Jim7777

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.  

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

The OP has been criticized and may not be accurate.

The order that followed the Embassies withdrawing income letters, seemed clear that 65,000 baht minimum was required each month, even Feb.

Yes it is the monthly income option is still available I think some of what the OP wrote got lost in translation compared to the current police orders.  That’s why I need to stop reading topics like this because I already know the rules I already know everything I need to know now pretty much.  It’s really not complicated and I like the new rules because it makes the whole extension process so much easier for me based on my personal situation.  Of course it’s different for some other people for many different reasons it all depends on your personal situation but for me it works out perfectly and I’m only on a marriage visa extension.  

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.

Okay I thought you were just trying to argue no problem but what he posted kind of makes sense based on the police orders, I do think that some of what the OP posted was just lost in translation.  I apologize and no problem.  I just thought you didn’t understand the monthly income/monthly wire transfers law or didn’t want to.  I apologize I think both of our tones came off as argumentative at first.  Maybe that Immigration Office the OP got it from  just messed up the English translation because it’s very similar to the new police orders at least. Although I do think people are reading to much into it and believe me I have that same habit quite often of reading to much into everything.  I guess I just misunderstood what you meant because of your tone.  

40 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Nice selective quote. The quote you posted came under the heading:

 

"As a special dispensation and to help visa-holders transition to these new rules, for the balance of 2019, you must either have":

 

Ergo, it doesn't apply as from 2020.

 

Read what is written, not what you want to read.

 

Personally, I think that this whole thread is a nonsense and applies to Phetchabun immigration only.

Like I said in my previous reply you are taking it out of context.

“To apply for a NEW Retirement visa, you must either have:

o   A letter from your embassy verifying you receive a pension (not just any income) of a minimum of ฿65K per month. (As of 2020, this will be the ONLY acceptable proof of monthly income.), or…

o   A letter from your bank stating you have been receiving international transfer deposits (any kind of income) of a minimum of ฿65K per month for the past twelve (12) months, or...”

The 65K Baht per month FOR THE PAST TWELVE MONTHS BEGINS IN 2020 AFTER THE TRANSITION PERIOD THIS YEAR IN 2019.  PEOPLE WILL NEED A LETTER FROM THEIR BANK TO PROVE THE 65K BAHT PER MONTH WIRE TRANSFERS FOR 12 FULL MONTHS STRAIGHT AS IT SAYS. Obviously that goes into effect in 2020 a year after this new law went into effect which was in early January because by 2020 people should then be able to show 12 full months of wire transfers into a Thai bank account if you are just now getting on board with the new law.  That ought to make sense especially if you compare this to the new police orders.  

I understand that they also modified the rules for the 800K Baht in the bank option for those who use that option for the retirement visa extensions, and I understand how confusing it must be.  But the monthly income option is still available for retirement visa extensions as well.  I’m retired here on a marriage visa extension but the rules are very similar except the financial requirements such as the monthly income option for the wire transfers and the savings option is a lot lower for us.  But I don’t care because I make more than double the minimum monthly income requirement for both the marriage and the retirement visa so I’m good to go.  So this topic really doesn’t concern me I’m just trying to help clarify it just simply because I just happened to be reading it when I was surfing on my iPhone.  Honestly I’m wasting my time I should be going to my nephew’s new restaurant right now.  Instead I’m trying to help explain this to you because I really do want to help as someone else has helped me in the past and recently as well.  

Bottom line Immigration is helping people transition to the new monthly income wire transfer rules throughout 2019.  Then as IT ACTUALLY SAYS in 2020 this will be the only acceptable proof of monthly income (key words in 2020 only acceptable proof of monthly income).  Then in 2020 and before 2020 AS IT ACTUALLY SAYS depending on your situation after they stop accepting the income affidavits you will have to show a letter from your bank stating that you have been receiving international wire transfers of a minimum of 65K Baht per month for the past twelve (12) months.  Or you can use the 800K Baht in the bank option again as it says.  

Although I can understand your confusion based on how it’s written but if you read the new police orders you’ll see what I’m saying is exactly right.  Although I don’t know because based on some of your previous posts from months ago it appears as if what you wrote is just simply what you want to believe.  I’ve spoken to you before months ago about this same issue so I know what you’re thinking, and this is exactly what I told you would happen months ago because someone I know at the Embassy told me this was gonna happen exactly the way I said it would back in November.  So I actually started planning for the new police orders as far back as December because I anticipated this based on official guidance.  

I understand how it can be confusing especially with all of the misinformation out there but nothing has changed regarding the monthly income option regarding monthly wire transfers.  Just read the new police orders that is now the new law this year, next year, and forever unless they eventually change it again several years down the road or something which is always a possibility.  But as of now what I’ve told you is the law now and for the foreseeable future.  

Like I said this year until 2020 AS IT SAYS immigration is working with people regarding the monthly income option for those who don’t have the income affidavits and after they eventually stop accepting the income affidavits this year after the six month grace period.  Then by 2020 (after this year ends) people will be required to show a full 12 months of monthly wire transfers of at least 65K Baht for the retirement extension into a Thai bank account.  This is what your chosen quote actually means and if you read the new police orders and compare this with the new police orders you’ll see and understand that unless you still choose not to understand that part as it appears to me that you just want to believe your way instead of what the actual law says.  

What your quote means is that they are helping people transition to the new monthly income wire transfer method and the money saved option throughout 2019 until 2020 when you will then be required to show the full 12 months of monthly wire transfers into a Thai bank account.  That’s really the bottom line that you took out of context maybe out of confusion or maybe because that’s just what you were hoping for and what you want to believe I’m not sure.  But I know what the new police orders actually say and mean and yes I did read the OP’s entire post and I understand him and the new police orders.  

But the way this topic is written I can maybe understand your confusion even though from your past posts I’ve noticed that you’ve always had a similar tone about this issue.  It turns out what I told you back then was true but like I said it’s not about proving anyone wrong it’s about the facts and ignoring all of the misinformation.  Just read the police orders they are very clear on this matter.  I don’t mean to sound arrogant to you personally it’s not a personal thing, I’m honestly just trying to explain the facts to you within the CORRECT CONTEXT.  If you don’t believe me ask Ubon Joe he’s always reliable and a trusted source, you can ask your local immigration office who all seem to slowly be getting on board with each other, you can ask your Embassy although they’re sometimes not very helpful depending on who you talk to, or you can ask an Immigration Attorney if you still don’t get it.  Maybe you took your quote out of context because the way it’s written is a little bit confusing but it’s not confusing at all if you actually read the official police orders that recently went into effect.  I hope this helps you understand or at least tells you where to look for yourself (the new police orders).  

25 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Nice selective quote. The quote you posted came under the heading:

 

"As a special dispensation and to help visa-holders transition to these new rules, for the balance of 2019, you must either have":

 

Ergo, it doesn't apply as from 2020.

 

Read what is written, not what you want to read.

 

Personally, I think that this whole thread is a nonsense and applies to Phetchabun immigration only.

Actually you really need to read what is written because now you are misinterpreting what is written and you are grossly taking things out of context.  That’s not what it says at all.  And I read the WHOLE THING. I’ve tried to show you but it’s as if you literally don’t want to believe the new police order even when it says it as clear as day.  You are flat out ignoring that part of the police order.  I’ve seen you post similar inaccurate misinformation in some of your previous posts about this subject months ago.  So I really can’t say anything more to you if you don’t want to believe what is written in an official Thai police order then I’m not gonna be able to help you understand either.  It says clear as day what the financial requirements are.  

For 2019 they are working with people regarding the income option wire transfers until 2020 because the new police order just recently took effect.  Then in 2020 you will then have to show a full 12 months of monthly wire transfers going into a Thai bank account, that’s what the part you quoted actually means, but you took it out of context, and that’s in the official police orders as well.  Look them up.  

26 minutes ago, Spidey said:

"Either a minimum of 65K Baht per month being transferred into a Thai bank account"

 

The whole point of this thread is that the OP's new, new police order does not give this as an option. According to him, only an embassy letter will suffice as proof of income.

See here it is I told you in my last reply to you.  You have to read his whole post.  But still you should read the ACTUAL official police order.  Although the OP’s post sounds about right from what I read in the real official police order.  

I copied this information for you from the OP’s post so you can see for yourself that YES he did state that the 65K Baht a month IS STILL an option as I told you it was.  And it really is according to the police order but regardless I’m on a marriage visa extension so it doesn’t really matter to me.  It’s not about who’s right or wrong it’s about the real facts.  I’m not trying to prove you wrong even though I kind of unwittingly just did I’m just showing you the facts and all of the information hopefully to help you better understand the facts of the matter.  

Here’s the information I copied for you from the OP’s post regarding the 65K Baht a month option:  

“To apply for an EXTENTION of a Retirement visa, you must either have:

o   A letter from your embassy verifying you receive a pension (not just any income) of a minimum of ฿65K per month. (As of 2020, this will be the ONLY acceptable proof of monthly income.), OR… OR,,,,,

o   A letter from your bank stating you have been receiving international transfer deposits (any kind of income) of a minimum of ฿65K per month for the past twelve (12) months, or...

o   A letter from your bank stating you have had a minimum of ฿800K on deposit for at least two (2) months prior to your application, and...

§  You must keep at least ฿800K in the bank for three (3) months after receiving the visa, and...

§  You bank balance must not drop below ฿400 at any time.”

Here it is more clearly and broke down for you:

”or…

o   A letter from your bank stating you have been receiving international transfer deposits (any kind of income) of a minimum of ฿65K per month for the past twelve (12) months, or...”.  

I copied this information from the OP’s post.  Next time read the whole post before assuming anything and definitely read the official police order it’s easier to understand but the OP sounds about right from what I read in the official police orders.  I hope this helped you seriously I hope this helps.  Now hopefully you understand better.  

8 minutes ago, Spidey said:

"Either a minimum of 65K Baht per month being transferred into a Thai bank account"

 

The whole point of this thread is that the OP's new, new police order does not give this as an option. According to him, only an embassy letter will suffice as proof of income.

You obviously didn’t read his entire post because it actually does give it as an option I know it’s long but read the last parts of the OP’s post and you will see it.  I think you’re missing the point just read his whole post.  I know he included a lot of information but it is in there about the 65K Baht a month still being an option.  And if you still don’t understand then just read the police order.  

In the OP’s topic the part about the embassy letter is in the beginning because they’re still valid for six months after the date of completion throughout this year, but the part about the letter from the Thai bank being required by Immigration to prove 12 months of transfers of a minimum of 65K Baht a month into a Thai bank account OR the 800K Baht option is closer to the end of his post.  Like I said read his whole post.  If you want I can copy it and show you where it discusses the 65K Baht a month option, would that help you?  

Regardless this doesn’t really concern me since I’m on a marriage visa extension but I am retired here on a pension and maybe someday I might decide to switch to a retirement visa, I probably won’t go through the trouble of doing that because I don’t have to but it could be an option for me in the future since I make more than double the minimum monthly income requirement for either visa extension marriage or retirement.  

27 minutes ago, pi2005ni said:

Ubon Joe would be the most reliable and trusted source here . Others in my opinion are guessing, scaremongering and just basically talking for the sake of . The result is that many member are running around panicking over nothing . Please take time to read the recent police order which states the fact but don’t listen to the gloom and doom merchants.

I agree perfectly with every single word you just said.  Yes Ubon Joe is the most reliable source on this forum and I trust him very much, and yes a lot of people are talking for the sake of it, and yes A LOT OF PEOPLE are simply complaining and panicking over nothing without actually asking questions from reliable sources and officials such as immigration and your embassy.  All people have to do is just simply read the new police orders they are clear as day about the rules for retirement and marriage visa extensions and if they’re not sure about something in the new police orders then just ask someone like Ubon Joe, your local Immigration office supervisor, or your embassy about any questions regarding the new police orders. The new police orders are pretty much easy to understand and pretty simple now that I’ve studied them and read over them.  And I did ask Joe some questions but I now fully understand the rules.  The new immigration policy actually makes the extension process easier for me anyway.  And I’ve actually used the same words you did including “doom and gloom merchants”.  You must have read one of my previous posts lol.  Seriously I fully agree with everything you just wrote you’re exactly right!!! 

On 2/10/2019 at 10:53 AM, glegolo said:

All these threads....... Plse stop some time....... rather sooner that later.....

We are still waiting for the definetive law and police-order and how you can predict year 2020 is a nice tricky thing I guess..

 

glegolo

The new police order that applies to next year and pretty much forever at least for the foreseeable future unless the law changes again one day is already in effect for 2020 and beyond.  And what the OP posted is nothing new that’s been well known now since the new police order came out.  Either a minimum of 65K Baht per month being transferred into a Thai bank account or the 800K Baht savings option for retirement visa extensions.  The only thing that the new police order actually changed for retirement visa extensions or rather slightly modified is the way immigration wants to see your 800K Baht in your Thai bank account IF YOU EVEN USE THE 800K Baht in the bank option.  

So it’s not really a huge change for retirement visa extensions as people are making it out to be maybe a bit confusing if you do use the savings option I can definitely understand that.  The OP included a little too much information but what he posted is nothing new for retirement visa extensions, and just like the OP said the monthly income option of at least 65K Baht a month every month throughout the year by 2020 is still an option.  The police order says that you can still use your monthly income some people were confused about that before but just read the police order.  It’s a minimum of 65K Baht monthly in a Thai bank account for retirement visa extensions and a minimum of 40K Baht monthly in a Thai bank account for marriage visa extensions.  

As long as you meet immigration’s financial requirements it’s really nothing to worry about because it’s not that big of a change to the original new police order that came out in January.  This forum and some people posting on it are making it out to seem like it’s worse than what it is and it’s really not a big deal.  For me it actually makes the extension process easier.  You just have to familiarize yourself with the new police orders.  

Bottom line the new police orders are already in effect however if you have already obtained your last income affidavit immigration should continue to except them for up to six months after the date of completion.  The thing you need to understand though is that the new police orders are already in effect, we are no longer waiting for anything at all it’s already been signed into law.  

5 hours ago, steve187 said:

no but they can say' can not open'

I don’t know about that I have both a joint account with my wife at Bangkok Bank and my own personal savings account at SCB in my name only for immigration purposes as per immigration rules for my monthly income wire transfers from my bank in the States.  When I opened both bank accounts neither bank even mentioned the word “Insurance” to me, and I honestly didn’t even know that was a thing until I read this topic.  Neither of my Thai banks even mentioned insurance when I opened both accounts.  I opened my Bangkok Bank Account back in 2015 though, but I just recently opened my SCB Bank Account in my name only just only last January literally less than a month ago and there was never even any discussion about insurance between me and the bankers.  I’ve honestly never even heard of this.  

Although I have my own medical and life insurance for both my wife and I, my wife is covered medically as well as I am as my dependent we married in the States 20 years ago and it’s free and it’s really good because I’m retired military after 21 years and a 100% permanently disabled veteran.  So my coverage doesn’t stop when I turn 70.  I’m covered for life since I’m retired military even overseas.  

I’ve also heard about how insurance companies here don’t want to cover people over 70 which I don’t understand and I think should be criminal.  I mean I get why they do it that way but it’s wrong.  The Insurance companies don’t want to cover people over 70 here because obviously your risk goes up at that age in this country but it’s the Insurance company’s job to cover people they sure don’t mind collecting that monthly payment from people though.  I’m just glad I’m retired military so I don’t have to worry about it for my wife and I.  

But seriously when I opened my Thai bank accounts the word insurance was never even said.  I think the person you replied to is right just open a savings account and it’s just as good as a checking account and I still have a Master Card Debit Card with mine at SCB and online banking, it works just as well and there are almost no fees very very minimal fees.  

I think it just depends on what bank you go to or really what branch you go to when opening your account, and that’s really not any different when dealing with any other business in life including back in the States.  It always just depends on who you’re dealing with that’s just my personal experience with lot’s of things.  

8 hours ago, balo said:

You can open an account without insurance. Ask for a savings account next time, they can't force you to sign up for an insurance. 

 

That’s true I opened my savings account at SCB in my name only and we also have a joint account at Bangkok Bank.  I didn’t even know that the insurance at the bank was even actually a thing.  I prefer my insurance because it covers almost everything and for the rest of my life regardless of my age, but I’m retired military so our coverage is really good even living overseas it’s still pretty good.

I opened my own savings account at SCB in only my name because I found out that apparently next year when I do my next extension that my monthly wire transfers supposedly have to be going into my own account and not a joint account with my wife’s name on it as well.  I don’t understand why that is since it’s my money being transferred every month from the States in my name but I went ahead and opened my own savings account at SCB in my name only because if those are their rules then that’s what I’ll do.  It wasn’t that much trouble to open the account in only my name at SCB my local SCB branch is awesome.  My local Bangkok Bank branch was okay but apparently the local manager there isn’t because he gave me a hard time about opening a savings account in my name only.  He wanted to see an embassy letter, a letter from immigration, and my Social Security Card.  So I went to SCB and I didn’t need any of that to open my own personal savings account.  Just the Tambien Baan, lease agreement, my wife had to be present and show her Thai ID card but the account is still in my name only, of course I had to show my passport, and all I needed for documentation was stuff that I already had readily available.  They were really nice at my local SCB branch, they even set up my online banking for me on their app on my iPhone and provided me with a Master Card Debit Card unlike Bangkok Bank.  I did have to provide my SSN on their forms at SCB but I didn’t need to bring my Social Security Card or an Embassy Letter, or an immigration letter.  They used common sense at SCB because the Tambien Baan and our lease agreement was sufficient to verify my address to open the account in my name only.  

I honestly didn’t even know the insurance was even a thing when opening a Thai bank account 

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Just a bunch of unfounded rumors about it.

It all started from a news article stating they were considering it for OA long stay visas issued at embassies and consulates which did not happen. Not a word more about it since then.

True sometimes this site puts out really good information but sometimes it also starts unfounded rumors I’ve noticed.

Good topic!  

On 2/5/2019 at 12:26 PM, ubonjoe said:

Was that at Chaeng Wattana immigration?

There have already been reports of them wanting to see the 400k baht in the bank during the under consideration period and to show your bank book when you go back for the extension stamp.

I think it is for the same reason that the rules for retirement were changed (stop the agent extensions).

That’s another one of many reasons why I would not want to use the 400K method and I’m very glad and lucky that I’m able to easily use the monthly income option but unfortunately some people have to use the money saved in the bank option depending on their income situation.  I’m also very glad that I live far away from Bangkok and up north.  I think the Immigration offices are probably better in these smaller cities where there are a lot fewer of us.  The bigger cities like Bangkok, Phuket, Chiangmai, and maybe a few others I think are just overwhelmed because there are so many of us living there with so many different income situations.  

14 hours ago, dufus said:

Been doing international SWIFT wire transfers to SCB for more than a dozen years with Schwab (US not International) as US resident in US dollars to US dollars at SCB which FX's it into Baht. Have been doing it every month since my last extension in prep for the next extension. Schwab's wire cost is $25 (sometimes waived), and the SCB FX cost into baht has generally been about $25 away from bid side quotes. Schwab is also competitive in FX if you prefer that route.

 

That’s exactly what I’ve been doing except not for a dozen years and I also use SCB they're a GREAT BANK!  I went to SCB because they didn’t give me a hard time about opening a Thai bank account in my name only as Bangkok Bank did, SCB had me fill out a ton of paperwork but they were much easier than Bangkok Bank.  I also have a joint account with Bangkok Bank with my wife but I found out that Immigration will want the Thai bank account to be in my name only and I was gonna open my own personal account at Bangkok Bank but the manager there didn’t seem to know the rules and they wanted a letter from the embassy my Social Security Card and stuff that I don’t have readily available.  So I went to SCB and they opened my own personal account in my name only with no problem at all.  I actually did have to provide them with my SSN but I didn’t have to show my Social Security Card or get a letter from the embassy or any of that BS.  SCB treated me great.  My wife did have to be there with me though even though the account is in my name only just to verify our marriage.  I had to show SCB her Thai ID card, the Tambien Baan, my lease agreement, and some other documents I forget because it was a lot of paperwork but it was still relatively easy compared to Bangkok Bank by a long shot, and I had to fill out a lot of paperwork including IRS documents where I had to provide my Social Security Number as well and a US address almost as if I was opening a US bank account, I guess the Thai banks must have an agreement with the FTC or whatever.  The important thing is that I was able to open my own personal SCB account in my name only with my documents that I have readily available much better than Bangkok Bank!!!  The customer service is just as good or better than Bangkok Bank as well I know the manager at my local SCB branch is a lot more helpful than the manager at my local Bangkok Bank branch that’s for sure.  SCB set up my online banking for me on their smartphone app right there in front of me for me in only a few minutes which was nice of them.  It took me a month to set up online banking with Bangkok Bank.  SCB provided me with a Master Card Debit Card for my account right away it was a great experience with SCB.  I’m only going to use SCB from now on not Bangkok Bank and after I opened the account at SCB I made sure and went back to see that manager at Bangkok Bank to tell him how wrong he was because he told me that all the other banks would have the same policy; wrong, I opened an account in my name only at SCB without any issues.  So I think that my local Bangkok Bank manager just didn’t know what he was doing, I could tell when he changed his story twice when talking to him initially about their policy.  Although I did see one other person in the forum post a similar experience when dealing with Bangkok Bank I wonder if it was the same branch I don’t recall his whole post.  Bottom line Siam Commercial Bank is so much better and I now also have my account with SCB as well.  

Anyway I have also been doing exactly what you’re doing.  Last extension I used my last income affidavit that the embassy would provide at the end of 2018, and now I’ve been doing my monthly wire transfers from my bank in the States to SCB my Thai bank every month in preparation for my next visa extension in around January 2020 if I do it 30 days early.  So for me their timing with the income verification methods was perfect.  I will continue to make my monthly wire transfers from my bank in States to SCB every month for every year so I’ll be fully prepared when I do my next extension and all of my future extensions.  What you said is exactly what I’ve been doing preparing for next year’s extension.  

Although I am gonna look into maybe making my transfer in US dollars if it really is a better exchange rate that’s why this is a good post and a good topic because I never thought about doing it that way.  Also you said you do it through your bank Schwab I make my monthly transfers through Pentagon Federal Credit Union or Navy Federal Credit Union but I’m retired military.  Someone also showed me an International transfer app called TransferWise but I’m still a little leary about using an app to make my monthly transfers I think I’ll continue doing it through my bank they only charge $20 USD but I’m gonna look into maybe making my monthly transfers in USD depending on what SCB says when I ask.  I mean regardless the exchange rate could be better but it’s not horrible like in Japan where I used to work for one of my last assignments in the military.  It’s not that bad.  Although my monthly pension is over $4,000 USD a month so I may not notice it as much as others.  Although that exchange rate does add up when you’re talking thousands of dollars a month in wire transfers all year.  That’s another reason why I would not want to use the 400K Baht in the bank option I’m on a marriage visa it’s 800K Baht in the bank for retirement visas unless of course you use the monthly income option only.  

Anyway good info thanks.  I saw your post and I just had to reply because I have been doing exactly the same thing in preparation for my next extension in 2020 as far as the monthly wire transfers every month since my last extension. And I also use SCB they are so much better than Bangkok Bank.  Your words “been doing that every month since my last extension in preparation for my next extension” is exactly what I’ve been doing.  

15 hours ago, gentlemanjackdarby said:

One of the problems with U.S. banks is that it's possible to find banks where one can transfers USD to a USD account at a foreign bank, but most banks will only make SWIFT transfers in foreign currency, which is understandable since the bank makes money by offering a relatively poor FYO exchange rate (FYO rate - '<deleted> You Over).

 

And even for a USD to USD transfer, U.S. banks still charges a hefty wire transfer fee, usually in the neighborhood of USD 40 - 50.

 

You're lucky to have a fee of only GBP 9.60 (USD 12)

 

I know some folks have thrown out that Charles Schwab charges only USD 25 for an international wire transfer, but that is at Schwab International and they do not disclose their forex rates until one wishes to make a transfer, a clear red flag that the rate will likely not be competitive with options like Transferwise.

 

While Charles Schwab is to be commended for offering U.S. expatriates (those who are bona-fide non-U.S. residents with a non-U.S. address) an option to maintain a relationship, Charles Schwab International is not the same as Charles Schwab for U.S. residents, which does not offer international wire transfers; I'm not complaining since Charles Schwab gives us a great debit card.

 

Charles Schwab International requires a minimum balance to open an account of USD 25,000, which is a non-starter for those folks in the position of having to use the monthly income method to qualify for a visa or visa extension.

Actually my bank Pentagon Federal Credit Union in the States and Navy Federal Credit Union can both do swift transfers to my SCB Thai bank account in USD, but like I said in my previous response to you I’ve been asking them to do it in Thai Baht every month because I thought I had to.  Like I said before I’m gonna ask SCB about sending my monthly wire transfers to them in USD.  I do my monthly wire transfers from my bank in the States to SCB in Thai Baht and I do think I might be getting screwed just a little bit because of my US bank’s exchange rates they use, that’s another one of many reasons why I prefer the monthly income option.  I’m on a marriage visa extension but I think a lot of people don’t know that the monthly income option is still an option for retirement visa extensions as long as you make at least the minimum of 65K Baht a month EVERY MONTH for the whole year just like the marriage visa extension except  our minimum monthly income requirement is only 40K Baht a month.  I make more than triple that per month so I’m covered but I understand that for some people the 400K or 800K Baht in the Bank option might be their only option or the combination option.  And I can understand how confusing that must be for people on retirement visa extensions especially if they’re using the combo method that’s gotta be confusing especially if you are using one of the few Immigration offices that are still catching up with the new rules right now.  But oh yeah look at the police order it clearly states that the monthly income option is STILL an option for people on retirement visa extensions.  So some people on this forum should not worry about all the hype and mass hysteria that people post on the forum under other topics and some of these recent articles written about it.  Just like any other news media outlet they just want to be sensational to get us to read their articles and the media uses our anxieties and uncertainties to do that sometimes unfortunately, but a lot of the time there is still good legitimate information posted on this forum which is why I still skim over it once in a while and sometimes I’ll still reply to a topic once in a while but not as often.  These days I like to get out more often and live then spend all my time online.  A lot of the news these days is a lot of doom and gloom so I keep up with it all but I still read between the lines and I ignore a lot of the BS on the forum and any news outlet.  

I’m not sure if I’m actually gonna do my monthly International wire transfers in USD yet I still want to compare the exchange rates first between my Thai bank and US bank and make sure that’s okay with my Thai bank and possibly Immigration as well just to be safe but your idea sounds good and makes sense so again thanks for your insight.  

If I were you I would make sure that your check deposits can still be verified by your Thai bank as income deposits coming from your home country which I believe you said that you’re a US citizen as well.  You should be okay with Immigration as long as you can prove that your monthly deposits are coming from your home country.  I do the International wire transfers from my bank in the States to SCB and even I verify with my Thai bank SCB that they can show proof that my monthly transfers are coming from my bank in the States by getting the credit advice print outs from SCB every month which shows everything, the bank of origin in the States, my name, my Thai bank account number, our address, and the amount of the transfer in Thai Baht as well as other useful information, but I’m just naturally over cautious that’s just me.  Thanks again for that info I might start doing my transfer in USD if it’s a better exchange rate over here on the Thai bank side.  

14 hours ago, gentlemanjackdarby said:

That sounds about right for BofA!

 

It wouldn't bother me to pay that amount for a one-time transfer of USD 35,000; that works out to just over one-tenth of one percent (O.00129 - 0.129%), which is essentially free.

 

The purpose of my post was to see if maybe my method would be of help to folks whose financial situation dictate that the rely on the income method for a retirement visa extension

 

After all, if one is relying on making a monthly transfer of, generously and for easy calculation, USD 2,500, BofA's fee would be about 1.8 percent - a different animal altogether and a fee which, taken annually, would likely be money folks relying on the income method could put to better use.

I’m a US citizen.  Your post did actually bring something to my attention.  I’m on a marriage visa extension but I transfer between $2,500 USD to $3,000 USD to SCB every month on payday (I’m retired military a monthly pensioner).  I don’t deposit checks I do International wire transfers and I will continue to do so however what I have been doing is asking my bank in the States to send it in Thai Baht and I do get a little bit of a crappy exchange rate when I do that but it’s not too bad.  

So let me get this straight if I do my International wire transfers from my bank in the States to SCB in US Dollars will I actually get a better exchange rate from the Thai bank (Siam Commercial Bank SCB)????  I would’ve thought that the US Bank would give the better exchange rate is that not true?  Is it the Thai banks that actually give better exchange rates? Because I didn’t know that at all I have been wondering about that.  I wasn’t even sure if SCB would even accept a wire transfer in USD, so they will???  I thought it had to be sent in Thai Baht.  I’ve handled currencies all over the world, but I don’t have a lot of experience doing International wire transfers though through commercial banks.  In fact so far I’ve only done 4 International wire transfers since I did my last extension in December in preparation for my next extension in 2020 so that I’m in accordance with Thai Immigration laws. Although I actually like the new rules because for one thing I don’t have to make those long drives all the way down to Bangkok every year just to get that stupid income affidavit for their $50 dollar fee at the Embassy: Now I can do all my immigration stuff right up here where I live I don’t have to go to Bangkok ever again for business anyway only if I want to, and because the new rules forced me to open a Thai bank account in my name which I was always nervous about as far as using a foreign bank but it’s okay it’s actually saving me a lot of money in ATM withdrawal fees and other bank fees because I’m no longer just using my US bank ATM card.  I just make those monthly wire transfers from my bank in the States to SCB for only a $20 dollar fee and then using the Thai bank I can access my funds for free.  All they charge is 300 Baht a year.  So it’s actually better this way then the way it used to be.  

I have seen a lot of people complaining about it but then again there’s some people on here that all they do is complain complain no matter what happens good or bad.  I once read someone write on google about their experience living in Thailand and he wrote that it’s what you make of it and he said that there are some people who whine and complain about every single thing and other people like me who love it here.  I think that’s very true because I’ve seen the same thing.  

I’m on a marriage visa extension I’ve been here almost 5 years since I retired but I’m also glad that you pointed this out to the people here on retirement visas because ever since they slightly modified the rules for people who use the 800,000K Baht in the bank option some people on retirement visas (especially on this forum) are getting the impression that now that’s the only option for verifying their income on retirement visas because of all of the mass hysteria, miss information on this forum, and uncertainty about it that people post on this forum.  Obviously that’s not true you can still use your monthly income option for retirement visa extensions as well, just read the police order it’s not really a change it’s just a modification for the money saved in the bank OPTION.  The two options are still the same according to the police order for retirement visas it still says “65K Baht in the bank monthly income OR” and I emphasize OR the 800K Baht in the bank option, except that option has been modified for use to apply for retirement visa extensions.  It does not mean that you can no longer use your monthly income for retirement visa extensions, all the new police order does is slightly modify the 800K Baht in the bank option for retirement visa extensions.  That’s why I’ve started ignoring a lot of what people post because if you try explaining to them how the laws really work some people just don’t want to hear it and if you disagree with anyone on here for some reason that’s frowned upon on this forum lol.  I personally would not want to use the money in the bank option anyway even if I was on a retirement visa extension because it was already confusing to me before they modified it and I want to be very careful how much money I transfer into a foreign bank especially now with the uncertain exchange rates.  I am retired but I’m on a marriage visa extension have been for years.  Although I do understand that for some people the 800K Baht in the bank option might be their only income verification option depending on their financial situation.  Obviously not everyone gets paid monthly pension payments of over $4,000 USD a month as I do or less.  Some people might receive a monthly pension payment of less than the minimum so they might use the combination option of monthly income and money in the bank.  And some people might be using investments, 401K savings, or whatever for the 800K Baht in the bank option.  There are a lot of people with different income situations.  Although I think most of us are pensioners like me and the monthly income option is a lot less complicated than the 800K Baht in the bank option of course as long as you make at least 40,000 Baht a month for the marriage visa extension and at least 65,000 Baht a month for the retirement visa extension.  Honestly if you’re living here in Thailand as I am you should really be making double that a month just to be safe and secure or at least one fourth more than the minimum monthly income requirement just for your own personal security financially.  If my pension wasn’t as good as it is I probably would not have retired as early as I did.  I could afford to retire in the States as well but here in Thailand my money goes VERY FAR even with the sluggish exchange rates and I just really love it here in Thailand I have absolutely no complaints about anything here.  

Anyway thanks for the post you just gave me an idea maybe I will start doing my monthly International wire transfers in US Dollars if I actually can get a better exchange rate from my Thai bank.  Of course before I do that I will ask my Thai bank first which is SCB if that’s okay and see how much better their exchange rates are.  As for you I would be careful using check deposits for your monthly transfers into your Thai bank not just because they take so long to post but you have to be able to prove to immigration when applying for your extension that your income transfers are coming from your home country.  You should be okay as long as you can prove that your funds came from your home country.  Thanks so much for the insight on that I wasn’t sure if you were allowed to make the transfer in US Dollars but I’ll still check with SCB about that before I actually do it next payday next month when I make my next monthly International wire transfer.  Thanks for that. 

Good information it doesn't really apply to me because I don't do my next extension till December 2018 or January 2019 but I'll have all 12 months of my monthly wire transfers for the whole year by then so I'm good.  Although my neighbor will be happy to hear this news since he does his next extension in August.  I'll pass this information on to him.  Good to know and this is more really good news.  Thanks.  

Also unless you're some kind of criminal or maybe working here on a tourist visa or something like that there's no reason to hide anything from immigration.  Why would you want to hide anything from immigration?  As long as you are obeying the law you shouldn't have anything to hide from anyone.  

Additionally you never actually had the ability to "hide your visa history" from immigration by getting a new passport.  Sure you can get a fresh passport with empty pages and get a new visa at a Thai Embassy and maybe the Thai Embassies don't have access to the immigration database I don't know that.  BUT, once you reenter Thailand on your new visa in your new passport I can assure you that immigration records every time you enter or depart the country regardless of having a new or old passport to include on what type of visas, at the very minimum your biometric data is definitely collected every time you enter Thailand and most other countries as well that's a matter of national security.  So of course immigration keeps their own private database on how many times you've entered the country or left and our visa records, they definitely better be that's a national security issue.  Whether or not that information is shared between immigration and the Embassies is honestly irrelevant.  All immigration needs to track us is their own private database which they've had for years and I'm sure the embassies and the local authorities share a lot of information especially in this day and age.  We live in dangerous times and national security is a serious matter so you better believe that immigration has records of every time you have ever entered the country and on what type of visa.  

Honestly who cares if they share a database?  And actually you can't "hide your visa history" regardless because Thai immigration already has your entire visa history records in their own private immigration database.  If they don't then they're way behind the times you know they do.  They also have all of your records of anytime you ever left or entered the country in the immigration database because of biometrics at ports of entry.  Just about every country in the world uses biometrics screening these days at just about all ports of entry.  

Uhhm ok.  So if this does happen honestly who cares?  I swear I should get a bucket of popcorn when reading some of these things lol.  

Uhhm ok.  So if this does happen honestly who cares?  I swear I should get a bucket of popcorn when reading some of these things lol.  

Finally some extremely good news!  No more trips to the embassy every year I get my extensions, from now on I just make a short trip down the street to my local Bangkok Bank branch.  Just have to make sure I make the transfers into Bangkok Bank every payday once a month which is fine because it's actually saving me money in ATM fees by using Bangkok Bank instead of my stateside bank.  I just simply transfer half of my monthly pension payments into Bangkok Bank once a month every payday which is equivalent to about 75,000 baht a month and that's just half of my monthly income.  The rest of it I just leave in my bank in the states.  That's not so bad this is actually good news for a lot of us.  

41 minutes ago, david555 said:

I can not make your economy's …,but with a more than medium pension I would say that with 1 temporary extension your way , it would be easy to get enough for further ext based on married to Thai at 400 k , so more simple same as ret ext  on the 800 K 

Only the combination method is amputated as now the complementary monthly sum must be proven during the past year ,.... as before only with the letter it was like a credit line as money coming in future period ...that is gone as that was my reserve plan B m for sudden fin. problems

I'm sorry but I don't quite understand what you mean here I'm just having trouble understanding the way you write.  In my situation I'm retired military on a monthly pension based on retirement and permanent disability so I make almost $5,000 U.S. Dollars a month total between $4 and 5 thousand a month so I do really really well here financially being retired.  I'm retired but I'm on a marriage visa because I'm younger than 50 and my wife is a Thai citizen originally.  I have a lot of savings in the states but I'm not going to transfer more than $2 or $3 thousand dollars a month into my Thai bank account because you never know how the currency exchange will fluctuate.  From month to month I'll either gain or lose a little bit because of the exchange rate fluctuations, a little bit because I only transfer $2 or $3 thousand dollars a month on a MONTHLY BASIS I definitely wouldn't want to use the lump sum option.  In my situation I make a pretty large monthly pension paid in monthly payments for the rest of my life plus survivors benefits for my wife if anything ever happens to me.  So in my situation the monthly income option is best and it's really easy to prove even without that income affidavit.  In fact knowing what I know now I'm actually glad the income affidavits are going away because it's going to save me a trip to the embassy in Bangkok every year which is a long drive for me and a lot of us.  Instead I just go visit my local Bangkok bank branch once a month the day after my monthly wire transfers post to my account and just get the credit advice print out which proves where my wire transfers originated.  

Here's how I explained it to Joe and this should simply it:

It's super easy with Bangkok bank just get a credit advice print out from them every single month throughout the year after your monthly wire transfers post to your Bangkok bank account.  That's what I've started doing last month and I just got one for this month printed out yesterday in fact I just make sure that I get those print outs from Bangkok bank once a month the day after my monthly wire transfer posts to my Bangkok bank account.  

Trust me the credit advice print out verifies everything you need perfectly, your name, account numbers for both your bank in the states and your local Thai bank account, the amount of the wire transfer, and even the name of your bank in the states where your wire transfer originated.  That credit advice print out every month should be perfect for proving that your wire transfer originated from your home bank in the states or wherever abroad.  

Although my guess is that immigration will probably want to see that in some sort of formal letter from the bank but at least we know that information is on record at Bangkok bank and regardless I'm still gonna continue to have them printed out at Bangkok bank every month at least for my own personal records.  If immigration asks me for something else from my local bank in 2020 then I'll get whatever they want but for now I really think the credit advice print out every month looks perfect as far as verifying everything that immigration will require regarding monthly income verification.  I already got my current extension for 2019 till February 2020 so now I'm just trying to make sure that I'm prepared for January 2020 when I do it again.  Or maybe I'll do it early again next year in late December 2019 if they'll let me do early again next year.    

Obviously everyone is different but for me the monthly income option works best.