US Embassy Bank Account Verification Letter?

[TravelingWell]

I was just told I would need a verification letter from the US Embassy to open a Thai bank account to get a marriage visa. 
 

However, this is what it says at the embassy site:

 

“U.S. Embassy Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai do not provide “verification” letters to open Thai bank accounts.”

 

Anyone know the process to follow?

[DrJack54]

USA embassy will not issue address confirmation. Along with AU,UK.

You need to obtain certificate of residence from your immigration office.

Note that in Bangkok that requires a TM47 receipt.

What is your status in Thailand.

Meaning non O or eg tourist vise etc

[TravelingWell]

20 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

USA embassy will not issue address confirmation. Along with AU,UK.

You need to obtain certificate of residence from your immigration office.

Note that in Bangkok that requires a TM47 receipt.

What is your status in Thailand.

Meaning non O or eg tourist vise etc

I am Non-O. (Spouse category )

 

I had the TM47 receipt with me, but they didn’t ask.

 

 

[DrJack54]

20 minutes ago, TravelingWell said:

I am Non-O. (Spouse category )

With a non O you may be able to open a bank account without a COR.

Try Kasikorn. 

If the bank insists on a certificate of residence obtain from your immigration office.

Which immigration office do you deal with..

[TravelingWell]

8 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

With a non O you may be able to open a bank account without a COR.

Try Kasikorn. 

If the bank insists on a certificate of residence obtain from your immigration office.

Which immigration office do you deal with..

 

Nonthaburi.

[DrJack54]

25 minutes ago, TravelingWell said:

 

Nonthaburi.

Ouch.

Thinking that office does not issue COR. I now see your issue.

Agents can open a bank account, however in recent times agents such as Siam Legal that previously provided that service have hit pause button. 

Agents in Pattaya can assist with bank account. 

 

Nonthaburi specific thread here.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1289954-nonthaburi-io-residency-certificate/ 

 

From above thread here is cut/paste from the OP...

"Im at the nonthaburi immigration. They just told me they dont do residency anymore and must go to my embassy. This is for all nationals. She told me this is for 1 year like this already...." 

 

@problemfarang how did you obtain your COR

[Rob Browder]

Further down in the same thread, 10 months later (March of this year), someone seems to have managed to apply for one at Nonthaburi, and posted the required docs they were asked to provide and the form to request it:

 

[UKresonant]

9 hours ago, TravelingWell said:

I was just told I would need a verification letter from the US Embassy to open a Thai bank account to get a marriage visa. 
 

However, this is what it says at the embassy site:

 

“U.S. Embassy Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai do not provide “verification” letters to open Thai bank accounts.”

 

Anyone know the process to follow?

Would opening a non-resident FCD account in USD, be a possibility if it is a major branch? They could give a letter with Baht equivelent to use in the interim.

 

A few years ago an upcountry branch would only  open an FCD GBP account , with a non-O marraige Visa. (But not a Baht account). Months later a staff person said I could open a Baht bank account, if the wife comes along to vouch as an existing customer.

All attempts in other banks at that time when  asking to open a THB account at that time were "Do you have a work permit" etc.

[Tom100]

1. I went to Bangkok Bank to open an account with my US passport. They gave me a form to take to US Embassy to certify. 

2. I went to US embassy with Bangkok Bank form. US embassy had me complete their form letter which they stamped.

3. Bangkok Bank opened account after getting US Embassy stamped form letter. 

 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, Tom100 said:

I went to Bangkok Bank to open an account with my US passport. They gave me a form to take to US Embassy to certify

When did this occur.

Previously USA embassy provided this service. Currently do not. 

[Tom100]

November 2022. The embassy staffer said they were not certifying the accuracy of my address but were only certifying that I was a US citizen making that claim. 

 

[KhunLA]

Never heard of that requirement or been asked to provide.   I (a Yank) have had numerous accounts with numerous banks in TH.   Have BkkBank account now, simply for Soc Sec deposits, and the wife has a bunch of multiple accounts 

 

 

 

 

 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Never heard of that requirement or been asked to provide.   I (a Yank) have had numerous accounts with numerous banks in TH. 

At a guess you opened your bank account years ago. 

[KhunLA]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

At a guess you opened your bank account years ago. 

Present BkkBank acct, probably less than 3 yrs ago.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Present BkkBank acct, probably less than 3 yrs ago.

Does not match my experience.

In 2021...I wanted to open account with BBL branch Asoke.

Was informed by bank manager that I required address certification from my embassy or COR from immigration.

Australian embassy does not provide that service along with USA and UK.

Numerous threads re this topic in "banking finance" forum. 

[KhunLA]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Does not match my experience.

In 2021...I wanted to open account with BBL branch Asoke.

Was informed by bank manager that I required address certification from my embassy or COR from immigration.

Australian embassy does not provide that service along with USA and UK.

Numerous threads re this topic in "banking finance" forum. 

Yes, you have to verify your address.   Easily done with yellow book.   But nothing from the US Embassy as stated in the OP.

 

Even a Yank in the USA has to verify their address to open an account in USA, though a license works.

 

If no yellow book, then OP will need to get CoR from Thai Immigrations.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Yes, you have to verify your address.   Easily done with yellow book.   But nothing from the US Embassy as stated in the OP.

Not everyone can get a yellow book, so not so "easy".

 

"But nothing from the US Embassy as stated in the OP".

OP must be lying about what he was told, then?

[KhunLA]

3 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Not everyone can get a yellow book, so not so "easy".

CoR from TH Imm is way too easy to get.   Nothing here is complicated, for marriage or retirement visas.  Never did the work visa thing, so haven't a clue.

 

Simply have to prove where you live.  Required and not hard in any country, I believe.   This ain't rocket science.

[Liverpool Lou]

20 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

25 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

At a guess you opened your bank account years ago. 

Present BkkBank acct, probably less than 3 yrs ago.

The OP is in 2024, not three years ago.

[Liverpool Lou]

4 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

CoR from TH Imm is way too easy to get.   Nothing here is complicated, for marriage or retirement visas. 

 

18 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

If the bank insists on a certificate of residence obtain from your immigration office.

Which immigration office do you deal with..

 

17 hours ago, TravelingWell said:

Nonthaburi.

 

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Ouch.

Thinking that office does not issue COR. I now see your issue.

 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

Simply have to prove where you live.  Required and not hard in any country, I believe.   This ain't rocket science.

You are providing misinformation imo.

There are MANY threads in this forum and others asking same question. It is far from simple process as you are implying..

To obtain COR at CW you require to have made a 90 day report.

Some folk with a non O have managed to open a bank account with that status. 

 

[ChicagoExpat]

They stopped the bank "verification" letter (in quotes because nothing, in fact, was being verified) some years back.  Per Thai regulations the bank documents are supposed to be taken at face value unless there is a reason to doubt their authenticity.  Individual bureaucrats sometimes still ask for it, but I hear even that is pretty rare.

[KhunLA]

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You are providing misinformation imo.

There are MANY threads in this forum and others asking same question. It is far from simple process as you are implying..

To obtain COR at CW you require to have made a 90 day report.

Some folk with a non O have managed to open a bank account with that status. 

 

That would prove you're a resident, and not tourist.  All find, found all the rules quite easy to understand and follow here.   How people have problems is beyond me.

 

Makes you wonder how well they functioned in their home country. 

An agents dream client  

[jesimps]

20 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

USA embassy will not issue address confirmation. Along with AU,UK.

You need to obtain certificate of residence from your immigration office.

Note that in Bangkok that requires a TM47 receipt.

What is your status in Thailand.

Meaning non O or eg tourist vise etc

Jomtien wouldn't issue me with one when I tried a few years back. They said they only issue address verification letters for Thai Driving Licence. I already had a couple of bank accounts, but I needed one with BBL for a particular reason. I managed to open one by taking out an accident insurance policy with them which cost me 6000 baht. I let the insurance lapse after one year. 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, jesimps said:

They said they only issue address verification letters for Thai Driving Licence.

The COR does not state the reason for it's issue. You could have just ticked car license.

 

4 minutes ago, jesimps said:

I managed to open one by taking out an accident insurance policy with them which cost me 6000 baht. I let the insurance lapse after one year.

That is an option.

So is agent. Maneerat Soi 13/2 use BBL and charge ~4500b 

[Crazy Noobie]

My advice would be go to the bank you want to bank at, with your passport and try and open a bank account. Then you will find out exactly what that bank's requirements are. I can tell you, it seems all of the different banks have different rules. I went and opened a account at Bangkok Bank and I had to show my passport and lease agreement, that was it. A few days later I went to K-Bank (green one) and all they wanted was my passport, nothing else. There was no other paperwork needed. Good luck.

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, Crazy Noobie said:

I went to K-Bank (green one) and all they wanted was my passport, nothing else. There was no other paperwork needed. Good luck.

So you have extensions from a non O, non O-A, multi entry non O?

[Crazy Noobie]

18 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

So you have extensions from a non O, non O-A, multi entry non O?

I am sorry I should of mentioned that. I am on a retirement extension with a non O

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, Crazy Noobie said:

I am sorry I should of mentioned that. I am on a retirement extension with a non O

Kasikorn will open an account if you have extensions from a non O without the requirement of a certificate of residence.

[Dan O]

23 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

When did this occur.

Previously USA embassy provided this service. Currently do not. 

They only certified his passport was real nothing about address or residency