Retired Guy's Visa Extension: Possible new hoop to jump thru

Source:
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php ... pic=133477

A couple of things flowing from my Visa extension experience at Suan Phlu today.

First, if you haven't had the money in the bank for 3 months they will want to give you a 1-month visa. I changed banks last month (transferred money same day) and they still wanted to give me a 1-month after 2 successive and successful 12m extensions, even though I had all bank books with me for inspection.

Second, you are now required to prove that the 800k came from overseas. Fortunately I had an old certificate from the bank at home otherwise I would have needed to get the bank (which I no longer deal with) to certify a FX transaction from 3 years ago. I imagine that would have been a lot of fun. I was told this new regulation came in today. I was also told nobody had been told in advance. Making it up as they go along I think.

Rich

This post has been edited by RichardEllis: 2007-08-01 22:18:31

My commentary:

The 3 months on deposit was announced in October last year, but many had not heard it. When I went in for my extension in November, they only made my sign a stamp saying that I understood that from then on I would have to have the funds on deposit for 3 months prior to extending. What bothers me is that they gave the guy a hard time about it the fist time he came in for an extension after the rule was announced. If they had done some outreach, then I could understand it -after all, they have the address of all foreigners living in the country, don't they?

Even more disturbing is the new requirement that the 800k be shown as coming from out of the country, and their enforcing it even though this was a new requirement. For some of us, that is either impossible or impractical. In my case, I might have a photo copy of the letter from the bank a few years ago. I really hope this was a misunderstanding. Imagine the plight of somebody who brought in the initial funds 10 or 15 years ago (of course it would have been a lot less).

Having read through the five pages of posts on Thai Visa, I see that several people were surprised late this week when immigration demanded proof that the funds on deposit were from an source outside the country. It is not yet clear to me whether they will be satisfied to see that the original source of funds (such as those used to obtain the original visa) came from outside the country (seems redundant, doesn't it? In that case, I could just make a copy from my file at the immigration office!), or whether they need to see funds coming into the country each year or not. Also there was not resolution to the speculation that immigration may want to see at least 800K being brought in each year (and maybe less for those who obtained visas when the deposit requirements were smaller.)

I don't like the way things are starting to shape up. Soi Suan Pluu had always been the place to go for fair and reasonable treatment. Unhappy One more set of hoops to jump though to keep from being kicked out of our homes.

By the way, this new requirement seems to come shortly after the requirement that those who extend their visas based on foreign income have to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This was posted a few days ago in this thread:

.http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/viewtopic.php?t=5610

It seems they are being very careful that retirees are living off of funds brought from outside the country rather than earnings from here.

To my knowledge, it has always been a requirement that the funds are brought in from overseas 'fresh' each year. It has often been accepted that a 'top-up' will suffice to make it up to the required amount (if you havent managed to get through 800,000 baht in the last year).
The code in your bank book usually shows that the funds have been brought in from abroad (foreign transaction) or failing that, show them the letter from your bank abroad who sent the funds or ask the bank to write a letter to confirm this.

If you are not showing movement of money whilst staying in Thailand - they will (understandably) want to know how on earth you are managing to live day-to-day here.
Admitedly the 3 month holding period was pretty much unannounced last year but word seems to have got round now, but as for the bringing in funds from overseas -
I don't think this is a new rule and can't see any need for panicking just yet.

Seems that the easy thing to do would be to make online transactions year-round from your country of origin to your Thai bank account ... and show ATM or other withdrawals during the course of the same year. As long as the amount tops out at 800,000 baht three months prior, you should be okay, right?

Am I being too simplistic or am I incorrect?

I think you are being a bit simplistic. It sounds like they are requiring a letter from the bank. In my past experience, the officers in Bangkok have tended to follow set policy when it comes to acceptable documentation rather than trying to figure out acceptable substitutions based on individual cases. Understandable.

After sleeping on the issue, I remember that two years ago, when extending my visa in Bangkok, the immigration asked me where I was getting the money for my daily expenses, and he was satisfied with my answer. No documentation needed. I saved ATM receipts the next year, but when I went to extend again, there was no discussion of where I was getting money for my living expenses. So, yes, their concern about how I support myself is not new. What is new is the apparent requirement for a document from the bank.

Yep, no need to panic. I guess what disturbs me is the changing requirements, and the increased hassle factor - multiple visits to the immigration office and sometimes people getting trapped and denied extensions because of unannounced changes in policy.

Not that it's not worth the hassle, though.

.

Is it difficult to get a letter from banks? That seems like the easiest thing to provide ...

I have never found it hard to get a letter.Sometimes they try to get me to come back the next day,but I insist that I need it now and will wait.There is always a charge of 100 baht for the letter.I carry a copy of the last letter and they can copy it ,just changing the dates and the amount!

I will be going to BKK Immigration to extent my ''retirement visa'' in 2 weeks.I will be taking a letter from the bank and my deposit book showing 22,000 baht in the acct.,no deposits from overseas in 6 years!Although I have done regular atm withdrawals ,I have never saved the receipts.I have a income statement(3rd year copy)from the Embassy,no medical cert.

I will post my experience with this extension.I have had good repore with the immigration officer that has always done my paperwork except for the 2 years she was transferred,but she has been back for the last 3 and I am anticipating her being there again this year!If so,I will try to find out from her what is happening and what to expect!If there is a serious change in policy,I feel confident that she will tell me and she won't make me jump through any hoops that she can prevent,although she can let some minor thing slide,she won't push anything through that is illegal!

Last year I presented the same package,except the money balance was 44,000!She gave me a fright when all of a sudden her smile disappeared and she excitedly expressed ''NO NO I can not do,I can not''!!I said what?She says''You don't have 800,000 in the bank,I can not, I can not''!!While she was saying this she was shuffling through the paperwork again and pulls out my income statement copy and says''OH,you have this,ok ok''.

This year should be interesting!I will be going in 3 days early in case I have to get a new letter from the embassy and/or go to the ministry of foreign affairs to get it approved(the ministry is a long distance from Immigration and the Embassy)!My experience with this ministry office in the past, had to do with getting passports for my wife and daughter and it was a slow process,plus I had to come back the next day!So I want to give myself enough time to run around!
Except for the hassle of the extra running around,my only concern will be that I will not be able to show proof of the money coming into Thailand.If I pass this year,I wll query her about what will be expected next time!

Keep us posted, Stan!

I'm also looking forward to hearing what happens.

The reports on Thai Visa seem to concern those who are extending their visas based on 800k (or 400k for those grandfathered in) deposits rather than income, but it since no reports have been made by those who extend based on income, we really don't know if those (yours) are affected by this new requirement/attitude or not.

If they give you a printed sheet explaining the requirements to extend a retired guy's visa, as they had given me a couple of times in the past, please share it with us.

Good luck, Stan!

I am also having my visa extended for 12 months based on income more than 40.000/month.
I gave the immigration officer my income statement from my embassy.
My embassy even called with the captain that is handling my file because it is the first time that I made this kind of extension.
He wanted a new income statement.
On mine was no letterhead from my embassy, it was only stamped and legalized by my embassy (which should be sufficient).
Even after my embassy called him to assure him that they were using these documents for more than 12 years, he still insisted that there had to be a letterhead on this document....
The vice consul of my embassy asked the captain of the immigration what he would do if my embassy refused to give him a new income statement...
He responded that he would simply refuse my 1 year extension of my visa.
The vice consul replied that I was a registered citizen in my embassy,
The Captain again simply replied that he didn't care.
So my embassy told me that they would do what he asked for in order to prevent problems.....( just to show how much power a captain of the immigration has...)
My embassy made the new income statement and now the captain is satisfied....
It is in fact exactly the same document and exactly the same text, only now there is a letterhead of my embassy...
They told me at the immigration in BKK that everything was ok and that I had to come back next month to pick up the stamp for the 1 year extension.
They were even so polite to tell me that I could come alone and didn't had to bring my wife and child....
I will keep you informed
(Stan, I Stayed in that hotel, Pinaccle,
It was ok, very easy, close to embassy, immigration and ....
Only one problem: full of gays, but have to say that it was good( by the way, I have nothing against gay, It just feel strange when you are the only one in the hotel with wife and child..).
We enjoyed the jacuzzi on the 14 floor, sauna, steam room, fitness.
Also great breakfast
So again Stan, thanks for the great tip of this hotel)

cookie wrote:Only one problem: full of gays......................
We enjoyed the jacuzzi on the 14 floor, sauna, steam room, fitness.

Trying to temp fate, cookie

Hold it, slowly guys,
I went in the jacuzzi with my misses and daughter.
Great protection.....

Was it an American style jacuzzi or a bathtub type?

There are pictures on the website of pinnacle hotel Bangkok of the jacuzzi.
But it looks better on the pictures than in reality.
Still I enjoyed it, especially my daughter.
Had a good time.
The misses even complained that the water wasn't heated...

I had a free morning in Bangkok yesterday, so I did what most people do for fun on their mornings off...I visited Immigration on Soi Suan Pluu.

I went to find out what documents I will need when I extend my retirement visa in a couple of months. After asking a couple of people, I was pointed to the "Big Boss" in the section that deals with extending visas.

My situation, as described to the Big Boss I plan to extend an existing "Retirement" visa in Bangkok. I qualify for the visa by having 800k baht in a fixed deposit account. I have been living off funds that I have wired to my bank in Thailand.

He said that there is a "New law", requiring that I bring in a letter from my bank that shows at least one transfer from outside Thailand.

I also need to bring in a letter from the bank that verifies by bank account balance. (And I guess its a good idea that it matches the amount in the Bank book, though we did not discuss this.)

Both of the requirements above can be met with a single letter.

He also mentioned the the need for photocopies of my bank book, and a passport size photograph.

(Most likely they will want photocopies of my passport, but he did not mention it.)

He also told me that I can extend my visa up to a month prior to the expiration date (or was it 30 days?), but not after the expiration day (he smiled).

After explaining these requirements, I thanked him, and he extended his hand to me. A nice guy. See why I like to do business with the folks on Soi Sual Pluu?

Take note that our mileage may vary.

Well,first I have to say that this years extension was not as smooth as the past!

My ''friend'' at Immigration was in a foul mood!!I was there prior to her getting to work and waited on a stool directly in front of her desk.After she settled in ,I approached her desk and said good morning,she did not look up at me and told me to go get a number,as I started to remind her that she told me to not worry about a number,she raised her voice and said''I said go get a number and find a seat to wait like everyone else!!".I apologized,went and got a number and took a seat in the back!

A few minutes later ,she looks at me,smiles and waves me to come up!She sweet and asks about life in Nong Khai!Then tells me that I have to go to The Embassy and get a new Income Statement because ''I have new boss,make big headache,need new letter every year,but next time you don't need letter from the bank!".I go,get the statement which the Embassy officer informs me is only good for 3 months and that the Immigration had been making a mistake accepting copies from prior years!

My ''immigration friend'' did not know anything about having to take income statements to the Min.of Foreign Affairs!

I had to get new pictures as ''her boss wants current picture"!Also,I went to get a reentry permit without a new number required from the information desk,which put me back about an hour as I got one but about 20 people were now ahead of me some were agency people with many passports!It is a good system,I just didn't see any info posted about numbers required for reentry permit applications!