This is first time for me so bear with me please!

I came in on a visa exempt 30 day stay that was extended another 60 days based on marriage.

I understand (correct me if wrong) this can be changed at Thai immigration to a 1 yr Non Imm O based on marriage with documents ready. I also understand one of documents is a bank letter guarantee stating I have 400kTHB in my account for minimum 2 months.

If my assumptions above are wrong, please advise, otherwise my simple question is:

Are Thai banks familiar with these letters, will a bank savings passbook suffice in place of, or is their any template I can take to bank and ask for a letter? Do they give out immediately or does it take days?

I have done the letter for the last two years - the bank knew exactly what to do - but basically the letter should have your account no on, your address etc and the ammount you are showing in your account. It should be on their letter headed paper ans signed by them etc.

The only problem i had even though there was more than the 400 in the letter gave the amount in the bank - unfortunately i had not updated my account book with the interest etc so the figures were acutally different but more than 400. Immirgration sent me away to update the book so it showed the same amount as the account

hope this helps

In my experience the letter takes only about 10 minutes, its done pretty much on the spot and minimal charge.

What you want to do is obtain a non immigrant entry so that it can be extended for one year on the basis of having a Thai wife.

Letter from bank will vary from bank to bank and branch to branch but basically is how much money is in account on that date signed by branch manager or higher. If should be available immediately but may take wife/threats to obtain in a timely manner at some locations. Normally it is a charged item at 100-200 baht. The only important item is that it be addressed to Immigration (they have to get headers right to make bureaucrats happy). You can ask it state money has been above the required amount for so many months but do not believe that is required as it is obvious from statements or passbook.

If doing in Bangkok there are very helpful bank branch offices of most major banks at ground level that will issue such material for you from a number of recent reports. I can vouch that the branches I have used for other transaction are very helpful (BBL/SCB/KBank).

Posts:875

Joined:2005-08-24

"This is first time for me so bear with me please!"

First time asking this particular question?

As someone posted above, make sure the amount on the letter and your passbook match exactly.

Update the passbook just before getting the letter.

Posts:875

Joined:2005-08-24

"This is first time for me so bear with me please!"

First time asking this particular question?

As someone posted above, make sure the amount on the letter and your passbook match exactly.

Update the passbook just before getting the letter.

Yes and remember to copy the passbook as well, as they will ask for a copy.

Here is a sample letter from the Kbank:

This letter is from a time when combined accounts were still allowed but the basics are the same.

opalhort

Edited July 25, 201015 yr by opalhort

If I ask for a letter from Siam Commercial Bank they do it within a few minutes. If I ask Kasikorn Bank they ask me to return the next day. They all know what letter you need if you say it is for Immigration. One thing to remember is to update the passbook at the same time as you ask for the letter and don't withdraw anything before actually receiving the letter. Photocopy the updated passbook before you update it again so that all the figures match.

Posts:875

Joined:2005-08-24

"This is first time for me so bear with me please!"

First time asking this particular question?

As someone posted above, make sure the amount on the letter and your passbook match exactly.

Update the passbook just before getting the letter.

Yes, only recently married so never needed to know before.

Thanks for all the very useful replies from everyone, I'll visit Kbank soonest.