Income Letter

Post by **papafarang** » November 6, 2018, 10:56 am

they really are putting the squeeze on. shows no one is safe ,rules change randomly . even the 800,000 rule could suddenly be upped . I guess the affidavit rule was just being abused by so many, and over the years I have met many doing so , there was even some glee from some of them that they could do it while watch others squirming trying to work out how they could manage their funds to stay .

Post by **Tracechain** » November 6, 2018, 11:04 am

I don't know...I was just looking at the various posts and saw this one on Thaivisa. Believe the topic heading was US Embassy to stop income verifications and this particular post was a new one on page 142 or thereabouts.

I'm at the Bangkok bank now and the gal said no problem getting a letter verifying deposits for a year.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Post by **LoneTraveler** » November 6, 2018, 11:54 am

Tracechain wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 11:04 am
I don't know...I was just looking at the various posts and saw this one on Thaivisa. Believe the topic heading was US Embassy to stop income verifications and this particular post was a new one on page 142 or thereabouts.

I'm at the Bangkok bank now and the gal said no problem getting a letter verifying deposits for a year.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Verifying deposits for a year, does this mean any deposit to Thai account or verifying deposits from outside Thailand? I have more than enough funds being transferred into Thailand to satisfy the retirement extension. However, effective April 01 2019 New York Bank Bangkok will no longer accept ACH fund transfers, they must be in the new IAT format. I contacted my Bank in New York and they said they will not send out transfers in the IAT now or in the future only receive them, so that shuts down one source of income. The alternative is to set up a monthly wire transfer but I need to visit a branch office in the US ( I don"t think so). I am hoping that perhaps they will accept ATM withdrawals from my Bank in New York which I can verify in a bank statement that they came from outside Thailand. I do not understand why the US Embassy cannot verify an annual 1099 form from Social security or other pensions. Perhaps a question to be asked at the Outreach Tomorrow. I would go myself but I have an appointment which cannot be canceled.

Post by **saint** » November 6, 2018, 12:53 pm

On either visa extension they want printouts of your bank book . So why cant they use this as proof of monies coming from abroad .
In my book it shows transfers from abroad with a different code , for roughly the same amount and roughly the same date every month .
Just a thought , but honestly , i find all this uncertainty depressing.

Post by **LoneTraveler** » November 6, 2018, 1:25 pm

saint wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 12:53 pm
On either visa extension they want printouts of your bank book . So why cant they use this as proof of monies coming from abroad .
In my book it shows transfers from abroad with a different code , for roughly the same amount and roughly the same date every month .
Just a thought , but honestly , i find all this uncertainty depressing.

Prior to 5 years I had to get letter from bank and copies of bankbook updated on same day as visit in addition to income verification letter from US Embassy to immigration. Then for some reason they stoped with bankbook copies and letters and accepted only the Income Verification Letter. Now here we are again. Immigration wants to see income from abroad only because you may be making income illegally in Thailand. So deposits of cash cannot be proven as annual income if made in Country. That probably includes ATM withdrawals and deposited as cash to Thai bank account. In the back of my mind I knew this day was coming just did not expect it so soon.

Post by **Giggle** » November 6, 2018, 1:52 pm

They're stuck in a vicious circle. They refuse to believe so many retired people can earn 65K a month on pensions, especially if you're under 50, and therefore default into believing many must be working. So they end up sticking it to the law-abiding in a bid to "catch you" when you're dutifully in their office reporting and extending -- rather than doing good police work to weed-out the miscreants.

The "good-guys-in bad-guys-out" operation has deformed into a "let's create bad-guys from the honest, well-intentioned and responsible foreigners" through ambiguous policy and vague interpretations rather than hit the bricks looking for the real bad guys.

Post by **tamada** » November 6, 2018, 2:34 pm

The instructions from the British, US and American embassies don't say anything about the source of the income as 'coming from abroad'. It just has to be in a Thai bank.

The relevant police orders don't say that the income must come from overseas either. In lieu of any income letters, it is either the lump sum appropriately seasoned OR proof of regular income no less than their stated minimums.

An Aussie I am working with gets his last income letter in Bangkok next month and will file his extension in February when it falls due. He says he will also commence pulling 2 x 30k + another 5k each month from his Ozzie account via the ATM at the Thai bank he has an account with. Then he will pop inside the bank and deposit it. This way, along with his existing 'float' of around 100k already in the account, he will build up the 800k he needs in time for his 2020 renewal. If for any reason he misses the seasoning conditions, he passes the monthly income test.

Post by **semperfiguy** » November 6, 2018, 3:11 pm

I just picked this up off the US Embassy Bangkok website:

NOTICE: Beginning January 1, 2019, U.S. Embassy Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai will no longer provide the income affidavit. We will not notarize previous versions of the income affidavit. For more information, please refer to our Fact Sheet (PDF 266KB) and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 419KB). We will continue to notarize income affidavit forms through the end of 2018. Thai Immigration Bureau officials confirmed that they will support early visa renewals for U.S. citizens during the transition period.

Starting on October 1, 2017, all beneficiaries and applicants living in Thailand must direct all questions regarding Social Security to SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines at [email protected]. Please visit www.ssa.gov for more Social Security information.

Now, what the heck does the sentence above in red mean? It makes no sense to me!

Post by **Tracechain** » November 6, 2018, 4:16 pm

LoneTraveler wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 11:54 am

Tracechain wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 11:04 am
I don't know...I was just looking at the various posts and saw this one on Thaivisa. Believe the topic heading was US Embassy to stop income verifications and this particular post was a new one on page 142 or thereabouts.

I'm at the Bangkok bank now and the gal said no problem getting a letter verifying deposits for a year.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk
Verifying deposits for a year, does this mean any deposit to Thai account or verifying deposits from outside Thailand? I have more than enough funds being transferred into Thailand to satisfy the retirement extension. However, effective April 01 2019 New York Bank Bangkok will no longer accept ACH fund transfers, they must be in the new IAT format. I contacted my Bank in New York and they said they will not send out transfers in the IAT now or in the future only receive them, so that shuts down one source of income. The alternative is to set up a monthly wire transfer but I need to visit a branch office in the US ( I don"t think so). I am hoping that perhaps they will accept ATM withdrawals from my Bank in New York which I can verify in a bank statement that they came from outside Thailand. I do not understand why the US Embassy cannot verify an annual 1099 form from Social security or other pensions. Perhaps a question to be asked at the Outreach Tomorrow. I would go myself but I have an appointment which cannot be canceled.

Another option of sending monies here is through TransferWise. I have never used but visit their website and check out Thaivisa as well regarding IAT changes, many pages of finance info in non-cornfield language plus some info regarding TransferWise and US social security now recognizing Thailand as OK (there's proper verbiage for this but I forgot what it is) for direct deposit (of course the IAT) is yet to be determined how this would impact on SSA. Also mentioned that DFAS is being approached by the Embassy chain of command about approving Thailand as OK to direct deposit if your a vet. I don't know if that means direct deposit to a Thai bank thereby doing away with BKB in NYC but would assume so. I'm not smart enough to figure all this out, just throwing it out so you smart ones can hit the keyboards! Note: Any similarity between my grammar and actual proper and correct school house grammar is purely coincidental!

Post by **sometimewoodworker** » November 6, 2018, 4:47 pm

semperfiguy wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 3:11 pm
I just picked this up off the US Embassy Bangkok website:

NOTICE: Beginning January 1, 2019, U.S. Embassy Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai will no longer provide the income affidavit. We will not notarize previous versions of the income affidavit. For more information, please refer to our Fact Sheet (PDF 266KB) and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 419KB). We will continue to notarize income affidavit forms through the end of 2018. Thai Immigration Bureau officials confirmed that they will support early visa renewals for U.S. citizens during the transition period.

Starting on October 1, 2017, all beneficiaries and applicants living in Thailand must direct all questions regarding Social Security to SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines at [email protected]. Please visit www.ssa.gov for more Social Security information.

Now, what the heck does the sentence above in red mean? It makes no sense to me!

It means that Thai immigration has told the US embassy that renewals will be accepted early maybe more than 30 days before the extension expires.

If true then possibly good news for people whose extension expires in late July and maybe, August or even September and are currently using the income affidavit, as they will be able to apply within the 6 month valid period.

Do notice that there is no information as to how early or even that it's going to be more than 30 days.

Post by **semperfiguy** » November 6, 2018, 4:58 pm

sometimewoodworker wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 4:47 pm

semperfiguy wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 3:11 pm
I just picked this up off the US Embassy Bangkok website:

NOTICE: Beginning January 1, 2019, U.S. Embassy Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General Chiang Mai will no longer provide the income affidavit. We will not notarize previous versions of the income affidavit. For more information, please refer to our Fact Sheet (PDF 266KB) and Frequently Asked Questions (PDF 419KB). We will continue to notarize income affidavit forms through the end of 2018. Thai Immigration Bureau officials confirmed that they will support early visa renewals for U.S. citizens during the transition period.

Starting on October 1, 2017, all beneficiaries and applicants living in Thailand must direct all questions regarding Social Security to SSA Federal Benefits Unit (FBU) in U.S. Embassy in Manila, Philippines at [email protected]. Please visit www.ssa.gov for more Social Security information.

Now, what the heck does the sentence above in red mean? It makes no sense to me!
It means that Thai immigration has told the US embassy that renewals will be accepted more than 30 days before the extension expires.

If true then possibly good news for people whose extension expires in late July and maybe, August or even September and are currently using the income affidavit, as they will be able to apply within the 6 month valid period.

Do notice that there is no information as to how early or even that it's going to be more than 30 days.

I wonder if anyone has confirmed with Udon Immigration if they will be accepting renewals earlier than 30 days prior. If that be the case and they will accept my application for extension of stay at least 45 days prior to the renewal date, then I can get the Income Affidavit tomorrow at the outreach and it will work for me.

Post by **RLTrader** » November 6, 2018, 5:21 pm

If that be the case and they will accept my application for extension of stay at least 45 days prior to the renewal date, then I can get the Income Affidavit tomorrow at the outreach and it will work for me.

Kind of like the Lottery. Wish you luck. Might be better to buy 50 PowerBall tickets, then again its only 50 bucks, might be worth the shot.

Don’t plan too far ahead, “at my age, I don’t even buy green bananas anymore.”
Enough already. By this time next year, we will most likely be all dead. If you survive
WWIII, your “fiat money” (if you think you will still have any, after the Banks fail) will buy you nothing! Enjoy! Don’t Believe? Just tune into US MSM, 1st point, Its’ gone mad. Hmm, sounds like
this topic here.

Post by **Brian Davis** » November 6, 2018, 5:56 pm

We all hope, I'm sure, that further, clear information will become available, but at present we're not 100% certain of some of the basics and then many will still have if and but queries.
A shame we don't have a representation group, which could pin down a senior Immigration Officer and get definite answers.
Sorry, but all this talk of Immigration honouring income letters for the 6 months validity after the deadline is fine, but all I've read so far it that it's "almost certain". It's been pointed out that it's what Immigration says, not the Embassies which matters.
Tell me the 6 months is "written in stone" by Immigration, I and others can relax, immediate panic is over,have time to figure out alternative arrangements for next renewal and digest further information becoming available.

Post by **Tracechain** » November 6, 2018, 6:18 pm

You have always been able to go in 30 days early. I have done it several times. This year I was 37 days early...went in to do my 90 day and switch over a passport and took my renewal papers just in case and not a problem.

Post by **Tracechain** » November 6, 2018, 6:20 pm

Tracechain wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 6:18 pm
You have always been able to go in 30 days early. I have done it several times. This year I was 37 days early...went in to do my 90 day and switch over a passport and took my renewal papers just in case and not a problem.

Forgot to clarify that my income verification was only 90 days old.

Post by **Stantheman** » November 6, 2018, 11:16 pm

RLTrader wrote: ↑
November 6, 2018, 5:21 pm
Kind of like the Lottery. Wish you luck. Might be better to buy 50 PowerBall tickets, then again its only 50 bucks, might be worth the shot.

Bad news RLTrader if you want 50 Powerball tickets it will cost you $100 as it $2 a ticket now.

Post by **saint** » November 8, 2018, 9:36 am

Just read on British Embassy site that after the 1st January you will asked by immigration to show proof of income , ie , pensions , via your Thai bank account . Im guessing they know a little more than us , and possibly our local office .

Post by **vincemunday** » November 8, 2018, 9:47 am

When I did my 90 days a day or two ago my missus asked them what was happening re the new legislation and the immigration officer said "there is no legislation, nothing has been decided yet" but assured me not to worry, I don't anyway because I lodge the money but he seemed to think that it's unlikely they'll jeopardise retirement here and that a solution will be found. Read into that's what you will.

Post by **saint** » November 8, 2018, 9:55 am

Yea , Im going today . Guaranteed if i ask another officer i will get a different answer . Here lies the problem. Left hand has no idea what the right hand is doing .
We can only wait and see , but im sure they like to see some of us a bit vulnerable .
I dont trust anyone in a uniform here .

Post by **semperfiguy** » November 8, 2018, 10:05 am

Yesterday while doing my 90 day report my wife asked the female immigration officer that always processes my extension each year for the past 7 if I could apply 45 days early instead of the customary 30 for my upcoming extension in June. That way I could get the Income Affidavit from the US Consular outreach yesterday and it would still be valid until May 7th, then I would have 4 days to spare to apply for the extension. Her answer was that the 45 day early extension application was fine and she encouraged us to go ahead and get the Income Affidavit. She said they are awaiting further instructions from the head immigration office in Bangkok after having sent them a formal request by letter for more clarity. However, she did say that there is always the possibility that the Income Affidavit might be rejected given there is a dramatic change in the regulations, but she said it's worth the gamble.

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