David Walden
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Posts posted by David Walden
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1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:
Joe, regarding the combination method of qualifying for retirement extensions...
1. I believe your interpretation and opinion has been that Immigration, in its recent police order changes, should not have/did not change the prior provisions that allowed the combination method. In other words, the recent revisions only changed those things that they changed, and didn't erase everything else.
2. However, until the dust settles from the recent changes and how the various Immigration offices are interpreting the resulting landscape of things, it seems fair to say that -- at least for the present -- there's some uncertainty re the current status of the combo method for retirement extensions. Especially given the one reported denial that you mentioned above.
Yes, no???
The US consul in a recent interview on 103FM raised the issues about the combo method and said that he had been assured that this method has always been available but mostly put in the too hard basket by Thai officials. It is about to become common.
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7 hours ago, Haso said:
I was my belief if you had an O A visa issued in your home country then you only have to show (to Immigration in your home country that you have sufficient funds in your home bank) nothing to do with Thai banks. Is that true or false.
That is how I obtain my A-O M retirement visa in Australia from the Thai Embassy in Canberra.. I have related the story on these pages a dozen or more times and often get insults in reply, you can access all of my post on this site if you wish to search my (real name). I don't use my Australian Aged pension (AAP) or money I have in the bank when applying, I simply use the surrender value of my bank managed retirement super fund which is more than the required amount that I can access if required to prove I have the funds the required Bt800,000. The Lady who I dealt with me last time at the Thai Embassy complemented me on using my Retirement fund surrender value to prove I had Bt800.000 available "saying you have proof with that statement" and also said "It makes it all very simple for us, an original bank statement showing the amount required would have been OK also" she said. This service I believe is available in just about all Thai Embassies worldwide. Some countries do have some restrictions. Cost Aus $275 plus police report and medical as required and a fair bit of paperwork. You arrive in Thailand for almost 2 years with everything in order. The 1st year visa is multi-entry, come and go as often as you like. If you depart and return a few days before the 1st year concludes you will receive permission to stay another 364 days. Yes, it's almost 2 years.
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23 hours ago, BigStar said:
NOT in the paragraph I quoted that claimed "FULLY" complying--w/o mention of the letter. The HONESTLY appears to have evoked some disagreement as to interpretation. Did you HONESTLY sign an affidavit and HONESTLY present it to TI? Oh, yes. ???? And some can still do so. For the others, it's water under the bridge now.
And the context of that little discussion was for retirement extensions. ???? Yawn.
The Combo method:-Somewhere in the details, the combo method is available for new applicants for a retirement visa in Thailand. New applicants need to be able to prove that they have a certain pension which adds up to part of the Bt800,000 to qualify that you to have the required balance, this must show so that it adds up to Bt800,000. per year.
The Australian Aged Pensioners (AAP) are well placed to take advantage of this method. The AAP when living in Thailand after 6 weeks is Aus $1716 or about Bt39,500 every 4 weeks. It is paid 13 times in a year to any nominated bank a/c in the world from the Aus government and at the expense of the Aus Gov to any bank a/c you have in Thailand. This is irrefutable evidence that you have received Bt500,000 of the required amount in a Thai Bank a/c as part of the required $800,000 in a single year. You still need only Bt300,000 somehow for 2 months in a Thai Bank a/c for your 1st application to qualify. This you can beg steal or borrow to bring your income for the year to the required Bt800,000...This method "The Combo" method has recently been confirmed by Thai Immigration and also discussed on FM103 in an interview with US Consul in Thailand (presently 2 IC at US Embassy in Thailand) and has been reaffirmed that it is available to anyone seeking a retirement visa in Thailand. I also understand this method is available at Thailand Embassies in other countries.
When I applied and received my retirement visa in Australia some time ago I asked the Embassy lady about this Combo option (which I did not need). Her answer "was we need you to be able to prove you have enough income to live well in Thailand during the visa period" she implied the Combo requirements have not changed and has since been reaffirmed it is available. Not quite sure by whom yet. It should all come out in time, "I think". TIT.
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On 1/10/2019 at 2:24 PM, farangx said:
The Embassy then will have to liaise with the tax department and/or other government departments and/or private institutions etc. to address your particular needs. Perhaps it would be nice for the Embassy for offer a paid service for their such liaisons with fees charged depending on complexities.
??? it will never happen???
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8 minutes ago, Rambo said:
Rambo...not to many quick answers there. It all still seems to be up in the air. Theoretically now that's a big word with lots of options very few of which are clear in Thailand. I believe the best thing to do to get a retirement Visa is to keep it simple. One bank account would be better than 2 accounts. Where a lot of confusion with pensions exists is that some are whole of life, these are usually govt pensions. when you die it stops. They go up as the cost of living goes up. they are paid as long as you are alive. The other type is that you buy a pension from a provident fund which consists of units. These units are your property and by arrangement with the fund you download an amount usually monthly to live on e.g you put Aus$200,000 into a fund and that buys you 20,000 at $10 each=$200K. These units are yours... Each year if the funs go up 6%or 8% and you download $1000p/m at the end end of 12 months you have taken $12,000 you still have $200,000 or more. The $200,000 is now the surrender value of your asset within the provident fund just a bit like having money in a bank, my fund is managed by the ANZ Bank in Aus. In Australia and perhaps UK the Thai Embassy will allow to use the surrender value to be treated just as if it is money is in a bank. So a retirement fund in Australia with a value of only = to Bt800,000 is enough to get that visa. If you have a whole of life retirement all is much more complicated. I use the surrender value of my retirement fund which is a bit more than the required amount to get my O-A M retirement visa in Australia, very simple to do. Plus of course the paperwork, medical, police report etc all done in 10 days in Aus and arrive in Thailand all done. I went about putting my affairs in order 4 years ago so I could do it all this way. I also get an Aussie Aged Pension but the lady at the Thai Embassy reminds me not to mention that as surrender value is enough to get the Visa. "Don't say what you don't need to say, it will only confuse Immigration in Thailand where all is processed, keep it simple?" she says.
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1 hour ago, KhunFred said:
I think the confusion comes over what the various income letters are CALLED. For Americans and some others, it is a statutory declaration. I don't know if the UK Embassy calls it that, but they definitely had been issuing some kind of "income letter" up until they stopped. America followed the lead of the UK, for once. Apparently ALL the embassies were not comfortable issuing letters without concrete proof. My question is: WHY would an income tax receipt not suffice to prove income? it is about as clear as any income letter.
Income tax is often overpaid by taxpayers in Australia I.E. provisional tax is assessed and you have to pay it by the due date in advance of what the tax man thinks you are going to earn in the following 3 months period, even if your business is running at a loss. At some later date when you put the tax return in with the final figure it may be that you did not earn anything were in a loss situation and the taxman gives you a refund cheque because you had no income. trying to use tax figures to get a Retirement Visa in Thailand would have holes than Swiss cheese.
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3 hours ago, ubonjoe said:
No sure why you quoted my post that was a reply to this post.
I will not be going anywhere to get a visa. I already have had my funds brought into the country every month for years.
Good idea but appears if you have a pension from where ever of about Bt500,000 (like Aussie) it figures that you will only need to have Bt300,000 in a Thai bank a/c for 2/3 months to obtain your retirement visa. The Combo method. Talked about by the Cheif US Consul on 103FM radio in a recent interview. This method is available as clearly indicated to anyone requesting it. I am at a loss as to why Immigration does make it simple to use. A few years ago at Hue Hin Immigration, I raised this with an officer he had no, idea what I was talking about. It seems senior Thai immigration Officers confirm it is available and senior Embassy staff know all about it, why is it the Thai rank and file are not at all helpful and ignore people wishing to use it. Perhaps they have no idea...TIT Aussie aged pension (AAP) can be paid into a Thai bank a/c every 4 weeks by the Aus Gov., a perfect record of your income to help you obtain a retirement visa. Just a little bit of help from Thai Immigration would improve things for Aussies and others a lot. The Bt300,000 could easily be borrowed as a loan with its own security as it never leave the bank. And all legal and above board...perhaps too easy you have to give the scammers a bit of a chance?
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On 1/7/2019 at 6:21 PM, ubonjoe said:
They will not care. It would not be hard to explain to them which I wrote in the other topic.
THE COMBO METHOD...Is it any wonder that it presently maybe better to go back to your home country and apply for a Retirement Visa there (I do)...pretty easy considering all the stuffing around these post are indicating here in Thailand. The present information indicates your Australian Aged Pension (AAP) or other countries similar will represent about Bt500.000 per year income, the other Bt300,000 you provide youself or beg, steal or borrow it and put it in a Thai bank a/c or in a bank in Australia if applying there. Actually, this method is available in most countries and in Thailand. So far there appears to be nobody following up on my posts about the combo method. Despite the Senior Consul at the US Embassy suggesting on 103 fm that a big percentage of the applicant could arrange this method. He clearly said 'Thai Immigration will preserve this method" they promised and it appears is still available as it has for many years but few takers.
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On 1/7/2019 at 1:20 AM, JDMCanuck said:
David, Joe and Jack , thank you so much for your knowledge!! I hope you don't mind but I may have some more questions once I review your answers a couple times to let it all sink in to this rather thick skull of mine. Much appreciated!
Don't worry I hope my answers to your question is of benefit to lots of others as well. It took me 5 years to get a handle on "applying for your retirement visa in your home country" anytime.
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On 1/6/2019 at 9:56 AM, ubonjoe said:
It is a new one year entry not an extension. Extension can only be applied for at an immigration office not on entry to the country.
OK, Thank you I stand corrected. It does have the same outcome. If you arrive and pass through Thai Immigration 364 days after the date of issue of your O-A M Visa after making 2/3/4/ trips overseas as I do, as you enter at immigration your passport will be stamped for you to stay in Thailand for an additional 364 days (not 365 days TIT). This now is a new "one-year entry whatever". I've told the story a few times already " I sent you a 5 page letter because I didn't have time to write you a one-page letter." To many long-winded pedantic in Thai immigration, however, progress seems to be making some headway. "maybe"
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It might be about time that this thread concluded. Almost every post is the same subject, maybe a thousand in the last 24 hrs. i.e. "I haven't got the required money how do I get it?" There are more ways of getting it than just putting money Bt800,000 or the Bt65,000P/M in a Thai bank a/c. Try the combo method. This thread should include information on how to provide the requirements and how to go about managing your funds and hoping that Thai Immigration is consistent when making applications for retirement visas at different branches or from your home country.
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4 hours ago, balo said:
If you live in Chonburi / Bangkok , all you have to do is to find an agent , pay the 15k fee and you're good for another year.
No need to transfer any money , so easy , so simple and it will never go away , because Thais love the money.
Still we have 64 pages here of confused people.
What? only Bt15,000 in Bangkok why where I live (south of Bangkok) they want Bt25,000 but I don't need their service and bartering is not required by me. May I suggest that at least 33% of Retirement Viza applicants have been using this corrupt method for a long time to get the visa together with false statements with incorrect information. It seems that all this has been tolerated for a long time and is about to stop. "maybe".
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1 hour ago, Sheryl said:
I don't understand the second part of this (4 times a year). You either use the 400/800k method (in which case it doesn't matter how many transfers you make as long as the full amount is on deposit for 3 months before you apply for extension) or you use the income method.
If you use the income method, from the information given here, immigration will accept a letter from your bank saying you transferred an average of the required amount from abroad each month along with bank bank showing the monthly deposits.
For Transferwise the issue is whether your bank will recognize these as transfers fomo abroad and thus issue the needed letter.
I would start by getting a copy of the "Credit Advice" from the HQ of your bank for your most recent transfer (I am assuming all banks issue this) and see what it contains. If it shows the origin abroad (probably does) then showing these to your bank branch should suffice to get the needed wording in the letter. I suggest you do this now so that you know ahead of time. If it has the needed info then arrange to get ta copy of the Credit Advice for each transfer.
Alternative would be to show statements from TW to your bank branch but that will likly be problematic, and at a minimum involve being referred to their HQ, whereas they will readily recognize and understand Credit Advices issued by their own Bank HQ.
I see part of the problem up till now is that even the banks and reputable Thai legal firms have got into bed with the scammers by providing false statements and bank books stating the required funds have been in a bank for the required time, but in fact the Bt800,000 may only be in that bank book for a few hours and I suppose for a fee. I don't have to use this type of service as I do have the required funds but many of my friends do use scammers even though they can get the money, they say it's easier this way. Just pay someone the Approx Bt25,000 and it all happens in a few days. Ignorance is bliss.
With things happening this way the mind boggles.
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21 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:
Embassy Letters are still sufficient and provided by most embassies,
so clearly that policy did not change last year
Edit: What may have change is that affidavits are no more accepted... maybe.
1It seems that Embassies providing letters confirming your income up to now have been accepted as fact by Thai Immigration. Not so anymore (maybe) as there has been too much BS. The only difference I see is that Thailand requires clear and unambiguous evidence and proof that what you say is absolutely true, as is required There is no change, that's the way it is required and has been that way for years. Only scammers have created new methods to get visas in Thailand. If you have the money you don't need the letter from an Embassy. Just show them the money as required. Either use the 2 or 3 months of Bt800,000 in a Thai bank a/c (shown in a bank book) not something you can run up on Photoshop in 5 minutes, ( I can) Bt65,000 per month for at least 12 months again in a bank book or the combo method i.e. Aussie pension of Bt500,000 per year plus Bt 300,000 in a Thai bank book account (beg steal or borrow it). Thailand only want hard copy of the evidence, that's is a real bank book is better. Quite simple just follow the instructions. If your income statements are a mess you will have to do something about that so Thai Immigration staff can understand it all. Nothing has changed. It is/was still as required without the BS and maybe fewer scammers...don't hold your breath till things are fixed..
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38 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:
Bank statements alone, even from Thai bank, have never been an acceptable proof.
Don't know why you find it confusing?
It's rather simple: The main proof is an Embassy Letter or a Thai Bank Letter.
You will not get your extension without one or the other.
This option has stopped as it had more holes in then Swiss Cheese.
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2 hours ago, jacko45k said:
I was under the impression that the rules were actually made easier, adding another option for income. The removal of income verification letters by 4 Embassies was the event that created this drama. Immigration accommodated those affected. You might argue IO asking that the Embassy letters really did verify income started things off too.
Many of those obtaining Embassy letters, affidavits or stat decs were providing no proof that their stated income was true. It appears that if you did not have the required amount the Embassies would issue a BS one for a price saying you do. If you have the funds as required you do not need the letter, affidavits or Stat dec.
One better thing that may come about from this issue is using the COMBO requirement. Like for Australians who only have the Australian Aged Pension Bt500,000 P/A. You could beg steal or borrow the remaining required Bt300,000 or use your own if you have it, put it in a Thai bank for the required 2 or 3 months before applying for a retirement visa and all would/supposed be above board. That may be too simple, Thais often like things to be complicated. This option has been available for a long time, even the Immigration Officers scratch their heads when you ask about it. It's not new. Perhaps a bit of office training and consistency is all that is needed from office to office. It is the next best thing... for a price.
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8 hours ago, moreem said:
Nothing. only one word is required. Presumably, Thai Immigration is stopping all the scams. Including Embassy scams?? Nothing
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8 hours ago, David Walden said:
Nothing has changed. All these comments are much to do about nothing. Thai Immigration appears to be suggesting that they hopefully are getting rid of all the scams...nothing has changed so far as I see it. It is all the same as it was. The Embassy letters were part of the Scams...sorry.
In answer to your above uestion, one million is good, but if you have a pension of Bt500,000 per year like an Aussie Pension you would only need Bt300,000 to qualify. That's the way it has been for 15+ years. It has not changed. Most people don't know about this? As indicated Bt300,000 plus a yearly pension is enough to get a Retirement Visa in Thailand.
1At the risk of repeating my self over and over again, "nothing has changed". The requirements are still the same. The long-awaited update of the Thai Immigration statement is just the same as it has been for the last 18 + year. What they are suggesting is that is that all the corrupt actions cease. How they handle that that has yet to be decided.
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34 minutes ago, jaiyen said:
If I have 1 million baht in my bank account at all times which will remain untouched, will I be exempt from all the new rules saying I must deposit money every month into my account ? I am married to Thai lady.
2Nothing has changed. All these comments are much to do about nothing. Thai Immigration appears to be suggesting that they hopefully are getting rid of all the scams...nothing has changed so far as I see it. It is all the same as it was. The Embassy letters were part of the Scams...sorry.
In answer to your above question, one million is good, but if you have a pension of Bt500,000 per year like an Aussie Pension you would only need Bt300,000 to qualify. That's the way it has been for 15+ years. It has not changed. Most people don't know about this? As indicated Bt300,000 plus a yearly pension is enough to get a Retirement Visa in Thailand.
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32 minutes ago, sandyf said:
Surely the combination option must change. How does one deal with the income portion if embassy letters are no longer available.
Proof of payment of a Govt or as good as pension into a Thai bank a/c calculated to a yearly amount i.e. Bt500,000 and the balance in cash in a Thai bank a/c which you can beg steal or borrow to make the amount required Bt800,000...OK for Aussies, the Aus gov will pay your pension into a Thai Bank a/c of your choosing 13 x 4 weekly payments per year by request if living in Thailand. You'll have to beg steal or borrow the remaining Bt300,000 required if you have not got it.
Centrelink, Aussie Social Security will allow you to download a detailed statement of as to where the money went any time you wish with full details. If you require hard copy they will post it to you wherever you are by snail mail takes 2/3 weeks to Thailand.
The US Consul's 2 IC at US Embassy in a recent interview on FM 103 said that Thai immigration had said there would be no change to the combo method. It will remain as is Nothing about change in recent Thai Immigration release. I believe the US Consul.
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38 minutes ago, Justin Side said:
The UK State Pension can be paid into your Thai Bank every 28 days.
This means that one month you will get 2 payments.
You can have your Australian Aged Pension paid into a Thai bank if you live in Thailand, 13 payments of 4 weeks pension per year at about Bt39,000 each time or presently about Bt510,000 for the year upon request, the govt pays the fees, you put up with the exchange rate. Using the combo method which may turn out to be doable and popular in the future an Aussie would need Bt290,000 in a Thai bank for 2/3 months to get your retirement visa legit. This way of doing things has been available for 15+ years or more in Thailand. I can see the money lenders even the banks or me for that matter lining up to lend the money to retirement visa applicants which requires the money be kept in a Thai bank for 3 months only (1st time only 2 months). The money lenders will require the lendee to sign a co-signed withdrawal form so that after your visa is issued they get their money back. Maybe 5% fee with interest for 2/3 months which amounts to about $20% return for the lender over 12 months or maybe more, maybe a million percent because the money never leaves the bank, it's loaned out over and over again, it does not exist, now that is smart banking management...My God how the money rolls in rolls in my God how the money rolls in. And all above board.
This good news for those that are struggling.
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One would think that the if a change to requirements for pensions is the only mentioned change and no other information is published. Then all other requirements will remain as is present. like getting a visa in your home country, the combo system part pension in bank part cash in a bank a/c etc. etc.
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10 hours ago, JackThompson said:
So far, so good.
... unless you get a Re-Entry Permit to keep your permitted-stay alive during that last 364 days, after the "enter before" date on the Visa has passed.
So, after the expiration date ("enter before" date), the Visa is dead, but you can keep the last permitted-stay you got from that visa alive, with a re-entry permit.
http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/Home/visa Read the last bit of this information. It relates to the extension bit. They do the extension bit automatically as you enter Thailand before the 364 days concludes of the original O-A M retirement visa (1st 12 months, opps 364 day period). If you get this type of visa and it's your 1st experience in Thailand, in that 1st 12 months you can go and do as much site seeing as you like or go home for a while and return. Once the 1st 12 months is concluded and your passport is stamped at the airport as you arrive to receive the extension, anytime after you leave Thailand on the extension you will have to apply for new retirement visa all over again from your own country, or you can do it in Thailand before you leave if you put the Bt800,000 in a Thai bank a/c. Don't have to go home if the same current rules about the Bt800,000 still apply.
Why Thailand doesn't just make it a 2 year Retirement Visa multi-entry or longer confounds me even if it cost more and I expect lots of others think that way also. Malaysia Retirement Visa is Multi entry for 10 years. It does cost more. Perhaps in the new release update, there may be some changes. It took me a long time to fully(?) understand the details about obtaining your Retirement visa in your home country. Next time it will only take me about 10 days as I have to do it by mail. I still don't want to keep money in Thailand.
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8 hours ago, JDMCanuck said:
Thanks for all this David, I am still just a bit confused and perhaps you can help? In the Canadian Thai Consulate Website where I have received 60 day tourist visas in the past and plan to apply for a one year O-A visa, multiple entries. It maintains that any time you wish to leave within your first year, you are "required to apply at the Immigration office for re-entry permit (single or multiple) before departure." Did you have to do that too? and that if you want to extend your O-A an extra year that you have to have the $800000 in a Thai bank? Not just on deposit in your home country. It seems you got a one year extension each time you returned. (presumably the IO did not request documented finances and just stamped your passport with an extra year) Have you gotten the extension without any money physically in a Thailand bank? In the extension year can you confirm that if you leave Thailand your O-A is no longer valid? When I tried to open an account in Thailand on my 60 day tourist visa, I was denied at two banks. Is it different when you are there on an O-A visa? Thanks so much for any clarification from anyone. http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/Home/visa
55I have covered this on a few other places on ThaiVisa. I believe it is the same for Canada. When you apply for and receive your retirement visa from the Thai Embassy in your home country they issue with a O-A M (multi-entry) visa which is a multi-entry visa. During the year of this visa, you can come and go as many times as you like to where ever you want to go. You do not pay anything as you re-enter. Each time you re-enter your passport will be stamped so you can stay in Thailand for a further 364 days from the date you arrived. If you arrive after several trips overseas as I do and the visa is 364 days old your passport will be stamped with an extension to stay for another 364 days. A total of 2 days short of 2 years (TIT) It will be automatic. you don't have even speak to the immigration officer at all. They don't want to know anything, you don't have to prove anything about the money you have anywhere. The need to prove you have the required funds is already taken care of in your original Retirement Visa O-A application. But remember if you leave Thailand during the extension period and go home you will have to re-apply all over again no extension on top of extensions....TIT All of this is based on my own personal experience. That's how I get my Retirement Visa...it may well be in the light of recent turmoil about Retirement visa the best way to get your Retirement Visa in the future if you have the Bt800.000 it can be quite simple to get your visa in your home country. You can't use BS in Australia or Canada or most Western Countries to create evidence about your bank balances or retirement funds.http://canberra.thaiembassy.org/Home/visa
Combination of Income and Bank Balance to equal 800K Baht
in Thai Visas, Residency, and Work Permits
Posted
I did not have to show funds in a Thai bank account to get my extension for my recent arrival. It was simply stamped by immigration for a further 364 days at DMK. Arrived on 28/08/2018 extension of stay stamp until 27/08/2019. I queried this with the man at immigration he said "that's how we do it now all OK"