Hi asking for a friend , normally gets 60 days on arrival and dose border bounce, he is looking for a agent to arrange the bank account also a ME O Visa, one agent on a soi off beach road  said they could do it for 42,000b, anyone know another agent . Thanks in advance .

He should apply for a NON-O visa outside Thailand, and then come back in and open an account legally on his own. Multiple entry NON-O visas are not available inside Thailand anyway. 

 

He can find an agent happy to promise the moon and the stars, but even if they’re aren’t lying he risks having the account closed anyway at a later date.

 

All this reliance on agents is expensive and foolish. Just do things right and save a fortune. 

 

That may not be what he wants, but want in one hand and crap in the other and see which fills up first.

5 minutes ago, Everyman said:

He should apply for a NON-O visa outside Thailand, and then come back in and open an account legally on his own.

Using an agent to open a bank account is not illegal!

 

2 hours ago, Everyman said:

he risks having the account closed anyway at a later date.

No. he does not; using an agent to open a legitimate bank account does not jeopardise the account.

But why use an agent to open an account? Is it really so difficult these days? And if it? What's to stop the bank closing the account at a later date? I just opened mine when my address was a hotel room. The good old days.

30 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

Using an agent to open a bank account is not illegal!

 

 

Most banks simply won't open accounts for people on tourist visas, and as of this year, some banks have been freezing accounts suspected of not being completely legit.

 

But help opening an account doesn't normally mean "go with me to the bank to fill out paperwork."  It usually means, "I don't want to fund the account with my own money.  I want the agent to put up the money for me, so I can secure the visa."  After the visa is secured, the agent pulls the funds.  The fee is a nice big chunk of interest on their short 3 month investment - a bit more than 20% ROI

 

11 minutes ago, Liverpool Lou said:

No. he does not; using an agent to open a legitimate bank account does not jeopardise the account.

 

But... who does this?

 

Sure, an agent can help with the visa application process if the guy is too intimidated by the process at Thai Immigration (or if they simply can't be bothered).

 

But the OP specifically mentioned getting an agent's assistance with opening a bank account as being the main issue.  To me that implies the issue has something to do with funds.  Because if you've got the funds, and you're legally allowed to open an account, then this is one of the easiest parts of the whole visa process.

 

It simply isn't difficult.

 

So to the OP....

 

If you've got the funds, and you're legally entitled to open an account, then opening one easy to do.  If banks are turning you away, you might want to figure out why they are turning you away.  It may just be that you need to get the visa process started first, as Everyman indicated in his post....

 

2 hours ago, Everyman said:

He should apply for a NON-O visa outside Thailand, and then come back in and open an account legally on his own. Multiple entry NON-O visas are not available inside Thailand anyway. 

 

He can find an agent happy to promise the moon and the stars, but even if they’re aren’t lying he risks having the account closed anyway at a later date.

 

All this reliance on agents is expensive and foolish. Just do things right and save a fortune. 

 

That may not be what he wants, but want in one hand and crap in the other and see which fills up first.

 

    

 

8 minutes ago, Magictoad said:

But why use an agent to open an account? Is it really so difficult these days?

Yes, it can be, it is no longer as easy as it used to be.

8 minutes ago, asiacurious said:

But help opening an account doesn't normally mean "go with me to the bank to fill out paperwork."  It usually means, "I don't want to fund the account with my own money.  I want the agent to put up the money for me, so I can secure the visa."

That is different from just opening a bank account which is what I was commenting on.  Bank accounts do not need to be "funded" to facilitate opening, a nominal deposit is acceptable initially.

Opening a bank account is, like many things in Thailand, "at the manager's discretion!

The agent knows how to attract that discretion!

3 hours ago, Everyman said:

He can find an agent happy to promise the moon and the stars, but even if they’re aren’t lying he risks having the account closed anyway at a later date.

 

Exactly. One of my bank accounts has been frozen very recently, incl. my debit card... I opened it with a tourist visa (which was common back then) about 16 years ago. Just imagine what they will do with accounts opened by agents...

11 minutes ago, DezLez said:

Opening a bank account is, like many things in Thailand, "at the manager's discretion!

The agent knows how to attract that discretion!

 

Managers come and go. Easy for the head office to order accounts to be frozen, or closed... Personally, I won't leave a lot of money in Thai bank accounts ever again, be it for visa or other purposes.

29 minutes ago, StayinThailand2much said:

 

Managers come and go. Easy for the head office to order accounts to be frozen, or closed... Personally, I won't leave a lot of money in Thai bank accounts ever again, be it for visa or other purposes.

What has that got to do specifically with an agent if the bank manager can do that with ALL accounts?

11 minutes ago, DezLez said:

What has that got to do specifically with an agent if the bank manager can do that with ALL accounts?

 

Yes, you're right. But why are agents used? Because those people couldn't usually open an account at that bank. Guess, which accounts the head office will order to be closed or frozen first, if they decide to do that at all of their branches.

4 hours ago, asiacurious said:

 

Most banks simply won't open accounts for people on tourist visas, and as of this year, some banks have been freezing accounts suspected of not being completely legit.

 

But help opening an account doesn't normally mean "go with me to the bank to fill out paperwork."  It usually means, "I don't want to fund the account with my own money.  I want the agent to put up the money for me, so I can secure the visa."  After the visa is secured, the agent pulls the funds.  The fee is a nice big chunk of interest on their short 3 month investment - a bit more than 20% ROI

 

 

But... who does this?

 

Sure, an agent can help with the visa application process if the guy is too intimidated by the process at Thai Immigration (or if they simply can't be bothered).

 

But the OP specifically mentioned getting an agent's assistance with opening a bank account as being the main issue.  To me that implies the issue has something to do with funds.  Because if you've got the funds, and you're legally allowed to open an account, then this is one of the easiest parts of the whole visa process.

 

It simply isn't difficult.

 

So to the OP....

 

If you've got the funds, and you're legally entitled to open an account, then opening one easy to do.  If banks are turning you away, you might want to figure out why they are turning you away.  It may just be that you need to get the visa process started first, as Everyman indicated in his post....

 

as said i was asking for a friend 

    

 

 

9 hours ago, Liverpool Lou said:

That is different from just opening a bank account which is what I was commenting on.  Bank accounts do not need to be "funded" to facilitate opening, a nominal deposit is acceptable initially.

 

Yes, that's a very good point, and opening isn't a problem if you've got a visa.  Funding would be needed to extend the visa passed the first 90 days.  And when an agent provides the funds for a fee, they sit there for 90 days, the applicant gets their extension, and the agent pulls the funds.

5 hours ago, ancharee said:

 

 

That was a most interesting reply!

On 7/18/2025 at 10:48 AM, asiacurious said:

I want the agent to put up the money for me, so I can secure the visa."  After the visa is secured, the agent pulls the funds.  The fee is a nice big chunk of interest on their short 3 month investment - a bit more than 20% ROI

 

On 7/18/2025 at 8:57 PM, asiacurious said:

And when an agent provides the funds for a fee, they sit there for 90 days, the applicant gets their extension, and the agent pulls the funds.

 

You just don't know how the process works, do you?

3 hours ago, treetops said:

 

 

You just don't know how the process works, do you?

 

You are correct.  I don't know - from first hand experience - what it's like to pay an agent to put their money into a bank account with my name, then hold my hand through the visa application process.  What I wrote is based on how it was explained to me by multiple people, including an agent.  Admittedly that was several years ago when I was considering using an agent (although supplying my own funds) because of nightmare stories I had read (many on these pages) about what an awful process it is dealing with immigration.

 

I ended up doing it all on my own, and it turned out that the process was actually quite easy.  I was surprised by how easy it was in fact.

 

It sounds like you do know how the process works, so I take it you have used an agent to fund an account before?  And then help you secure a visa?

 

Please, do share!

Just now, asiacurious said:

It sounds like you do know how the process works, so I take it you have used an agent to fund an account before?  And then help you secure a visa?

 

Please, do share!

 

Yes.  The money remains in your account only for a few minutes, not for 3 months or 90 days.

2 hours ago, treetops said:

 

Yes.  The money remains in your account only for a few minutes, not for 3 months or 90 days.

 

Wow.  Ok.  Thank you for that.  It's not what I've been told but also not surprising to hear.

 

So there isn't even any pretense at making the process done through agents who fund accounts even appear quasi-legal. 

2 minutes ago, asiacurious said:

Wow.  Ok.  Thank you for that.  It's not what I've been told but also not surprising to hear.

 

So there isn't even any pretense at making the process done through agents who fund accounts even appear quasi-legal. 

 

The 800K is in the bank, albeit briefly, so they can issue a letter saying that.  An officer (above a certain rank?) can approve extensions when the seasoning requirements haven't been met.  That appears to be legal to me.

 

no need to pay an agent to open a bank account for you, it's really not difficult for anyone with basic intelligence, and a bit of patience.

13 hours ago, treetops said:

 

The 800K is in the bank, albeit briefly, so they can issue a letter saying that.  An officer (above a certain rank?) can approve extensions when the seasoning requirements haven't been met.  That appears to be legal to me.

 

Thank you for the explanation.

 

I would respectfully disagree about it being legal, in appearance or in fact.

 

An agent putting 800K in a bank account held by a visa applicant for the sole purpose of receiving a letter from the bank verifying that the funds exist (and presumably that the funds come from an overseas source, which is another requirement), and then removing the funds immediately after receiving the letter, is fraud. 

 

Whether the funds are removed before or after the visa is issued matters not.

 

The use of funds to procure a bank letter with the intent of deceiving the government constitutes a fraudulent act.  Full stop. 

 

An IO of some rank may be able to override the seasoning or foreign source requirement, and with a wink and a nod (or with an actual belief) find the account meets the legal requirements. But the IO approving a visa will have relied on documents obtained fraudulently, whether fraudulent in literal fact or the fraudulent intent behind their procurement.

 

Furthermore, having relied on the bank letter and the signature and attestation of the visa applicant that everything they have submitted is truthful, the IO will likely be given the benefit of the doubt should issues arise, but the visa holder at the bottom of the food chain won't receive any such accommodation if the fit ever hits the proverbial shan.

1 hour ago, asiacurious said:

An agent putting 800K in a bank account held by a visa applicant for the sole purpose of receiving a letter from the bank verifying that the funds exist (and presumably that the funds come from an overseas source, which is another requirement), and then removing the funds immediately after receiving the letter, is fraud.

 

It may be outwith the spirit of the law, but there's nothing fraudulent about it.  The funds are deposited, the bank letter saying they are in the account is truthfully prepared and the funds moved on.  The overseas source bit is for monthly deposits, not the 800K THB.

 

1 hour ago, asiacurious said:

The use of funds to procure a bank letter with the intent of deceiving the government constitutes a fraudulent act.  Full stop.

 

Again, there's no fraud or fraudulent intent by me and I refer you to my previous post and my earlier comment in this one.  It's being done by the letter of the law regarding funds in the bank (the bank wouldn't give the letter otherwise) and the officers authority.

 

Another way to look at it, if I wanted to go the 65,000 THB monthly route but only "earn" 50,000 THB each month, can I send it over to Thailand, repatriate 15,000 THB and send it back over again to make a total of 65,000 THB remitted?  Of course I could as the letter of the law only says I need to remit 65,000 THB from overseas each month, not what I do with it once I've got it.

 

Both may be outside the spirit or intent of the law, but both adhere to the letter of the law IMO.

8 hours ago, treetops said:

The overseas source bit is for monthly deposits, not the 800K THB.

 

I'm sorry, but you're wrong about the source of the 800K, at least as far as Non-O Retirement visas go.  On the Thai Immigration website you can the following pdf....

 

 

 

And on that pdf you'll find....

 

 

 

 

And at the bottom of the pdf you'll find...

 

 

 

So...

• Foreign source funds are required (800K or 65K/month).  
• You are signing and certifying that every page you submit to immigration is true and accurate.
• And you need to bring in originals of documents, including an updated bank passbook (and of course, copies of your passport).

 

Furthermore, when they give you your visa, they also give you the following document so you are aware of what you must comply with in order to extend your visa. 

 

 

 

To summarize, in order to extend your visa (after the initial 3 months and then every year after that)....

• You must maintain a minimum balance of at least 400K at all times.
• While you can draw down your 800k deposit AFTER 3 months (not immediately after immigration has given you a visa as is done with the agent's funds), you must refund your account back up to 800K at least 2 months before you apply for an extension.  (And again, the money needs to come from overseas.  Your passbook indicates if funds are from an overseas source.)

 

I'm kind of wondering if people who use agents are aware of this Criteria for Extension document.  The requirements are laid bare and clearly call into question the practice of agents funding bank accounts.  And it isn't like someone who uses an agent to fund an account can easily stop using an agent in the future for extensions, so why would they care what this document says?!

 

Honestly, going down the agent funding route for the initial visa seems to be something of a trap.  They'll need to pay agents year after year for extensions so the agent can manipulate the process smooth over the funding requirements.

 

(I suppose it's possible to kick an agent to the curb if one decides to fund their account on their own.  But even that would require one more extension through an agent since those funds won't meet the 800k for 3 months after requirement from the previous extension.)

 

We clearly don't agree, but hopefully our discussion has given the OP (or any future person who might stumble on this thread) more information to aid them with their decision.

 

Cheers!

On 7/18/2025 at 4:20 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

Using an agent to open a bank account is not illegal!

 

Don't talk nonsense. Opening a bank account with an agent in your own name is legally impossible.

On 7/18/2025 at 2:27 PM, Everyman said:

 

He can find an agent happy to promise the moon and the stars, but even if they’re aren’t lying

So, are you saying that there are agents who can promise the moon and the stars - and it is true? 

 

Sign me up - I want the moon and stars... I'm ready. 

On 7/22/2025 at 1:00 AM, asiacurious said:

While you can draw down your 800k deposit AFTER 3 months (not immediately after immigration has given you a visa as is done with the agent's funds), you must refund your account back up to 800K at least 2 months before you apply for an extension.  (And again, the money needs to come from overseas.  Your passbook indicates if funds are from an overseas source.)

I do not believe there is any requirement to show source of funds after an extension using money in the bank method.  The money just has to be there IMO.

2 hours ago, ujayujay said:

On 7/18/2025 at 4:20 PM, Liverpool Lou said:

Using an agent to open a bank account is not illegal!

 

Don't talk nonsense. Opening a bank account with an agent in your own name is legally impossible.

You really need to explain what you mean by that nonsense. 

Using a third party (an agent in this case) as an introducer to a bank and that bank opening a new account in that individual's name is perfectly normal, it is not "legally impossible".  Apart from  mule accounts used in scams, there are no laws governing how a bank can accept a customer for an account. 

Get the O visa at their local Thai Embassy BEFORE coming to Thailand. Then get it extended after arrival using an agent including opening a bank account