New Immigration Fee?

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Hoopoe
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Hoopoe » July 31, 2015, 7:18 am

The higher ranking lady was there when they questioned my house photo ,first the youngish man (far right desk ) took the pic's to glasses lady who then referred him to lady sat at the back desk ,there seemed to be a different atmosphere there , the glasses lady also questioned the wife about where we live (she was not dealing with my application) but because i can get the drift of the language ,,,i answered her questions instead of the wife ,, maybe expecting a home visit now , only my 10th extension ,ha :-k



stereolab
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by stereolab » July 31, 2015, 9:20 am

it was noted by my friend that there appears to be a new BOSS in town a lady with 3 pips, sitting in the office and watching what is going on.[/quote]

Are you talking about the Udon or Nong Khai immigration office?

The income letter issue was discussed on another thread concerning a requirement at the Nong Khai office only: http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/i ... 37469.html

Any chance you could get the 3 pip lady to pop over to Nong Khai and tell them that they should not be making up their own rules viz-a-viz monthly income streams from overseas.As an ex military administrator, it makes my blood boil, when a simple process is made overly complicated.

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Khun Paul
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Khun Paul » July 31, 2015, 11:18 am

As I have said previously, the British Embassy I know will NOT ISSUE any letter regarding income unless they have VISIBLE proof that the income is being paid by a pension provider be that a company or the Government, therefore NOT to accept their letter would say we do not believe you , which of course the Embassy can prove the facts as stated. What other countries do I know not, but I do know that the American and also I believe the Australian Govts do NOT follow the British criteria, hence the problem I assume, maybe I am wrong , but that is what I can gather

stereolab
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by stereolab » July 31, 2015, 11:39 am

Khun Paul wrote:As I have said previously, the British Embassy I know will NOT ISSUE any letter regarding income unless they have VISIBLE proof that the income is being paid by a pension provider be that a company or the Government, therefore NOT to accept their letter would say we do not believe you , which of course the Embassy can prove the facts as stated. What other countries do I know not, but I do know that the American and also I believe the Australian Govts do NOT follow the British criteria, hence the problem I assume, maybe I am wrong , but that is what I can gather

The British Embassy has provided me with letters twice now, and they do indeed require original evidence, overall an easy experience. If Nong Khai are going down the "income stream from overseas route" at 65k per month, then I will not need this years letter, but just have to show the income stream letter from the bank, quite a saving.

BTW , I am very happy with the service I have received in the past from Nong Khai, additionally, I am one of the lucky few who were able to 90 day report online.

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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Jello » July 31, 2015, 12:18 pm

stereolab wrote: BTW , I am very happy with the service I have received in the past from Nong Khai, additionally, I am one of the lucky few who were able to 90 day report online.[/color]
As a comparison to the Udon Immigration office,

Does the Nong Khai office have a 30-day waiting period for the retirement visa extension?

Do they charge a fee for transferring a visa to a new passport or address verification letters?
UFF DA!

Jello
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Jello » July 31, 2015, 1:08 pm

kubotatim wrote:I hope the monthly income has to be proven everywhere, the current american/aussi way is a total farce.
It appears that you have little understanding of the process. So lets take a look at this "farce" as you call it.

US AFFIDAVIT:
From the US Embassy website:
The Embassy takes no responsibility for the content of affidavits; however, persons who knowingly make false statements in an affidavit sworn before a U.S. Consular Officer may be subject to perjury charges under U.S. law.
http://bangkok.usembassy.gov/index.html
From Cornell law website:
in any declaration, certificate, verification, or statement under penalty of perjury as permitted under section 1746 of title 28, United States Code, willfully subscribes as true any material matter which he does not believe to be true; is guilty of perjury and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. This section is applicable whether the statement or subscription is made within or without the United States. https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/1621
The fee for the US affidavit is $50. USD

AUSTRALIA STATUTORY DECLARATION:
Intentionally making a false statement as a statutory declaration is a crime equivalent to perjury, and punishable by fines and/or a prison sentence of up to four years.
The states of Australia each have their own laws regarding statutory declarations.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Statutory_declaration
From the final statement on the Australian statutory declaration form:
"Note 1 A person who intentionally makes a false statement in a statutory declaration is guilty of an offence, the punishment for which is imprisonment for a term of 4 years — see section 11 of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959.
Note 2 Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against the Statutory Declarations Act 1959 — see section 5A of the Statutory Declarations Act 1959."http://thailand.embassy.gov.au/bkok/consular.html
Both affidavit and statutory declaration must be made with both a sworn verbal and written statement before a consular official and includes a signature block on the documents for both the officer and applicant to sign.

(On a side note, both conduct Consular outreach visits. The US sends Consular staff to multiple cities in Thailand. The Australian to only Chiang Mai and Phuket at this time.)

UK STANDARD LETTER:
The UK Consular Section issues what is called a "standard letter".
As with the US affidavit and Aus declaration, the standard letter will feature a official seal proving it came from the respective Consulate.

The process is done through the mail and the form requires no signature or sworn statement. Cost 2,475 Baht (+100 for postage).

From the UK Consulate website:
Requirements
· Photocopy of your current British passport data page (page with photo)
· Evidence of your current pension/income which will be returned to you
· Your local Thai address to be typed on the letter
· Completed form as below. Please note we will use the financial figures provided on this form and will not check or amend any financial amounts.

Please ensure the pension/income evidence you provide is in a form that is simple and easy to understand and shows clearly the key financial amounts that are required for inclusion in the letter.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... Master.pdf
The US affidavit and Aus declaration both list serious penalties for false statements. I cannot find anything that states penalty for falsifying documents to the UK Consulate.

The opportunity to falsify income exists in all three methods above. The difference from what I can see is there is no legal penalty for falsifying your income at the UK Consulate.

So Citizens of the UK, if you know of a penalty please post a reference here. Please post fact rather than hearsay, speculation and assumptions.

Or you could pose the question to a UK Consulate Officer during there next outreach visit to Udon.
UFF DA!

kubotatim
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by kubotatim » July 31, 2015, 2:43 pm

We cannot falsify in UK consulate as we have to prove our income, and so should everyone else, UK do not come to Udon, we have to go to Bangkok, you lot can lie as much as you want and immigration has finally cottoned on, good in my opinion we all know the rules.

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wazza
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by wazza » July 31, 2015, 2:52 pm

Maybe the US and Aust Embassies trust their citizens more as all they have to do if a false declaration is made in their presence and found under law to be proved is cancel your passport.

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pomps
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by pomps » July 31, 2015, 2:54 pm

Can add Canada to the list where affadavit is required,just checked on the siamlegal website,according to your quote, the word evidence is referenced with regards to UK 8)

Am sticking with cash in bank 8)

I presume while the three pipped lady is in attendance there are no requests for cash to expedite a service :-k

kubotatim
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by kubotatim » July 31, 2015, 3:01 pm

wazza wrote:Maybe the US and Aust Embassies trust their citizens more as all they have to do if a false declaration is made in their presence and found under law to be proved is cancel your passport.
And have they ever bothered, so many brag about it??????? Immigration now want proof, good on them.

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jackspratt
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by jackspratt » July 31, 2015, 3:10 pm

This appears to be the letter (and instructions) from the British Embassy.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q ... 2E&cad=rjt

I note a couple of things:

1. there is no need to appear personally at the embassy in Bangkok - in fact, the instructions seem to discourage that

2. there is no prescription as to what "evidence" is required - just a nebulous "Pension/Income Name"

A pension letter with the relevant persons name on it would seem pretty clear cut - I wonder how much something not so obvious eg rental income, would be scrutinised by embassy staff. :-k

stereolab
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by stereolab » July 31, 2015, 3:30 pm

As a comparison to the Udon Immigration office,

Does the Nong Khai office have a 30-day waiting period for the retirement visa extension?[/color]
Not last October, received mine same day, no hassle, no return.

Do they charge a fee for transferring a visa to a new passport or address verification letters?[/quote]

No experience with this, sorry
.

Jello
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Jello » July 31, 2015, 4:10 pm

stereolab wrote:As a comparison to the Udon Immigration office,

Does the Nong Khai office have a 30-day waiting period for the retirement visa extension?

Not last October, received mine same day, no hassle, no return..
Thanks for the response.

Proof each office does things differently.
UFF DA!

pal52
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by pal52 » July 31, 2015, 4:19 pm

stereolab wrote:As a comparison to the Udon Immigration office,

Does the Nong Khai office have a 30-day waiting period for the retirement visa extension?[/color]
Not last October, received mine same day, no hassle, no return.

Do they charge a fee for transferring a visa to a new passport or address verification letters?


No experience with this, sorry
.[/quote]

Changed my wifes Visa into her new passport at Nong Khai.
They specifically stated it was a free service No Charge

Jello
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Jello » July 31, 2015, 4:31 pm

pal52 wrote: Changed my wifes Visa into her new passport at Nong Khai.
They specifically stated it was a free service No Charge
By many reports, 500 Baht charged for this at Udon. :cry:
UFF DA!

Jello
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Jello » July 31, 2015, 4:39 pm

kubotatim wrote: And have they ever bothered, so many brag about it??????? Immigration now want proof, good on them.
Who? Show us on this forum one person who's bragging about lying to their Embassy.
kubotatim wrote:We cannot falsify in UK consulate as we have to prove our income, and so should everyone else, UK do not come to Udon, we have to go to Bangkok, you lot can lie as much as you want and immigration has finally cottoned on, good in my opinion we all know the rules.
I'm not accusing anyone of lying (as you seem to be) But it certainly is possible. A UK citizen could create a false document as evidence of income and have no fear of any legal action (as far as I'm aware of). They state on the website that they do not verify your income:
· Completed form as below. Please note we will use the financial figures provided on this form and will not check or amend any financial amounts.
https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/s ... Master.pdf
The tone of your post sounds like you have a chip on your shoulder or are suffering from "green eye" because the reality is the US process to get a income verification letter is easier, cheaper and the US Embassy provides better service to its citizens. I know of no American that would get an affidavit under false pretenses as the threat of committing perjury carries penalties that are sever.

From the other thread on this subject:
I was asked to sign 2 separate papers stating that for my next extension I will need to provide evidence that at least 65,000 baht of my 'pension' was deposited each month in the Thai bank system.
http://www.udonmap.com/udonthaniforum/i ... 69-30.html
The problem I see with this new requirement of the Nong Khai office is they are not just verifying your income, they are requiring you have that money in Thailand and you then cannot leave that money in your home country bank, drawing out funds as required.

With the income letter, you are just verifying that you make over 800K per year. With their new requirement they are asking for a Thai bankbook or bank statement so you have to actually have that 800K in a thai bank. Not everyone wants to do that or needs to spend that much every year. Now you will have no choice.
UFF DA!

kubotatim
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by kubotatim » July 31, 2015, 5:52 pm

You are looking through rose tinted glass's the yank way is a complete farse and I am glad they are clamping down on it.

Jello
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Jello » July 31, 2015, 6:20 pm

kubotatim wrote:You are looking through rose tinted glass's the yank way is a complete farse and I am glad they are clamping down on it.
And you back-up this ridiculous statement with.... nothing.

No facts, no examples, no reference, not even a half ass rebuttal addressing anything I've written.

How boring.

There is no "clamp-down" on any one specific nationality. There is no evidence of that other that what you've created in your own mind. This is a change that will effect everyone applying for retirement extensions at the Nong Khai office starting next year. If you have any proof contrary to that please post it. Otherwise, it's just hot air.
UFF DA!

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Charlieb
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by Charlieb » July 31, 2015, 6:41 pm

18 U.S. Code § 1621

Whoever—
(1) having taken an oath before a competent tribunal, officer, or person, in any case in which a law of the United States authorizes an oath to be administered, that he will testify, declare, depose, or certify truly, or that any written testimony, declaration, deposition, or certificate by him subscribed, is true, willfully and contrary to such oath states or subscribes any material matter which he does not believe to be true; or
(2) in any declaration, certificate, verification, or statement under penalty of perjury as permitted under section 1746 of title 28, United States Code, willfully subscribes as true any material matter which he does not believe to be true;
is guilty of perjury and shall, except as otherwise expressly provided by law, be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than five years, or both. This section is applicable whether the statement or subscription is made within or without the United States.

As Jello says I don't think many Americans would take that chance. If you know of any feel free to report them to the U.S. Embassy

kubotatim
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New Immigration Fee?

Post by kubotatim » July 31, 2015, 9:30 pm

I am no grass,, bla bla bla 55555555555555.

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