Jim7777

Then again you did say that it was your first extension so you probably just don’t know the process yet, I guess I’ve been there myself as well but I didn’t complain about it.  

17 hours ago, Kadilo said:

The reason I didn’t was because last year I tipped them for my reentry Permit which clearly meant jack. Had he not so deliberately bullshitted me I prob would of done so again. 

As I said previously they were off with me from the word go so it was t all about the tea money, although it got worse after the 500 was ignored granted. 

It wasn’t “tea money” that was just their normal processing fees for everything you were applying for extension usually 1900 Baht and I believe you said the reentry permit was 500 Baht.  It’s NOT a “tip”.  All that paperwork they process and the copies they make of everything and the service they are providing does cost money.  I read to many one side of the story posts like this.  Then again you did say that it was your first extension so you probably just don’t know the process yet I guess I’ve been there myself as well but I didn’t complain about it.  

46 minutes ago, Olmate said:

Yes and add this uncertainty to an IO having an off day, the fees and hassle every month, one mistake your done! Sure some folk are good at this financial aspect and perhaps enjoy the challenge, but not for me. Two months in and no clarity from banking sector.

Just make your monthly International wire transfers manually over the phone with your bank in your home country I’ve been doing that with no problems.  There might be easier ways but doing it over the phone shouldn’t go wrong.  Be weary of these 3rd party transfer apps.  

19 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

It suspect your bank used a intermediary Thai bank for the funds transfer.

What bank did you use for the transfer?

It looks like he’s using those darn transfer apps like Baht Net and Transfer Wise, they might be okay I don’t know but I personally wouldn’t use them.  I’ve looked into Transfer Wise but I’m a little leary about using those 3rd party apps.  I think it’s safer to go directly through your bank in the States each month manually over the phone.  That’s what I’ve been doing and all my monthly wire transfers can be easily verified as from my bank in the States and easily traced back to my Credit Union in the States according to my Credit Advices and my pass book shows the correct codes.  Sometimes the easier and cheaper methods are not the best but I don’t know for sure because I’ve never used those apps I do my monthly International wire transfers manually over the phone with my bank in the States each month and that never goes wrong or leaves me with any questions now that I understand the process.  

It’s really not as hard as some people make it seem.  And I’m not referring to the OP because in the beginning I had questions about it as well. It can be somewhat concerning at first but as long as you you’re doing it correctly it’s not a problem and it took me a little time to figure out little things as well such as that it has to be in my name only and not a joint account stuff like that but now I’ve got it down and it’s going smoothly.  Personally I wouldn’t use any 3rd party transfer apps but that’s just me.  

19 hours ago, JTXR said:

It was from a U.S. credit union to Bangkok Bank Thailand.

I use a credit union as well and I don’t have this problem, the correct code shows up in my pass book however the pass book is not that big of a deal you have to ask for the Credit Advice to verify the origin of your International wire transfers and I believe Immigration needs a letter as well from the bank once they stop accepting the income affidavits which should verify that they are International wire transfers.  

You should ask them for the Credit Advice just to make sure that they are in fact showing up as coming from your bank in the States the Credit Advice will verify everything you need to know as long as it is showing up as coming from your bank in the States.  Immigration is going to require more than just your pass book anyway they’ll probably want to see your pass book as well as a letter from the Thai bank and possibly the statements as well.  

I recommend making the wire transfers manually over the phone with your bank in the States as I do and I never have any problems.  I personally don’t like apps like Baht Net or Transfer Wise I’m very leary of the gimmicks that promise you a better exchange rate.  

The new monthly income rules actually makes it easier for us once you understand everything.  Personally I like the new rules it’s so much easier no more trips to the Embassy in Bangkok every year just for one of many things.  Now I just go to my bank down the street and get my statements and an official letter from my bank.  But still some people don’t like the new rules, although there are a lot of people living here that will complain no matter what they do or how easy they make it for us.  

18 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Doesn't matter what the passbook shows. It is the detailed bank statemment that matters. Check that.

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

That’s right again 

22 hours ago, Pib said:

Any fee associated with getting this letter? 

 

Heck, I think I will go ask for one....see if it shows ACH, Transferwise, SWIFT, etc., transfers....just any type of transfer originating from outside Thailand regarding of transfer system used.  I have not done any SWIFT transfers but have done ACH and Transferwise transfers over the last 12 months.

Nope the letter combined with all 12 months worth of Credit Advices are all 100% free of charge I know because I get them both printed out once a month the day after each of my monthly international wire transfers posts to my SCB account.  I do it once a month the same day I update my pass book the day after my International wire transfers post to my SCB account.  Swift code transfers done manually over the phone with your bank in your home country every month are the only guaranteed way that I know of to ensure that your Thai bank can verify that your monthly wire transfers are coming from your home country.  I’m sure there are other ways but swift transfers are best.  

Beware of apps like transfer wise and other gimmicks that promise you a better exchange rate.  I think it’s best just to make the monthly wire transfers manually over the phone with your bank in your home country.  That’s the safest way at least maybe not the only way.  

22 hours ago, sam6345 said:

All SWIFT code transfers.

Good that’s exactly the best way to do it and my bank basically told me the same information at my local SCB branch.  

So when will hospitals and I believe it said pharmacies as well actually begin selling it for medical purposes?  I heard that it would be April 1st but I don’t know there’s always so much misinformation out there about relevant issues.  Will the small clinics be allowed to prescribe it?  What about the pharmacies.  Or will medical marijuana be treated as a highly controlled substance like morphine and other real narcotics?  

I know it’s pretty easy to get diazepam and other benzodiazepine medications at almost any small medical clinic and the right strains of medical marijuana might make a really good and safer alternative to diazepam and other benzodiazepines and possibly for pain as well as long as it’s the right kind of marijuana.  If it’s the wrong strain of marijuana it could potentially make your medical problem worse.  

7 minutes ago, patsfangr said:

I have a quick follow up question on this bank statement/letter requirement. Does anyone know what limit TI (Jomtien office) has on the number of days prior to applying for extension the bank statement/letter must be dated? I had read earlier that it has to be within a day or two. Since the banks are not consistent as to the days required to complete the letter, that could become a problem. 

That’s actually a good question.  I’m gonna ask my local Immigration office that before I do my next extension next year.  

Do not use Bahtnet, transfer wise or any of that crap.  Just call your bank in your home country and have them make the International wire transfers manually.  Then ask for the Credit Advice at the bank the day after your wire transfers posts.  The Credit Advice is free I never pay anything for it and it perfectly verifies everything such as your name, address in Thailand, the origin of your wire transfers including the name of the bank in your home country that it came from, the amount of each transfer in Thai Baht, and your Thai bank account name and account number which will match your pass book.  

The Credit Advice is free and it verifies everything you need I have them printed every month at my bank and it doesn’t cost me anything.  When you actually get your extension you’ll probably need a letter from your bank which verifies the same information for all of your International wire transfers but according to my bank they are free as well and can also be easily produced by the bank.  Of course that’s my branch but as far as the Credit Advice I know any bank in Thailand can provide those for free you just have to specify the Credit Advice, and I think it’s best to make your International wire transfers manually over the phone with your bank in your home country because that way can be easily verified by your Thai bank.  

I’ve looked into transfer wise and other apps that people have advised me about and I’m not liking the transfer apps very much if it’s to good and easy to be true it probably is.  

18 hours ago, Sheryl said:

Get the Credit Advice from Kasikorn and see if it shows the international origin. It should, and if it does then you can show it to yhe bank and ask them to include the details in the bank letter.

Yep exactly get the Credit Advice that will at least verify what you want to know regarding your transfers.  

After you get married you’ll have to obtain your initial marriage visa if you are planning on living in Thailand or staying temporarily.  Depending on what Embassy you apply for your marriage visa at you normally don’t have to show any proof of income for the initial marriage visa application.  When you apply for your first one year extension at Immigration then you will have to show proof of income such as at least 40K Baht being transferred into your Thai bank account in your name only once a month for every month throughout the year or at least 400K Baht in a Thai bank account.  Sounds like you’re going with the monthly income option which is better.  

If you’re already here in Thailand I recommend the Thai Embassy in Savannakhét, Laos I hear they’re really good about providing visas.  You and your wife will be over the border for only two business days that it takes to process your marriage visa.  Just bring two passport pictures, your passport, your marriage certificate, and your wife should go with you and have her Thai ID card.  I believe that’s all you still need but here’s their website:

http://www.thaisavannakhet.com/

Obviously before you can do any of this you have to be married to her first.  

1 hour ago, jesimps said:

And lose 2000 baht month on the  transfer compared to TW.

My pension is in USD and I do lose a little bit every month SOMETIMES when I make a wire transfer because of the exchange rates but it’s not that bad and I’m actually saving money because I don’t have to worry about ATM fees anymore when using a local Thai bank.  Before with the income affidavits I used my US ATM Card only and I paid a 220 Baht ATM fee every time I used the ATM.  So I actually like this way better because I never bothered to use a local Thai bank account before.  And it encourages me to save the money that I leave behind in my bank in the States because my pension is between $4 and $5,000 USD a month as a disabled veteran and a retired military member.  

I have looked into Transfer Wise and maybe I just don’t know how to use it but from my experience TW sucks, it’s useless but I might not know how to use it right.  

On 2/19/2019 at 12:55 PM, indepth said:

Jolly good topic ol man, what about Siam Bank?

SCB can verify your transfers from the states as well I know because I have an account with Siam Commercial Bank and I’ve verified my International wire transfers from my bank in the States by asking for the Credit Advice.  It’s pretty simple I’m sure most banks in Thailand can probably do it the same way but I’d probably avoid the smaller banks.  I know that Bangkok Bank can do it as well because I have an account with them as well.  

The day after your International wire transfers posts to your Thai bank account then just go to the bank and ask for the Credit Advice regarding your last International wire transfer you made and it’s a print out that verifies everything such as your name, local address here in Thailand, your bank name from the States or whatever country, the account number that your wire transfer originated from, the amount in Thai Baht of the wire transfer, the Thai bank account and account number that your wire transfer went into which will match your pass book, and everything else that Immigration would need to verify that your International wire transfers are coming from your home country.  Although you’ll probably still need an official letter from your bank for Immigration when you do your extension according to the police orders.  

The Credit Advice might be accepted by immigration but I don’t know, for me I just get the Credit Advice print outs every month so I have a record and a paper trail of my wire transfers from my bank in the States to SCB every month and so I know that they can be verified.  Immigration will probably just need your pass book and an official letter from your bank.  

I like the new rules it’s a lot easier to take care of everything for Immigration when I do my extension right here where I live instead of making that long trip to the Embassy in Bangkok once a year for their stupid income affidavits.  Good riddance to the Embassy letters.  Immigration actually made it easier for those of us who fall within their financial guidelines.  

6 hours ago, Sheryl said:

In some provinces you do not need to re-file TM30 for overnight trips within the country, only after leaving the country. And a few provinces don't require it at all though that seems to be changing. My province (Prachinburi) didn't use to either...and then suddenly they did.

 

Even when it is only required after leaving the country it can indeed be quite  hassle.

 

I am the "housemaster" and have to file TM-3os both for myself and for my Cambodian household staff, who go back and forth a lot as their home is near the border. I would estimate that I file about 10-15 TM30s a year, each one accompanied by a massive stack of photocopies.

 

The only "plus" is that it has made me quite well known to my local Imm office. I'm there what feels like constantly.

 

You do not really have to report within 24 hours. 1st working day after day you arrived is fine. After all, arrival may often be on a non-working day or after working hours.  Maybe aim for arrivals on Fridays or Saturdays if you want to give yourself time to rest up.

 

You’re right where I live this is totally a non issue.  I was expecting it to be when I got my last extension so I brought a copy of my landlord’s Tambien Baan signed by him and a copy of his Thai ID card signed by my landlord as well, and a current renewed copy of my lease agreement with my wife’s original Tambien Baan (Thai house registration) to Immigration.  Although Immigration didn’t even want to see it when I offered it to them even though our pictures are at the house we lease they only wanted to see my wife’s original Tambien Baan which is for her family’s house down the street  (Thai house registration).  I even offered to take new pictures in front of my wife’s family’s house where her Tambien Baan is registered but Immigration said that our pictures at our house that we lease was perfectly fine and acceptable.  So even though we lease a different house than where my wife’s Tambien Baan is actually registered it was okay, Immigration didn’t require a TM-30 that I recall or a copy of my landlord’s Tambien Baan, Thai ID Card, or my lease agreement.  Immigration only wanted to see my wife’s original Tambien Baan and of course her Thai ID Card as well as all the rest of the required paperwork for my marriage visa extension.

I’ve been living here for almost 5 years and reporting every 90 days and it’s never been an issue up here.   Maybe my landlord reported my address to Immigration and I just wasn’t aware I don’t know I just know that I’ve never had any problems with that before.  

21 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

According to the rules and what immigration has stated it should still be accepted.

But I am aware of Phuket immigration not accepting one from the UK embassy for an extension based upon mariage. They said they are no longer accepted because they consider them as not being valid.

In his case I would keep the old income affidavit from December 21st 2018 because they’re technically still supposed to accept it up to six months after the date of completion and he is within the six month grace period although he’s pushing it to the last minute in his situation.  And I have read things like that about Phuket Immigration as well.  

So if I were him I’d do both have the old income affidavit from December 2018 ready because theoretically they should still accept it even though he’s barely within the six month period, and also begin preparing for the new rules.  In other words begin making the monthly wire transfers into a Thai bank account of at least 65K Baht per month because I believe he said that he’s on a retirement visa extension if I’m not mistaken.  Regardless it’s always better to transfer more than the minimum monthly income requirement, that is always best if possible depending on his financial situation obviously.  OR, depending on his financial situation deposit the 800K Baht into a Thai bank account.  Basically either start making the monthly wire transfers into a Thai bank account of at least 65K Baht a month or deposit the 800K Baht into a Thai bank account.  

If he’s going by the monthly wire transfers into a Thai bank account (the monthly income option) than I believe according to the police orders for this first year he shouldn’t have to show a full 12 months of monthly wire transfers.  I believe I remember reading that in the police order when it came out for people in his situation but I might be mistaken because I don’t recall that part exactly I’d have to go back and read it and then post a copy of it for him which I can do if he needs help.  But I’m pretty sure I remember reading in the new police orders that people didn’t have to show a full 12 months of monthly wire transfers for the first year since it just went into effect this year.  Feel free to correct me if I’m wrong about that part and I understand that Phuket Immigration might not be on the same page as every other Immigration office in Thailand I’ve heard as well that they sometimes are not.  

In my situation I don’t have to do my next extension until literally January or NLT February of 2020, so they accepted my last income affidavit for the final time when I did my last extension early in December 2018, although that was at a different Immigration office though.  So in my situation I will have to show my Immigration office a full 12 months of monthly wire transfers into my Thai bank account in around January or February of 2020 when my next extension is due.  I’m on a marriage visa extension though and I’m in a totally different area of Thailand then the OP so I’m not sure how much different my area is compared to his.  

I hope this advice helps the OP.  Basically in his situation I’d want to be prepared for both scenarios.  

I was actually planning on buying at least a case of the type of beer I like anyway at least two days before Songkran maybe even a week or two early just to let chill in the refrigerator for a while before we go out anyway.  Even if this does pass it’s not gonna effect us or really most Thai people because most Thais buy everything for Songkran the day before anyway.  Although sometimes we stop and buy more when we are out there.  Since we gotta buy the water guns a day or two early we usually buy the alcohol early as well.  I’m thinking probably order my beer Lao maybe a week early just in case because none of the little shops that’ll sell alcohol anyway ban or no ban have that kind.  

I was planning on buying whatever type of beer and or alcohol a day or two before Songkran anyway.  I specifically want a couple of cases of Beer Lao so I’ll probably order it on Thursday anyway because they deliver it to me.  As far as Thai beer and whiskey the little shops will still sell all that anyway alcohol ban or not but I’m still going to warn the family and everyone going with us to make sure that we buy it a day or two early before the festival, which they will probably already be aware of anyway.  

On 2/14/2019 at 10:06 AM, ubonjoe said:

Since you have a statutory declaration for this years extension you should not be asked for anything more than some basic back up proof for it if any is needed.

You can get a statement from the bank but it will show all transactions not only the deposits or transfers into the country. As far as I know that is all they can provide.

What I do is have them print out my Credit Advice once a month the day after my monthly wire transfers post and they show exactly where my deposit originated from my bank in the States, the amount of each deposit, my name, Thai address, and my SCB account number that my wire transfer went into which matches my pass book.  So if you have those printed out every month you make your wire transfers it’ll show your monthly wire transfers only and verify where each of them originated from and the account number your deposit went into as well as your name address and everything required.  So your wire transfers definitely can be verified by the bank and SCB at least my branch anyway is aware of Immigration’s requirements and will provide a formal letter if requested.  

The police orders just say “in a Thai bank account”.  They don’t tell you what kind of Thai bank account it has to be just a Thai bank account.  Although I understand people want to be smart with their larger investments though.  

Every bank can provide documentation verifying that your monthly wire transfers are coming from your home country.  Every month the day after my monthly wire transfer posts to my account I go to my local bank branch once a month just down the street and I first have them update my pass book and then I ask them to print out what’s called a Credit Advice which shows everything.  The document is basically a statement print out that shows your name,  local Thai address, the bank in the States where your wire transfer originated from which is the important thing or whatever country you’re from, it shows your Thai bank account number and bank name that your wire transfer went into, and of course the amount of each wire transfer in Thai Baht.  Those are great I get them printed at the bank every month the day after my wire transfer posts to my account and I get my pass book updated the same day.  When it comes time for me to get my next marriage visa extension next year I’ll probably still need a more official letter from my Thai bank as well which shouldn’t be a problem according to my local SCB branch.  I use both Bangkok Bank and SCB now pretty much just SCB but they are both able to print statements verifying that your monthly wire transfers originated from your bank in your home country it actually shows the originating bank and the country your money came from, your name and your local Thai address, the amount of your wire transfer in Thai Baht, and the account number for your local Thai bank account and the Thai bank name and it shows your name on the account.  Plus the Thai bank account number on the print out will match your pass book.  So yes the banks around here can easily verify that your monthly wire transfers are coming from your home country and even narrow it down to your home country bank account.  SCB told me that if I also need an official letter from them eventually that it would be no problem.  

Also make sure the Thai bank account is in your name only.  I don’t know why but apparently Immigration wants the account in your name only.  I think just to prove that it’s actually your money and not your wife’s money or something I don’t know.  I originally had a joint bank account at Bangkok Bank in my name and my wife’s name but then I heard from a very reliable source that it probably has to be in my name only and that Immigration MIGHT NOT accept a joint bank account.  

So I opened up a Thai Bank Account in my name only at my local Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) branch which turned out to be MUCH BETTER THAN Bangkok Bank.  I went to SCB because Bangkok Bank wanted a bunch of documents that would’ve been out of my way to get and gave me a hard time about it so I went to SCB and opened my own account in my name only in about 30 minutes.  They just needed to see the original Tambien Baan, lease agreement, marriage certificate, my wife’s Thai ID with her present BUT THE ACCOUNT IS STILL IN MY NAME ONLY, they made copies of all our documents and I had to sign each copy.  I even had to fill out IRS forms and provide my US Social Security Number on the forms so I guess the banks here have an agreement with the FTC in the United States, it’s a Thai bank account NOT a Swiss Bank Account so if you owe back taxes in the States the IRS can still reach out and touch you even here in Thailand.  So anyway at SCB I had to show a lot of documents but it was only documents that I had readily available and I had to fill out a lot of paperwork but I was able to open my own personal savings account in my name only at SCB and it was relatively painless.  And they can provide official letters and statement print outs verifying where your monthly wire transfers are coming from so SCB is great. I have great online banking I have a Master Card Debit Card and it is all easy.  A LOT EASIER THAN DRIVING ALL THE WAY DOWN TO BANGKOK TO GET THAT STUPID EMBASSY LETTER ONCE A YEAR!  And I’m actually saving money by using a Thai bank account regardless of the exchange rate because there are no ATM fees.  Before I was just using my US ATM Card and paying 220 Baht ATM fees every time I used the ATM.  Now I pay no ATM fees.  So overall I love the new rules it’s gonna make everything easier and the extension process easier for me.  And it should be easier for everyone else as well as long as you do make the minimum required monthly income and transfer it into a Thai bank account every month for the entire year between extensions or have enough money saved in a Thai bank account.  My pension is between $4 and $5,000 US dollars a month so I wire transfer at least half of my monthly pension payments into my Thai bank account every month so I’m well above the minimum monthly income requirement.  I still leave at least some of my monthly pension payments in my bank in the States but most of it is going into my Thai bank account which works fine for me.  

2 minutes ago, Spidey said:

No problem. It's a discussion forum. We all have our views, none of them should be taken too seriously. Sorry if I came across as confrontational.

It’s fine although when people post topics about this kind of issue they should have the facts or don’t post anything at all.  I don’t mean you just a lot of other people who have something to say about this issue regarding the new monthly income verification requirements.  But it’s okay I know what you meant now I just misunderstood you before.  

55 minutes ago, Henryford said:

The problem is it can't be withdrawn or used for emergencies, unless you are leaving Thailand for good.

That’s yet one of several reasons why I would not want to be retired here without my monthly pension payments.  I thank God for my monthly pension payments of almost $5,000 USD a month.  

1 hour ago, Spidey said:

I know what the official police orders say and I completely agree with you.

 

However, the OP has published a different set of police orders that he obtained at Phetchabun Immigration that conflict the police orders that we have seen previously.

I hope you saw my very last reply I do apologize I just misunderstood what you meant.