Embassy Pension letter

Just back from Bangkok getting a new one from the British Embassy .I am sure the Brits would like to know the charge for getting this in person has today gone up to 2,500bht .As we now need a new one every year that means the letter costs more than the visa .

Excuse my ignorance on this subject TB ,, but as I intend to retire in Udon at the age of 62 as you know currently 3 years before UK pension is this something you have to do after 65 every year ? or if as intend to do retire with 800K in the bank constantly to show the authorities on a non O retirement visa ,, how will this affect me pls ??

trubrit wrote:Just back from Bangkok getting a new one from the British Embassy .I am sure the Brits would like to know the charge for getting this in person has today gone up to 2,500bht .As we now need a new one every year that means the letter costs more than the visa .

I thought the letter was good for 3 years,did that change?

nkstan wrote:I thought the letter was good for 3 years,did that change?

Certainly has as far as Udon Immigration is concerned. The consular lady in the British Embassy seems to believe it is being phased in at other offices as well.
Easterneye. If you are going the 800k in bank road, you do not need a letter from the embassy confirming pension. Its a lot of money to tie up though, especially at Thai interest rates .If you are using pension income or a combination of money in bank, plus pension to the tune of 800k total, you will need the embassy verification letter .
I think everyone should be aware the British Embassy is very strict on checking the cash amount. In my case I had rounded the pence figure over 50p up, and below 50p, down . Oh no no no she says, and altered them, saying the supervisor would reject them .

nkstan wrote:I thought the letter was good for 3 years,did that change?

For the Nong Khai office the Embassy letter is valid for 3 years but the new Udon office requires a new letter every year !

Zidane wrote:

nkstan wrote:I thought the letter was good for 3 years,did that change?

For the Nong Khai office the Embassy letter is valid for 3 years but the new Udon office requires a new letter every year !

As did the Bangkok office the last time I used one a few years back!

I'm going to use a letter this year at NK,hope it doesn't change there!

nkstan wrote:

Zidane wrote:

nkstan wrote:I thought the letter was good for 3 years,did that change?

For the Nong Khai office the Embassy letter is valid for 3 years but the new Udon office requires a new letter every year !

As did the Bangkok office the last time I used one a few years back!

I'm going to use a letter this year at NK,hope it doesn't change there!

I would suggest you check in advance Stan as I had a friend do his retirement visa there two weeks ago, using a letter for the second time . They gave him his renewal , but kept the original embassy letter, telling him to get new one for next time .They also told him . It can be dated , up to 3 months in advance of using it .

Thanks for the reply info TB ,,,,,, as far as Thai interest rates are concerned I thought they were non existant for aliens ? at least thats what it says in my Krung Thai passbook ,, mind you interest rates in the UK are about 00.01% now anyway ,, next to useless ,, think I would rather show some goodwill to my new host Country.
Also as I only have a small company pension I doubt that added to my state pension would make enough for the monthly figure .
Thanks for any help

trubrit wrote:

nkstan wrote:

Zidane wrote:

nkstan wrote:I thought the letter was good for 3 years,did that change?

For the Nong Khai office the Embassy letter is valid for 3 years but the new Udon office requires a new letter every year !

As did the Bangkok office the last time I used one a few years back!

I'm going to use a letter this year at NK,hope it doesn't change there!

I would suggest you check in advance Stan as I had a friend do his retirement visa there two weeks ago, using a letter for the second time . They gave him his renewal , but kept the original embassy letter, telling him to get new one for next time .They also told him . It can be dated , up to 3 months in advance of using it .

Thanks for the heads up,TB!If that is the way it is,I will just have to be mildly inconvenienced to get another one,visit friends in Bangkok, get one from another Embassy outreach program or use the bankbook and bank letter!

Not like I am so pressed for time that it would be a major hassle

Looks like it might be cheaper and less financial hassle to just go the 400K baht in the bank route with a marriage visa.

Val, I get a statuary declaration sworn by me and witnessed by the Australian Embassy Consular staff. In this I declare that my monthly income is an amount greater than 65k Baht. The Immigration offices in BKk, NK and now Udon are quite happy with this. Maybe a cheaper way as they are only witnessing your signature and stamping the stat dec.

John

Just had chance to read the blurb the embassy gave me. It actually say's the charge is 2,408 bht Per Page for a letter. They won't even do it the same day, you have to come back next morning. i chose to pay an extra 100bht for it to be posted to me rather than stay another night in Bangkok .Thanks for the advise John. They had that loophole covered though . Its called "Witnessing an affidavit" Guess what? 2408bht fee.

Hi.
Went to B.E. last Oct. They wanted to see at least 3 months of my pension payments to home bank, showed them my yearly tax report which they accepted. This O.K. Pensions then came to over 800,000B per year. They state your pensions in GBP per annum. Was told by them ex. rates change every day but your pension in GBP don't. Funny thing is when I went to get visa Imm. asked me what was the exchange rate. Watch Lady, TIT. B.E open from 1000Hrs to 1200Hrs and 1400Hrs to 1600Hrs. It does as stated before take 2 days and it cost me 1900B. then. It was one page and you have to sign it at the B.E. and then pick it up next day after BE sign and stamp and endorse it. Never heard of a embassy just excepting your sig. without checking what they were signing and endorsing.
If they now require this letter every year I will get a marriage visa next time. Talked out off it last time, easier for Imm., this time I will insist on a marriage visa as I meet all their requirements without my pension. So no need for B.E. letter.