Khun Roberto

10 minutes ago, Bangkok Barry said:

Meanwhile, I like many others went down the 60-day extension route, and when I asked what would happen at the end of that I was told that I had to leave Thailand. I've been here 25 years or so, have a wife, a house, a car and family, but have to get out of the country unless I brought 400,000 baht into the country. Which I hurriedly did because it needs to be there for 60 days, even though I had preferred to keep my money in the UK instead.

Barry, If you've been here fr 25 years, why are you dealing with 60 day extensions? I would have though you'd be at 90 day reporting?

// This plan will only attract long-term stayers and not real tourists i.e. those retirees or those on education visa. //

True, not a lot of tourists. But many people who live in Thailand but don't have an official Thai spouse will be happy to be able to get back to their normal life instead of living in a month - to - month apartment in wherever they got stuck. 

Do we know yet? Is TM 47 due before the 31st? Or is the due date 90 days from when your last report was supposed to filed?

I came in on the 20th March. So my due date would have been about June 18 and theoretically it was nenewed automatically. 90 days from June 18 puts it due about Sept 15th. 

... or maybe it's due now...

I'm thinking maybe send in the TM 47 by post? Or is that just going to confuse them. 

The web site is down: "Online service has temporarily closed for maintenance from 16 July 2020 (00.01 AM) to 22 July 2020 (05.00 AM)"

On a similar subject, how old can the Income Affidavit be? (The affidavit from the embassy, in my case Canadian.)

Say my visa extension expires Dec 30th. (Non 0, 12 month extension)

So I go to Chaeng Wathana and apply for new extension on, say, Dec 1st. All good, less than 30 days before it expires.

And the Embassy affidavit for my income verification was signed Nov 1st, it is now one month old at the time I'm applying for extension. Is that OK?

What the Affidavit is 6 weeks old when I apply for the extension 30 days before expiry?

Here's what I found from the Immigration Office and from the Bank. (We know that what we are told by officials can, erm... be subjective.)

The Desk clerks behind the information counter at Immigration (BKK CW) say the 800k + has to be in the account for two months before the application, as DrJack54 said. (The Immigration Website still says 3 months, but that is apparently inaccurate .)

They also consulted with each other and agreed the currency can be in US$. "Go-dai."

So, to double check I went to the bank. The Kasikorn clerk who deals with the Bank Guarantees also confirms US$ is not a problem. It's kind of irrelevant since the form the bank fills out for immigration says THB anyway. That's better, so there will be no confusion once you get this form to immigration. The exchange rate is calculated the day that they fill out the Bank Guarantee form. So regardless of what the rate has been, as long as your Foreign currency amount exceeds the 800K on that day, and you've had that amount or more for the pasttwo months, they will supply this guarantee form. 

1 hour ago, jacko45k said:

Bangkok Bank.

I will go to BKK CW Immigration office this week and ask if a regular savings account in US$ at a Thai bank will be acceptable. I will report back to this thread for anyone else who might be interested. 

10 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I know some who use Sterling FCD accounts accepted at Chonburi Imm.

Interesting, At a Thai bank I presume? 

Has anyone used a US$ account at a Thai bank? Or does it have to be Thai Baht? 

On 7/5/2019 at 6:15 PM, jacko45k said:

Tell us which office you are applying. The rule is now 2 months prior BUT, some rural offices still seem to be applying the previous requirement (2 months for first time extension, 3 for subsequent). Chiangrai and Udon are examples.

Hi Jacko45k Chaeng Wathana Bangkok. The info on the National says deposit has to be there for 2 months on the first time but 3 months for subsequent extension. https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_22

Thanks Dr Jack, Yes, you're right it's an extension.

OK, so two months before *application date* not the *expiry date*. 

So, expiry, Dec 27, 2019, say I start application one month ahead, Nov 27, must have cash in bank before Sept 27. 

After March 27 I can take out 400k.

Must top up to 800K September 27, 2020 start process over. Unless they change the rules ????

I'll check with the Bangkok CW office about the currency issue. 

Cheers!

Is it ok if I have the money in US$ account? In a Thai bank (Kasikorn)

How long is the money supposed to stay account? (I’ve been told different things.)

Example, if my visa expires on Dec 27 this year, from what date on should I make sure I have over 800K (or US$ equivalent)?

Lastly, how soon after my Visa is renewed can I take the money out? So it goes below 800K? (Again, I’ve been told different things.)

Cheers, Robert

Thanks Ubonjoe & Goethe. 

I see. The risk is if the Canadian Embassy doesn't want to accept my affidavit for some reason.

But if I start doing monthly transfers now, I won't have a full 12 months of regular monthly transfers come time or renewal in December. 

I guess I could have a backup plan of having 800,000 in my Kasikorn account.

But that has to be sitting there for two months before the application for extension, right?

And I can't apply for the extension until 2 weeks before it expires?

I have a deposit going into my Canadian bank account at the beginning of every month. But I bring the money over to my Kasikorn account periodically, not every month, about every three months I transfer just under $10,000 so I don’t have to fill out any paperwork in Canada.

Question. When I renew my Non O retirement visa in December, is IO going to insist on seeing monthly payments going into my Thai account?

My idea is to get the Embassy to stamp my affidavit by showing them a print out of my Canadian bank account which shows enough regular monthly income. Then I’ll also have my Kasikorn savings book which shows those larger deposits every three months or so.

Am I going to have a problem with this?

BKK (Yanawa). Yes it was lame of me. No business card even. My GF says I should get a copy of the building’s security camera recording. And you are correct, never sign something you can’t read, I should’ve gotten a translation, at least a photo form my phone! It all seemed so normal - that’s exactly how con-artists get you. But after all I think it’s all legit.  

I offered my bank info and she refused it, so that's a good sign. ????

Thanks for that Sheryl.

That's what it seemed like at the time. Nice ladies, we chatted as much as my Thai allowed. It was like getting pulled over for extra inspection at the airport.

But then I started to worry. Should I prepare for a shake down? 

Now I know it's ok.

????

Gracias!

Hi Guys, I’m going to apply for the (NON-O): FOR RETIREMENT PURPOSES on Monday.

Tomorrow I’ll go to the Canadian Embassy to get the affidavit for the monthly pension.

Two questions:

The amount must be over THB 65,000/month, but should the amount be written in Thai Baht? Or is Canadian $ ok?    

Second, the Thai Immigration Website says: “(together with reference documents showing the source of said monthly pension)”. Am I correct in thinking that part is not necessary? Just the affidavit is enough?

Thanks!

Robert

Thanks Tanoshi,

I already have a bank account with Kasikorn, but if I get an income affidavit, I don't really need that anyway. Right?

I've been staying at the same service condo for more than 4 years. They even keep my stuff in storage when I go to back home twice a year.

My Thai driver's license has that address on it, but it seems Immigration doesn't ask for proof of address anyway. 

It looks like the paperwork is really not crazy complicated. ?

The information at https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_80 is a bit cryptic, but it seems that 5.2, 5.2 and 5.3 can be ignored if ….

5 5.1 A guarantee letter ….5.2....5.3... all documents must be in the Applicant’s name.)or

6. A guarantee letter from the local or overseas Embassy or Consulate...

So the “or” eliminates the need for anything in 5.2, 5.2 and 5.3?

All I need is: more than two weeks left on my Visa waiver (permit of stay), the filled out TM.87 form, the affidavit,  copies of the important pages in my passport, a photo, and THB2,000... Or did I miss somenthing. ?

Cheers!

Robert

Much better, I'll start the application a few days after arrival. Thanks, you've be very helpful!

Ubonjoe Yes, maybe get a one entry during the 90 days, then get multiple entry with the one year. ?

And then the full year also takes about 2 weeks I guess?

Is there a reason to wait 30 days before submitting the first set of paperwork? (The No O 90 days .)

Thanks Tanoshi! Yeah I'd want to get the one year multiple re-entry as I go to Canada for two months twice a year. 

So I'll get the single entry two month visa as you and UbonJoe advise.

After 30 days in BKK I'll apply for the 90 days. 

Yeah, you're right. But what if I got started on it as soon as I got to BKK? I have a Thai Driver's license. A medical check is a couple of hours. I understand the certificate of funds can be done by affidavit at the embassy in a few hours. I could be standing in line at Immigration with all my paperwork within three days of getting to BKK. 

How long does the 90 day non immigrant visa (category O) usually take to process? 

Thanks ubonJoe! So actually no reason to get the 2 month visa, I could just use the visa on arrival, right?