As I said to Terry (above post), the challenge will come when she tries to exit from the RP in the future, having come home for a vacation. Without that stupid stamp she will have a rough time getting out of the RP again. Best to get that crap all behind us now, even at the considerable expense of having to fly from Bangkok to KL because the idiots in the Thai Embassy in Manila are incompetent and unhelpful. It's a disgrace - but just the usual standard to be found here.

I've been thinking about the Thai Consulate in Manila. Perhaps they may issue you and your wife with a non-O visa. I really think it would be worth a try because despite all the bad things written about them on this forum (some from me) they must exist for a reason and must give out visas on occasion. The thing is that you're married. In the Philippines you get a lot more respect from everyone if you are married. It's like night and day. Even the Immigration Officers at the airport are so much friendlier... it really makes a difference. They will not expect your wife to come up with many requirements as it is obvious that you support her if you're married. They probably will want to see some evidence of your income and net worth.

Even if they cannot issue you both with non-O visas before you come over here the first time, once you've set up your bank account they may. When your wife has a visa they will not expect her to have a return ticket when she leaves. It could save you a thow away return ticket and a visa trip for your wife to a neighboring country.

Then there's another option - the Thai Consulate in Cebu City.

Here's an old 2008 post about an experience there:

Cebu is not as bad as Manilla, but not great.

A friend of mine has a Philippina Manager working for his Thai company; His Manager needed to get a new non B Multiple entry visa, she had a current Work Permit and was visiting family in the Philippines for a holiday.

Manilla initially refused outright because she did not have a copy of the original WP5 form for work permit permission renewal! (she had the actual WP5 application receipt - but that was not enough for them). After my friend begged labour and got a copy of the original WP5, Manilla then refused again, this time because she did not have a return ticket to the Phillipines! To cut as long story short, she gave up on Manilla and went to the Thai Consulate in Cebu. The first day it was closed (normal working day) because they were inspecting a boat.

Eventually after three visits to Cebu and some odd requests she got a 3 month single entry non immigrant B, this was with a current Work Permit.

The Thai Embassy in Manilla is a nightmare, but the Cebu Consulate is more helpful, friendly, but still can ask for odd documents. Remember, this was a Philippino citizen applying.

It really sounds promising and it would probably be a more personal experience than going to the Thai Embassy in Manila. You may be able to talk personally with the Head of Mission.

Now, this is highly interesting, the brainwashing course, I mean. At least for a visa-exempt trip your wife won't need that. So here is an alternative scenario for your consideration:

1. As you said, during your reconnaissance trip in September you will open a savings account in Thailand. (Be sure to make it in your name only, not a joint account, as this is important for the retirement extensions)
2. At least two months before your subsequent trip to Thailand, when you plan to get the retirement extension, you remit the equivalent of minimum of 800k Baht into that account.
3. You and your wife travel to Thailand again visa-exempt and on arrival receive permission to stay for 30 days.
4. Soon after your arrival the two of you go to the local immigration office for a change of visa to non-immigrant and you apply for the retirement extension, your wife for the dependant extension.

P.S. Just realised the complication of needing a return ticket for the visa-exempt trip and your second trip is obviously intended to be one way. Would a flight ticket out of Thailand within 30 days to a destination other than the Philippines also obviate the need for the course?

Hi Maestro, I've left your whole post intact so nothing is taken out of context.

I believe point #4 may be incorrect. I converted my visa-exempt entry to a non-O visa at Immigration and got my retirement extension, but my wife had to travel to Vientiane to get a non-O visa for her retirement extension. She had to get her non-O out of the country.

My suggestion to the OP:

1. Make a visa-exempt entry then open a bank account and deposit your 800K as soon as you arrive.

I have read the banking section on here and it seems the general consensus is that Kasikorn (the recommended 'expat friendly' bank) will not open a savings account if I just have a visa-exempt stamp. They require a non-imm 'O' as a minimum. Easy to arrange a local address and get a mobile phone number, but the non-visa status looks tricky. It is most likely we will choose either Pattaya or Hua Hin as our new home, so maybe the officials will be a little more flexible there.

2. If you stay a month and then return to the Philippines for a month then come back to Thailand on visa-exempt entries your funds will have reached the required 2 month seasoning period and you can immediately apply for your retirement extension. You can have your visa-exempt entry converted to a non-O visa (2000 baht) and get your retirement extension (1900 baht) in one visit (some Immigraiton offices may require 2 visits).

3. Send your wife with a copy of your retirement extension and marriage certificate to either Phnom Penh, Vientiane, KL or Penang to get her non-O visa. (2000 baht). Cheapest Option if living in Bangkok or Pattaya: Phnom Penh. If you decide to accompany her make sure you get your re-entry permit (1000 baht).

4. With her non-O in hand your wife will get her retirement extension matching your dates (1900 baht). Only one of you needs to attend the Immigration Office for 90-day reporting.

I'll have to look into this seminar requirement you speak of as I've never heard of it, but I would recommend you eat your wife's last return ticket (or just tear it up and throw it in the trash can . Over the years I've had to throw away a few tickets myself). You can find some very cheap tickets with Air Asia if you time it right.

Your input has been useful and everybody's contribution is modifying my plans 'on the fly'. I have some other ideas I will outline below, as I really don't want my young wife to have to travel alone anywhere and there MAY be another way of avoiding extra expense.

Thankfully you are wrong about your wife needing to attend a seminar in Manila. It doesn't pay to blindly believe everything you hear, especially in the Philippines.

She only needs to attend a seminar is she is immigrating to another country and holds an IMMIGRANT VISA.

The visa you and your wife will be getting in order to obtain a retirement extension is a NON-IMMIGRANT VISA.

WHEW! You had me worried that they had recently brought out a new requirement and my wife would have to attend a seminar to get away next time we visit.

Tropo - you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT - I am talking nonsense! This is not an unusual thing! I did muddy the water a little and my wife DID have to go all the way to Manila to attend this stupid 2 hour seminar ... in order to get a certificate that was needed to get a passport in her married name. All that is behind us now. You are quite correct - we want to apply for a NON-IMMIGRANT visa, so the final CFO sticker will not be needed.

Plan D (or is it E?) is for my wife to go to Manila in early August, flights are already booked to take care of another matter. So she will go to the Thai Embassy personally and ask them to list what is necessary for us both to provide so they can issue non-imm 'O' visas there. I will allow a couple of days in Manila immediately prior to our recce trip in early Oct and see if they will process the visas for us both. Then I can arrive with a visa that a bank should accept OK. We will return here after 3 weeks and the visa will effectively be 'used'. One month prior to our exit in early January, we will both make that trip again and hopefully get new 3 month non-imm 'O' s. This time I will also have a Thai bank account and so that ought to make it even easier. Since these visas have a 3 month validity before we actually arrive that's plenty of extra time to enter Thailand again. No need for throw-away tickets or visits to neighbouring countries to get my wife's visa sorted.

That's the current plan .. until somebody spots a fatal flaw in all of this!

I have read the banking section on here and it seems the general consensus is that Kasikorn (the recommended 'expat friendly' bank) will not open a savings account if I just have a visa-exempt stamp. They require a non-imm 'O' as a minimum. Easy to arrange a local address and get a mobile phone number, but the non-visa status looks tricky. It is most likely we will choose either Pattaya or Hua Hin as our new home, so maybe the officials will be a little more flexible there.

Don't worry about the general concensus. The Kasikorn Bank on Beach Road near the Chonburi Immigration office in Jomtien will open an account on a visa-exempt entry. I did this the day before I applied for my retirement extension when I was still on a visa-exempt entry.

This bank obviously has a good understanding of why foreigners need bank accounts and does very well as a result. Very good customer service there too.

Thankfully you are wrong about your wife needing to attend a seminar in Manila. It doesn't pay to blindly believe everything you hear, especially in the Philippines.

She only needs to attend a seminar is she is immigrating to another country and holds an IMMIGRANT VISA.

The visa you and your wife will be getting in order to obtain a retirement extension is a NON-IMMIGRANT VISA.

WHEW! You had me worried that they had recently brought out a new requirement and my wife would have to attend a seminar to get away next time we visit.

Tropo - you are ABSOLUTELY RIGHT - I am talking nonsense! This is not an unusual thing! I did muddy the water a little and my wife DID have to go all the way to Manila to attend this stupid 2 hour seminar ... in order to get a certificate that was needed to get a passport in her married name. All that is behind us now. You are quite correct - we want to apply for a NON-IMMIGRANT visa, so the final CFO sticker will not be needed.

Plan D (or is it E?) is for my wife to go to Manila in early August, flights are already booked to take care of another matter. So she will go to the Thai Embassy personally and ask them to list what is necessary for us both to provide so they can issue non-imm 'O' visas there. I will allow a couple of days in Manila immediately prior to our recce trip in early Oct and see if they will process the visas for us both. Then I can arrive with a visa that a bank should accept OK. We will return here after 3 weeks and the visa will effectively be 'used'. One month prior to our exit in early January, we will both make that trip again and hopefully get new 3 month non-imm 'O' s. This time I will also have a Thai bank account and so that ought to make it even easier. Since these visas have a 3 month validity before we actually arrive that's plenty of extra time to enter Thailand again. No need for throw-away tickets or visits to neighbouring countries to get my wife's visa sorted.

That's the current plan .. until somebody spots a fatal flaw in all of this!

The only flaw I can see with this plan is that you don't know if the Thai Consulate in Manila will issue your wife with a non-O visa (I had to lol when you said "that ought to make it even easier" as if it would have been easy the first time).

See previous post: You don't need a visa to open a bank account therefore there really is no need for you to get a visa before your first trip. If you need more than 30 days, you can both do a quick border run to Cambodia.

I would call this Plan A and keep some other options to fall back on.

Anyway - I'm off to apply for our 2nd retirement extension in about 15 minutes.....

Edited June 23, 201115 yr by tropo

Don't worry about the general concensus. The Kasikorn Bank on Beach Road near the Chonburi Immigration office in Jomtien will open an account on a visa-exempt entry. I did this the day before I applied for my retirement extension when I was still on a visa-exempt entry.

This bank obviously has a good understanding of why foreigners need bank accounts and does very well as a result. Very good customer service there too.

WOW Tropo ... you raised TWO really good points there.

1) This branch may well be happy to open an account, presumably with just a mobile phone number and a (disguised) hotel address as well as my passport.

2) YOU could switch from a visa-exempt stamp to a retirement extension, without going through any non-imm 'O' visa step originated from outside Thailand? Man, that's the first time I have heard that one! Is this common? What a lot of hassle THAT would save!

Fingers crossed you get your 2nd extension OK today!

Don't worry about the general concensus. The Kasikorn Bank on Beach Road near the Chonburi Immigration office in Jomtien will open an account on a visa-exempt entry. I did this the day before I applied for my retirement extension when I was still on a visa-exempt entry.

This bank obviously has a good understanding of why foreigners need bank accounts and does very well as a result. Very good customer service there too.

WOW Tropo ... you raised TWO really good points there.

1) This branch may well be happy to open an account, presumably with just a mobile phone number and a (disguised) hotel address as well as my passport.

2) YOU could switch from a visa-exempt stamp to a retirement extension, without going through any non-imm 'O' visa step originated from outside Thailand? Man, that's the first time I have heard that one! Is this common? What a lot of hassle THAT would save!

Fingers crossed you get your 2nd extension OK today!

We both had our passports stamped with one-year retirement extensions before 9am this morning.

1. I'm absolutely positive the Kasikorn Bank in Jomtien will open you an account without a visa. They did for me and they were recommended by the liaison officer at the Chonburi Immigration Office. They will also provide you with a passbook and ATM card on the spot. Once you've activated your Internet banking you can change your physical address online. You will need a Thailand mobile number. Make sure when you get a mobile number you have sufficient validity on your SIM so it doesn't go inactive when you're away because changing the mobile number must be done at the bank branch. This is easy to do with a Dtac Happy Sim because you can pay a few baht to extend the validity unlike the draconion 3 month expiry of credit and SIM in the Philippines. I have to buy a new SIM every time I return.

2. I already covered this in an earlier post:

"2. You can have your visa-exempt entry converted to a non-O visa (2000 baht) and get your retirement extension (1900 baht) in one visit (some Immigraiton offices may require 2 visits)"

I would not do it any other way and it is probably one of the most common methods of doing it at the Chonburi Immigration Office."

Don't take my word for it. Read a copy of the information handout provided by the Chonburi Immigration Office. I picked this one up a few weeks ago. Read point 8:

This is a very routine process and certainly the easiest way and the only way I'd do it. The problem is that your wife cannot do this. She must get one out of the country. My wife picked up hers in Vientiane (we also like to travel together). Penang is another good option because Penang is a nice place to visit.

One size does not fit all. For anyone not having onward transportation within 30 days and subject to potential flight boarding problems would be well advised to obtain a non immigrant O visa, if available, prior to travel. They are going to have to pay for it regardless before being allowed to extend for retirement.

We both had our passports stamped with one-year retirement extensions before 9am this morning.

1. I'm absolutely positive the Kasikorn Bank in Jomtien will open you an account without a visa. They did for me and they were recommended by the liaison officer at the Chonburi Immigration Office. They will also provide you with a passbook and ATM card on the spot. Once you've activated your Internet banking you can change your physical address online. You will need a Thailand mobile number. Make sure when you get a mobile number you have sufficient validity on your SIM so it doesn't go inactive when you're away because changing the mobile number must be done at the bank branch. This is easy to do with a Dtac Happy Sim because you can pay a few baht to extend the validity unlike the draconion 3 month expiry of credit and SIM in the Philippines. I have to buy a new SIM every time I return.

2. I already covered this in an earlier post:

"2. You can have your visa-exempt entry converted to a non-O visa (2000 baht) and get your retirement extension (1900 baht) in one visit (some Immigraiton offices may require 2 visits)"

I would not do it any other way and it is probably one of the most common methods of doing it at the Chonburi Immigration Office."

Don't take my word for it. Read a copy of the information handout provided by the Chonburi Immigration Office. I picked this one up a few weeks ago. Read point 8:

This is a very routine process and certainly the easiest way and the only way I'd do it. The problem is that your wife cannot do this. She must get one out of the country. My wife picked up hers in Vientiane (we also like to travel together). Penang is another good option because Penang is a nice place to visit.

Tropo, you have been of enormous help to me. I am content that I will be able to open a bank account on a visa-exempt basis. An important milestone achieved with no need to deal with the ***holes in Manila in order to get a non-imm 'O' visa first!

I have noted the point you make about the expiry of SIMS. We should in any event be back within 3 months, so I guess that's not so important. I also note, from reading the excellent ThaiVisa.com member survey, that 50% of expats use the AIS/One-2-Call service over the 30% using DTAC. Both are impressive market shares, but I wonder if in Pattaya one service has an advantage over the other?

I completely overlooked the point you made in your earlier post about ME being able to upgrade from visa-exempt to non-imm 'O', mainly because I am approaching this in a manner where we BOTH go through the same process in parallel.

So, Plan F has emerged in the last 24 hours! We will both go out on vacation in Oct on a visa-exempt basis. Instead of returning to Manila and having to spend 3 nights there while we attempt to get non-imm 'O's for us both (still a question mark about getting one there for my wife) ... we will opt for spending 3 nights in KL. This is a far more pleasant way to kill a couple of days and I am more sure of getting our visas there than in bloody Manila. I am thinking of using an intermediary service to smooth the way in KL. A little money to ensure this vital task is completed satisfactorily. This would be around 21st Oct, meaning the visas would still be valid when we arrive in Thailand mid-January. I will transfer the 800,000 Baht into my new Thai bank account late in Oct, so that will have already aged 2 months by January too. Once we have found a place to rent and settled in, we can both do the extension deal. Sounds like "a plan"!

As you said, during your reconnaissance trip in September you will open a savings account in Thailand. (Be sure to make it in your name only, not a joint account, as this is important for the retirement extensions)

my wife and me are german citizens, we have a joint account since 2004 and get since then our retiree extensions (wife piggy-backs) based on the minimum balance of Baht 800k in this account. nobody ever told us we need an account in my name only. the so-called "guarantee letter" is however issued by the bank in my name only whereas the passbook (copies of which have to be submitted) shows clearly "Mr and Mrs Naam".

that issue was addressed/discussed before and assumed that because our balance is most of the time much higher than B 800k immigration did not mind. checking the balance of the first year it was 832,000 Baht when applying for the first extension. three years later we got the extension with a balance of 915,000 Baht.

There's no problems obtaining retirement extensions in Pattaya with joint bank accounts.

This is directly from the Chonburi Immigration Office handout:

"7. If a joint bank account is shown as part of the application process, a certified copy of the marriage certificate in English or Thai is required"

This is also an important point (to me) Tropo. I would hate to think that I opened a bank account in my sole name and then died under the wheels of a tuk tuk (it would have to be a very BIG tuk tuk) leaving my wife without easy access to the money. I do need to be absolutely SURE of that point, as elsewhere the advice has always been that it needs to be in my name only. Sounds like I ought to visit that Chonburi IO before I open the account, just to be sure.

We do have certified copies of our marriage certificate from the National Statistics Office here in the Phils, but I wonder if there is some form of Thai certification required as well?

One size does not fit all. For anyone not having onward transportation within 30 days and subject to potential flight boarding problems would be well advised to obtain a non immigrant O visa, if available, prior to travel. They are going to have to pay for it regardless before being allowed to extend for retirement.

For the OP it's a non-issue as he's coming from the Philippines. Even if he managed to get one from the Thai Consulate in Manila, it is going to cost him a lot more than 2000 baht because he would have to hang around Makati for several days and accommodate himself somewhere convenient. Compare that with 10 minutes in a Thai Immigration Office.

Sounds like I ought to visit that Chonburi IO before I open the account, just to be sure.

Not much confidence in the info I've posted?

They will give you the same flyer I posted up earlier.

I don't wish to disillusion you, but in Chonburi IO (and probably all over the country) there is an alarming disconnect between what counter staff tell you and what actually goes on behind the desks of the staff who process your application. It would seem that the left hand never knows what the right hand is up to.

Edited June 24, 201115 yr by tropo

We do have certified copies of our marriage certificate from the National Statistics Office here in the Phils, but I wonder if there is some form of Thai certification required as well?

You'll have the same surname in your passports. Your NSO certified marriage certificate will do just fine.

Don't sweat the bank. There are zillions of small branches everywhere so if the one Tropo had suggested won't deal with you, just go to another. My hunch is any of the banks there in Central on 2nd road should do you fine. K bank is most likely the best bank for foreigners to deal with at the moment. I bank with SCB. It has its issues.

Walk in and put about B30K on the table, smile and say I would like to open an account. Personally, I would not make a massive deposit as this will be a red flag. Thailand does watch these deposits carefully. So start small and then wire the rest or deposit in timely increments and then stop at 800K. Open another account for daily use - that is my opinion if you are not wiring money. Thailand watches cash far more than people know. I have some Thai friends and they are constantly hassled by bank and gov't explaining money brought in the country. Not saying this WILL happen to you, just saying it CAN happen.

It will be very easy to fudge an address but you will want to change it some time.

If you are worried about dying and having all that money stuck in the bank, I'd get her a card as well. SCB ATM you can max out the limit and do a bunch of pulls. I think that would be far easier than her trying to take out money from a dead guys account via a visit and a paper w/d slip (they might even see that as an oppty to give your acct a haircut - dead farang, Pinay wife... cha-CHING! ).

It's good you are coming up with all sorts of contingencies but don't plan to deep, it can all come apart quite easily and then you are off moving on the next plan. Don't over think it.

KUL might be a good place to try and get a couple of visas, but as Tropo stated - if you are near Manila, why not? If you have to take a room there for a week, maybe not. Vientiane sees a number or Philippino's - No idea if that makes it easier or more difficult for your wife to get a visa.

In the end, if you are willing to put 800k in the bank, you and your wife can live in Thailand. It will just be a matter of sorting that out. A retired couple with 800K in the bank, exactly what Thailand is looking for.

Edited June 25, 201115 yr by bangkokburning

Sounds like I ought to visit that Chonburi IO before I open the account, just to be sure.

Not much confidence in the info I've posted?

They will give you the same flyer I posted up earlier.

I don't wish to disillusion you, but in Chonburi IO (and probably all over the country) there is an alarming disconnect between what counter staff tell you and what actually goes on behind the desks of the staff who process your application. It would seem that the left hand never knows what the right hand is up to.

Actually, I didn't realise that your 1 line quote was from that same document. In Firefox 5 it's not possible to download that original .jpg image, so I had bookmarked this page for reference. However, spurred on by your comment I logged in via IE9 and have successfully downloaded that page. Now I see point 7 very clearly and, as always, you are right - it is covered there. So I will probably go for joint names on the 800,000 Baht account, although since it will have an ATM card I suppose my wife could withdraw money in an emergency that way. Here in the Phils the daily limit for ATM withdrawals is about 14,000 Baht, so that sure would be an extended process.

We do have certified copies of our marriage certificate from the National Statistics Office here in the Phils, but I wonder if there is some form of Thai certification required as well?

You'll have the same surname in your passports. Your NSO certified marriage certificate will do just fine.

Excellent - good to know that. Thanks.

Don't sweat the bank. There are zillions of small branches everywhere so if the one Tropo had suggested won't deal with you, just go to another. My hunch is any of the banks there in Central on 2nd road should do you fine. K bank is most likely the best bank for foreigners to deal with at the moment. I bank with SCB. It has its issues.

Walk in and put about B30K on the table, smile and say I would like to open an account. Personally, I would not make a massive deposit as this will be a red flag. Thailand does watch these deposits carefully. So start small and then wire the rest or deposit in timely increments and then stop at 800K. Open another account for daily use - that is my opinion if you are not wiring money. Thailand watches cash far more than people know. I have some Thai friends and they are constantly hassled by bank and gov't explaining money brought in the country. Not saying this WILL happen to you, just saying it CAN happen.

It will be very easy to fudge an address but you will want to change it some time.

If you are worried about dying and having all that money stuck in the bank, I'd get her a card as well. SCB ATM you can max out the limit and do a bunch of pulls. I think that would be far easier than her trying to take out money from a dead guys account via a visit and a paper w/d slip (they might even see that as an oppty to give your acct a haircut - dead farang, Pinay wife... cha-CHING! ).

It's good you are coming up with all sorts of contingencies but don't plan to deep, it can all come apart quite easily and then you are off moving on the next plan. Don't over think it.

KUL might be a good place to try and get a couple of visas, but as Tropo stated - if you are near Manila, why not? If you have to take a room there for a week, maybe not. Vientiane sees a number or Philippino's - No idea if that makes it easier or more difficult for your wife to get a visa.

In the end, if you are willing to put 800k in the bank, you and your wife can live in Thailand. It will just be a matter of sorting that out. A retired couple with 800K in the bank, exactly what Thailand is looking for.

AHA - but you have discovered my Achilles Heel , I am a very analytical type of guy and plan everything in minute detail, always with a backup plan just in case. I will tread carefully with the amounts I deposit, following your advice.

I bloody hate Manila! So since I need to spend a few days while attempting to get us both our visas, I would far prefer doing that in KL. Flying to Vientiane from Bangkok costs more than double the KL fare, which seems crazy. Vientiane will remain a fallback position, not my first choice.

I am glad we fit the ideal profile - we are even house-trained! I appreciate your input, thanks.

Sounds like I ought to visit that Chonburi IO before I open the account, just to be sure.

Not much confidence in the info I've posted?

They will give you the same flyer I posted up earlier.

I don't wish to disillusion you, but in Chonburi IO (and probably all over the country) there is an alarming disconnect between what counter staff tell you and what actually goes on behind the desks of the staff who process your application. It would seem that the left hand never knows what the right hand is up to.

Actually, I didn't realise that your 1 line quote was from that same document. In Firefox 5 it's not possible to download that original .jpg image, so I had bookmarked this page for reference. However, spurred on by your comment I logged in via IE9 and have successfully downloaded that page. Now I see point 7 very clearly and, as always, you are right - it is covered there. So I will probably go for joint names on the 800,000 Baht account, although since it will have an ATM card I suppose my wife could withdraw money in an emergency that way. Here in the Phils the daily limit for ATM withdrawals is about 14,000 Baht, so that sure would be an extended process.

Bangkokburning in his post above has covered some interesting points about banks. I just want to make it clear that the branch of K-Bank which I use is the one that the liaison officer at the Chonburi Immigration Office recommended to me. I didn't have a visa at the time, so I wanted to make sure I would have quick success without having to walk around trying different banks. After using the bank for over a year I'm quite pleased with it - they serve foreign customers very well there. I find their Internet banking facility very good. I even use it to top up our mobile phone SIMS.

Sounds like I ought to visit that Chonburi IO before I open the account, just to be sure.

Not much confidence in the info I've posted?

They will give you the same flyer I posted up earlier.

I don't wish to disillusion you, but in Chonburi IO (and probably all over the country) there is an alarming disconnect between what counter staff tell you and what actually goes on behind the desks of the staff who process your application. It would seem that the left hand never knows what the right hand is up to.

Actually, I didn't realise that your 1 line quote was from that same document. In Firefox 5 it's not possible to download that original .jpg image, so I had bookmarked this page for reference. However, spurred on by your comment I logged in via IE9 and have successfully downloaded that page. Now I see point 7 very clearly and, as always, you are right - it is covered there. So I will probably go for joint names on the 800,000 Baht account, although since it will have an ATM card I suppose my wife could withdraw money in an emergency that way. Here in the Phils the daily limit for ATM withdrawals is about 14,000 Baht, so that sure would be an extended process.

I seem to remember that they do not issue ATM cards for joint name accounts. Perhaps someone else can confirm if this is true.

I bloody hate Manila! So since I need to spend a few days while attempting to get us both our visas, I would far prefer doing that in KL. Flying to Vientiane from Bangkok costs more than double the KL fare, which seems crazy. Vientiane will remain a fallback position, not my first choice.

If you do want to go to Vientiane, you don't fly there directly. You fly from Bangkok to Udon Thani then take the airport limousine to the border (45 min - 200 baht). Once you've cleared the border it's a short tuk-tuk ride to the immigration office. This is cheaper than flying to KL.

I don't like your plan of both going to KL to get non-O visas. They may not issue her with one if you don't have one already. You'd be better off getting yours at the Thai Immigration office before you fly to KL - in that case it's a guarantee she'll get hers. It only takes 30 mins to get the extension at the Chonburi IO from a visa-exempt entry.

I seem to remember that they do not issue ATM cards for joint name accounts. Perhaps someone else can confirm if this is true.

not true. we have a joint account with Siam Commercial and each of us has a debit card. the same applies to Kasikorn where we also have an account.

reason: SCB issues Master, K-bank issues Visa. both our cards work abroad.

If you do want to go to Vientiane, you don't fly there directly. You fly from Bangkok to Udon Thani then take the airport limousine to the border (45 min - 200 baht). Once you've cleared the border it's a short tuk-tuk ride to the immigration office. This is cheaper than flying to KL.

WOW - what a difference that makes! The cost is one quarter of a direct flight into Vientiane! It would involve an overnight stay as the flights are either very early from Bangkok, or arrive long after the IO would be closed. However a useful backup and maybe even worth a sightseeing trip at some point.

I don't like your plan of both going to KL to get non-O visas. They may not issue her with one if you don't have one already. You'd be better off getting yours at the Thai Immigration office before you fly to KL - in that case it's a guarantee she'll get hers. It only takes 30 mins to get the extension at the Chonburi IO from a visa-exempt entry.

Now that is INVALUABLE advice, I can see where you are coming from! If it's that easy for me to upgrade in Pattaya (our last stop on our vacation) then that is what I'll do. I am pushing my luck (and your generosity) but do you have a link to the section on the IO site that shows the docs required? I googled "upgrade thai visa-exempt to non imm 'O' visa" but the nearest I got to an OFFICIAL site was an embassy in Canada.

I need to check that because elsewhere on this site a comment was made that the upgrade is possible but "if you are on a tourist visa (or visa exempt entry) you need to have at least 21 days left on your permitted to stay stamp." This would mean we would need to reverse the itinerary I have drawn up, so as to meet that condition. Perfectly feasible, but it would be a disaster to leave it until the last leg of our trip and discover I no longer qualify!

The 21 days rule does no longer applies. Many people have recently converted with less days left.

Bangkokburning in his post above has covered some interesting points about banks. I just want to make it clear that the branch of K-Bank which I use is the one that the liaison officer at the Chonburi Immigration Office recommended to me. I didn't have a visa at the time, so I wanted to make sure I would have quick success without having to walk around trying different banks. After using the bank for over a year I'm quite pleased with it - they serve foreign customers very well there. I find their Internet banking facility very good. I even use it to top up our mobile phone SIMS.

I have had a look at the various types of account that K-bank offer. The E-Savings account seems appealing, but I note in most lists of visa requirements they mention they want to see a "copy of my bank book" as well as a letter from the bank. I am wondering if they will accept a print out from an online bank account? I see that I can convert to that from an ordinary savings account, so probably in the short term I would be safer going for a standard account with passbook - probably more useful in KL IO too! What do you think?

The 21 days rule does no longer applies. Many people have recently converted with less days left.

Hi Mario, yes, that was your original quote in August 2008. Good to know that is no longer relevant - as always the devil is in the detail!

I have tried http://www.mfa.go.th/ several times but the damned site won't load. Just the usual frustrations eh?

If you do want to go to Vientiane, you don't fly there directly. You fly from Bangkok to Udon Thani then take the airport limousine to the border (45 min - 200 baht). Once you've cleared the border it's a short tuk-tuk ride to the immigration office. This is cheaper than flying to KL.

WOW - what a difference that makes! The cost is one quarter of a direct flight into Vientiane! It would involve an overnight stay as the flights are either very early from Bangkok, or arrive long after the IO would be closed. How

Now that is INVALUABLE advice, I can see where you are coming from! If it's that easy for me to upgrade in Pattaya (our last stop on our vacation) then that is what I'll do. I am pushing my luck (and your generosity) but do you have a link to the section on the IO site that shows the docs required? I googled "upgrade thai visa-exempt to non imm 'O' visa" but the nearest I got to an OFFICIAL site was an embassy in Canada.

I need to check that because elsewhere on this site a comment was made that the upgrade is possible but "if you are on a tourist visa (or visa exempt entry) you need to have at least 21 days left on your permitted to stay stamp." This would mean we would need to reverse the itinerary I have drawn up, so as to meet that condition. Perfectly feasible, but it would be a disaster to leave it until the last leg of our trip and discover I no longer qualify!

You can easily do the visa application in Vientiane over a one night stay. You take the early Nok Air flight. It leaves at 6am from Don Muang Airport (if Nok Air still flies out of Don Muang). You'll be in Udon Thani at 7am, at the border by 8am and at the Thai Consulate in Vientiane before 9:30am. I've done this many times.

When you get a retirment extension starting from a visa-exempt entry you are not upgrading or converting. You are applying for a non-O visa which you then extend a year. You have 2 forms to fill out: One form to apply for your non-O visa (can't remember TM number) and one, TM7, to apply for your extension.

This should cover you:

1. Photos. I'm not sure how many, but if you bring 4 you should be right. 4cm x 6cm (they're not really fussy about size).

2. Photocopies of ID page of passport, entry stamp and arrival card (TM6). I would do 2 copies of each, one for each application form.

3. Bank letter showing 800K which has been in your account for 2 months. The K-Bank does this letter on the spot for you for 200 baht and they will include a copy of your passbook page showing the deposit.

4. A lease agreement, official receipt or some other proof of your place of residence (point #5 in IO handout).

5. If you use a joint bank account, bring a copy of your marriage certificate. (point #7 on IO handout)

6. 3900 baht.

If you arrive at Chonburi Immigration at 8am so you're first in the queue (office opens at 8:30am) you should be be done by 9am. You'll have to pick up your passport at 2pm that day. They will explain the reporting procedure every 90 days and staple a reporting reminder into your passport.

Your wife will need a copy of your marriage certificate and retirement extension to apply for a non-O visa at a Thai consulate in KL, Penang, PP or Vientiane. It will cost 2000 baht and she'll need to fill out the standard visa application forms the consulates use. Each consulate has their own forms and they're usually available online. It's a very straight forward application.

When your wife has her non-O visa in hand, you go into Chonburi IO with:

1. 2 photos

2. A photocopy of her non-0 visa, entry stamp, TM 6 (arrival card) and ID page of passport.

3. A photocopy of your retirement extension and ID page of your passport.

4. Copy of marriage certificate.

5. Completed TM7 form.

6. 1900 baht.

Done! She doesn't need any income verification documents.

The expiry of both your retirement extensions will fall on the same day. You both report on the same day every 90 days and only one of you needs to attend.

If you plan to leave Thailand make sure you get a re-entry permit at the Immigration Office (it can also be done at the airport before 12 midnight). 1000 baht - single re-entry, 3800 baht - multiple re-entry. If you forget this your extensions will become void the moment you leave Thailand and you'll have to start the entire process again from step 1.

Bangkokburning in his post above has covered some interesting points about banks. I just want to make it clear that the branch of K-Bank which I use is the one that the liaison officer at the Chonburi Immigration Office recommended to me. I didn't have a visa at the time, so I wanted to make sure I would have quick success without having to walk around trying different banks. After using the bank for over a year I'm quite pleased with it - they serve foreign customers very well there. I find their Internet banking facility very good. I even use it to top up our mobile phone SIMS.

I have had a look at the various types of account that K-bank offer. The E-Savings account seems appealing, but I note in most lists of visa requirements they mention they want to see a "copy of my bank book" as well as a letter from the bank. I am wondering if they will accept a print out from an online bank account? I see that I can convert to that from an ordinary savings account, so probably in the short term I would be safer going for a standard account with passbook - probably more useful in KL IO too! What do you think?

I'm happy with the standard ATM savings account, however I don't deposit 800K but just what I need to live on from month to month so I'm not concerned about any advantages in interest rate another account may offer.

Walk in and put about B30K on the table, smile and say I would like to open an account...

Better say "I would like to open a savings account". I understand that one foreigner who merely asked for an account was refused because the bank clerk apparently thought he wanted a current account and did not offer a savings account as an alternative.

Walk in and put about B30K on the table, smile and say I would like to open an account...

Better say "I would like to open a savings account". I understand that one foreigner who merely asked for an account was refused because the bank clerk apparently thought he wanted a current account and did not offer a savings account as an alternative.

Yes, I will be specific. I would really have liked the K-Bank Internet savings account, but will probably stick with an ordinary savings account in the short term, so I have a physical passbook to show IO. So in October I will go for an account in joint names with 2 ATM cards, that seems to be the way the advice on this thread has evolved.

Once we move there in January, I will open a Pound Sterling account and also another account for paying day to day expenses.

Edited June 26, 201115 yr by ukasianexplorer

Hey Tropo, once again you have given me incredibly detailed advice. I cannot thank you enough - We would like to buy you and your wife dinner when we are visiting Pattaya in October. My wife would enjoy some jabber, jabber with another Filipina too.

There is one aspect of your last message that still has me confused a bit. In the 1st para you talk about me getting a visa in Vientiane and then later on you talk about going to Chonburi IO. Let me see if I can figure it out ...

You can easily do the visa application in Vientiane over a one night stay. You take the early Nok Air flight. It leaves at 6am from Don Muang Airport (if Nok Air still flies out of Don Muang). You'll be in Udon Thani at 7am, at the border by 8am and at the Thai Consulate in Vientiane before 9:30am. I've done this many times.

In the above - are you referring to the need for my wife to go out of Thailand in order to obtain her non-imm 'O' visa ONCE I have my own 'o' visa retirement extension in place? We would both do this run just the once - but could use it as a back stop should we get delayed for any reason in setting up my own visa?

The following section all makes perfect sense ... ONCE I have my aged bank account and have found somewhere to rent.

When you get a retirement extension starting from a visa-exempt entry you are not upgrading or converting. You are applying for a non-O visa which you then extend a year. You have 2 forms to fill out: One form to apply for your non-O visa (can't remember TM number) and one, TM7, to apply for your extension.

This should cover you:

1. Photos. I'm not sure how many, but if you bring 4 you should be right. 4cm x 6cm (they're not really fussy about size).

2. Photocopies of ID page of passport, entry stamp and arrival card (TM6). I would do 2 copies of each, one for each application form.

3. Bank letter showing 800K which has been in your account for 2 months. The K-Bank does this letter on the spot for you for 200 baht and they will include a copy of your passbook page showing the deposit.

4. A lease agreement, official receipt or some other proof of your place of residence (point #5 in IO handout).

5. If you use a joint bank account, bring a copy of your marriage certificate. (point #7 on IO handout)

6. 3900 baht.

If you arrive at Chonburi Immigration at 8am so you're first in the queue (office opens at 8:30am) you should be be done by 9am. You'll have to pick up your passport at 2pm that day. They will explain the reporting procedure every 90 days and staple a reporting reminder into your passport.

The following section also makes complete sense - but what an extended process for her!

Your wife will need a copy of your marriage certificate and retirement extension to apply for a non-O visa at a Thai consulate in KL, Penang, PP or Vientiane. It will cost 2000 baht and she'll need to fill out the standard visa application forms the consulates use. Each consulate has their own forms and they're usually available online. It's a very straight forward application.

When your wife has her non-O visa in hand, you go into Chonburi IO with:

1. 2 photos

2. A photocopy of her non-0 visa, entry stamp, TM 6 (arrival card) and ID page of passport.

3. A photocopy of your retirement extension and ID page of your passport.

4. Copy of marriage certificate.

5. Completed TM7 form.

6. 1900 baht.

Done! She doesn't need any income verification documents.

The expiry of both your retirement extensions will fall on the same day. You both report on the same day every 90 days and only one of you needs to attend.

If you plan to leave Thailand make sure you get a re-entry permit at the Immigration Office (it can also be done at the airport before 12 midnight). 1000 baht - single re-entry, 3800 baht - multiple re-entry. If you forget this your extensions will become void the moment you leave Thailand and you'll have to start the entire process again from step 1.

So it seems to me that my dream of us BOTH getting a single stay, 3 month non-imm 'O' visa when we are on vacation in October - is just that ... a pipe dream! We could go all the way to KL and (armed with my new bank account with say 25,000 Baht in it) I could probably get that type of visa. But you are clearly stating (and I am sure you are right) "Your wife will need a copy of your marriage certificate and retirement extension to apply for a non-O visa at a Thai consulate in KL, Penang, PP or Vientiane." So she would have to enter in January on a visa-exempt stamp and we would need to do a Vientiane border run once my retirement extension had been granted. Jeez ... seems like they discriminate against married folk!

You have mentioned a couple of times that it might be worthwhile giving the Thai Embassy in Manila a try. This was also mentioned by another poster on this thread, a Filipina who said ...

WE APPLIED FOR NON-ED AND NON-O VISAS IN THE THAI EMBASSY IN MANILA. THEY GAVE US THE LISTS OF REQUIREMENTS. WE GATHER ALL THE DOCUMENTS FOR OUR CHILDREN'S NON-ED VISA WHICH WERE PROVIDED BY THE THAI SCHOOL (WHERE THEY STUDY NOW). FOR THE NON-O VISA DOCUMENTS ARE EASY. THERE'S NO NEED TO BRING OUR CHILDREN THAT MAKES IT EVEN EASIER TO APPLY. GAVE OUR PASSPORTS, DOCUMENTS AND PAID THE FEES. AFTER TWO DAYS WENT BACK, PICK UP OUR PASSPORTS AND THERE YOU GO 90 DAYS NON - O/ED ENTRY VISA. NO HASSLE WHATSOEVER. STAFF ARE FRIENDLY.

So Plan F is - my wife needs to go to Manila on other business early in August. I will get her to go to the Thai Embassy and ask for a list of docs that might allow us BOTH to get a standard single stay non-imm 'O' visa. Instead of going on to KL from Bangkok at the end of our vacation late in October, return and stay on in Manila for 3 nights (what joy!) and armed with my Thai bank passbook and other documentation, attempt to get non-imm 'O' visas for us both there.

I will transfer the rest of the funds to Thailand by the middle of November and that should sort out the aging issue. So when we arrive we have plenty of time to find a place to rent and for me to do the conversion to extension for retirement purposes. Because my wife already has an 'O' visa there would be no need to do a border run. If we fail to get those lovely people in Manila to issue her with an 'O' visa then we may as well BOTH return there in January on a visa-exempt basis and then throw away my wife's return air ticket. Under that scenario we will have to do whatever number of border runs are needed until we get our ducks all in a row.

Make sense Obi Wan?