Bt 800,000?

[Gandtee]

Reminder. How long do funds have to remain in the account before and after a retirement visa extension?

[Rob Browder]

8 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Reminder. How long do funds have to remain in the account before and after a retirement visa extension?

2 months before, 3 months after. 

Unless you pay immigration's "agents" to handle the application - then, no money required.

[Gandtee]

Just now, Rob Browder said:

2 months before, 3 months after. 

Unless you pay immigration's "agents" to handle the application - then, no money required.

Thank you. I should know by now. Old age catching up with me.😉

[DrJack54]

2 months prior to application and 3 months after application approved and not below 400k in other months. 

[Gandtee]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

2 months prior to application and 3 months after application approved and not below 400k in other months. 

Thank you.

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, Gandtee said:

Thank you. I should know by now. Old age catching up with me.😉

As you would be aware... many using money in bank method for extensions retirement just maintain the 800k all year round in a dedicated "immigration bank account" 

Helps avoid stuff ups

[Gandtee]

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

As you would be aware... many using money in bank method for extensions retirement just maintain the 800k all year round in a dedicated "immigration bank account" 

Helps avoid stuff ups

But sometimes I need to withdraw part of it.

[livram]

On 8/9/2025 at 2:14 PM, DrJack54 said:

As you would be aware... many using money in bank method for extensions retirement just maintain the 800k all year round in a dedicated "immigration bank account" 

Helps avoid stuff ups

And which bank would you suggest. Have Mai Tai Dee account at Krungsi but they are making things difficult and want to try another bank. Have open accounts at Kasikorn and also Bangkok Bank.

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, livram said:

Have open accounts at Kasikorn and also Bangkok Bank.

Given recent events with BBL , personally I wouldn't use them.

 

I use Kasikorn and they also partner with WISE.

Also can produce 12 month bank statement on the spot.

Unlike BBL. 

[livram]

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Given recent events with BBL , personally I wouldn't use them.

 

I use Kasikorn and they also partner with WISE.

Also can produce 12 month bank statement on the spot.

Unlike BBL. 

How much interest do they pay for 800000 account?

[LogicThai]

I am considering switching from Non-O (RE) to Non-O Spouse or Parent of a Thai citizen.

This is mainly to acquire the ability to get a work permit if I need to, and possibly to apply for Thai citizenship eventually. Still, the reduction of mandatory funds from 800 to 400,000 would be valuable too.

[DrJack54]

2 minutes ago, livram said:

How much interest do they pay for 800000 account?

Not a lot and I don't waste my time with that.

There is a banking forum you can check out.

Not expert advice however have seen SCB have one FD account that has better rate than others. 

SCB does not have a brach at CW.

Mind you think Kasikorn plan to close branch at CW

[DrJack54]

Just now, LogicThai said:

Still, the reduction of mandatory funds from 800 to 400,000 would be valuable too.

Retirement extensions require funds all year round. 800/400 for 12 months.

Marriage 400k for only 2 months prior to application.

Apples and Oranges. 

[JAS21]

19 minutes ago, livram said:

How much interest do they pay for 800000 account?

CIMB are paying 1.45% at present ..instant access 

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

CIMB are paying 1.45% at present ..instant access 

And no wonder some folk use agents.

Highway robbery that we are forced to lock up 800k at 1.45% which is also taxed.

My super fund in Oz long term average is 8% + 

But I'm stupid so keep the funds in Thai bank. 

However we all have option of income method.

Changing to that for next extension. 

[JAS21]

33 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And no wonder some folk use agents.

Highway robbery that we are forced to lock up 800k at 1.45% which is also taxed.

My super fund in Oz long term average is 8% + 

But I'm stupid so keep the funds in Thai bank. 

However we all have option of income method.

Changing to that for next extension. 

Income method …I did that for a while but the new tax has put me off …I don’t need to bring any money over although I do gift to my wife so that I don’t have to pay any of her bills. We keep very careful records of what she spends the gift money on. When/if things change then I will bring what I can over.

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, JAS21 said:

don’t need to bring any money over although I do gift to my wife so that I don’t have to pay any of her bills. We keep very careful records of what she spends the gift money on

Is that a serious post.

 

[livram]

Thanks all, this has enough info to get me started.

[farang51]

On 8/10/2025 at 2:43 PM, LogicThai said:

I am considering switching from Non-O (RE) to Non-O Spouse or Parent of a Thai citizen.

This is mainly to acquire the ability to get a work permit if I need to, and possibly to apply for Thai citizenship eventually. Still, the reduction of mandatory funds from 800 to 400,000 would be valuable too.

I don't know if I misunderstand something - is it possible to get a work permit with an extension of stay based on Thai family? I thought you needed a NON B for that.

[BrandonJT]

1 hour ago, farang51 said:

I don't know if I misunderstand something - is it possible to get a work permit with an extension of stay based on Thai family? I thought you needed a NON B for that.

You simply need a non-work restricted visa to be eligible for a work permit.  

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, farang51 said:

I don't know if I misunderstand something - is it possible to get a work permit with an extension of stay based on Thai family?

Yes no problem. 

[mogandave]

I like having the money in the bank here. I can get about 4% in the US in a fixed deposit, so that’s about a 2 1/2% loss, but I think that’s less than I would have to pay an agent, and it’s easy. 

 

I could use it in tbe event of an emergency, and It’s a nice hedge as well. 

[DrJack54]

3 hours ago, mogandave said:

I can get about 4% in the US in a fixed deposit, so that’s about a 2 1/2% loss

On those figures hardly worth it, however most would have the 800k in something yielding more than 4% 

My super fund in Oz Long term has averaged over 8%.

Significant loss over the years. 

It's a scam. 

In the event of needing the funds eg Medical you can't touch it or you won't be able to renew next extension. 

It's highway robbery by stealth. 

[mogandave]

10 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

On those figures hardly worth it, however most would have the 800k in something yielding more than 4% 

My super fund in Oz Long term has averaged over 8%.

Significant loss over the years. 

It's a scam. 

In the event of needing the funds eg Medical you can't touch it or you won't be able to renew next extension. 

It's highway robbery by stealth. 

And my investments in the US market typically do much better, and the 800k is not that much in the scheme of things.

 

In the event of an emergency, I could take it out, and worst case I could use an agent. 

 

Every transfer and or conversion looses money as well. 

[Rob Browder]

7 hours ago, mogandave said:

I like having the money in the bank here. I can get about 4% in the US in a fixed deposit, so that’s about a 2 1/2% loss, but I think that’s less than I would have to pay an agent, and it’s easy. 

 

I could use it in tbe event of an emergency, and It’s a nice hedge as well. 

Even at that low rate, you lose ~20K Baht, unless you are moving 400K of it back to a higher-yielding account, during the ~6-7 months you don't need a balance of 800K (minus xfer-fees).  Agents are cheaper than 20K for retirement-based extensions - not a lot, though, but add it up over 10+ years. 

[mogandave]

35 minutes ago, Rob Browder said:

Even at that low rate, you lose ~20K Baht, unless you are moving 400K of it back to a higher-yielding account, during the ~6-7 months you don't need a balance of 800K (minus xfer-fees).  Agents are cheaper than 20K for retirement-based extensions - not a lot, though, but add it up over 10+ years. 

I would not use an agent to circumvent the law just to save a bot of money. If I did not like having the money in an account here, I would do monthly transfers. 

 

When I enquired about using an agent to avoid the financial requirements, it was significantly more than 20k, but that was some 5-7 years ago. 

 

And given the USD has lost 7.5% against the baht, that puts me ~฿40k to the good. 

 

Diversification