I was at CW last week to get an extension of stay based on Marriage. I currently have a retirement extension for the last 5 years. Before that it was a marriage extension for a long time. I finally changed because all the IO's said I should get a retirement extension, less paperwork for them I guess. That's the background. With new rules in January, which kept changing, I requested the SSA to transfer my pension check to Bangkok Bank, New York, which is then swift routed to me in BKK. It took 2 months for the transfer to take effect. The annual pension equals about 440,000. THB This started in March. As added safety I also transferred 520,000THB into my BKK account on March 12th. My renewal for extension of stay expires on May 10th. My wife and I went to CW with all the marriage paperwork, 2 separate copies from the Bank that I had money in the bank and there were 2 swift wire transfers, along with my SSA letter showing what I received every month showing it was automatically transferred to Bangkok Bank. The IO and her supervisor both said the money had not in the Bank long enough. I politely showed the IO the SSA letter, she and her supervisor were not at all interested in that. Only what was in the bank in Thailand, they said it had to be in the bank in Thailand. 2 months seasoning did not work. However, they said if I transferred another 75,000THB into my Thai bank account they would make an exception and for me to come back this week with the updated proof from the bank. I then asked about changing to a marriage extension. They said I did not have enough money in the bank and the combination method could not be used for a marriage extension, only for a retirement extension. Their game, their rules. I am certain there were many different outcomes possible, just depends on your luck of the draw regarding IO's. Sorry for being long winded.
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Marriage visa banking requirements
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
Hi Joe,
I was at CW last week to get an extension of stay based on Marriage. I currently have a retirement extension for the last 5 years. Before that it was a marriage extension for a long time. I finally changed because all the IO's said I should get a retirement extension, less paperwork for them I guess. That's the background. With new rules in January, which kept changing, I requested the SSA to transfer my pension check to Bangkok Bank, New York, which is then swift routed to me in BKK. It took 2 months for the transfer to take effect. The annual pension equals about 440,000. THB This started in March. As added safety I also transferred 520,000THB into my BKK account on March 12th. My renewal for extension of stay expires on May 10th. My wife and I went to CW with all the marriage paperwork, 2 separate copies from the Bank that I had money in the bank and there were 2 swift wire transfers, along with my SSA letter showing what I received every month showing it was automatically transferred to Bangkok Bank. The IO and her supervisor both said the money had not in the Bank long enough. I politely showed the IO the SSA letter, she and her supervisor were not at all interested in that. Only what was in the bank in Thailand, they said it had to be in the bank in Thailand. 2 months seasoning did not work. However, they said if I transferred another 75,000THB into my Thai bank account they would make an exception and for me to come back this week with the updated proof from the bank. I then asked about changing to a marriage extension. They said I did not have enough money in the bank and the combination method could not be used for a marriage extension, only for a retirement extension. Their game, their rules. I am certain there were many different outcomes possible, just depends on your luck of the draw regarding IO's. Sorry for being long winded.