Mel52

Imm is not known for common sense. It IS known for nit picking.

 

Remember that your extension will not be handled by people working at a policy level able to use discretion in figuring out what complies with the spirit if the rules. It will be done by field level drones who follow directives very literally and are afraid to do otherwise and their directive asks for proof of transfer "every month" for past 12 months. NOT every 30/31 days. Every month.

 

So if you are going to end up with 2 transfers in some months and none in others that really could prove problematic. Your best options:

 

- have direct depisit to a US account and do monthly SWIFT transfers.

 

- keep an eye on it and if a payment arrives at end of the prior month transfer funds back to US via Dee Miney then SWIFT transfer back to yourself

 

- don't use income method use the 800k in the bank method.

 

What I would not recommend doing is assuming Imm will be "reasonable".

 

As for any sort of statement from VA the police order is quite clear that the basis for extension is solely proof of monthly transfers into the country as shown in Thai bank statement. They quite deliberately opted not to have lical IOs try to assess statements from foreign pension providers and the like.

 

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“As for any sort of statement from VA the police order is quite clear that the basis for extension is solely proof of monthly transfers into the country as shown in Thai bank statement. They quite deliberately opted not to have lical IOs try to assess statements from foreign pension providers and the like.”

 

Oh one more thing yeah I have a copy of the police order I know what it says and I can most certainly show proof of monthly income in my Thai bank account that’s easy but it doesn’t say that you can’t use US holiday calendars or pension letters as supporting documents. In fact according to my local immigration office about 2 and a half hours ago when I called them about this they said you actually can use supporting documentation with your proof of income in a Thai bank account (pass book) such as US holiday calendars and pension letters. I wish you could have heard that phone call between me and about two people at my local immigration office. So yes you can use supporting documentation with your financial information according to my local immigration office at least, but of course you still have to show your monthly income in a Thai bank account and they were very clear about that as well. There’s no substitute for showing your monthly income in a Thai bank account but they will accept supporting documents, what I discussed with them was US holidays and weekends that might effect payment dates and yes guess what VA pension letters as well but only as supporting documents NOT in place of your proof of monthly income in a Thai bank account I already knew that part before I called. But yes you can submit supporting documents such as US holiday calendars/weekends that effected your payment dates IF they even ask but I spoke to them on the phone and it sounds like they don’t even care as long as your monthly income is around the same time every month, if it’s early a few months a year because of weekends and holidays they understand that happens it’s just how banks do business they know that. They actually told me they know that on the phone. It’s common knowledge that banks post deposits early whenever a payment date falls on a weekend or holiday that’s not just in the states either banks in Thailand and all over the world are the same obviously different countries have different holidays but that’s how it works no bank in the world will post a payment to an account on a NON BUSINESS DAY.

 

So after talking to immigration as well as another extremely reliable source I wouldn’t worry about it too much but I can understand maybe having to explain US holidays because obviously immigration doesn’t keep track of our holidays in the states. I mean lol even if it is a problem what’s the worst that could happen I just go up to Savannakhét or somewhere and just start over with a new marriage visa after just a few days but it doesn’t sound like it’ll come to that after speaking with a very reliable source and my local immigration office just a few hours ago. My extension will be fine they’ll accept my financial proof since I honestly am doing it legally and within their financial regulations for marriage and retirement extension standards. But I’m on a marriage extension have been for 5 years. Personally I think the IDD program is one of the best things to happen in a while, it works great and it’s very convenient and safer than doing it by manual wire transfers every month. It also saves me a lot of time and money. I would rather chew glass than go back to doing wire transfers every month lol. I’m already loving the IDD system and I just received my first monthly pension payment on May 31st to my SCB account and I didn’t have to do anything, it’s beautiful.

 

 

 

Imm is not known for common sense. It IS known for nit picking. Remember that your extension will not be handled by people working at a policy level able to use discretion in figuring out what complies with the spirit if the rules. It will be done by field level drones who follow directives very literally and are afraid to do otherwise and their directive asks for proof of transfer "every month" for past 12 months. NOT every 30/31 days. Every month.

 

So if you are going to end up with 2 transfers in some months and none in others that really could prove problematic. Your best options:

 

- have direct depisit to a US account and do monthly SWIFT transfers.

 

- keep an eye on it and if a payment arrives at end of the prior month transfer funds back to US via Dee Miney then SWIFT transfer back to yourself

 

- don't use income method use the 800k in the bank method.

 

What I would not recommend doing is assuming Imm will be "reasonable".

 

As for any sort of statement from VA the police order is quite clear that the basis for extension is solely proof of monthly transfers into the country as shown in Thai bank statement. They quite deliberately opted not to have lical IOs try to assess statements from foreign pension providers and the like.

 

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 Oh I just saw this. You should read what I learned in my last post, over the last few hours I got the official answer confirmed by my local immigration office and from my experience over the past 5 years they are by the book but they most certainly are known for their use of common sense at least where I live they are. If there’s a weekend or a holiday month a few times a year it’s not a problem you might get questioned about it MAYBE and if you do be prepared to submit a list of official US holidays with your financial paperwork that they copy. If payday is early as it was in May because of the weekend that was still for end of month May, and if payday is on July 1st next payday and it might be that’s still for end of month June that’s a verifiable fact based on VA/military pension payments as well as Social Security it’s a monthly payment which can be verified by supporting documentation and US holiday calendars if necessary. So actually no way am I going back to doing monthly wire transfers and paying those wire transfer fees every month as well as all the time on the phone with the bank and then having to wait at least 2 more business days for my transfer to post to my Thai bank account, definitely no way I like the IDD system too much and I’m sticking with that because now I don’t have to do anything except just wait to be paid. And according to immigration about an hour ago when I called them as well as a much better source of information about these issues the way I’m doing it will be accepted and if they have any questions I just submit a list of official US holidays to them from online printed from an official website. They said that they know payments are early some months because of weekends and holidays. This option was offered by the embassy so I assume that the embassy has probably spoken to immigration about it as they did last year after talking to them about it on the phone they seem to understand the process somehow. When I mentioned VA payments they already knew that’s monthly and by the way during the conversation I learned that they also understand how Social Security works as well. My local immigration office is pretty good about answering questions although it’s easier to talk to them in person, over the phone can be challenging sometimes for example I just spent about 45 minutes on the phone with my local immigration office about this issue about an hour and a half ago.

 

So after getting that information there’s no way I’m going back to monthly wire transfers I’m sticking with my IDD it works great it saves me time, money, and trouble, and immigration will accept it. They basically said as long as there are 12 deposits throughout the year within each month it’s fine and if it’s early a few months a year because of weekends and holidays they understand that, no bank in the world ever processes payments on weekends or holidays that’s universal common knowledge. Although it is possible that I might have to explain US holidays but probably not. I still highly recommend the IDD program to anyone and I’m sticking with it for sure.

 

But thanks for bringing that to my attention though I actually did think about that last week myself, but just as I thought payments a day or two early a few months a year is not a problem as long as your monthly payments are typically consistent throughout the year. As long as there’s consistency in your monthly pay days throughout the year a few early paydays once in a while isn’t going to cause a red flag at immigration. Also I’ve been on a marriage extension for the last 5 years so the 800K method doesn’t apply to me.

 

And like I said I called immigration almost two hours ago and I confirmed this information. I’ve never had them answer any of my questions incorrectly before.

 

 

If your last came May 31 and the next comes 1 July then it will NOT have been every month.

The way most Thai Imm offices look at it, there has to he a transfer within every calender month. So in the above hypothetical case the absence of a transfer arriving within the month if June could potentially disqualify you.

Odds are this would not happen more than once or twice in a year and yes, one could compensate for it by making a special additional wire transfer if one were aware it had occurred. The risk is not knowing because one has set it all up on auto pilot and might not check each month in date of fund arrival.

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Actually I just got some good information about this I looked into it a bit and I’ll probably look into it a little more but as long as immigration sees that your payments are consistent each month for example in my case if they come in early a few months like the 30th or the 31st when they normally come in on the 1st it should not be a problem but I might have to explain it to them but since it only varies by a day or two some months that shouldn’t be a problem. I was told to bring a calendar which lists all official US holidays and show that to immigration as a supporting document IF they have questions about a few months pay periods.

And I actually just called my local immigration office and confirmed that it should not be an issue but if they do have questions they also said that the US holiday calendar would suffice as long as it is a monthly payment. They even asked me the source of my pension they kept thinking it was US Social Security and I told them Department of Veteran’s Affairs in English and they said “oh you were Soldier?” And I said “yes retired Soldier in English” and they apparently understood that and they know that VA pension payments are monthly. So I assume maybe the embassy has been communicating with immigration about it just like they did last year I don’t know but they seemed to be aware that VA payments are monthly payments. They confirmed that the list of US holidays would be sufficient such as a US holiday calendar. Someone else gave me that idea and I called immigration and I asked about monthly payments into a Thai bank account to confirm. At first they didn’t understand what I was asking but then I explained about monthly payments sometimes being earlier before the following month because of weekends and US holidays and then they knew what I meant and that’s when they asked me what the source of my pension payments are in the states and I told them va which they automatically knew exactly what that was. They said in English “oh you were Soldier” and I said “yes retired” and they said that VA and Social Security is okay and they know it’s a monthly payment. Then I started asking more questions about the early payment dates and they said “no problem”, but I asked more specifically about Sheryl’s point and they confirmed that the US holiday calendar idea is sufficient if they have questions. But that’s just my local immigration office.

Someone else on this forum who knows everything about this stuff actually gave me that idea and I called immigration and I confirmed that it’s sufficient IF they do have questions about any monthly payments but it sounds like as long as your payments are mostly consistent throughout the year every month then a few early payments shouldn’t raise any questions especially since it really is a monthly payment in reality it just can vary once in a while depending on weekends or US holidays. So when I called immigration to confirm that idea I kept asking about it and they eventually told me after about 30 minutes on the phone that if they have any questions about that the a calendar showing all official US holidays from an official source would be ok. So if you have a few months like Sheryl was talking about above all you have to do is just explain it to immigration and maybe show them a calendar of US holidays and there shouldn’t be a problem. Unless your payday schedule is totally mixed up with payment dates just scattered throughout the year and a lot of gaps in your monthly payment history then you might have a problem in that situation. But as long as your monthly payment schedule is consistent you should be fine maybe just bring a list of US holidays to answer any potential questions about any months you were paid earlier than usual because of weekends and US holidays. I spoke with immigration about this for almost 45 minutes on the phone and they understand that weekends and holidays do effect payment dates and that they can be early sometimes so they get it at least where I live anyway. Then again I still have over 7 months till I have to renew my next extension so we’ll see but I’m not worried about right now, even if there is a problem that’s why I have plan b which is start over with a new visa but I don’t think it will come to that I’m doing it the right way in accordance with their financial regulations so I should be ok. I still highly recommend the IDD program I definitely do not want to go back to wire transfers I like the IDD program to much so far because it saves me time and money each month and phone calls to my bank in the states every month. So there’s no way I’m going back to the old way this way is just to easy to pass up.

Also Sheryl if my next payment is on July 1st then actually it IS still “every month” since my July 1st payday is actually for end of month June, that’s if it is July 1st I don’t know yet it might be Friday June 28th regardless of June payday there are going to be at least a few months a year like that and it’s not a problem and if immigration asks questions about it then just bring in a calendar that shows all weekends and US holidays which I just confirmed with immigration is sufficient. I just confirmed it with them on the phone and I might ask again next time I’m there in person for my next 90 day report date.

Probably a good idea to bring an official US holiday list printed from an official government website so it’s a reliable source of information to them. In fact I think I remember them mentioning that on the phone must be official US holidays and obviously weekends are universal. I don’t have to do my next extension until around January so what I might do is not only bring in a list of US holidays printed from an official source such as a US.gov website but I’ll also print a Microsoft calendar spreadsheet that highlights each weekend, US holidays, and all of my MONTHLY paydays. Obviously they’re going to be early at least a few months out of the year because of weekends or US holidays but it’s still a MONTHLY payment only in reality and the VA and the military is very adamant about the fact that payday is monthly only and I believe so is Social Security. My wife’s Social Security starts next payday so I’ll see how that works but we save her Social Security and my military retirement pay in our bank in the states.

And immigration understands the concept of weekends and holidays effecting exact direct deposit dates I mean obviously that’s common sense so I almost feel dumb even asking them about it now.

Anyway bottom line just be prepared to explain that to immigration if you have a few paydays that are early and bring a list of US holidays to immigration with you just in case they do ask questions. I confirmed that through two reliable sources and one of them was actually from the horses mouth my immigration office themselves. But even they acted like ok yeah we understand that weekends and holidays are going to effect payment dates obviously, I mean it really is common sense when you think about it. But it might be a good idea to show them US holidays because obviously they don’t keep track of US holidays besides that it’s not a problem as long as your direct deposit dates are consistent each month. It’s just basic stuff payday does vary based on weekends or holidays everyone knows that including immigration it’s common sense.



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If your last came May 31 and the next comes 1 July then it will NOT have been every month.

The way most Thai Imm offices look at it, there has to he a transfer within every calender month. So in the above hypothetical case the absence of a transfer arriving within the month if June could potentially disqualify you.

Odds are this would not happen more than once or twice in a year and yes, one could compensate for it by making a special additional wire transfer if one were aware it had occurred. The risk is not knowing because one has set it all up on auto pilot and might not check each month in date of fund arrival.

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I might have misspoke on one thing regarding payday. My May 31st payday was for end of month May. It didn’t fall on June 1st because of the weekend. And my next payday whether it’s on end of month June or July 1st depending on if the weekend effects it will be for end of month June. Payday is normally supposed to be on the 1st of the month for the previous months pay period and sometimes it’s a day or two early depending on weekends or holidays but it’s still very consistent each month. Those weekends and holidays can effect the wire transfers the same way unless you are being extra careful about it each month. Even if immigration is gonna be nit picky about a day or two a few months out of the year when payday is maybe a day or two early which I seriously doubt but I guess it’s possible I don’t know I could always show my VA pension letters which verify that it is paid strictly on a monthly basis and show the print out from my eBenefits account which explains how their paydays work based on weekends or holidays before the 1st.

However I’m sure immigration has enough common sense to know that if the 1st fell on a weekend that obviously payday was a day early just one day before the 1st of the month and a day after the 30th should be obvious as well if the 1st falls on a regular weekday especially if they understand that my pension is automatically deposited to my Thai bank and regardless a weekend is still a weekend no matter how my deposit gets deposited it wasn’t that much different with the wire transfers except they were 2 to 4 days later each month. I would think that immigration is smart enough to read between the lines on that one because that’s kind of universal that banks normally never post anything on weekends or holidays but you still bring up a good point that’s probably worth investigating. Lol thanks Sheryl lol now you just gave me something new to worry about until I get to the bottom of it. Why did you have to tell me that? [emoji2]

It’s alright I probably will look into that just in case, it’s a technicality but you never know it might be an issue you are technically right even though it’s just a matter of a day or two but like I said each payday whether it’s on the 30th, 31st, or the 1st is for the previous month. It’s a verifiable fact that it’s a once a month payment for Social Security, VA payments, and military retirement pay but that’s a question that’s definitely worth looking into so thank you. But I still don’t see it being a problem and if it is the worst thing that could happen would be just leaving the country for a few days and getting a new visa at a Thai embassy and I’m on a marriage so that’s easy but hopefully it won’t come down to that, I don’t think it will but I’ll probably ask immigration about that and see what they say because you do bring up a good point.

Still I thought about that too and I really don’t think a matter of a few early paydays a year is going to matter because for example they can see it was deposited May 31st in my pass book which is only a day early. I certainly hope they aren’t that nit picky about it because I really like the IDD system it saves me a lot of time and money each month, I really don’t want to go back to international wire transfers and honestly I am not going back to that I like the IDD system a lot. Honestly I don’t foresee a minor technicality like that being a disqualifyer but it’s still worth investigating because technically you’re right even though each payday is for the previous month and it is strictly a monthly pension payment, the VA and the US military is very adamant about that being a monthly payment only, obviously weekends and holidays are going to effect that which I would think immigration could figure out it’s just a matter of looking at a calendar compared with your exact paydays. US holidays might not be easy to factor in with Thai immigration but weekends are universal especially when dealing with bank payments posting to accounts. But still a good point worth looking into so thanks Sheryl, and thanks for giving me something new to keep spinning round and round in my head until I get confirmation on it from immigration lol [emoji2].

If your last came May 31 and the next comes 1 July then it will NOT have been every month.

 

The way most Thai Imm offices look at it, there has to he a transfer within every calender month. So in the above hypothetical case the absence of a transfer arriving within the month if June could potentially disqualify you.

 

Odds are this would not happen more than once or twice in a year and yes, one could compensate for it by making a special additional wire transfer if one were aware it had occurred. The risk is not knowing because one has set it all up on auto pilot and might not check each month in date of fund arrival.

 

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Although what you’re saying actually did cross my mind as well. I thought about that but still I really don’t think getting paid a day or two early each month is going to matter that would be extremely nit picky especially since it’s going to be even more consistent with the IDDs. The monthly wire transfers often verified between two business days and sometimes 4 or 5 days depending on weekends and holidays. At least IDDs are more consistent and I don’t have to do anything or pay wire transfer fees. Lots of people are going to have that issue especially the Brits who receive their British pensions every 4 weeks and not necessarily on a monthly basis.

 

With the IDD program payday should be a lot more consistent as far as payday obviously weekends and holidays will have to be factored in. I’m sure they are aware that weekends can effect it by a few days just as they do international wire transfers. For example May 31st that’s literally only a day early by immigration standards I don’t think that would be a problem but it might be a good idea to ask and bring my pension letters from the va with me.

Basically my May 31st direct deposit was for June and that can be verified by my va pension letters if necessary but I don’t think they’re going to be that nit picky about a day or two a few months out of the year they’re smart enough to know better than that. I don’t know that could be a problem at some of these other immigration offices I’ve read so much about on here but I doubt it.

 

If your last came May 31 and the next comes 1 July then it will NOT have been every month.

The way most Thai Imm offices look at it, there has to he a transfer within every calender month. So in the above hypothetical case the absence of a transfer arriving within the month if June could potentially disqualify you.

Odds are this would not happen more than once or twice in a year and yes, one could compensate for it by making a special additional wire transfer if one were aware it had occurred. The risk is not knowing because one has set it all up on auto pilot and might not check each month in date of fund arrival.

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Well next month it’ll probably be end of month June because of the weekend before 1 July but honestly I’m not worried about that I mean seriously I’m sure immigration can read between the lines better than that you’re talking about a matter of a day or two between the end of each month and the 1st. Plus I have documentation that actually says that it’s a “monthly” pension payment from the va. The same thing can happen with wire transfers depending on weekends or holidays. I do understand what you’re saying but I really don’t think that’s anything to worry about especially since it’s verifiable that my pension payments are monthly payments. I’m sure immigration understands that weekends and holidays effects monthly payment dates lol.

That "earlier than usual" part us actually worrying for those of us hopung to use IDD to meet immigration requirements for monthly transfer of income from abroad. The requirements are for a transfer every single month and apparently SS sometimes makes a transfer at the end of the month ig the usual payment date falls on a holiday...this has especially been noted to occur around Labor Day with people then getting a second payment in August and no payment in September.... Which Thai immigration will not accept. 

I had hoped that the IDD process would add at least 1 day delay so that there'd be little chance of that happening. If instead it is ultra fast then there may be a problem...

 

 

 

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My first IDD from the va was only about 8 hours earlier than usual and it’s still only once a month trust me it’ll meet immigration requirements it’s still exactly once a month. Although it eliminates the two business days that it takes for international wire transfers to post to the account. My last payday was on May 31st and my next payday should be around end of month June or July 1st at the latest the actual pay date just depends on weekends or holidays in between it could be a day or two early or on the 1st of the month at the latest. It’s nothing to worry about it’s still once a month. It’s not “ultra fast” but mine was about 8 hours earlier just considering the time zone difference between Thailand and the states. It is once a month which immigration will accept. Although I’m taking about the va not Social Security. It is actually the same situation when doing international wire transfers it’s once a month which will be accepted by immigration.

 

 

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You can complete it and download it here. https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-24-0296a-ARE.pdf

You know actually that’s a slightly older version of the form because the email address at the bottom is not the correct email address as far as I know. The email address I contacted them at was [email protected] and that email address was also the same email address at the bottom of the updated form. Here’s a picture of the most current form but it’s probably best to contact them at the following email address first and ask, [email protected]. They will respond to you from that email address [email protected] which is at the bottom of the updated VA IDD form. I’m sorry I’m on my smartphone at the moment not a computer so I can’t send you the pdf copy of the form but here’s a picture of the updated VA IDD form. Just contact the va at [email protected] for the most current version of the VA IDD form. Sorry to correct you Joe but that is the old version of the form I’m sorry I’m not on my computer so I can’t send the pdf version of the form but here’s a picture:

Where did you email the VA IDD form?  And where did you get the VA IDD form? 

 

This website link from the embassy will tell you everything you need to know. This is where I got the IDD form:

 

 

https://th.usembassy.gov/message-for-u-s-citizens-direct-deposit-of-federal-benefit-payments/

 

The email address for the VA IDD program is [email protected] just contact them at that email address and ask them for the international direct deposit form and they will send it to you. It’s just a one page form just ask them for the blank form and fill out their form and scan it and then send it back to them and they get it done pretty fast. I would send you the blank form myself but I’m not on my computer at the moment I’m on my smartphone. Just contact them at [email protected]. It’s a really simple process.

How and where did you register the SCB account?  Manila?  Or. USA.  Online or in person? 

 

I “opened” the SCB account in Thailand if that’s what you’re asking.

How and where did you register the SCB account?  Manila?  Or. USA.  Online or in person? 

 

I’m not sure what you mean by “register” the SCB account I didn’t have to all I had to do was just simply fill out the VA IDD form and email it to them as a pdf file and now my VA pension goes to my SCB account as simple as that. I don’t receive Social Security yet my wife does, I have my va pension benefit payments going to SCB and my military retirement pay going to our bank in the states along with my wife’s Social Security.

It is great I love how my VA IDD works I have more good news about the VA IDD. Basically that’s approximately 102,000 baht a month going directly into my Thai bank account at SCB and we still save my military retirement pay and my wife’s Social Security income in our bank in the states so it works out well. Like I said I received my first VA IDD on May 31st at 9AM local time which is actually a lot earlier than usual. We were thinking about doing the same thing with my wife’s Social Security but we decided to let that go to our bank in the states with my military retirement pay. It’s a great new system I love it.

 

 

This may be some good news for folks whose Social Security benefit/pension payment going to Bangkok Bank is not being sent/received in ACH "IAT" format (like one of my family members) which meant beginning 1 Apr 19 any payment/transfer not in IAT format would be rejected by Bangkok Bank as talked about in several other threads over the last 6 to 9 months.   
 
I just checked the SSA operating instructions (i.e., what they call POMS) website regarding the International Direct Deposit (IDD) for Thailand and as of 23 Jan 19 the regulation has been updated/replaced the original 5 Nov 18 version.  A weblink to the reg is provided below.   The update now says payments must go to Thai baht accounts which is a major change.  
 
The original 5 Nov 18 version said IDD SS payments sent to Thailand must be into "Foreign Currency accounts" or what Thai banks call a Foreign Currency Deposit (FCD) account.   Or said another way US Dollars would be sent to and maintained in a FCD account which means a recipient would need to open a FCD account in order to sign-up for IDD.  Plus FCDs accounts have a different fee schedule, minimum monthly balance required to avoid a monthly account maintenance fee, limitation on which branches can be used to withdraw money, and variety of other possible negatives depending on the individual.
 
I still haven't seen any guidance from the Manila SSA office or the Baltimore Int'l SSA Office regarding "actual IDD implementation."   I mean guidance announcing IDD for Thailand is now officially open for enrollment...what Thai banks are participating...what restrictions might be on the account...here's the sign-up form to use....here's the specific enrollment instructions...etc.  Hopefully soon.  
 
Maybe actual implementation has been delayed because SSA determined requiring an FCD account was too problematic during their Thailand IDD testing phase over the last few months and they have now switched back to requiring a Thai baht account, but needed to update the governing operating instruction along with coordinating with the US Treasury.  Who knows.
 
Time to ping Manila SSA Office (again)...see how long it takes to get a response....ask for their latest IDD guidance...sign-up form...etc.   But I bet we are getting very close to SS IDD going online for Thailand which will be good.
 
Below is the weblink to the regulation (it's short) and a partial quote/snapshot from it stating IDD payments will be made to Thai baht accounts where before it said Foreign Currency accounts.  
 
https://secure.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0202402419   
 

 
 

I just started receiving my VA Direct Deposit this way last payday via international direct deposit and I think it’s great. I use SCB and I was paid early on May 31st faster than it used to go into my US bank account. I’m retired military so my military retirement pay still goes to my US bank account which is the way I prefer anyway with my wife’s Social Security so we can save that half of our income. Since I’m rated at 100% disabled my va pension is more than enough to support us both and more than enough to satisfy immigration requirements. I received my first international direct deposit for my va pension on May 31st at 9AM local time into my SCB account and it works really great I love it.

I received my va direct deposit to my Thai bank account this morning May 31st 2019 at about 9AM local time so their international direct deposit system works great. I was paid at least 8 hours earlier than usual. I highly recommend it!!!

 

No country of that name. 

 

The South Pole it’s a whole continent

 

 

 

 

I just received my first va international direct deposit this morning through the new treasury department system and it’s awesome. I got paid earlier this month than usual. I highly recommend it to anyone living here full time receiving a va pension. I leave the rest of our income going to our bank in the states and we just use my va pension as income. Since I’m rated at 100% it’s more than enough for both of us and more than enough to satisfy any immigration extension requirement for a marriage or retirement visa. So we just save the other half of our income in the states. It’s a great system and I’m loving it so far. Just my va pension income alone is over $3200 USD a month (approximately 102,000 baht a month). If you are not familiar with it here’s the link from the US Embassy website for the international direct deposit program, I highly recommend it:

 

https://th.usembassy.gov/message-for-u-s-citizens-direct-deposit-of-federal-benefit-payments/

 

 

 

If you have a monthly income of 100,000 baht you’re more than qualified for a retirement visa. I bring in approximately 102,000 baht a month worth of my income into my Thai bank account every month the rest we leave in the states. I’m on a marriage visa but I am retired. I have my va pension sent direct deposit to my Thai bank account every month. I was doing the wire transfers every month but I just recently set up the international direct deposit to my Thai bank account just for my va pension only which is about $3,200 USD a month. I received my first va direct deposit to my Thai bank account this morning and I love that new treasury department international direct deposit system it’s awesome. We leave the rest of our income going to our bank in the states such as my military retirement pay and my wife’s Social Security, I only bring my va pension into my Thai bank account every month. I’m considering maybe one day changing to a retirement visa because it’s really not that hard to stay here with that much income every month and the immigration rules here really aren’t that bad especially if you have that much monthly income. I think you’d be making a mistake trading Thailand for Laos or Cambodia when you have plenty of income to qualify for a retirement visa but it depends on where you want to be. I might switch from a marriage visa to a retirement visa one day just because the extension process for the retirement is a lot faster but either one is basically the same thing just slightly different rules.