Accessing The 400,000 Baht Required For A One Year Visa.

[Mason45]

I've had 400,000 baht in my Thai bank account for the last 4 months, I renewed my non immigration O visa on December 3 for the 5th consecutive year. As the Australian dollar has dropped 30% to the Thai baht in recent months, is it possible for me to access my 400,000 baht now or must I wait until my application has been approved.

[opalhort]

I've had 400,000 baht in my Thai bank account for the last 4 months, I renewed my non immigration O visa on December 3 for the 5th consecutive year. As the Australian dollar has dropped 30% to the Thai baht in recent months, is it possible for me to access my 400,000 baht now or must I wait until my application has been approved.

I would suggest to keep the 400K in the bank until your extension has come through. Imm does make spot checks!

opalhort

[Lite Beer]

I must admit. I dip into it, but as opalhort says, probably not a good idea.

[torrenova]

Isn't the whole idea that you do spend it and then replenish it ? I seem to remember comments made some time ago over the 800k retirement figure where immigration was not happy that it just sat there. The idea presumably was that you needed to show you were spending it.

The 3 months rubbish is just to stop people lending each other the money for a day or two.

[maccaroni man]

when i did my renewal last year i no longer needed the 400k but my wife needed to show tax payment on 40k per month income. we had a nice vacation on that nest egg.

[Lite Beer]

Yes but we are talking about the 1 month under consideration period for a Marriage Extension.

[Lite Beer]

when i did my renewal last year i no longer needed the 400k but my wife needed to show tax payment on 40k per month income. we had a nice vacation on that nest egg.

The new rule says that it has to be the Husbands money/income.

[opalhort]

The way I see it (this is only my opinion!) is that if you have a history in your book with frequently having the required funds but you use them from time to time, you are probably not on the radar of IMM.

But if you deposited the 400K just in time (3 now 2 months before application) then they may well have a closer look because you may just have taken out a short term loan to cover the requirement.

opalhort

[Tyke]

Isn't the whole idea that you do spend it and then replenish it ? I seem to remember comments made some time ago over the 800k retirement figure where immigration was not happy that it just sat there. The idea presumably was that you needed to show you were spending it.

The 3 months rubbish is just to stop people lending each other the money for a day or two.

I have heard this somewhere too, but there is nothing in the regulations about showing that you are using cash above the required amount on a regular basis, nor is there anything in the regs about replenishing the said amount each year - nor for the requirement that the said funds be transferred from abroad - strange but true. I also think that part of the reason for the 3 month rule is so that Thai banks can make money from the deposits. This is why the cash should be in a SAVINGS account with pathetic interest rates. Time deposit accounts are not recognised - they would yield more for the depositer. Essentially, Thai banks are getting away with paying short-term interest rates for 3-month 'time' deposit accounts - a complete rip-off - as are the discriminatory lower interest rates for savings accounts for foreigners as opposed to Thais.

[Lite Beer]

I have heard this somewhere too, but there is nothing in the regulations about showing that you are using cash above the required amount on a regular basis, nor is there anything in the regs about replenishing the said amount each year - nor for the requirement that the said funds be transferred from abroad - strange but true. I also think that part of the reason for the 3 month rule is so that Thai banks can make money from the deposits. This is why the cash should be in a SAVINGS account with pathetic interest rates. Time deposit accounts are not recognised - they would yield more for the depositer. Essentially, Thai banks are getting away with paying short-term interest rates for 3-month 'time' deposit accounts - a complete rip-off - as are the discriminatory lower interest rates for savings accounts for foreigners as opposed to Thais.

The regulations say that you top up to the required amount every year.

Fixed Interest (Time) Accounts are recognised and are available to foreigners at the same rates as Thais. Admittedly a pathetic 1.75% from today.

[torrenova]

The 3 months rule was surely introduced to stop people without the necessary income or savings just borrowing the money for the day they went to immigration. I understand that there was a fair business going on doing this, certainly in Pattaya.

[Billion]

The 3 months rule was surely introduced to stop people without the necessary income or savings just borrowing the money for the day they went to immigration. I understand that there was a fair business going on doing this, certainly in Pattaya.

And Phuket too!

[jantrevor]

Given the pathetic 1% return on short term money today there is not much of a loss in having it in a Thai bank

[Mason45]

Thanks all, the reason I brought this up is that I'm a bit light on ready cash in Thailand and as the Australian dollar has slipped 8 baht in the dollar in recent months I would prefer to take my everyday living expenses out of my Thai bank account rather than transfer money from Australia. As I read the new law you must have a minimum of 400k in your Thai bank account 2 months prior to the day that you make your application, is PRIOR the operative word ? I'm still not sure which way to go, one would think that I could access the money now as this is my 5th consecutive visa application, none refused but again TIT.

[danmurdoch]

Hi all where can I get information about the one year Visa for married. I am married to a Thai, marriage was in Australia. I earn about 400,000 Baht per month. Thanks

[Lite Beer]

Hi all where can I get information about the one year Visa for married. I am married to a Thai, marriage was in Australia. I earn about 400,000 Baht per month. Thanks

Are you asking about a Multi Entry Non Imm Visa or a 12 month extension to stay based on Marriage?

If the 12 month extension the rule is here. 2.18 (6)

[ubonjoe]

Hi all where can I get information about the one year Visa for married. I am married to a Thai, marriage was in Australia. I earn about 400,000 Baht per month. Thanks

Are you asking about a Multi Entry Non Imm Visa or a 12 month extension to stay based on Marriage?

If the 12 month extension the rule is here. 2.18 (6)

danmurdoch I just did a reply on your topic. and answered your questions there.

[Tyke]

I have heard this somewhere too, but there is nothing in the regulations about showing that you are using cash above the required amount on a regular basis, nor is there anything in the regs about replenishing the said amount each year - nor for the requirement that the said funds be transferred from abroad - strange but true. I also think that part of the reason for the 3 month rule is so that Thai banks can make money from the deposits. This is why the cash should be in a SAVINGS account with pathetic interest rates. Time deposit accounts are not recognised - they would yield more for the depositer. Essentially, Thai banks are getting away with paying short-term interest rates for 3-month 'time' deposit accounts - a complete rip-off - as are the discriminatory lower interest rates for savings accounts for foreigners as opposed to Thais.

The regulations say that you top up to the required amount every year.

Fixed Interest (Time) Accounts are recognised and are available to foreigners at the same rates as Thais. Admittedly a pathetic 1.75% from today.

can you point me to where it states that the amount should be topped up each year? there is nothing to this effect in the list of requirements given out in bangkok inmmigration or on any websites I have seen. Also they do not ask for proof of this when i have ever renewed my retirement visa. last year I offered my FET form to prove it and they just immediately returned it to me without even looking at it.

The regs state a 'savings' account, and a time deposit is not a 'savings' account as such but if they have allowed you to use such an account, can you tell me which office you used to renew your visa?

Maybe time deposits have the same rates for thais and frarangs but savings accounts do not. they clearly show this on interest rate boards in banks.

[Lite Beer]

Every year when you apply you have to have a bank deposit of 400,000 Baht. So if you spend some of it during the year you will have to top up to the required amount when you apply next year.

Savings accounts in banks have a rate of 0.75% for everyone. I have always. received this.

Yes SCB website does say that Non Residents get 0 interest. If you were applying for 12 monthly extensions you would be a resident.

From the Kasikorn Bank website. www.kasikornbank.com

[Maestro]

can you point me to where it states that the amount should be topped up each year? there is nothing to this effect in the list of requirements given out in bangkok inmmigration or on any websites I have seen…

You are right, the rules say nothing about topping up. The only thing that matters is that there are 400k in the account for at least two months before your next application for extension. If since your last application you spent some of the 400k you obviously will have to do something to bring the balance again to a minimum of 400k. Some people call this something “topping up” but you may call it anything you want. If, on the other hand, you left that money untouched there is nothing you need to do.

--

Maestro

[Lite Beer]

If, on the other hand, you left that money untouched there is nothing you need to do.

--

Maestro

Yes. There would be no need to top up as you already have the required amount to qualify.

[Robby nz]

I have a bit of paper that I got from immigration in Huahin with the rules printed on

It, it clearly says the 400K or 800K can be in a savings or fixed interest account.

However I was turned down for an extention by the same office for having the money in a term deposit acc, they made me change it to my savings Acc then only gave me a 6 month extention. I then had to keep the 800k in the savings acc for the 3 months prior to the end of the 6 month extention. After that I was given another 6 months for no extra cost.

so who knowes

[Lite Beer]

I have a bit of paper that I got from immigration in Huahin with the rules printed on

It, it clearly says the 400K or 800K can be in a savings or fixed interest account.

However I was turned down for an extention by the same office for having the money in a term deposit acc, they made me change it to my savings Acc then only gave me a 6 month extention. I then had to keep the 800k in the savings acc for the 3 months prior to the end of the 6 month extention. After that I was given another 6 months for no extra cost.

so who knowes

Yes. Different Officer in the same office on a different day. It's not easy is it?

[geoffphuket]

Every year when you apply you have to have a bank deposit of 400,000 Baht. So if you spend some of it during the year you will have to top up to the required amount when you apply next year.

Savings accounts in banks have a rate of 0.75% for everyone. I have always. received this.

Yes SCB website does say that Non Residents get 0 interest. If you were applying for 12 monthly extensions you would be a resident.

From the Kasikorn Bank website. www.kasikornbank.com

If you have 'resident' status in Thailand, then you don't apply for any annual extention.

[Lite Beer]

Every year when you apply you have to have a bank deposit of 400,000 Baht. So if you spend some of it during the year you will have to top up to the required amount when you apply next year.

Savings accounts in banks have a rate of 0.75% for everyone. I have always. received this.

Yes SCB website does say that Non Residents get 0 interest. If you were applying for 12 monthly extensions you would be a resident.

From the Kasikorn Bank website. www.kasikornbank.com

If you have 'resident' status in Thailand, then you don't apply for any annual extention.

Then why do you apply for a Residence Certificate from Immigration when you need to apply for a driving licence etc. You have to be on an annual extension to apply for this.

The fact remains that foreigners get interest from Thai banks. As the Kasikorn bank states, even Non Residents get this.

[torrenova]

Unless you live from a salary paid regularly, the lost interest on 400k is likely to be less than the transmission costs of bringing money in once a year. Of course, you would have to decide whether FX rates were favourable at that time !

[splodger]

I've had 400,000 baht in my Thai bank account for the last 4 months, I renewed my non immigration O visa on December 3 for the 5th consecutive year. As the Australian dollar has dropped 30% to the Thai baht in recent months, is it possible for me to access my 400,000 baht now or must I wait until my application has been approved.

I would suggest to keep the 400K in the bank until your extension has come through. Imm does make spot checks!

opalhort

do you need 400k for a one year multiple entry o visa? i have never been asked,iget 20000 a month sent from home,but i do own my own condo.

[ubonjoe]

They are talking about a 1 year extension based upon marriage of a non-o visa permit to stay.

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[Billion]

can you point me to where it states that the amount should be topped up each year? there is nothing to this effect in the list of requirements given out in bangkok inmmigration or on any websites I have seen…

You are right, the rules say nothing about topping up. The only thing that matters is that there are 400k in the account for at least two months before your next application for extension. If since your last application you spent some of the 400k you obviously will have to do something to bring the balance again to a minimum of 400k. Some people call this something “topping up” but you may call it anything you want. If, on the other hand, you left that money untouched there is nothing you need to do.

--

Maestro

Make sure the topping up says FTT in your bank passbook and you are secure.

[ubonjoe]

Make sure the topping up says FTT in your bank passbook and you are secure.

Not requied for a an extension based upon marriage. Nothing says it has to come from outside the countrty.