LoneTraveler wrote: ↑

November 18, 2018, 3:59 pm

One thing I just though of as I was writing concerning SSA benefit funds may be considered a domestic ACH transfer because it is going to BKK in NY. It looks like I have to look into further.

Yes, I had the same thought. Since the branch is in the US, it is a domestic transaction.

Lone Star wrote: ↑

November 18, 2018, 4:20 pm

LoneTraveler wrote: ↑

November 18, 2018, 3:59 pm

One thing I just though of as I was writing concerning SSA benefit funds may be considered a domestic ACH transfer because it is going to BKK in NY. It looks like I have to look into further.

Yes, I had the same thought. Since the branch is in the US, it is a domestic transaction.

Why don't transfer directly to your Bangkok Bank account in Thailand from SSA, bypassing their New York office. The fees to convert from dollars to baht would be the same and you would not be charged the small fee charged by the New York office.

Useful info from Thaivisa:

If you have a US SSA direct deposit, the FIRST CONCERN is to find out if you are set up for IAT format or not. The easy way is to go direct to your Bangkok Bank branch. Have them pull up your accounts on their computer, then pull up the most recent direct deposit transaction. They can then pull up details of that transaction. On the details page look on the right had side toward the middle of the page, there are some codes. If you see IAT-Th, then you are OK. Your direct deposit is in the correct format and will continue as normal after April 1, 2019. Not all SSA direct deposits are in IAT format. Apparently some direct deposits were set up incorrectly (see preceding post) so you may not be OK. Your best recourse would be as per the above post and call SSA Baltimore. I have talked with SSA in Manilla and they won't even bother to check what the format is, let alone assist with correcting it. Bangkok Bank New York also will only tell you to talk to SSA and not even check your format for you.

--The current BKKB system for domestic ACH transfers from the U.S. to Thailand via their NY branch is ENDING as of April 1, 2019. The online U.S. ACH domestic transfers you have been doing all along to BKKB NY will no longer function after that point.



--The end of the current domestic ACH transfers system for the NY branch, according to BKKB, will have NO IMPACT on the current Social Security and any other federal government direct deposit arrangements already existing thru BKKB.

From Thaivisa:
I am currently in the process of changing my direct deposit accounts with the SSA. And I noticed something:



It isn't to do with addresses. It's the way Bangkok Bank processes your paperwork when you first open a direct deposit acc. or change to a new one. When you apply, in Thailand, for a U.S. SSI direct deposit account the Thai bank (in Thailand) fill out a 1199A form they keep on hand, which is the standard U.S. gov 'Direct Deposit Signup Form.'



Section 1 is filled out by the payee. Section 2 is filled out by the payee or financial institution. Section 3 is to be filled out by the Banking institution.. that's where the problem is, and that's where IAT or domestic will come in: I've found some banks (like my old branch up in Udon Thani) fill the main part in section 3: 'Name and address of financial institution' .. with the Bangkok Bank Public Co. Limited, New York City. And not the local Thai branch or your local bank, where you will receive your money!



If they fill out Section of the 1199A this way, it will be processed by SSA as 'domestic!' As 'New York' is domestic.. What you want to happen is to ensure that your bank branch in Thailand, where you might apply or change your direct deposit acc., fills this part of section 3 in with the their local Thai branch address, in Thailand, and Not use the New York address! .. like they did with mine up in Udon, when I first applied!



I just got off the phone after a 2 hr. call to Baltimore with the SSA Office of International Operations, where I found out my account is Not IAT, but indeed domestic. I have long moved and am now changing my direct deposit acc. to my new location farther south.



After leaving the bank branch just yesterday with my new acc. no. and a copy of my 1199A, I see they too, same as 2 years back in Udon, filled in section 3 using the New York Bangkok Bank address along with the routing no., which stays same.. SSA in Baltimore told me to go back and have them change section 3 to reflect the local Thai branch address, as per IAT requirements. Then they will have the correct local foreign branch address. So, back to the bank tomorrow. Then I will fax this to Baltimore as instructed, and hope for the best..

mak wrote: ↑

November 19, 2018, 7:05 am

Useful info from Thaivisa:

If you have a US SSA direct deposit, the FIRST CONCERN is to find out if you are set up for IAT format or not. The easy way is to go direct to your Bangkok Bank branch. Have them pull up your accounts on their computer, then pull up the most recent direct deposit transaction. They can then pull up details of that transaction. On the details page look on the right had side toward the middle of the page, there are some codes. If you see IAT-Th, then you are OK. Your direct deposit is in the correct format and will continue as normal after April 1, 2019. Not all SSA direct deposits are in IAT format. Apparently some direct deposits were set up incorrectly (see preceding post) so you may not be OK. Your best recourse would be as per the above post and call SSA Baltimore. I have talked with SSA in Manilla and they won't even bother to check what the format is, let alone assist with correcting it. Bangkok Bank New York also will only tell you to talk to SSA and not even check your format for you.

Yes, I just received a response for SSA in Manila, it appears they cannot determine a general question vs a specific question about my account. To answer a general question concerning ACH transfer and IAT transfer. They want all the personal information I gave them when I applied for SS benefits before they will answer any questions.

My Guess at what Thailand (Udon) Immigration will do as a “work-around” for Western Governments ending Notarizing “Income Letters”.

They will accept a deposit of 34k(married) / 67k(retirement) per month into a Thai Bank Account as proof of income. (my numbers) (might need a special account just for this? otherwise a bear to verify!)

or

the current 400k(married) / 800k(retirement) in a Thai Bank Account 3 months prior to application.

Both of above need to come from a foreign source? (So 400k/800k every year?)

This just might help most of us, but not all of us.

Questions I would have

Can I transfer the monies myself from a American Bank? This could be made automatic from my American account? This I could live with, for other funds would be available to pay other things from the American Account.

The other Problem is the exchange rate. One would need to keep an eye on the exchange rate, for ONE Month below could/would disqualify one. Too Much is better.

Notes in the Margin

From other sites 2 things

1. Income Letters that are no older than 6 months will be accepted in Udon immigration.

2. The above work-around is not my idea, but seems to come from someone at Udon immigration.

3. No I did not save any links, remember This is My Guess. Do your own and post, and
No you will not win anything.

RLTrader wrote: ↑

November 20, 2018, 7:44 pm

Do your own and post.

OK. Immigration doesn't care how much you make. They'd much prefer (soon, demand) you keep a wad in a Thai bank so that when you croak and leave a Thai hospital holding the ------ end of a 1- or 2-million unpaid bill, they have at least some recourse. If you smash up a family riding their scooter, they have a tangible source in which to tap into pay your bills. Thais can put up with a lot of crap, but getting duped by a farang for a tidy sum of money is not one of them. Separating people from their money is THEIR job, not yours. Whoever called it a security deposit earlier (on this thread I think) has it figured out.

That's what this is all about.

If the money you have, or claim to have, is out of their reach, it's as if you don't have it at all. Put the required money in the bank or you are not welcome here anymore. And watch the instances of farangs "deposit" being raided when they die with unpaid bills or have a cock-up of monstrous proportions such that the police must get involved.

It's also comforting for opportunists to know every farang has 800k readily accessible and there for quick exploitation. It's uncomfortable for Thais to come out and say it bluntly, so I have. It's just my guess.

Just my obervation from reading all the posts on this page. The problem is not that immigration will not accept income letters, it's the Embassy's refusal to verify the income, whether it's possible to verify or not.

but, does anyone know for sure if the Thai government possibly made requests to the various embassies to cease issuing income affadavits? T'is a bit coincidental that one by one western embassies seem to be adopting the same policy..

Well wasn't going to add to the various conflicting reports on this subject but some info my wife got last weekend concerned me enough to start searching for alternatives available to me, which raised this topic so I thought I would. Let me start by saying it's up to you how you take it, nothing in writing was given , just a verbal advice from a fairly senior IO who doesn't normally get involved in this side of things, he works at the airport dealing with offenders.His family home is near us so ny wife rang him to help me .I was going to get the income letter from the British embassy before their cut off date to use in May when my visa expires so his advise was about this. He said, a meeting on the subject of income letters was held and apparently the banks had mostly expressed they were unable to produce a letter about monthly deposits that would give the guarantees immigration were seeking, a bit like the embassy situation I would imagine, but could only detail the sum held in account of an individual .This led to the meeting suggesting that the monthly income and the joint one for retirement could not be verified to their satisfaction so would be dropped, leaving the lump sum in the bank as the only one acceptable. It was then suggested that the cut off date would be dec 31st. So his advise was, don't waste money in obtaining the embassy letter in advance it won't any good .
So as you can see , nothing in stone for us to go on but sufficient to know how the think tank is working and make me look at alternatives. No going home is not one of them.

Good info OG. Although not official, it would be wise to prepare for the worst. i.e. 800k or 400k.

mak wrote: ↑

December 5, 2018, 7:29 am

Good info OG. Although not official, it would be wise to prepare for the worst. i.e. 800k or 400k.

Thanks for the info, Old Grumpy.

Agree that the total in the bank book appears to be the safest route at this time.

Side Note: I was talking to a friend who uses the IO in Nakhon Sawan. He has always used the bank book route and said that his IO allows a 5 day window for bank verification letters. It would be nice if all the IOs did something similar instead of requiring same day letters.

There is no reason why you cannot get the letter a few days in advance and just get an A T M slip with balance on , on the day . I mean we are now well into the 21st century , but , and there is always a but , T I T.

saint wrote: ↑

December 5, 2018, 7:54 am

There is no reason why you cannot get the letter a few days in advance and just get an A T M slip with balance on , on the day . I mean we are now well into the 21st century , but , and there is always a but , T I T.

I plan to check on that with UTH IO before I pull the trigger. Makes sense, but as you said TIT.

Hi guys
Called into udon immigration office yesterday to ask exactly this question
Officer on the 90 day desk said.....the bank letter has to be obtained from the bank along with that days made up bank book on the day of submission of application for extension of stay
They will not accept it if not on the exact day!
He also said you need to check with your bank as most now require 24 hr notice for the letter
Hope this helps

tamada wrote: ↑

December 5, 2018, 8:30 am

Lone Star wrote: ↑

December 5, 2018, 7:58 am

saint wrote: ↑

December 5, 2018, 7:54 am

There is no reason why you cannot get the letter a few days in advance and just get an A T M slip with balance on , on the day . I mean we are now well into the 21st century , but , and there is always a but , T I T.

I plan to check on that with UTH IO before I pull the trigger. Makes sense, but as you said TIT.

Sound idea. And also ask if the IO who has given you their latest 'opinion' will also be on duty in the office when you come by a few days later to actually do the deed.

You know it makes sense.

Yep. I plan to handle my transaction with the same IO. The ONLY way it makes sense.

Can you renew with TM7 up to 30 days before current Visa expires ?
Thanks

vidmaster wrote: ↑

December 5, 2018, 9:54 am

Can you renew with TM7 up to 30 days before current Visa expires ?
Thanks

I've done it within 30 days every year for at least the last 6 or 7. No problem, but TIT. Check with IO and be sure.

Many thanks