Need Helps: Tourist Visa To Extension To Stay

[help]

I woud like to help my friend and have tried to read and read but am still not sure. Here is my friend's situation;

He is US citizen and came here with a tourist visa. He would like to apply for Extension to stay for 1 year. Right now he is 54 years old and got here on December 10th. He will have 800,000 baht ready by Christmas. Questions are;

1. What bank and branch would allow a foreigner to open an account?

2. He needs to wait for two months to satisfy 2-month old account before applying for the extension to stay? If so, that means he needs to wait until Feb 25th. So, by that time he will be on a 30-days extension from his tourist visa. Is it ok to apply for the extension to stay for 1 year?

3. Should he apply for the extension to stay for 1 year in Bangkok or at any immigration pol station?

Please advice.

[lopburi3]

1. Most banks will open an account for a foreigner but policy may be subject to local manager. Most will want some form of address proof (Embassy letter or friends word). If one says no check next one (even if same bank). With the huge number of bank offices now available it should not take long to find one in populated areas. Bangkok Bank, K-Bank and SCB seems to be the most used.

2. He can apply for conversion to non immigrant visa entry immediately after getting the money in bank account and that will provide a 90 day stay so allow time for the 60 day requirement for extension of stay. For conversion will need probably 15 days remaining on permitted to stay time and it costs 2,000 baht.

3. The conversion may have to be done in Bangkok (although some large offices will do it) but the actual extension must be done at the office serving his place of residence.

[help]

Thank you very much. This the clearest answer I ever got.

[help]

Lopburi3

For #2, you meant he needs to show the amount of 800K for conversion to the non-immigrant visa as well? Or maybe I should ask what else does he need for the conversion to the non-immigrant visa?

[lopburi3]

To convert he must be able to show he can meet extension of stay requirements and for retirement that would be bank account or income statement from Embassy. And being over age 50.

[help]

Thank you again.

[thailandbluegrass]

To convert he must be able to show he can meet extension of stay requirements and for retirement that would be bank account or income statement from Embassy. And being over age 50.

True but I had my dad stay with me here for his last 4 years and died last year at 84. When he applied he did it in Canada and got the 90 day visa but when here we transfered his money into an SCB bank account I opened for him and all he needed to show was 400,000 baht plus proof of minimal 40,000 baht income comming in from another country every month. (His pension was more then enough) They will not give you a retirement visa with ONLY 800k in his account. He still needs a "monthly income".

He will also need a letter from the bank and NOT JUST A BANK BOOK UP-DATED as many farangs do not know this and end up standing in line all day at Immigration just to be told he needs that bank letter (300 baht).

Like I said my dad got his "O" visa in Canada which helped a lot. The more cash he can carry with him to Thailand on his flight (max 10,000.00 USD allowed in any country) the less he will have to loose on transfer fees from his countries bank account if thats what he was planning on doing.

He will also need to show an "ATM card (new law).

So all in all my dad had;

1. Bank statements from his bank in Canada
2. Up-dated bank book statement from his Thai SCB account
3. Letter from SCB
4. Proof of 40,000 minimal baht statement he got from his bank statement for the past year in his Canadian account or loke "lopburi3" stated a letter from his embassy notarized and stamped.
5. ATM card from SCB
6. Health certificate from doctor or clinic (30 - 70 baht)

[lopburi3]

1. Retirement extension is 800k/65k or a combination to meet 800k per year for any new application. It appears your father was using the combined bank account and income method of meeting 800k per year (400+480=880). There is also a provision not requiring any money for dependents of those here on valid extensions of stay.

2. They will provide a retirement extension of stay without a bank account show if you have the monthly income letter from you Embassy. You might meet an officer asking for such but it is not normal or in the regulations. But using combination both had to be shown.

3. No ATM card is required and there is no such "new law". Again an office or officer may come up with such a request but that does not make it normal or the law.

4. The bank letter can be free up to about 300 baht depending on the bank.