What is my best option

[SERGERAMOS]

Hi all I am planning to return to Thailand from the uk at the end of September with my Thai wife I would like to stay more than 6 or 7 months then return to the uk for 2 months and then return back to Thailand. I am 64 years old and don’t have a Thai bank account. I want to get a visa to enter Thailand my question is what is the best visa I can get should I go for a METV or a non o based on marriage or retirement 

cheers 

[DrJack54]

20 minutes ago, SERGERAMOS said:

 I am 64 years old and don’t have a Thai bank account

Currently that can be an issue. 

Even with a Non O you may have trouble opening a Thai bank account. 

The Non O would give you 90 day stamp. 

You can also apply for 60 day extension to visit wife. 

That provides 5 month stay. 

 

23 minutes ago, SERGERAMOS said:

I want to get a visa to enter Thailand my question is what is the best visa I can get should I go for a METV or a non o based on marriage or retirement 

You can obtain a METV which would provide a stay of up to 9 months. 

You would need to exit Thailand couple of times... 

25 minutes ago, SERGERAMOS said:

return to the uk for 2 months and then return back to Thailand

How long is the plan for second visit. 

It's not clear what your ongoing plan is  

[SERGERAMOS]

My plan for the second visit would be to stay for 12 months or maybe longer I’m not sure yet 

[Liquorice]

3 minutes ago, SERGERAMOS said:

My plan for the second visit would be to stay for 12 months or maybe longer I’m not sure yet 

Best option is to obtain the Non Imm O from the Thai Embassy to enter Thailand.

That will grant you a stay of 90 days, which you can extend for a further 365 days subject to meeting the financial requirements of 400K THB deposited in a Thai bank account in your sole name for 2 months prior to the submitting the 1-year extension application.

 

Did you originally marry in the UK or Thailand?

[SERGERAMOS]

I don’t have a Thai bank account and was married in the uk 

[Liquorice]

8 minutes ago, SERGERAMOS said:

I don’t have a Thai bank account and was married in the uk 

You'd have to open a Thai bank account on arrival.

 

Being married in the UK presents a problem because there is no record of that marriage in Thailand.

There is a legal procedure to follow in order to register an overseas marriage in Thailand.

Without registering that overseas marriage, your only other option would be to apply for the Non O and 1 year extensions based on retirement, which would require 800K THB deposited in a Thai bank account.

[SERGERAMOS]

My marriage is also registered in Thailand the problem is I don’t have a Thai bank account and I’m not sure if I can open 1 given the clampdown they are having at the moment 

[Liquorice]

1 minute ago, SERGERAMOS said:

My marriage is also registered in Thailand

So you've previously gone through the process of having your UK marriage certificate authenticated by the Home office, certified by the Thai Embassy, then translated and legalised by the MOFA to register the marriage at a Thai Amphur?

 

4 minutes ago, SERGERAMOS said:

the problem is I don’t have a Thai bank account and I’m not sure if I can open 1 given the clampdown they are having at the moment 

There is a single recent report of a member entering with a Non Imm O and having issues opening a bank account.
In my opinion, there is something wrong with the members experience.

There are dozens of foreigners entering Thailand every month with a Non Imm O visa needing to open a Thai bank account and yet only a single report of a problem.

Meaning others haven't encountered a problem or the forum would be awash with similar reports.

[SERGERAMOS]

Thanks mate for your insight think I will arrive with a non o if that’s the case 

[Liquorice]

4 minutes ago, SERGERAMOS said:

Thanks mate for your insight think I will arrive with a non o if that’s the case 

You can additionally apply for a 60-day extension to the 90 days granted on entry to allow more time to open a bank account and season the 400k THB for 2 months prior to applying for a 1-year extension.

[BrandonJT]

24 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

So you've previously gone through the process of having your UK marriage certificate authenticated by the Home office, certified by the Thai Embassy, then translated and legalised by the MOFA to register the marriage at a Thai Amphur?

 

There is a single recent report of a member entering with a Non Imm O and having issues opening a bank account.
In my opinion, there is something wrong with the members experience.

There are dozens of foreigners entering Thailand every month with a Non Imm O visa needing to open a Thai bank account and yet only a single report of a problem.

Meaning others haven't encountered a problem or the forum would be awash with similar reports.

LOTS of reports on Facebook of people having issues, even with a non-O.  But since the op is married, it should prove easier.  Since a lot of the people with the non-O based on marriage who had problems were told if they were married to a Thai they would have been able to open the account.  That is, unless the bank staff are just making excuses and will find a new one when a married person rolls up.

[Liquorice]

7 minutes ago, BrandonJT said:

LOTS of reports on Facebook of people having issues, even with a non-O.  But since the op is married, it should prove easier.  Since a lot of the people with the non-O based on marriage who had problems were told if they were married to a Thai they would have been able to open the account.  That is, unless the bank staff are just making excuses and will find a new one when a married person rolls up.

Most banks now at minimum require proof of address, such as a COR or Yellow Tabien Baan and a character reference, be it an existing branch employee or bank customer, Poo Yai Baan, or a government official. A friend recently obtained a reference from his UK bank, which the Thai bank accepted.

[DrJack54]

OP, some really good advice in posts in this thread. 

Given the second visit to Thailand is a year plus and perhaps even longer then the obvious solution is extensions based on marriage. 

 

Definitely enter Thailand (first trip) with a Non O. 

The goal is to open bank account. 

If successful (think you will be) then all good. Proceed with the 12 month extension. 

If for some reason that is not possible then you have plan B. 

Use the 90 day stamp from the non O + obtain a 60 day extension to visit wife. 

Add one border run and your are covered. 

Do not obtain a METV and enter on that as would perhaps rule out chance of opening bank account. 

 

Good luck. It shouldn't be so difficult esp married to a Thai. 

 

[zzzzz]

Does ur wife have an account at a bank?  With a non o, go with her to the bank she has and i bet dollars to donuts they will open one for you.

If not , have her open an account first, than you

[DrJack54]

17 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

With a non o, go with her to the bank she has and i bet dollars to donuts they will open one for you

Suggest he will require a proof of address. 

Seems Thai wife has been living in UK. 

He could obtain a COR which would be useful. 

He has not where he would be living which would be useful info. 

Would also indicate which immigration office. 

[zzzzz]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Suggest he will require a proof of address. 

Seems Thai wife has been living in UK. 

He could obtain a COR which would be useful. 

He has not where he would be living which would be useful info. 

Would also indicate which immigration office. 

of course helpful to have a cor and here in Phuket... required 

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, zzzzz said:

of course helpful to have a cor and here in Phuket... required 

Yes the OP doesn't have a bank account. A COR will be required by the bank even with a Non O