Anyone know if the Thai bank account has to be in the farang's name only or will Immigration accept a joint account for proof of funds when time comes to apply for an extension of a non-immigrant O-A (retirement) visa?

Farrang name only

That was quick! Thanks, Ray. I suspected as much but was hoping otherwise.

Sorry Ray, your answer is incorrect. I got my one year retirement extension in Nong Khai on July 25th. My bank account is joint with my TW.

However, a problem resulting from having a joint account is that they required a minimum balance of 1,600,000 Baht as opposed to 800,000.

Ok another change, about three years ago guys with joint accounts, were required to get acounts in thier own names only. But sounds like they have found a different ways of saying that.

I resolved the problem by making sure my wife could use the ATM and instructions not to notify the bank of my death until she empties the account.

For me 1.6 would be the same answer

I just renewed my visa a couple of days ago and I have a joint account with my wife. BUT there are a couple of significant differences from polehawk's original post so I'm not sure if this is applicable. I did it in Pattaya and I did it based on income with a letter from the embassy. When I gave them the bank letter and they saw that my wife's name was on it they wanted a copy of her ID card or a copy of the marriage certificate. I gave them a copy of the marriage certificate and there was no problem. I'm not sure whether it matters or not but my wife had changed her last name to mine.

fremmel wrote:I just renewed my visa a couple of days ago and I have a joint account with my wife. BUT there are a couple of significant differences from polehawk's original post so I'm not sure if this is applicable. I did it in Pattaya and I did it based on income with a letter from the embassy. When I gave them the bank letter and they saw that my wife's name was on it they wanted a copy of her ID card or a copy of the marriage certificate. I gave them a copy of the marriage certificate and there was no problem. I'm not sure whether it matters or not but my wife had changed her last name to mine.

Was this for extension of a retirement visa or marriage visa?

Sounds like I should be OK then with the joint account with my TW since I'm planning on using the income statement from the embassy also, fremmel. As long as the income statement shows an amount close to or more than 800,000 baht then the bank account can be considerably less than 800,000 (or 1.6 M baht if joint account). Am I reading this correctly, guys?

Time is not too critical for me since I have until next August before going to the dreaded Nong Khai office to renew my retirement visa but it might be current useful info for a few others in the forum.

BKKSTAN wrote:

fremmel wrote:I just renewed my visa ....

Was this for extension of a retirement visa or marriage visa?

This was a retirement visa.

polehawk wrote:Sounds like I should be OK then with the joint account with my TW since I'm planning on using the income statement from the embassy also, fremmel. As long as the income statement shows an amount close to or more than 800,000 baht then the bank account can be considerably less than 800,000 (or 1.6 M baht if joint account). Am I reading this correctly, guys?

I had less than 100,000 baht in my account.

Thanks, fremmel. That's what I wanted to hear. Able to bring in funds to live on as needed is better than bringing in the 800K and letting it sit in a separate account at mercy of baht instability while earning nitnoy interest.

Keep those dollars where they're safe and secure, in the US.

polehawk wrote:Thanks, fremmel. That's what I wanted to hear. Able to bring in funds to live on as needed is better than bringing in the 800K and letting it sit in a separate account at mercy of baht instability while earning nitnoy interest.

Keep those dollars where they're safe and secure, in the US.

LOst about 20% of my savings last year keeping the money in the USA!If the baht starts appreciated again as forecast,money in the USA will shrink somemore