I'm a US citizen and over 60. Planning to obtain a Thai long term retirement visa. My question regards the 800,000 baht bank deposit. Does that deposit need to be in a Thai bank or can it be in a US bank or credit union? My retirement income exceeds 65,000 baht per month and is auto deposited. Again, is a statement from my former employer stating my monthly income, or a statement from bank receiving the income OK or does the the income need to be deposited in a Thai bank?

I'm a US citizen and over 60. Planning to obtain a Thai long term retirement visa. My question regards the 800,000 baht bank deposit. Does that deposit need to be in a Thai bank or can it be in a US bank or credit union? My retirement income exceeds 65,000 baht per month and is auto deposited. Again, is a statement from my former employer stating my monthly income, or a statement from bank receiving the income OK or does the the income need to be deposited in a Thai bank?

Just my oppinon and limited experience, but with both a letter from your bank and copies of bank statements showing regular monthly deposits plus an Income Verification Letter from the US Embassy, you should have no problem... Immigration may want to see a Thai Bank Account, but only with maybe 100K baht in it... The regulations state either 800,000 baht bank account or 800,000 baht account,,, not both...

Pianoman

Edited December 8, 200619 yr by pianoman

If you go the lump sum deposit route, it needs to be in a Thai bank. Too, since Oct 15th, you must prove to both the embassy and immigration that you receive the pension. Prior to that, you simply needed to affirm that you receive a pension, and then get a notorized statement from the embassy.

Edited December 9, 200619 yr by backflip

You have several options:

1. Obtain long stay visa in US (O-A) of multi entry type and money in US account. This can cover your stay for almost the first two years with one exit near the one year mark. Requires police report and normal 5 condition medical statement.

2. Obtain in Thailand, either from non immigrant visa entry or tourist visa entry (with extra step). If you have the income on bank amount is required (although an account letter/passbook will most likely be required). No medical or police report required.

Income is not expected to be direct deposited into a Thai bank account (which is almost impossible in any case).