Hello,

I'm having trouble obtaining a Thai marriage visa. I can't open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa to meet the marriage visa requirement. And immigration in Bangkok won't let me convert my tourist visa to a 90-day Non-Immigrant O visa, which I need in order to open a bank account. I'm stuck in a loop. Any advice on how to resolve this?

You resolve it by doing things the way they are supposed to be done.  You get a visa from an embassy before traveling to a country.

Find a nearby Thai embassy and check their requirements for a non-O visa based on marriage.  Laos is a popular choice. 

Travel to selected country. Apply for visa through the e-visa system.  If you go to Laos, go to consulate and pay, else pay online if you chose another country.  Wait for visa.

After the visa is issued, return to Thailand and use the visa to open the required bank account.

 

Without the visa, you will not be able to open a bank account, plain and simple.

Hi Brandon,

 

Thanks for the prompt response.  I am marrying my Thai girlfriend next month when I come back to Thailand. but based on my research I can't apply for a 90 days non immigrant O visa without the marriage certificate at the Thai Embassy in my country  ( Canada ).  is this true? I'm getting mix answers online 

 

Thank you, 

1 hour ago, MikeB1 said:

Hi Brandon,

 

Thanks for the prompt response.  I am marrying my Thai girlfriend next month when I come back to Thailand. but based on my research I can't apply for a 90 days non immigrant O visa without the marriage certificate at the Thai Embassy in my country  ( Canada ).  is this true? I'm getting mix answers online 

 

Thank you, 

If you get married in Thailand then you'll have a marriage registered in Thailand already.  The Canadian Thai embassy only comes into play if you are married in Canada and need to get your Canadian marriage certificate legalized for Thailand.

3 hours ago, MikeB1 said:

I can't apply for a 90 days non immigrant O visa without the marriage certificate at the Thai Embassy in my country  ( Canada )

As pointed out by BrandonJT you can obtain a Non O eVisa in a country outside of Thailand. 

A suggestion... Come to Thailand. Enter visa exempt. Get married. 

At some point exit Thailand and apply for the Non O eVisa. 

With a Non O you will be able to open a bank account. 

Season the funds and obtain a 12 month extension. 

The entry to Thailand with the Non O will provide a 90 day stamp. 

 

Note if more time is required after marriage and prior to obtaining the Non O then you could obtain a 30 day extension or 60 day extension to visit wife. 

Yes messy however is an option. 

Good luck 

3 hours ago, MikeB1 said:

I'm having trouble obtaining a Thai marriage visa. I can't open a Thai bank account on a tourist visa to meet the marriage visa requirement. And immigration in Bangkok won't let me convert my tourist visa to a 90-day Non-Immigrant O visa, which I need in order to open a bank account. I'm stuck in a loop. Any advice on how to resolve this?

Hi Mike, I've replied in your other thread regarding getting married in Thailand.

 

Obviously, until you marry, you cannot apply for a Non O visa based on Thai spouse, only a Non O based on retirement (50 or over) which requires 800K THB in a Thai bank.
CW Immigration as I recently discovered in another thread will not issue a Non O visa based on Thai spouse until you have been married for 2 months.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

As pointed out by BrandonJT you can obtain a Non O eVisa in a country outside of Thailand. 

A suggestion... Come to Thailand. Enter visa exempt. Get married. 

At some point exit Thailand and apply for the Non O eVisa. 

With a Non O you will be able to open a bank account. 

Season the funds and obtain a 12 month extension. 

The entry to Thailand with the Non O will provide a 90 day stamp. 

 

Note if more time is required after marriage and prior to obtaining the Non O then you could obtain a 30 day extension or 60 day extension to visit wife. 

Yes messy however is an option. 

Good luck 

Hi Dr Jack,

 

Are there any banks you recommended and where ?  My girlfriend went to a few banks in Emquartier and they were clueless when she ask if I can open an bank account with a non O .

 

Thank you

14 minutes ago, MikeB1 said:

Are there any banks you recommended and where ?

First up I would avoid BBL. 

Kasikorn would be good choice even moreso if you use Wise for transfers. A bank should open an account for someone that has a Non O. 

Bank may require a certificate of residence or lease etc 

50 minutes ago, MikeB1 said:

Hi Dr Jack,

 

Are there any banks you recommended and where ?  My girlfriend went to a few banks in Emquartier and they were clueless when she ask if I can open an bank account with a non O .

 

Thank you

Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and SCB appear to be the most popular for expats.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages over each other.
To start, you need to request opening a 'Savings Account' which offers a debit card and online banking facilities.

 

The Headquarter branches in Bangkok are the best to start with as they are more familiar with dealing with foreigners.
Kasikorn: 400/22 Phahonyothin Rd, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400
Bangkok Bank: 333 Silom Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
SCB: 9 Ratchadapisek Road, Jatujak, Jatujak, Bangkok, 10900 

@Liquorice @DrJack54

Hi,

 

Do I need to get a criminal record check certificate in Canada before coming? I see online somewhere said I need one in order to apply for Non O visa 

 

Thank you

5 minutes ago, MikeB1 said:

@Liquorice @DrJack54

Hi,

 

Do I need to get a criminal record check certificate in Canada before coming? I see online somewhere said I need one in order to apply for Non O visa 

 

Thank you

Required if obtaining a Non O-A 

Not required for Non O application (for either marriage or retirement) 

Also not required for Non O is medical certificate nor is health insurance. 

24 minutes ago, MikeB1 said:

@Liquorice @DrJack54

Hi,

 

Do I need to get a criminal record check certificate in Canada before coming? I see online somewhere said I need one in order to apply for Non O visa 

 

Thank you

No.

Answered by @DrJack54

On 10/17/2025 at 8:07 AM, MikeB1 said:

Hi Dr Jack,

 

Are there any banks you recommended and where ?  My girlfriend went to a few banks in Emquartier and they were clueless when she ask if I can open an bank account with a non O .

 

Thank you

I would stay away from BKB as they can take up to 7days to get the letter and statements needed for Immigration. Krungsri (aka yellow bank) take max 15 minutes and some immigration offices insist all must be dated the same day as applying. 

16 minutes ago, brian69 said:

I would stay away from BKB as they can take up to 7days to get the letter and statements needed for Immigration. Krungsri (aka yellow bank) take max 15 minutes and some immigration offices insist all must be dated the same day as applying. 

Which offices insist on bank letter and statement to be obtained same day as application. 

As for BBL they are the only bank that takes several days to provide 12 month bank statement. 

Others are on the spot. 

Bigger reason to avoid BBL is the current 4 month freeze they place on account to obtain bank letter for immigration. 

19 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Which offices insist on bank letter and statement to be obtained same day as application. 

I'm pretty sure Ratchaburi does.  Though I have never tried it.  ( I did try one year not doing a deposit on the exact day and had to go back to the bank, make a deposit, update the bank book and get a new letter.)

This January when I did my extension two of the officers were having a discussion on whether they should accept my bank statement because it didn't show the 1,000 baht deposit for that day.

They for sure want an entry in the bank book for that day showing the balance.  SCB has always told me that the bank statement  can't show anything for the current day.

7 minutes ago, rwill said:

They for sure want an entry in the bank book for that day showing the balance. 

I tend to use CW as the gold standard example.

 

So for Bank Letter and 12 month Bank Statement these can be obtained days prior to day of application. 

In fact they are valid for 7 days. 

On the day of application CW want to see updated bank book. 

This is best done with small deposit as this also shows activity on day of application. 

 

It is true that a random office may insist upon Letter and Statement same day as application. 

Fortunately very few and far between. Location Hicksville

On 10/17/2025 at 9:07 AM, Liquorice said:

Kasikorn Bank

Has a very good K+ app for cashless purchase and payments. 

On 10/17/2025 at 9:07 AM, Liquorice said:

Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank and SCB appear to be the most popular for expats.
Each has its advantages and disadvantages over each other.
To start, you need to request opening a 'Savings Account' which offers a debit card and online banking facilities.

 

The Headquarter branches in Bangkok are the best to start with as they are more familiar with dealing with foreigners.
Kasikorn: 400/22 Phahonyothin Rd, Samsen Nai, Phaya Thai, Bangkok 10400
Bangkok Bank: 333 Silom Road, Silom, Bang Rak, Bangkok 10500
SCB: 9 Ratchadapisek Road, Jatujak, Jatujak, Bangkok, 10900 

In case not clear, the bank account you will use for immigration purposes MUST be in your name only (no joint account with future wife).

SCB is very easy to deal with to get the bank statement letter for immigration purposes. I've used 4 different branches in my area without any problems.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Which offices insist on bank letter and statement to be obtained same day as application. 

As for BBL they are the only bank that takes several days to provide 12 month bank statement. 

Others are on the spot. 

Bigger reason to avoid BBL is the current 4 month freeze they place on account to obtain bank letter for immigration. 

Trat Leam knop

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Which offices insist on bank letter and statement to be obtained same day as application. 

Roi Et Immigration.

37 minutes ago, brian69 said:

Trat Leam knop

 

6 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Roi Et Immigration.

So two so far, not so funny now is it. See jack you can learn..

5 minutes ago, brian69 said:

 

So two so far, not so funny now is it. See jack you can learn..

Its a given that immigration offices can have particular rules unto themselves. Folk need to be aware of their own office requirements. 

 

There is over 75 immigration offices. 

I tend to post on most common requirements. 

Not interested in random offices.

So folk that post advice on obtaing Bank Letter and statement need to type... 

" Can be obtained up to 7 days prior except for ROI Et, Trat and... " 

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Its a given that immigration offices can have particular rules unto themselves. Folk need to be aware of their own office requirements. 

 

There is over 75 immigration offices. 

I tend to post on most common requirements. 

I did say some.

8 minutes ago, brian69 said:

 

So two so far, not so funny now is it. See jack you can learn..

I tend to think that smaller IO's in rural areas may insist on same day dated documentation, as the processing and waiting times are minimal.
In larger IO's in urban areas, IO's grant documents to be pre-dated because of the processing and waiting times.

3 hours ago, rwill said:

This January when I did my extension two of the officers were having a discussion on whether they should accept my bank statement because it didn't show the 1,000 baht deposit for that day.

They for sure want an entry in the bank book for that day showing the balance.  SCB has always told me that the bank statement  can't show anything for the current day.

It's well documented that for certain banks, you need to make a small deposit or withdrawal to update the passbook to the current date.
Bangkok Bank is the exception where they can update on the day without any transactions.
It states current date and balance brought forward in the passbook.

5 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Which offices insist on bank letter and statement to be obtained same day as application. 

I've previously been turned down by Khonkaen immigration for having a bank letter dated the day before the application.

8 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Which offices insist on bank letter and statement to be obtained same day as application. 

 

 

I've been told by Phuket expats that Phuket immigration is inconsistent here. Nominally it is not required the same day, but I had a couple of expats tell me that when they went for their annual extension, the letter from the day prior was rejected. 

 

That leads me to speculate it can in some cases be IO dependent at the Phuket immigration office.

 

When I was on a Type-O/OA, for my annual extensions, I always showed up at the bank at opening hours and had the letter stamped the same day (that very morning) and then I headed immediately to Phuket immigration. This was tricky for Bangkok Bank, as it could take up to 1 week to get the required bank statement (from Bangkok to Phuket) which was a minor annoyance.  So like many others have done, I switched from using Bangkok Bank to another bank (Krungsri bank in my case) so to avoid the unpredictability as to exactly which day Bangkok Bank would have the statement that I needed to show immigration.

 

I note that since I would go to Phuket immigration immediately after getting my Bank letter and statement, I can't say its accurate as to what i was told (by other expats -  that in some cases a previous day not accepted). I don't know if there may be other reasons that they did not say.  Sometimes its hard to drill down to exact cause.

 

22 minutes ago, oldcpu said:

I note that since I would go to Phuket immigration immediately after getting my Bank letter and statement, I can't say its accurate as to what i was told (by other expats -  that in some cases a previous day not accepted)

Indeed as I have read in your previous post here: 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1330389-phuket-retirement-extension-minor-changes-from-last-year/#findComment-19012154

 

Fact is some offices have their own game. 

Everyone needs to be aware of their own nonsense that various offices plan. 

In Phuket eg the expats club advice can be out of date in a blink. 

 

Just avoid 
Bangkok bank.

4 minutes ago, bubblegum said:

Just avoid 
Bangkok bank.

Indeed. Has been pointed out by some posts in the thread. 

 

For folk opening Thai bank account for first time just ignore BBL. 

 

Even a step further for those with existing BBL account consider carefully your options moving forward.