when reality sets in it is too late many times.

Personally at this point Thailand should just say, put money in our banks or leave. If you don't have money in our banks you are not welcome.

An inflammatory post has been removed.

Don't really get the story. This guy is unashamedly stretching the system, and complains about all sorts of things. While he could apply for jobs to get a work permit with a proper visa. Ohh! forgot, he doesn't want to clock in for eight hours a day and report to a boss. Even in China the young ones are useless now.

12 minutes ago, Gknrd said:

Personally at this point Thailand should just say, put money in our banks or leave. If you don't have money in our banks you are not welcome.

My visa doesn't require any money deposited in a Thai bank.

11 hours ago, LetsGoJoe said:

I just went to get a bank statement for my non-o family visa and the BBK Bank froze my account for 4-months...no explanation other than it has nothing to do with immigration. So, I'm required to hold funds 2-months prior to visa application and 1-month more during "consideration". Now, no access to funds for another 4 months...so, the bank holds my funds for a total of 7 months....so, "locking-up money" is a literal thing now....is forced savings really a bad thing? 😁

BKL did similar to me, and never offered an explanation

Even when I closed the account, did they attempt to make me change my mind.

Currently with Next and Kplus.

( Not sure what proper bank titles are)

No issues with either

5 hours ago, sambum said:

One bar stool lawyer I spoke to said that a single man needs to have more money as he spends more money on lady drinks and bar fines!!!) 🤣

i can confirm this assertment

When I bring my money legally online from a European bank do, I have the right to withdraw it? For example, when the period I want to stay in Thailand ends.

In China, you are prohibited from taking your money out unless you have approval from the authorities.

13 hours ago, Bday Prang said:

Stories like this and the accompanying headlines are written for the sole purpose of trying to get people worried,

The number of people currently viewing this thread (56) is proof of its success.

Follow the rules and be polite is all that is required

Not a success in my case as I read this article not because I am worried as I just wanted to find out who is talking bolllloccckks again, and that is how it turned out, a person who is not in a position to get a valid visa will not get one so it shows the system is working, it is not changing for the worse for us on annual visa extensions. 👍

20 minutes ago, Paris333 said:

When I bring my money legally online from a European bank do, I have the right to withdraw it? For example, when the period I want to stay in Thailand ends.

In China, you are prohibited from taking your money out unless you have approval from the authorities.

Yes you can take it out as I have 800K in there for six months of the year and then 400k for the rest of the year, and then three months before the visa I top it up again.

When I leave I will take the lot out.

1 hour ago, Free the 115 said:

BKL did similar to me, and never offered an explanation

Even when I closed the account, did they attempt to make me change my mind.

Currently with Next and Kplus.

( Not sure what proper bank titles are)

No issues with either

I have never had a problem with BKK Bank, but I do make sure I have 800k in the bank three months before the visa application and three months after the date of visa extension in my passport.

I go in and out of Thailand on Visa-free 'tourist' stamps all the time... no IO has ever asked me why or caused me problems. They simply stamp me in and stamp me out. 3 weeks ago I entered Thailand, stayed for a few days, flew to Myanmar, then flew back to Bangkok Don Muang and was stamped in again, then I'll fly out to Cambodia in a week, then will re-enter Thailand a month later.

No questions, no hassles, no request for proof of funds or other documents - what am I doing right? :)

2 hours ago, Gknrd said:

People are reading this wrong, It has been clear for many, many years, that the people in power only want money in the banks. It doesn't matter if you have hundreds of thousands of dollars. Or a struggling teacher. It doesn't matter if you are a good person, supporting your community and contributing financially.

People get stuck in Thailand with fantasy views, and when reality sets in it is too late many times.

Personally at this point Thailand should just say, put money in our banks or leave. If you don't have money in our banks you are not welcome.

I wish the UK would do the same thing, make people prove they have money to support themselves if they are long term visitors like we are in Thailand, I don't see any problem in that.

In fact it is a good thing as the locals will know we are not here to scrounge but are supporting ourselves financially.

I don't understand the part of your comment regarding "People get stuck in Thailand...." , how are we stuck?

18 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

He entered in July 2023 on a tourist visa and later obtained an education (ED) visa, valid from March 2024 to March 2026, allowing him to train in Muay Thai

The Chinese guy can be very happy to get this kind of education visa to train in Muay Thai. Could anyone explain what in Gods sake muay thai has common with education

3 hours ago, Asean Tiger said:

what is the monthly requirement when a Thai man marries a foreign lady?

I would imagine 40k.

I'm sick of seeing old white guys, living just above the breadline smearing dog food on sliced bread to save money. They need to back to their own country and bang their own h**kers. Thailand doesn't need you anymore. Thais are doing the right thing. Thais also need to consider raising the cost of expat visas to $30k USD per year.

3 minutes ago, 1tooth said:

I'm sick of seeing old white guys, living just above the breadline smearing dog food on sliced bread to save money. They need to back to their own country and bang their own h**kers. Thailand doesn't need you anymore. Thais are doing the right thing. Thais also need to consider raising the cost of expat visas to $30k USD per year.

Can't do that in my country, dog food costs more than human food.

1 hour ago, vangrop said:

The Chinese guy can be very happy to get this kind of education visa to train in Muay Thai. Could anyone explain what in Gods sake muay thai has common with education

Or in common with a money-earning career path?

5 hours ago, CANSIAM said:

Don't be silly, if your life long savings is 800,000 baht, probably better to hang your hat elsewhere......think thats what Immigration is leaning towards......

Who said 800 000 baht ?

48 minutes ago, 1tooth said:

I'm sick of seeing old white guys, living just above the breadline smearing dog food on sliced bread to save money. They need to back to their own country and bang their own h**kers. Thailand doesn't need you anymore. Thais are doing the right thing. Thais also need to consider raising the cost of expat visas to $30k USD per year.

Wow, newbie is it ?

16 hours ago, potless said:

The new policies at Bangkok Bank are possibly due to BOT scrutiny of accounts that may be used for money laundering. Banks that "assisted" agents would have had many accounts opened and closed in a span of a only a few days and thus come under the spotlight resulting in a knee jerk reaction.

So under the new April 1 BOT regs, bank accounts with unusual In&Out activity as you describe MAY be more readily identified and who in management authorized and stamped them. Then it would become a matter of deciding what are 'good fraud' accounts and which are 'bad fraud' accounts.

Or as some might say, it isn't "good fraud", it's facilitation.

17 hours ago, Letseng said:

You still need to sit in front of the immigration officer while she combs through every line of paperwork even with an agent. Would never leave my p.port with an agent to process the extension.

No you don't. Simply go there and have a pic taken. Varies with office perhaps. Have to leave passport overnight with immigration even if you do it yourself.

47 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

No you don't. Simply go there and have a pic taken. Varies with office perhaps. Have to leave passport overnight with immigration even if you do it yourself.

We were discussing CW where you do have to go in person & sit in front of the IO whilst they go through your paperwork, Jomtien you just need to turn up & have your picture taken with the IOs desk in the background.