My friend will be entering Thailand Visa exempt in Chiang Mai and wants to change to non o marriage. What are the requirements and suggested timeline. There are other threads with this info, but he is keen to know about the current 400k seasoning regs or is this on application?

Does he have Thai bank account? 

 

Many threads on this topic. 

Note the posts pointing out that application for the Non O requires 15 days remaining on entry stamp is true however CM require 21

https://aseannow.com/topic/1342849-tourist-visa-exempt-then-apply-for-non-o-based-on-marriage/

 

Yes

6 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Does he have Thai bank account? 

 

8 minutes ago, Barney13 said:

Yes

As you have a Thai bank account then no issue. 

1. Enter visa exempt. 

2. Transfer 400k into your Thai bank account. 

3. With min 21 days remaining on permission of stay apply for Non O marriage. You require TM87 form with application. 

4. With the 90 day stamp season funds (400k) for two months and apply for 12 month extension. 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1337120-what-are-docs-required-for-non-o-married-extension-please/ 

 

You asked specifically about financial requirements. 

As mentioned above the 400k is maintained (seasoned) in bank for 2 months. 

When you apply you will be given a stamp to return to immigration in (varies) a month. 

This is referred to as under consideration period. 

Best practice is to maintain the 400k in the bank for that period. 

All up money is tied up for 3 months. 

Did friend marry in Thailand or home country. 

 

2 hours ago, Barney13 said:

There are other threads with this info, but he is keen to know about the current 400k seasoning regs or is this on application?

 

Requires 400K THB deposited in a Thai bank account in his sole name on the day of submitting his Non O application.

 

 

 

For the 1 year extension of stay requires 400K seasoned for 2 months in the bank account.

 

 

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

As you have a Thai bank account then no issue. 

1. Enter visa exempt. 

2. Transfer 400k into your Thai bank account. 

3. With min 21 days remaining on permission of stay apply for Non O marriage. You require TM87 form with application. 

4. With the 90 day stamp season funds (400k) for two months and apply for 12 month extension. 

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1337120-what-are-docs-required-for-non-o-married-extension-please/ 

 

You asked specifically about financial requirements. 

As mentioned above the 400k is maintained (seasoned) in bank for 2 months. 

When you apply you will be given a stamp to return to immigration in (varies) a month. 

This is referred to as under consideration period. 

Best practice is to maintain the 400k in the bank for that period. 

All up money is tied up for 3 months. 

Did friend marry in Thailand or home country. 

 

Thailand. Thanks for the info, he heard it had changed to 4 months from 2 but that is incorrect. And the money can be withdrawn after extension granted?

26 minutes ago, Barney13 said:

Thanks for the info, he heard it had changed to 4 months from 2 but that is incorrect. And the money can be withdrawn after extension granted?

Your friend has been reading reports of specifically BBL (bank accounts) 

Where that bank (Bangkok Bank) has placed added condition on providing the "Bank Letter" that immigration requires. 

The added condition is to place hold on the 400k. (up to 4 months). Unfortunately this ridiculous act is true. 

Some threads on this. 

Is your friends bank account BBL? 

24 minutes ago, Barney13 said:

Thailand

Just realized your reply to "where married" 

That's good married in Thailand reduces docs for proof of marriage for the Non O and extension. 

17 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Your friend has been reading reports of specifically BBL (bank accounts) 

Where that bank (Bangkok Bank) has placed added condition on providing the "Bank Letter" that immigration requires. 

The added condition is to place hold on the 400k. (up to 4 months). Unfortunately this ridiculous act is true. 

Some threads on this. 

Is your friends bank account BBL? 

Yes

OK, so your friend banks with BBL. 

He can cop the potential "4 month freeze" OR

Obtain the Non O in home country or country outside of Thailand then after entering Thailand and being stamped in for 90 days open an account with different bank. 

Suggest Kasikorn as one option. 

Then transfer the 400k and etc etc

 

Note: he won't be able to open new bank account with visa exempt entry

 

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OK, so your friend banks with BBL. 

He can cop the potential "4 month freeze" OR

Obtain the Non O in home country or country outside of Thailand then after entering Thailand and being stamped in for 90 days open an account with different bank. 

Suggest Kasikorn as one option. 

Then transfer the 400k and etc etc

 

Note: he won't be able to open new bank account with visa exempt entry

 

I think he has the option of putting the money in the bank early, therefore accomplishing the 4 month thing, thanks for the help.

28 minutes ago, Barney13 said:

I think he has the option of putting the money in the bank early, therefore accomplishing the 4 month thing, thanks for the help.

There is some discussion in this attached thread... 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1372303-bangkok-bank-restricting-funds-held-for-immigration/

 

The thread also posts this attached pic of nonsense posted at a BBL branch. 

Seems if funds had already been seasoned for 4 months as you suggest, signing the bogus form may not be required. 

My guess is could make up anything. 

For marriage extensions suggest that most folk would not just maintain 400k in bank ongoing. 

For retirement different. I and many others, just park the 800k and leave it. Avoids slip ups. 

Marriage is different and blackmailing to maintain the 400k for 4 months is outrageous

 

 

On 9/29/2025 at 8:11 AM, Barney13 said:

I think he has the option of putting the money in the bank early, therefore accomplishing the 4 month thing, thanks for the help.

That may or may-not work.  BKB may still freeze his funds from the date of the letter to 4 months into the future.  Reports on this are mixed.  

But, as he needs to get that letter for his initial Non-O 90-day visa, then again for the extension (~2 months later), then an under-consideration period of 30-60 days after this (if applying early, can be longer - varies by office), he would need the 400K there ~4-months, regardless.  I doubt they will freeze him for the 2nd letter, if still frozen from the first letter.

10 hours ago, Rob Browder said:

That may or may-not work.  BKB may still freeze his funds from the date of the letter to 4 months into the future.  Reports on this are mixed.  

But, as he needs to get that letter for his initial Non-O 90-day visa, then again for the extension (~2 months later), then an under-consideration period of 30-60 days after this (if applying early, can be longer - varies by office), he would need the 400K there ~4-months, regardless.  I doubt they will freeze him for the 2nd letter, if still frozen from the first letter.

I think you are greatly overestimating the Thai ability to think outside the box.  If the policy the staff member received and read says "if not in account for 4 months at time of letter, freeze balance for 4 months," they will not care if it's already frozen.  They will do what the policy says, and freeze it for 4 months.  And knowing them, they'll add the 4 months onto the end of the existing freeze.

I posted previously that I was contacted by my branch of Bangkok bank to supply additional documentation to verify my ID.
During this procedure, they showed me a list of over 2,000 foreigners in the Roi Et Province they had to contact.
I noticed a friend's name on that list, so informed him to expect a call. He didn't wait for the call, instead calling in the branch with additional documents the following week.

 

Last week, he submitted his new extension application.
He previously used the 800K funds method, but mistakenly withdrew 50K from that account within the last 2 months.
Fortunately, he has always transferred sufficient monthly overseas pension income to meet the 'income' requirement, so he had to request both statements and letters for both accounts.

 

Bangkok bank didn't request he signed any affidavit to freeze either of the accounts, just issued the standard letters as requested.
I can only assume having provided extra documentation of proof of ID to their satisfaction, their policy of freezing an account no longer applied.