First Application for Non-IMM O - Bank Balance

[RickSee]

Italian national, approaching age 50.  Wishes to apply for non-IMM O using bank balance method (THB 800 k).  How far in advance must the funds be in the Thai bank at the time of (first) application ?

 

thanks, RS

[ubonjoe]

It has to be in the bank for 2 months for every extension now.

Edit: Will you be applying for a non-o visa at immigration that is needed to qualify for the extension?

[RickSee]

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, the intention is to get the non-o visa at CW in advance of the extension application.  Presume the 2 months is measured from the date of application for the extension??

 

RS

[ubonjoe]

29 minutes ago, RickSee said:

Thanks for the quick response. Yes, the intention is to get the non-o visa at CW in advance of the extension application.  Presume the 2 months is measured from the date of application for the extension??

For the visa application the 800k baht only has to be in the bank on the day you apply. 

List of requied documents is here. https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

Then the 800k baht would have to be in the bank for 2 months on the day you apply for the extension.

[RickSee]

Thanks, again. Pls let me know if I have this right ...?

 

- Arrives BKK on visa exempt shortly before 50th b'day.

- At, or after, 50th b'day can apply for visa (90 days duration?) at CW (what would be needed for the visa?).

- Once visa granted, must apply for the non-Imm O extension at least 15 days before the visa expires.  

 

RS

[ubonjoe]

7 hours ago, RickSee said:

At, or after, 50th b'day can apply for visa (90 days duration?) at CW (what would be needed for the visa?).

The important thing that need is that visa is applied for with at least 15 day remaining on the 30 days visa exempt entry or the 30 day extension of it.

Requirements for the visa that I posted before. https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

 

7 hours ago, RickSee said:

Once visa granted, must apply for the non-Imm O extension at least 15 days before the visa expires.  

 

The extension can be applied for during the last 30 days of the 90 day entry from the visa or when the 800k baht has been in the bank for 2 months. There is no minimum number of days to do the extension application other than the last day.

[eXplosief]

17 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

For the visa application the 800k baht only has to be in the bank on the day you apply. 

List of requied documents is here. https://division1.immigration.go.th/download/1551323081128.pdf

Then the 800k baht would have to be in the bank for 2 months on the day you apply for the extension.

I was also under the assumption these were the rules.

Currently on a SETV, expiring may 16th.

 

Have the 800k in the bank for just over a month. Went to jomtien immigration last week to request conversion to O visa. It was denied as the money hadn't aged. Trying to tell them this was not a requirement on the first application was futile.

Was also told that I had to do a 30 day extension, with stamp, of my SETV as you couldn't convert to O on the automatic extension to July 31 program.

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, eXplosief said:

Have the 800k in the bank for just over a month. Went to jomtien immigration last week to request conversion to O visa. It was denied as the money hadn't aged. Trying to tell them this was not a requirement on the first application was futile.

Was also told that I had to do a 30 day extension, with stamp, of my SETV as you couldn't convert to O on the automatic extension to July 31 program.

That is a Jomtien only requirement. Many others have had the same problem with them.

Other immigration offices have told people that they will no do the visa application during the "automatic extension". They apparently do not consider it a extension of the tourist visa entry.

[RickSee]

Thanks, again.  Just one additional question.  Para 5.3 says that evidence of transfer of the funds into Thailand is required.  Is that still the case?  If so, what would satisfy as evidence (eg.  passbook entry, FET ...)? - and would this be accepted even if dated years earlier? 

 

RS

[Max69xl]

47 minutes ago, RickSee said:

Thanks, again.  Just one additional question.  Para 5.3 says that evidence of transfer of the funds into Thailand is required.  Is that still the case?  If so, what would satisfy as evidence (eg.  passbook entry, FET ...)? - and would this be accepted even if dated years earlier? 

 

RS

A bank letter from your Thai bank should suffice. 

[ubonjoe]

58 minutes ago, RickSee said:

Thanks, again.  Just one additional question.  Para 5.3 says that evidence of transfer of the funds into Thailand is required.  Is that still the case?  If so, what would satisfy as evidence (eg.  passbook entry, FET ...)? - and would this be accepted even if dated years earlier? 

They normally want proof the funds came from outside the country. The bank should know what is needed for the proof. It does not have to be recent.

[RubbaJohnny]

Despite what the law says our local office in addition to other issues demands 3 months even for first application, and last time I dealt with them 123 signed documents,wife, witessess and endless questions about family including my father who died in 1987 !

 

You may be lucky there are genuine helpful friendly staff all in fear of higher ups and the only initiative they have seems to be to interpret the rules.

 

I would advise any applicant to ask local office where they will obtain extension their list of requirements as they are not consistent.I have had extensions in C Rai , K Phet and Bangkok all of which required different documents, copies etc .Some newcomers may not realize they trying to for "tea money" all the time or other favours.I was asked to help them with foreigners until I reminded one particularly corrupt office now promoted that that would violate my visa conditions and leave me open to problems if another equally difficult officer caught me "working " with immigration, You cannot make it up.

Just remember the whole nation is based on such "favours' and people and campaigns since the last century seem to have made no difference, if anything young people seem to follow in same sad path of resignation that this will continue with impunity.

[JackThompson]

On 5/8/2020 at 9:56 AM, eXplosief said:

I was also under the assumption these were the rules.

Currently on a SETV, expiring may 16th.

 

Have the 800k in the bank for just over a month. Went to jomtien immigration last week to request conversion to O visa. It was denied as the money hadn't aged. Trying to tell them this was not a requirement on the first application was futile.

Was also told that I had to do a 30 day extension, with stamp, of my SETV as you couldn't convert to O on the automatic extension to July 31 program.

To get it in Jomtien you have to pay a 15K Baht (_) to the agent next door to the office, who works with the IO that runs the change-of-visa desk in Jomtien.  All income-based are also denied.  They do not care at all what the official rules state, because this particular IO seems to be "protected" from a crackdown on what they do - even more than most; they are brazen about it, and doing this number on folks for years. 

 

Facing the office-building from the outside, directly on your left is their agent-partner, who launders the (_).   Easier to move to Bangkok and do this and your first 1-year extension there, then move back to Patts/Jomtien, unless willing to pay. 

[tomx2]

13 minutes ago, JackThompson said:

To get it in Jomtien you have to pay a 15K Baht (_) to the agent next door to the office, who works with the IO that runs the change-of-visa desk in Jomtien.   

Does this agent in Jomtien do all the paper work for you? You still need 800k in bank? 

 

TC.

[JackThompson]

Just now, tomx2 said:

Does this agent in Jomtien do all the paper work for you? You still need 800k in bank? 

 

TC.

I do not know if that service at that agent supplies the money - likely so - but that was that IOs favorite agent in the past - used to "suggest" people go there after quit asking for the 15K right there in the office, before. 

 

In the past, the "best deal" agents were on Soi Bukow just north of S-Pattaya Rd, on the right-hand side (North of the market, after the bend in the road).  They used to have signs with prices on them - not sure now.  For the 1-year extension part, the office next to immigration has been more pricey than others in the past. 

 

All "seasoning checks" are bypassed with the agents - so the money is only in your account for a few minutes, while they print a bank-letter.  You may get discounted service if you have your own money.