Bank Account Help

[MBISON]

Hello, I came to Thailand, received a 1 month exemption, and I'm now under a 2 month family extension.

I want to turn my visa into a marriage visa, which requires a non-o, but I cannot apply to my visa service without a bank account. I would highly prefer not to leave Thailand in order to change my Visa, as I am in a remote location. My visa service suggested I ask every small branch around me to see if any smaller branches would be willing to open one, but no success.


TLDR;

Does anyone know a reliable/fair service to help open an bank account for a US citizen while under a visa exempt extended?

[phetphet]

Your visa service is correct in suggesting you keep trying different banks. even different branches of the same bank.

It might help to try it in an area where there are a lot of foreigners, as the staff get more used to doing it.

Sorry, but I cannot help re a visa agent or someone like that to help you open an account. Maybe ask a lawyer? it might cost though.

 

You obviously wiil need some paperwork, including copies of passport and proof of address. I used a Certificate of Residence obtained from Imiigration.

[Dan O]

Most banks will not open an account while on a tourist visa or extension to one any longer. You can search around but it will be difficult to find one. You can pay an agent to open an account for you or if you leave and come back on a non imm visa of some type, then its not an issue. You can also go to your GF bank with her and explain your getting married and need the bank account to deposit the required money and they MIGHT help if you have the lump sum to deposit but all bets are off on that. 

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, MBISON said:

. I would highly prefer not to leave Thailand in order to change my Visa, as I am in a remote location

Where are you located. Immigration office?

Obtaining a COR (certificate of residence would possibly help) 

It's a doc banks often insist on.

 

An agent can assist (normally) however you mention remote location.

Are you married at this point.

 

OP, you asked same question July 2 and received good advice.

Reason I asked about location is due to agent.

 

[PBob]

It was over 12 years ago but I got my first Thai bank account by having my brother-in- law vouch for me.

We were in his local branch of Krungsri and he mentioned to the assistant manager that none of the banks in a big mall would open an account for me. A little while later I left with a pass book and ATM card.

Odd thing was we met the assistant manager in a mall a couple of years later and they asked us how we opened the account because their sisters Scottish husband needed one for retirement. So things may have changed.

[MBISON]

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Where are you located. Immigration office?

Obtaining a COR (certificate of residence would possibly help) 

It's a doc banks often insist on.

 

An agent can assist (normally) however you mention remote location.

Are you married at this point.

 

OP, you asked same question July 2 and received good advice.

Reason I asked about location is due to agent.

 

I have obtained a CDR already. I also have gotten married and received my certificate. 

A couple visa agencies told me I need to have a bank account open for them to move on with the marriage visa. They suggested I try asking several branches or find a service. They also said they don't have any references. I found this very odd.

I've asked 6 or 7 location and they have all said I cannot open with a visa exempt. My immigration office is in Nakhon Sawan.
 

[john donson]

catch 22 dude

 

corruption as usual... have to pay an agent many thousands of baht, with connections in a bank (friend? family who is in on the scam), to be able to open your FREE bank account...

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, MBISON said:

I have obtained a CDR already. I also have gotten married and received my certificate.

I assume that you presented your marriage certificate and COR to bank and explained the intention to obtain  Non O marriage.

I'm not aware of any agents in Nakhon Sawan. 

Have you tried Bangkok Bank and suggested purchase of one year insurance.

The agents in Pattaya/Bangkok etc charge ~4-5k most of that goes to the cost of insurance.

[thrilled]

Back in 2008 I got a bank account from Kasikorn Bank. I just needed a passport. You have a Thai friend that you can take to a bank with you? It helps.

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, thrilled said:

Back in 2008 I got a bank account from Kasikorn Bank. I just needed a passport. You have a Thai friend that you can take to a bank with you? It helps.

Thai friend won't help.

Opening a bank account has changed completely since 2008.

OP is married to Thai. 

 

[Moonlover]

We married first, then we returned to Egypt where we were living at the time.

 

I then got myself a Non Imm O visa from the Thai embassy in Cairo and on our next visit, we tramped around Robinsons until we found a bank that said yes. That was Krungsri and I've been with them ever since.

 

As others have indicated, you just have to keep trying. Having your wife in tow (or even in the lead) can often help.

[Moonlover]

Another thought occurred to me. If you continue to get stuck on this you might consider going to Savannakhet and get a single entry Non Imm O based on marriage. AFAIK there is still no financial requirement for this. But check first, just in case! 

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, Moonlover said:

I then got myself a Non Imm O visa from the Thai embassy in Cairo and on our next visit, we tramped around Robinsons until we found a bank that said yes

You were able to open the bank account because you had a Non O.

The OP does not.

[DrJack54]

53 minutes ago, Moonlover said:

If you continue to get stuck on this you might consider going to Savannakhet and get a single entry Non Imm O based on marriage

Laos changes to eVisa from start of 2025. 

Application for non O is not longer available at Thai consulates such as Savannakhet. 

We don't know at this point how long the online process will take. 

Vientiane likewise. 

[Neeranam]

Ones in Hua Hin make you pay insurance, total scam but. 

7,000 baht. 

Go with Thai relative is the best way, get them to offer an incentive. 

[riclag]

On 12/21/2024 at 8:33 AM, MBISON said:

I have obtained a CDR already. I also have gotten married and received my certificate. 

A couple visa agencies told me I need to have a bank account open for them to move on with the marriage visa. They suggested I try asking several branches or find a service. They also said they don't have any references. I found this very odd.

I've asked 6 or 7 location and they have all said I cannot open with a visa exempt. My immigration office is in Nakhon Sawan.
 

Do you have any Thai acquaintances that have relatives that work in Government!

This would help with references !

 

My wife’s uncle who is a college Professor  vouched for me ,  back before I got married!

[DrJack54]

30 minutes ago, riclag said:

My wife’s uncle who is a college Professor  vouched for me ,  back before I got married!

And what year did you obtain this bank account.

Were you on visa exempt status at the time?

[riclag]

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And what year did you obtain this bank account.

Were you on visa exempt status at the time?

Tourist visa, back in the day of Triple entries , 2013.Just had my Welsh neighbor get one last year , at Kasikornbank using a Tourist visa and his GF, niece ( Government worker) as a guarantee.

 

[DrJack54]

23 minutes ago, riclag said:

Tourist visa, back in the day of Triple entries , 2013.Just had my Welsh neighbor get one last year , at Kasikornbank using a Tourist visa and his GF, niece ( Government worker) as a guarantee.

 

The 2013 is out of date.

Things changed dramatically in recent times. 

Your Welsh neighbor experience is atypical.

Don't know vaguely what you mean by "as a guarantee" 

The OP is married and still has no success.

Which bank and where was your neighbor successful. 

Did he purchase insurance 

[riclag]

Just now, DrJack54 said:

The 2013 is out of date.

Things changed dramatically in recent times. 

Your Welsh neighbor experience is atypical.

Don't know vaguely what you mean by "as a guarantee" 

The OP is married and still has no success.

Which bank and where was your neighbor successful. 

Did he purchase insurance 

The neighbor from Wales got Guarantor,the niece  of his GF, vouched for the falang!

I dont know the particulars other

than it was Kasikornbank in muang Sakon Nakhon , if that helps.

[ronnie50]

On 12/20/2024 at 1:05 PM, phetphet said:

I used a Certificate of Residence obtained from Imiigration.

My Immigration office appointment is coming up to change from Exemption stamp to 'O' with the intent to apply for retirement extension. I have the TM30, lease agreement, receipts, etc., and I already have a bank account (my name only) with the funds transferred and more. Do you think they (IO) would also give me a Certificate of Residency at this stage, or would I need to wait for O-Extension? (I lived and worked many years here, so fingers crossed I have enough docs to make it a one-stop wonder). I ask, because my Thai driving license is coming up for renewal next year, my passport number on it is old, and I read somewhere they ask for a Res Cert to renew (and would an O visa be sufficient?) 

[nglodnig]

Having a US passport won't help - banks tend to treat them as poison because of all the extra rules the US government has set

[Tropicalevo]

On 12/21/2024 at 8:17 AM, PBob said:

It was over 12 years ago but I got my first Thai bank account by having my brother-in- law vouch for me.

We were in his local branch of Krungsri and he mentioned to the assistant manager that none of the banks in a big mall would open an account for me.

 

To the OP,  In my experience, Krungsri might be your best bet.

Customers and friends here  (Samui) have ball been successful with Krungsri.

BBL and SCB were the least helpful.

[DrJack54]

29 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Do you think they (IO) would also give me a Certificate of Residency at this stage, or would I need to wait for O-Extension?

What you outlined that you currently have should be sufficient to obtain COR.

Which immigration office? 

 

Regarding your TDL yes you will need a COR also medical

Where are you renewing license? 

[ronnie50]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

What you outlined that you currently have should be sufficient to obtain COR.

Which immigration office? 

 

Regarding your TDL yes you will need a COR also medical

Where are you renewing license? 

Changwattana for the O visa and the main Land Transport Dept for the Thai license renewal. I recall they also make you watch a video and then take a color/colour blind test. I guess a medical can be done at a clinic (not a hospital?)

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Changwattana for the O visa and the main Land Transport Dept for the Thai license renewal

By "main" you are referring to Chatuchak transport office? 

 

[ronnie50]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

By "main" you are referring to Chatuchak transport office? 

 

Yes, correct. With a million other people doing a million different things there. Never any place to park, but, yes, that one near Chatuchak. Do you recommend another place?

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

Never any place to park, but, yes, that one near Chatuchak. Do you recommend another place?

That's a good place to obtain TDL.

I renewed from 2 to 5 year license in June 2023. 

Posted several times in this thread .

https://aseannow.com/topic/1296659-driving-lisence-renewal-walk-ins-avaliable/

 

There is handy "shop" for the medical certificate. 

My first post in this thread has map to medical.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1340054-driving-license-mor-chit/

[ronnie50]

12 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

That's a good place to obtain TDL.

I renewed from 2 to 5 year license in June 2023. 

Posted several times in this thread .

https://aseannow.com/topic/1296659-driving-lisence-renewal-walk-ins-avaliable/

 

There is handy "shop" for the medical certificate. 

My first post in this thread has map to medical.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1340054-driving-license-mor-chit/

Thanks. Very useful.