Bangkok Bank Locking Marriage Visa Money for 4 Months!

[docta]

Bangkok bank has new requirements for proof of funds (visa related)
Serious

Anyone have an immigration point of view on this?

We've had more than our marriage visa money deposited in BKK Bank 3 months in advance, and must report for yearly renewal in two days. Serious, you bet!!!

Read this...!!!
I wanted to share something I have been through last week. I have been in Thailand for a few years now, and every year renew my marriage visa with the ฿400k in my account for 2 months. As I have several bank accounts, I move the money to Bangkok bank and just leave it there undisturbed, 2 months prior. Exactly ฿400k . Get the proof of funds document from the bank, go to immigration, and within a few days we are done and I have another year on my visa.

This year however, Bangkok bank told us that since 1 July, they require you to have the money in your account for 4 months (!!), before they can issue a letter that confirms proof of funds for various visas. And if you do not meet this 4 month requirement, they will lock the funds in your account for an additional 4 months, before you can access it; while giving you the right papers that you need for immigration (proof of funds for 2 months). Its not an immigration or visa requirement, but rather a banking requirement to deter money laundering and people using agents (that is what they told us).

Weird right?
I didn't believe it at first. Not about to randomly lose ฿400k to some scam... So I did this:
Went to 3 other branches in the city, who confirmed it.
Called an agent to see if they can help us - they didn't know anything about it.
Called the main branch in Bangkok - they also confirmed the new requirement.
Googled, and found limited information, but it confirmed that we have been through (here).
Called back to the agent, who now had more information, but didn't know much more than us..

Eventually we folded, signed the additional forms, which now locks the money and makes it inaccessible from use for another 4 months (sometime in November). I did then get the letter for immigration and was able to extend my visa. Then we called to Bangkok bank again, to ask more about this, and to complain. But there is no way to get the money back until sometime in November

[Bandung_Dero]

Got me stuffed why anyone, of sound mine, would use Bangkok Bank. They have been jerking Farang around for many years.

KBank = never a ripple, don't get into this sort of crap and with statements, letters etc. issued immediately et all over the 24 years I have been with them.

[Doodoo]

"4. Renewing: When renewing your Thai Non-Immigrant O Marriage Visa, you must have the necessary funds cleared in your Thai bank account at least three months before your renewal application."
https://thethaiger.com/visa/marriage/gu ... ents-2021/

This site says the 400K must be in account for 3 months prior to Visa renewal

Is this incorrect?

Good luck

[tamada]

These new regulations are solely Bangkok Bank's. The Aseannow forum has a few topics on this.

Linked to this are a few threads where members reporting being denied opening a new account to support their marriage extension at banks other than Bangkok Bank as they don't have a work permit.

The third revelation is from several members of long standing with Kasikorn finding their daily transaction limit (all transactions, purchases and ATM) being capped at 50,000 baht.

[eagle]

I believe that question is how to understand rules.

If I want proof that my money has been in my account two months, that must be there for 4 months:

To be full June, it must be deposited latest on 31st May. Full July means that it must be in account on 1st August. That makes 4 months, but not full.

Matter of training. Money for June+July must be there also in last day of May and first day of August. That could be teached that money has to be in account from May to August.

Transaction limit is same in Bangkok Bank. It is to protect money in account and restrict some illegal transaction. Order from higher organization than our banks. When making a transaction larger than limit, there is a link, where max amount can be edited.

[Handsome Man]

All of the nonsense excuses given by Bangkok Bank and other Thai banks just would not fly in Western countries where people actually still have some rights when it comes to their banking. Leaving 400k or 800k in a Thai bank for visa purposes when the bank can freeze your money on a whim is a mug's game. As they get bolder they will freeze more and more accounts, and make it harder each time to 'unfreeze' your money. I'm currently draining down my BB account week by week until I have a few thousand baht left. When it comes to visa renewal time I'm going to have a long hard chat with my preferred agency, and if there really is no way of doing it without leaving large amounts at the mercy of Thai banks for months on end, I'll be having a chat with my Thai missus about reviewing and potentially modifying our life choices.

[papafarang]

renewed my passport, needed a new bank card too. five visits over 10 days to sort it out. Because the passport number didn't match the account they couldn't issue a new card, then locked my account. computer simply said 'NO'. thought it was sorted out but then as i had spent 10 days trying to get it done the next issue is it had dropped to less than 14 days until my visa extension. that meant. they couldn't issue a card . finally they just closed the account and open a new one.
luckily for me the account isn't needed for my visa. if it had there would have been no proof of funds as the account was just a week old. remember when banking was so simple. now you need a law degree just to apply for one

[JR]

It seems Bkk bank is alone on this. SCB charges 100B or 200 for a statement depending if you had money in an account below or over six months. Not about the sum. As I understand.