Liquorice

31 minutes ago, simon43 said:

If you haven't got anything useful to day, don't post!  You're adding nothing useful to this thread which has generated a number of interesting comments and questions.

Why ask about visa agents when you appear to have already made your mind up to return to the UK, then insult those trying to help.

4 hours ago, CHdiver said:

Some don't, others do.

Which? How?

You appear as clueless as Thai Immigration as to the meaning of the word 'verification'.

Verification - the process of establishing the truth, accuracy, or validity of something,"the verification of official documents".

Even Embassies do not have the means or authority to access your personal pension records due to Data Protections Laws.
Pension providers will only give classified information to the policyholder after going through a security screening check to identify yourself as the policyholder, such as the policy number, password, address, DOB or any other security questions.

They certainly won't give any details to 'Somchai', just because he states he's from an overseas Embassy.

I have read claims that certain Embassies have access to state/government pensions, although I find that hard to believe unless you've given Somchai your personal log in details. Even then, there is no state/government pension alone that meets the 65K per month requirement for an extension based on retirement, without being in receipt of an additional private or company pension.

Embassies only 'certify' the Income letters for Immigration, they cannot verify the documents or amounts stated.

That's why the UK, US, Australia, and Canada stopped issuing such Income letters and why Norway is following suit.

Unlike certain Embassies where a 'stat dec' or 'affidavit' was sufficient for the Embassy to issue the Income letters, for the UK we had to provide documents from our pension providers as to our pension incomes in order to receive the Income letters, but even then the British Embassy could not verify the documents were genuine and not fake/forged. They were taken at face value, and even that wasn't infallible.

Original requests for the Income letter from the British Embassy were in person or by post, until they offered an online service where you could complete a form and upload the pension documents. When the service went online, a friend of the wife's knowing I had a PC and printer asked if I'd submit her husbands request as they didn't have a PC or printer. She supplied his pension statements and had already pre-filled the form, which asked for the name of the pension provide, monthly and annual totals. I immediately noticed an error his wife made on the form compared to his pension statements.

He received a 'widows' pension from his ex deceased wife's company, for £1,555 paid annually.

On the form, his Thai wife stated that amount as 'monthly' and the 'annual' as £18,660. When I pointed out the error, she claimed she'd always completed the form that way, so rather sceptical, I submitted the form and his pension documents.

His actual UK state pension was little more than £4,250 per annum, being frozen when he moved to Thailand in 2004.

Combined with his widow's pension the total annual pension income was £5,805, which when converted to Thai baht, was far short of even meeting the 40K requirement being married to a Thai. Low and behold, I received the Embassy Income letter by email, stating his annual pension income was £24,465 per annum, £2,038 per month.

Obviously, even the British Embassy were not checking the pension statements against those claimed on the form.

16 minutes ago, LivingNThailand said:

Is the COR form in the immigration form link on the website?  Can you give me the number? 

You can download forms from here:

https://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/downloads_en/

6 hours ago, Digitalbanana said:

Does using a fixed deposit account depend on the type of fixed deposit account? Only accounts that withdraws can be made immediately are acceptable I thought, tho could be wrong. I have a fixed dep account that is 12 months type so the money cannot be accessed until the year is up I thought, but could be wrong?

With an FTD account, the term and interest paid is subject to the agreement you signed.

You can withdraw funds at any time prior to that fixed term, but by breaching the agreement, the bank is not liable to pay the full interest.

On 6/30/2025 at 7:28 PM, lungbing said:

My application was rejected for having Insufficient information.  The only information missing that I can think of is my middle name, and I don't have one.

Yesterday, a friend complained his 90-day online application was rejected for incorrect information, and he couldn't understand it as his previous report was approved.

A quick glance at his submitted TM47 and I immediately noticed a typo error in his name.

He contacted me later after arriving home and going through his passport found three more errors on his submitted form.

1. An additional digit in his passport number.

2. His last entry date was in June 2022, he'd entered July 2022.

3. Put the wrong village number.

He resubmitted later last night.

28 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Bank fraud can get one in jail for a very long time.

I suspect that even with the current methods agents use, once the stamps are issued, the paperwork is miraculously conveniently 'misplaced' to prevent discovery in audits.

25 minutes ago, expat_4_life said:

My wife works at Bangkok Bank in anti-money laundering, she knows a lot about the changes - even went to both Cambodia and Myanmar border town branches last month. 

The SIL is an assistant branch manager at a large Krungthai bank branch, and although not directly involved with anti-money laundering, she has been well aware of the issues Thai banks have been facing for some time. According to her, it's the Bank of Thailand that is instructing the banks to review their policies particularly in regard to opening new accounts and the checks they make.

9 minutes ago, hereforgood said:

While you are correct I have a friend that banks with Bangkok bank and they would not issue the bank statement because the money had not been in for 4 months.

Have you not read page 1 of this thread.

They will issue it providing he signs the Pledged Deposit form.

10 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It's of concern to those using agents to "avoid" Financial requirements. 

A further excuse for agents to raise their prices.

49 minutes ago, homemade514 said:

with that to say - i do not know how that is actually enforced. if they totally freeze your account, which they cant do.

If you read above, they have you sign a form agreeing to freeze the funds for 4 months.

51 minutes ago, homemade514 said:

either way, i'd recommend switching banks, unless one has the means to hold their money for atleast 3 months longer per year.

From reading previous posts, it appears agents are now using Krungsri bank, suggesting they've had issues with the other banks.

I suspect BOT will be issuing directives to all banks to scrutinise opening new accounts.

8 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It's of concern to those using agents to "avoid" Financial requirements. 

Déjà vu situation.

Corrupt officials feeling the pinch from corrupt and illicit practices.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

This has hit like a bomb. 

Bolt from the blue seems good description. 

Nothing to really be concerned about, in my opinion.

Using the 800K funds method for retirement, the 800K has to remain in the account for 5 months anyway.

If using the 400K funds method for Thai family, then the 400K has to be in the account for 2 months and for the under consideration period, which is dated 30 days after the 90 day permission of stay from entry with a Non O = 4 months.

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Find the last sentence in the notice from Bangkok Bank very  concerning. 

"Please ensure that the money in your account belongs to you personally.DO NOT BRING MONEY FORM OTHER TO PUT IN THE BANK ACCOUNT"

 

Especially the last sentence which is in Caps. 

Big News (to me) 

'Mule' accounts Jack.

5 minutes ago, gearbox said:

Then I brought with me my gf, which had substantial amounts in 2 banks and the staff was 'wai-ing" her, the accounts were opened pretty quickly.

Sometimes it's not what you know, but who you know that makes the difference.

1 minute ago, persimmon said:

I`ve got a divorce certificate , would that be any good ?🤪

Yeah, you can use that as proof of being single and then marry a bank official to open a bank account  

9 minutes ago, persimmon said:

Hi , what is the " Kor ror 22 " , and is it a vital part of opening an account ? Thanks .

Kor Ror 22 is a registration of an overseas marriage.

Kor Ror 2 is a registration of a marriage in Thailand.

2 hours ago, ikke1959 said:

Wise doesn't give you a card if your permanent residence is in Thailand...I tried many times but all the same answer not allowed in Thailand

That was in reference to Tourists not needing a bank account and the alternatives.

If you still have a registered address overseas, you can get the Wise debit card.

The topic is how to open a bank account, not whether it's a requirement to have one, but just to answer some of your points.

1 hour ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

Never said that - a bank account is not a 'requirement' - but without one there is no chance of any annual extension - marriage or retirement or work. Those saying ignorant things about all that, are just showing their ignorance. They forgot you need to have money in a bank account IN YOUR NAME for several months to get an Extension - marriage or retirement.

Embassy Income letters!

1 hour ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

That means they only ever arrive here on tourist Visas/Exempts as sexpats? visitors? they obviously never extend?

30 and 60 day extensions require no proof of funds.

1 hour ago, TroubleandGrumpy said:

It is OK to do that - it is your lives - but dont tell BS about never needing a bank account in Thailand. 

'Wise' International debit card and many credit cards offer an alternative to needing a Thai bank account.

33 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Just out of interest, most people needing a 90 day report don't have a "valid Thai visa", rather they have an extension of stay, is that what you refer to?

Now you've rumbled a hornet's nest ........... didn't your IO inform you 'extend visa', silly!  

1 hour ago, Issa Compass said:

Regarding the second point - official website requirement is still the same: according to section 38 of the 1979 immigration act, "House owners, heads of household, landlords or managers of hotels who accommodate foreign nationals on a temporary basis who stay in the kingdom legally, must notify the local immigration authorities within 24 hours from the time of arrival of the foreign national."

You obviously missed the new regulation issued by Thai Immigration, amending section 38 of the Immigration Act regarding when a new TM30 had to be filed.
Unfortunately, I cannot post the PDF, but I can copy and paste it.

This regulation was printed in the Royal Gazette.

Regulation of Royal Thai Police on notification of a householder, owner or possessor of a dwelling place or hotel manager, who takes in, as a resident, an alien permitted to temporary stay in the Kingdom. It is deemed expedient to amend the regulation of Royal Thai Police on notification of a householder, owner or possessor of dwelling place or hotel manager, who takes in, as a resident, an alien permitted to temporary stay in the Kingdom dated May 25, 1979 (B.E. 2522) in order to conform with the directions of national development and strategies for transforming government sector to digital government as well as to facilitate aliens staying in Thailand under the maintenance of national security standards.

 By virtue of Section 38, Paragraph 3 of the Immigration Act B.E. 2522
 (A.D. 1979) the Commissioner General of Royal Thai Police herby issues the 
regulation prescribing notification of a householder, owner or possessor of
 dwelling place or hotel manager, who takes in, as a resident, an alien permitted
 to temporary stay in the Kingdom as follows:
 1. Repeal the regulation of Royal Thai Police on notification of
 a householder, owner or possessor of a dwelling place or hotel manager, who
 takes in, as a resident, an alien permitted to temporary stay in the Kingdom
 dated May 25, 1979 (B.E. 2522);
 2. Notification of a householder, owner or possessor of dwelling
 place or hotel manager, who takes in, as a resident, an alien permitted to
 temporary stay in the Kingdom must proceed as follows;
 2.1 Notify a competent official at an Immigration office located in
 a locality in which the house, dwelling place or hotel is located within twenty-four
 hours from the time an alien has taken residence.
 In case that house, dwelling place or hotel, where an alien                    
has stayed, is located in Bangkok Metropolis locality, such notification shall be 
made to a competent official at Immigration Division 1 of Immigration Bureau.
 2.2 After a householder, owner or possessor of dwelling place or
 hotel manager already made a notification according to 2.1, then the alien
 goes to occasionally stay somewhere else and return to stay at the original place
 within the notified period of stay that has not yet ended, such householder,
 owner or possessor of dwelling place or hotel manager is not required to make
 a notification again.
 The alien mentioned in paragraph 1 shall include any alien
 receiving a multiply entry visa, who departs the Kingdom and returns within
 the validity of visa and any alien permitted to re-enter into the Kingdom with
 a valid re-entry permit.
 3. Subject to the article 2, a householder, owner or possessor of
 dwelling place or hotel manager may make notification in person or assign
 others to submit a letter of notification or send it by registered mail or via the 
electronic notification system of Immigration Bureau.
4. Notification of receiving an alien to stay as a resident according to
 the article 3, shall be in accordance with the criteria, conditions and supporting 
documents as prescribed by Immigration Bureau.
 5. A competent official who receives a notification shall issue an
 evidence of notification for those who notified.
 6. The notification form attached to this regulation shall be used in          
case of making a notification in person or assigning others to submit a letter
 of notification or sending it by registered mail. An evidence of notification
 and receiving a notification via the electronic system shall be in accordance
 with the form prescribed by Immigration Bureau.

 This regulation is effective from June 30, 2020 onwards.
 Issued on June5, 2020
 Police General Chakthip Chaijinda
 Commissioner General of Royal Thai Police

Deleted

2 hours ago, RotBenz8888 said:

So what does "in progress" mean?  When I've completed the form and submitted, it's rejected, says "data duplicate". 

It means another user has already registered that address, owner, previous tenant etc.

You'd have to call into your local IO to sort it out.