MikeOKitches

1 minute ago, annabel said:

Mike I am sorry but no I did not see your post as I gave up reading on this 104 page issue at page10 and the reason I saw UKRULES post is because it came through in the 70+ mails all related to this and as I was deleting them all I saw his post but I somehow missed yours .... and only saw it after I opened UKRULES one .... and I also replied to you saying Thank You and no worries! Please don't take all this personally.... there was no mal intent there at all....

Fair enough, and thank you for your reassuring comment. ????????

19 minutes ago, BritManToo said:

If you use an agent, no need to show anything to anyone, apart from the 25k bribe.

Have you ever done this? There's no passbook, no money, no loan, no bank account.

Just the bribe.

This comment is spot on. People will still be able to go this route as a last resort for their
retirement visas if they're unable to meet the mandated requirements. Money talks. To think
this option will now suddenly disappear because of recent developments is naive. 

21 minutes ago, annabel said:

Thank you UKRULES for enlightening him.... 

I see you are very selective in your quoting of comments. If you read that same page and several after, you'd have seen I expressly apologized to you for my misinterpretation
of your original comment to me. How did you miss this? ???? Or did you just figure it was better to intentionally ignore what I wrote and maintain some ill will towards me here on the forum for a simple misunderstanding I had? ????

 

2 hours ago, annabel said:

Vietnam ... here I come.... this new guy is a nut case

 

Apologies to you. I originally misinterpreted your comment here. I thought you were talking
about me, since my post count total is low and I may be considered "new" here in the forum.
It appears in your comment, you meant the "new guy" to mean newly appointed immigration chief
Surachate Hakpan - known as Big Joke. We can agree on this. I should also explore Vietnam, since
I've heard some very positive things about that country as well with regards to foreigners wanting
to live there. 

22 minutes ago, annabel said:

Vietnam ... here I come.... this new guy is a nut case

 

Look in the mirror when you cast aspersions towards people you don't
know. Your narcissism manifests itself in the the unwarranted drivel you cast
towards me. Seek help, and please do us all a favor and stay in your lane.
Thanks.

 

34 minutes ago, ChrisY1 said:

Brilliant...go from a reasonable sh!t-hole to a real one!

What the hell are you squawking about? Phenom Penh, Cambodia is growing 
like a weed in terms of capital investment and opportunities. You ever been there or
are you just making unfounded statements in an attempt to defend Thailand? I've been going
there over a dozen+ separate times over the years and can see with my own eyes the money
that's being invested in the capital city there. I just think there are viable alternatives to Thailand,
and Cambodia is one of them.  

50 minutes ago, Hupaponics said:

Never heard that b4????

Funny how yall talking with no action 555

No action? How would you know what my "action" is? Stay in your lane. Thanks.

1 hour ago, madmen said:

Decades of thai bashing is what's disgusting. Probably 90% of all posts.

It's called karma. To late now and it's always the poor that will suffer the most.

Perhaps farang can now show some respect for their host country. If the hatred continues then expect it back at you.. That's life

4 minutes ago, sawadeeken said:

Personally I think Thailand is trying to bring 'working capital' into the country.... (and they aren't getting MINE)...... After all this is the scam capital.....

At the same time as they are requiring all this money brought into the country, They are 'deflating the value' of all the western currencies and inflating the value of their 'Baht'..... After the Thai banks are filled up (with all our 'bargain-rate currencies) they know the Baht will devalue again and 'our' currencies will rise (leaving them a great profit)........ So 'Thai Grafters' will have 'fat accounts'.......

I have elected (and vowed) not to bring any of my money here for them to 'Play with'...... I will just come back as a tourist every couple months instead..... and let them have my 'retirement visa' and shove it where the sun don't shine.......

To each their own opinion..... This is mine.....

SPOT ON! THE WINNERS JUST KEEP ON COMING!

17 minutes ago, zydeco said:

But the new rules are making working easier than retiring in Thailand.

This is a viable alternative to many retirees who don't have the requisite finances or want to jump through the hoops
to renew or maintain their retirement visa. Although, I suspect getting a work permit entails a lot of hassle as well. I
guess it all depends on how much one "loves" Thailand and the current environment here. 

12 minutes ago, DrTuner said:

800k might be ok, but committing to living in Thailand is something one should avoid at all costs. You never know when some event makes it inhabitable. 

 

One leg out the door with plan B,C and D in the pocket is the way to go.

WE HAVE ANOTHER WINNER!

On 1/10/2019 at 4:09 PM, Jonathan Swift said:

I have been told by all reliable sources including the US Embassy and officials from Chaeng Watthana that  everyone will get a 6 month window as you were told. I processed my visa at Chaeng Watthana In December, got my affidavit in November. So you should be fine. If in doubt, call them. 

Jonathan, I apologize for the late reply. I wanted to say thanks for taking the time to post your comment to assuage and allay my fears regarding whether the US Embassy Income Affidavit I procured on 30 November 2018 will be accepted by Thai Immigration when I renew my Retirement Visa in late March 2019. It appears from your sources that the they will honor this document within the 6 month window. This is precisely what makes this forum great - members helping other members - and I don't take it for granted. Again, thank you. Have a GREAT weekend. 

7 minutes ago, luckyluke said:

Don't understand the reaction.

 

What I want and ready to pay 5000 ThB is that somebody ( agent ) do my work :

Taking copies

Going to Austrian Consulate with my passport and documents ( Proof of government pension and proof Office of Pension transfering monthly +/- equivalent of 80000 ThB on Belgian bankbook ) to get L.o.I.

Going to Immigration with my passport and all necessay documents

I will collect my passport with extension of 1 year as picture of myself has to been made.

 

So nothing illegal is involved.

I misunderstood your post. I thought you were intimating the TH 5000 was tea money for the agent and TI visa overlord to "process" all of the "paperwork" (wink, wink). Based on my misconception, I chuckled since that figure of TH 5000 is absurdly low, since the going rate is 3 to 5 times that amount.

I apologize. 

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

How could it be read any other way.

This is what is written in the amendment.

Hello again. I know you responded to me before on this matter, and assured me that income affidavits would be accepted as part of my Retirement Visa renewal application and that the directive was clear on this. Thank you for highlighting the language you were referencing to me before. 

You're saying that the phrase "income certification certified by the embassy or consular" should be interpreted to mean it's the equivalent of this document known as the "Income Affidavit?"

I believe this is where the confusion lies and may be open to interpretation. The "Income Affidavit" is a sworn declaration which a person makes in front of a US Embassy official and they notarize it. See attached image. From my understanding, a "income certification" would mean that the embassy would look at all your supporting financial documents and "certify" you meet Thai Immigration's income requirements.

It's a shame that Thai Immigration won't give a clear answer on whether they'll still honor Income Affidavits issued in late 2018 y the US Embassy (and other embassies) to be used in early 2019. Many of us got Income Affidavits from the US Embassy believing they would be valid for 6 months and still acceptable by Thai Immigration for Retirement Visa renewals. I suppose the best tact is to wait till there are field reports filed y Thai Visa members during this month and next on how Income Affidavits are treated. Accepted or rejected. 

 

2 hours ago, luckyluke said:

Wonder if an agent can do this for less than 5000 THB and I sit easily home ( or in another nice place ).

So nothing "outlaw" to do by the agent.

????????????????????

7 minutes ago, onera1961 said:

So start worrying about it as if it will cure your anxiety. Don't worry about something you're not in control. You can keep sending 65K/month and go in March and see what happens. With the embassy letter, they may also reject if you come up blank in your bank book. 

For the past 7 Retirement Visa renewals, Thai Immigration has accepted my US Embassy notarized Income Affidavits without a problem. I never needed to show them my bank book. When I got my document on 30 November 2018, the US Embassy officer stated to me that the Income Affidavit he notarized for me is valid for 6 months (expires on or about 31 May 2019) and I wouldn't have any issues using it getting my visa renewal in late March 2019. It would be the same as before.  I've learned not to trust Uncle Sam about anything, and I put Thai Immigration in the same boat.  My consternation stems from my inability to find clear language in these Thai Immigration "directives" on this specific issue. Will a valid notarized US Embassy Income Affidavit be accepted by Thai Immigration in 2019 if it hasn't expired yet? I guess I'll have to contact a Thai Immigration lawyer on this matter to get a concrete answer. Hopefully, they will know the answer or someone in Thai Immigration who does. 

1 minute ago, sambum said:

"That would mean it's valid until May 31, 2018."

 

I presume you mean May 31 2019 ?

Yes, that was a scrivener's error on my part. It should read 31 May 2019. I didn't catch the error in time to edit my original post. The Income Affidavit (e.g., income letter) I received/executed/notarized at the US Embassy on 30 November 2018 was represented to me by an officer to be valid for 6 months and will therefore expire on or about 31 May 2019. I just want to be 100% certain Thai Immigration will still accept this evidentiary document when I make my application for renewal this coming March 2019. My current Retirement Visa expires on 31 March 2019.  

3 minutes ago, skatewash said:

It would have been nice if the OP had come with a preamble stating the following:

2) If you are in possession of an embassy income letter, then nothing has changed (assuming you will use that letter to apply for your extension of stay within six months of the letter being issued).  You can apply for an extension of stay using the income method which requires an embassy income letter just as it has been done in the past.

Yes, it would be nice to know if your Point 2 referenced in your comment post is 100%  accurate and true. I've been told there is specific language in the recent directives just issued which will support what you've written. That is, nothing has changed with regards to accepting US Embassy notarized Income Affidavits (e.g., US Embassy "income letters") for Retirement Visa renewals as long the aforementioned document is utilized within 6 months of it's issuance. My eyesight is poor and the anxiety with these recent events has most likely affected my reading comprehension. I'd like to see specific language in these issued directives stating that Point 2 above is accurate.

I got my Income Affidavit notarized and issued at the US Embassy here in Bangkok on 30 November 2018 with the representation from the officer that it would be valid for 6 months and good to use with my application for my visa renewal until it expires on or about 31 May 2019. I plan on going to Thai Immigration at Chaeng Watthana here in Bangkok before my Retirement Visa expires on 31 March 2019. Hopefully, they'll accept my Income Affidavit I got. This is Thailand, so I don't know what to expect. 

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Yes you can use your income affidavit to apply for your extension. The directive clearly states they will be accepted.

There is also directive that states they are valid for 6 months.

Chaeng Wattana immigration will certainly accept it.

I apologize for my ignorance, but I'm having a very difficult time finding the precise language in the directives you're referencing. Perhaps it's my anxiety which is affecting my vision and reading comprehension.  This developing news is a source of consternation to many here, and I certainly appreciate your prompt initial reply to my narrative. Thank you for your attempt to assuage and allay my apprehension. I appreciate it greatly.

I got my income affidavit notarized by the US Embassy here in Bangkok on November 30, 2018. I was told by the US Embassy at the time that the letter (income affidavit) I executed (and they notarized) would be valid for 6 months from date of issuance. That would mean it's valid until May 31, 2018.  My Retirement Visa renewal is scheduled for March 31, 2019. I'm hearing conflicting reports from people who've been to different Thai Immigration centers. Some say they won't accept the US Embassy notarized Income Affidavit in 2019 at all. Is there any credible source that can definitely tell me if I can use my November 30, 2018 letter (income affidavit) in March 2019 when I renew my Retirement Visa? Or is just a waste of paper now? I was planning on renewing at Thai Immigration at Chaeng Watthana here in Bangkok.