Retirement visa 800k in bank... But only Bangkok bank or kasikorn?

[MROLL320]

I've got required funds in Thanachart and inforned today by my visa assistant that it's no good!? Must be Bangkok or kasikorn bank?! <deleted>! I had a hard time opening any bank, and was refused by both of the above! Never heard of this rule? Anybody heard of it?

[elviajero]

You are definitely not limited to those two banks and as far as i know you can use any Thai bank as long as the funds are instantly accessible.

[MROLL320]

Doing a retirement visa... Due to a mix up I need to do my non O, also... So I need an agent to sweeten the deal so to speak..... Contact at immigration willing to do the required information us today thanachart no good... Bangkok or kasikorn only.?

[johnatong]

Unless your funds are in savings account which permits instant access to cash immigration are unlikely to accept your arrangement.

There are a number of retail banks other than the two you name which can provide appropriate accounts.

If you are intending to apply for an extension of stay based on retirement(it is not a visa) remember, that on the day you apply, the funds will have had to have been held in an appropriate account for two months.

[MROLL320]

Mr Elviajero... Can I ask when you last had experience of this? Can you qualify the information please?

[MROLL320]

Unless your funds are in savings account which permits instant access to cash immigration are unlikely to accept your arrangement.

There are a number of retail banks other than the two you name which can provide appropriate accounts.

If you are intending to apply for an extension of stay based on retirement(it is not a visa) remember, that on the day you apply, the funds will have had to have been held in an appropriate account for two months.

It is instantly accessible, I have atm and debit card? The problem was the bank...

[thrilled]

I decided to go the route of proving that I have an income of 40000 baht A month.For some reason I have trouble with that much money in Thai banks.Sorry I'm no help for you.I do use kasikorn,they seem ok as thailand banks go.

[elviajero]

Mr Elviajero... Can I ask when you last had experience of this? Can you qualify the information please?

I have never used/had a Tanachart account but I see no reason why an account with that bank can't be used.

[johnatong]

Mr Elviajero... Can I ask when you last had experience of this? Can you qualify the information please?

I have never used/had a Tanachart account but I see no reason why an account with that bank can't be used.

I may be wrong but I believe Tanachart is a business oriented internet based bank.

[OJAS]

Mr Elviajero... Can I ask when you last had experience of this? Can you qualify the information please?

I have never used/had a Tanachart account but I see no reason why an account with that bank can't be used.

I may be wrong but I believe Tanachart is a business oriented internet based bank.

Thanachart look a run-of-the-mill bank to me according to their website at http://www.thanachartbank.co.th/TbankCMSFrontend/aboutusendetail.aspx?aboutid=1

Strikes me that the OP's visa assistant has been providing him with duff info!

[Suradit69]

Doing a retirement visa... Due to a mix up I need to do my non O, also... So I need an agent to sweeten the deal so to speak..... Contact at immigration willing to do the required information us today thanachart no good... Bangkok or kasikorn only.?

You or your "assistant" seem confused about several things.

You need to be in Thailand based on a permission of stay obtained with a non-imm O visa entry. No idea what you mean by "do my non O" but if you are here on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry or some such, then you either need to get a non-imm O visa at an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand or, under some circumstances, apply to immigrations in Bangkok to convert your present entry to a non-imm O entry.

During the final 30 days of the permission to stay that immigrations gives you in either case, you would then apply to immigrations for an extension of stay (not a visa) based on retirement, assuming you meet the requirements.

For the first extension of stay, if you choose to use the "money in a Thai bank" method, at least Baht 800,000 must be in a Thai bank account for at least two months prior to the date when you apply for the extension. Certainly people do successfully apply for an extension of stay based on retirement using banks other than Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn. You should have photocopies of entries in you bank book and a letter from your bank manager certifying your account balance as well as any foreign sourced deposits, usually for at least the past three months ... although exact requirements can vary from one immigrations office to another, The only problem that might arise would be over the type of account.

If your "visa assistant" is someone you're paying to handle all of this, either he or she is poorly informed OR he has some connection with certain bank managers that might assist him and not with others OR the office where you are applying has some strange requirements not used elsewhere. If he is being paid to assist you, then he ought to be able to find a branch of Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn that would open an account for you ... but it shouldn't be necessary. Actually, using a paid assistant to obtain the extension of stay shouldn't be necessary either.

[johnatong]

Mr Elviajero... Can I ask when you last had experience of this? Can you qualify the information please?

I have never used/had a Tanachart account but I see no reason why an account with that bank can't be used.

I may be wrong but I believe Tanachart is a business oriented internet based bank.

Thanachart look a run-of-the-mill bank to me according to their website at http://www.thanachartbank.co.th/TbankCMSFrontend/aboutusendetail.aspx?aboutid=1

Strikes me that the OP's visa assistant has been providing him with duff info!

Thanks. That site appears to be unavailable at present but if, as you say, the bank provides normal retail banking services which include savings accounts there indeed should be no problem.

[KittenKong]

Doing a retirement visa... Due to a mix up I need to do my non O, also... So I need an agent to sweeten the deal so to speak..... Contact at immigration willing to do the required information us today thanachart no good... Bangkok or kasikorn only.?

So your deposit hasn't been seasoned for 2-3 months?

My bet is that's why your agent wants you to use Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn: the agent probably has an "arrangement" with them to get paperwork that suits your needs.

[MROLL320]

Sorry too many points to answer... Firstly.. I came on metv after being wrongly informed that I could change to retirement. So I need an O visa... Need to sort quickly, can't leave country to do... Officially can't be done in here, hence the assistance required...... She has a connection inside immigration, who apparently can sort it out, but they say thanachart bank of good.. Bangkok or kasikorn only......?

[MROLL320]

Yes money has been in Thanachart long enough....

[MROLL320]

Doing a retirement visa... Due to a mix up I need to do my non O, also... So I need an agent to sweeten the deal so to speak..... Contact at immigration willing to do the required information us today thanachart no good... Bangkok or kasikorn only.?

You or your "assistant" seem confused about several things.

You need to be in Thailand based on a permission of stay obtained with a non-imm O visa entry. No idea what you mean by "do my non O" but if you are here on a tourist visa or visa exempt entry or some such, then you either need to get a non-imm O visa at an embassy or consulate outside of Thailand or, under some circumstances, apply to immigrations in Bangkok to convert your present entry to a non-imm O entry.

During the final 30 days of the permission to stay that immigrations gives you in either case, you would then apply to immigrations for an extension of stay (not a visa) based on retirement, assuming you meet the requirements.

For the first extension of stay, if you choose to use the "money in a Thai bank" method, at least Baht 800,000 must be in a Thai bank account for at least two months prior to the date when you apply for the extension. Certainly people do successfully apply for an extension of stay based on retirement using banks other than Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn. You should have photocopies of entries in you bank book and a letter from your bank manager certifying your account balance as well as any foreign sourced deposits, usually for at least the past three months ... although exact requirements can vary from one immigrations office to another, The only problem that might arise would be over the type of account.

If your "visa assistant" is someone you're paying to handle all of this, either he or she is poorly informed OR he has some connection with certain bank managers that might assist him and not with others OR the office where you are applying has some strange requirements not used elsewhere. If he is being paid to assist you, then he ought to be able to find a branch of Bangkok Bank or Kasikorn that would open an account for you ... but it shouldn't be necessary. Actually, using a paid assistant to obtain the extension of stay shouldn't be necessary either.

Assistant needed because I came on a metv....need a non O from here. They can sort it by having a connection inside immigration to do.... And the connection inside says.. No Thanachart bank.

[Smokin Joe]

Mr Elviajero... Can I ask when you last had experience of this? Can you qualify the information please?

I have never used/had a Tanachart account but I see no reason why an account with that bank can't be used.

I may be wrong but I believe Tanachart is a business oriented internet based bank.

I have used my Thanachart savings account with 800k for my last three annual extensions.

[MROLL320]

I'm either been lied too? Milked? Or its new legislation?

[thai3]

Mr Elviajero... Can I ask when you last had experience of this? Can you qualify the information please?

I have never used/had a Tanachart account but I see no reason why an account with that bank can't be used.

I have used them, the worst banking experiences I have ever had and they cost me a lot of money. No answer to complaints to head office via email and letter, poor customer service especially the nana nua branch. Good luck to anyone using them for anything, Difficult even to get a letter for immigration and they insisted on using yesterdays date, unless you go in after banking hours, about 4PM!

[johnatong]

Sorry too many points to answer... Firstly.. I came on metv after being wrongly informed that I could change to retirement. So I need an O visa... Need to sort quickly, can't leave country to do... Officially can't be done in here, hence the assistance required...... She has a connection inside immigration, who apparently can sort it out, but they say thanachart bank of good.. Bangkok or kasikorn only......?

A 'conversion' to an "O" visa entry from an entry gained from an METV, SETV or Visa Exemption can, legally and officially, easily be obtained for an official fee of 2000Bht

Many people have achieved this conversion by following a simple process.

There is no need for "assistants" , "insiders", "connections" or "deal sweetening" .

[meatboy]

I'm either been lied too? Milked? Or its new legislation?

its more than likely the first 2,and definately not the tuther,have you heard of land and house bank? i have done my past 4extensions with them[fixed accs.]

if what you say inside hanky panky its goner cost you.

[MROLL320]

Sorry too many points to answer... Firstly.. I came on metv after being wrongly informed that I could change to retirement. So I need an O visa... Need to sort quickly, can't leave country to do... Officially can't be done in here, hence the assistance required...... She has a connection inside immigration, who apparently can sort it out, but they say thanachart bank of good.. Bangkok or kasikorn only......?

A 'conversion' to an "O" visa entry from an entry gained from an METV, SETV or Visa Exemption can, legally and officially, easily be obtained for an official fee of 2000Bht

Many people have achieved this conversion by following a simple process.

There is no need for "assistants" , "insiders", "connections" or "deal sweetening" .

Why do many people tell me the official line is non O can only be done outside?

[Eclipse]

Because they are wrong ^^^^^

[johnatong]

Sorry too many points to answer... Firstly.. I came on metv after being wrongly informed that I could change to retirement. So I need an O visa... Need to sort quickly, can't leave country to do... Officially can't be done in here, hence the assistance required...... She has a connection inside immigration, who apparently can sort it out, but they say thanachart bank of good.. Bangkok or kasikorn only......?

A 'conversion' to an "O" visa entry from an entry gained from an METV, SETV or Visa Exemption can, legally and officially, easily be obtained for an official fee of 2000Bht

Many people have achieved this conversion by following a simple process.

There is no need for "assistants" , "insiders", "connections" or "deal sweetening" .

Why do many people tell me the official line is non O can only be done outside?

There is no "official line" and a "conversion" to an "O" visa entry is possible. It would seem you have been talking /listening to the wrong people.

[KittenKong]

Assistant needed because I came on a metv....need a non O from here. They can sort it by having a connection inside immigration to do.... And the connection inside says.. No Thanachart bank.

I explained the likely reason here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/917126-retirement-visa-800k-in-bank-but-only-bangkok-bank-or-kasikorn/#entry10745132

[dotpoom]

Mr Elviajero... Can I ask when you last had experience of this? Can you qualify the information please?

I can guarantee you TMB (Thai military bank) will be ok too.

[johnatong]

Assistant needed because I came on a metv....need a non O from here. They can sort it by having a connection inside immigration to do.... And the connection inside says.. No Thanachart bank.

I explained the likely reason here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/917126-retirement-visa-800k-in-bank-but-only-bangkok-bank-or-kasikorn/#entry10745132

No "seasoning" of money is required to secure a conversion to an "O" visa entry from a tourist visa entry which is what the OP seems to be wanting.

[NamH2O]

I expect you are paying your agent 18 to 20k to do this application for you,the reason he want to open Bangkok or Kasokorn account for you is because he has contacts in both these Banks which makes it easy for him to do the paperwork.If you use your own Tanachart bank to prove you have the funds,he will have to knock off about 5k from his fees.He is milking you.There are other agents who will do the application for you in using your own bank.

[KittenKong]

Assistant needed because I came on a metv....need a non O from here. They can sort it by having a connection inside immigration to do.... And the connection inside says.. No Thanachart bank.

I explained the likely reason here: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/917126-retirement-visa-800k-in-bank-but-only-bangkok-bank-or-kasikorn/#entry10745132

No "seasoning" of money is required to secure a conversion to an "O" visa entry from a tourist visa entry which is what the OP seems to be wanting.

That would not explain why the "connection at immigration" insists on using particular banks. It seems more than likely to me that there is some jiggery-pokery going on.

I know people here who use agents to facilitate the issuing of a retirement extension without having any cash of their own on deposit. They all have to use a particular bank too.

[JAS21]

I've got required funds in Thanachart and informed today by my visa assistant that it's no good!? Must be Bangkok or Kasikorn bank?! <deleted>! I had a hard time opening any bank, and was refused by both of the above! Never heard of this rule? Anybody heard of it?

As others have said any bank ...... if the funds qualify do the extension yourself.

Yes ... no doubt there is a 'fiddle' going on with the agent and someone at the bank ... and probably at the other end as well. I know of 'a case' who doesn't have the 800K but gets his extension each year. He gives his BB Bankbook to 'the agent" and Passport and a few days later back comes his extension ... his bankbook shows 800K going in and then coming out .................. His 90Day reports just get done. Cheaper for him than having to fly back to his own country every year to get a new visa. One day the shit might hit the fan ... but for now ............