Joint bank account and visa extension.

[McAmp]

Just a quick note for those who have a joint account with their Thai wife or husband. I came to live with my Thai wife at the beginging of the year. I opened a joint account with my wife and told the bank I need the account for the purpose of gaining my yearly visa extension. To cut a long story short, on my second trip to the immigration office and after getting all the documents for that day. I was told that a joint account does not qualify and I needed an account in my name only. We returned to the Krurngthai bank and I will say that the lady who deal with us could not have been more helpful. She tried every avenue to convert the account. She pleaded with her head office in bangkok and even rang the immigration office, but they would not give me a single name account. I know that different rules seem to apply at different immigration offices in different part of the kingdom. Before leaving the immigration office the officer told me to try Siam Commercial Bank. My wife and I visited this bank and they took all the details and said they would call and give me a answer yes or no.  Yes was the answer and I now have an account in my name only. I live in Nakhon Nayok and have to say that every Thai person I have met or had dealing with have been great. There are not that many foreigners in this small town so we are still a bit of a novelty.  Summery: If you need a single name account for your visa extension try SCB. Take someone with you who speaks Thai and your language. Don't get cross at the time it take and the amount of paperwork that just how is. Smile (a lot) Unfortunately for me my O visa expired 3 days after the immigration had given me a 60 day extension. Due to the late arrival of my funds from the UK. So I back in the UK getting a new O visa. Bit of a shock to be back in blighty quicker than expected but here I can do some work for a couple of weeks tocove my flights and see some friend. Sorry not a quick note but by no means the full version. 5555    

[asiaexpat]

Welcome to TV, you should have come earlier to plan your extension. Every office requires an account in the applicants name only, no joint accounts. Most Bank Companies will open an account for foreigners with proper visa and a few documents as stated on their web sites. Some branches will say no because they do not want to deal with non-Thais. SCB is usually difficult for foreigners so you were luck the immigration officer knew they would help.

[Tanoshi]

Yes the bank account must be in your sole name.

Why didn't you just open a new account in your name at Krungthai bank.

 

47 minutes ago, McAmp said:

Unfortunately for me my O visa expired 3 days after the immigration had given me a 60 day extension.

The validity of your Visa and the validity of your permission to stay are different.

You didn't return to the UK because your Visa expired, did you.

[fishtank]

Bank account in your name only.