john thom

On 10/15/2019 at 7:58 PM, lamyai3 said:

Idiotic comment. The three rogue embassies were directly responsible for increasing the income requirement for their own nationals when they yielded to immigration's insistence that 100% of it has to be brought into Thailand, incurring both transfer expenses, and a lack of option to keep some of that income in their home country where it may also be needed.

 

This has created a two tier system, with citizens of the remaining countries who continue to provide income letters enjoying considerable less onerous conditions around obtaining extensions. I don't know if the whole thing was a crackdown that fizzled out, or a deliberate targeting of certain embassies by immigration, but given the fact that it's a year later and no further embassies have followed suit, it's high time this matter got revisited. 

Well said

mtls-   were you in 

sisaket?

On 9/14/2019 at 10:13 AM, mtls2005 said:

 

Can you share the office location?

 

 

Sisaket-

6 hours ago, Changoverandout said:

Citibank sent me a letter stating they receive money from U.K. pension office and transfer to my bank.

The other pensions I send ad hoc throughout the year via transferwise and are coded FTT (foreign transfer).

Yes I asked the IO if I’d be okay a while back and she said I need 40000 per month so I’m going armed with the police order in Thai and English.

 

Fingers etc crossed!

Good luck, hope your in the winners circle.  My IO office denied my retirement renewal and told me to go to Laos for a non immigrant till I could have FULL year-every month transfers, even though I've been going there for 3 years and I bring all income proof- ie tax statements, pension statements social security

23 hours ago, UKresonant said:

After 17 months I've reached the conclusion there is no way to be "safe", just have to prepare for as many options as possible, and hope one of them is of use when the time comes! ???? ????

hahah, you are soooo right-.   The right hand has no idea what the left hand is doing

Thanks for the information guys-

2 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I thought he was going to Savannhket.

Jacko- yea, was thinking over options, from what information I got on here I would have to move to CM, so yes am going to Savannhket-

yeah, just a thought- IO here in Sisaket not very helpful with income transfers-

I live in Sisaket, what are the chances of trying to renew my retirement "visa" in Chaing mai, since I read on here that they honor the amendment to police order on 65k monthly wire transfers. My retirement stamp expires Oct.20,2019, or is it too late, or since I live here I have to renew here-

Have to try to renew my non-O "visa" based on retirement next month- Read about having to get criminal record from U.S and here ( Sisaket). Got a report from a webiste in U.S. Today I went to Sisaket police and asked them about a criminal report for me so I could bring it along with everything else to Savannhket next month, and they had no idea what I was talking about-   Is there a form I can get to show them or something-

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

By the book, not always in practice.

This unfortunately is the predicament many expats are facing this year due to amendments, which are being clearly misinterpreted or ignored this year.

 

Hopefully from 2020, when only monthly transfers of 12 x 65K are acceptable, some of the shenanigans being practiced this year will evaporate.

check, gotta just keeping on keeping on

9 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

Just try getting one first.

 

http://www.thaiembassy.org/savannakhet/th/services/9736/106949-Non-Immigrant-Visa-"O"-(For-the-purpose.html

Non-Immigrant Visa "O" is issued to applicants who wish to enter Thailand for the purpose of retirement in Thailand. The Validity of Visa is 3 months. The permitted length of stay is up to 90 days from the date of arrival in Thailand.

Required Documents

1. Visa application Form [Download] which is completely filled out and signed by the applicant
2. Original Passport or travel document (must not expire within 180 days and contain at least two complete empty visa pages) and A copy of passport (The page (s) shows The applicant's photo, name, date, and place of birth and The expiration date of passport).
3. Two (2) photos of the applicant (3.5 x 4.5 cm, taken within 6 months)
4. Bank Statement (minimum of THB 800,000) or Certification of Income (minimum of THB 65,000 monthly)
5. Official Letter from the concerned Embassy/Consulate of applicant's nationality
6. Visa Fee: 2,000 Baht (Single Entry)

Notes

• Consular officers reserve the rights to request additional documents as deemed necessary.
• Visa Fee must be paid in Thai Baht only. Visa Fees are not refundable in any cases.
• Document in foreign languages must be translated into Thai. If translated into English, it should be notarized by notary organs or the applicant's diplomatic/consular mission.
• The applicant must sign on each page of copies of documents.

thanks- just new to all this, never had any problems before-

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

As I have written before you do not need one year of transfers if you get a single entry non-o visa. You only need a couple of transfers since it will be considered your first extension of stay application. It appears you will have 5 transfers if apply near the end your 90 day entry from the visa.

thanks Joe-  new to all this

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

He won't get a 1 year Non Imm O ME, at best he'll get a 90 day SE Non O.

90 day se non-o, then go back and get another every 90 days till I have enough transfers for 1 year?

38 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

 

 

30 minutes ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi John Thom, I understand your dilemma.  But having to leave the country for obtaining a Non Imm O Visa, followed by 9 months in which you would have to make more border-runs before you have reached your 12 months of income transfers, after which  you will be once again in the clear, sounds very excessive to me.  And all this for avoiding loss of face of the immigration officer?

But indeed, it's your choice and if the prospect of having to meet her again every year after her decision was reversed, is worse than all the hassle you subject yourself to during coming 9 months, I understand your choice.

 

check, It'll be a nice 3 road trip for us- fun- not too bad going to Laos-

Just now, john thom said:

It will be 3 in October

2 hours ago, Tanoshi said:

Ok, you have an extension based on retirement, a permit, not a Visa.

 

At best, you'll only be able to obtain a single entry Non O Visa at Savannakhet, which will allow a 90 day entry, taking you to January.

The Non O-A Visa is only available from the US.

 

How many transfers do you have and are they coded as International transfers (FTT).

It will be 3 in October

2 hours ago, Peter Denis said:

Hi John Thom,

Reading your post I believe that Tanoshi was right and that you initially entered Thailand with a Non Imm OA Visa.  Such a Visa is valid for 1 year, and if you leave and re-enter Thailand before the Visa expiry date, you will have a permission to stay for another year.  During that second year before leaving Thailand you will need to obtain a re-entry permit, otherwise the validity of that permission to stay will be void.  

At the end of that second year you then need to apply for an Extension of Stay, and when approved you can stay once again a full year before you need to apply for such an Extension of Stay again.  When applying for an Extension of Stay earlier you only had to prove you had sufficient funds to live here in Thailand, which you obviously succeeded with since you wrote that you already 'renewed' 3 years.

So presently you are living here on an Extension of Stay, and wanted to extend that one. 

But earlier this year the rules have changed and you now need to demonstrate that you have 800K/400K in the bank or monthly income transfers of +65.000 THB.

What is worrying and extremely unfortunately for you, is that the SiSaKet immigration office refuses to show leeway because you cannot show a history of 12 month transfers of +65.000 THB.  Even though you rightly pointed out, it's a new law and it's unreasonable to expect that you would meet the requirements at a time when the law was not even issued.  

So you now need to leave the country and apply for a Non Imm O Visa in Laos, so that eventually you can get your extension of stay when you meet the financial requirements, and later on things will be back to normal then.

Is my rendering correct?  If so, then it is extremely unfortunate for you and I would request to meet the highest officer in the SiSaKet IO to plead your case.  Obviously you do not want to perceived as the farang trouble-maker as you need to deal with them afterwards, so the talk should be a friendly polite enquiry (bring your wife or a relative with you so that english/thai is no problem, and have all documents with you).  The talk with the higher officer might avoid you having to go through the trouble of applying for a new Visa in Laos.  You have nothing to lose, and am relatively sure there would be no hard feelings from the lady officer of the SiSaKet office when her decision is turned around, as it is of such importance for you.

Peter- Thanks-, I had my lady with me, plus all documents all 3 times I talked to her about renewing my retirement. IO boss said she knows that I have the funds- I'm tempted to bring the letter from immigration police stating that this is first year and give some leway, but-  don't want to have her lose face and then have to deal with her for the rest of my life here. Think I'll just make the trip to Savannahket and try for the non imm o

23 hours ago, WhatupThailand said:

For the last 13 years I used the income letter given by the US Consulate,

now that they don't give those anymore, I have been going around and around,

with both Immigration and Bangkok bank to get the info needed for doing the monthly income method.

What I have found out:

1- You need a letter from your bank confirming Your Name tied to the Account Number.

Must be full name which matches both your passport and bank account.

2- You need a letter from your bank detailing all deposits for last 12 months, all must show International transfers from outside Thailand. You have to order this from your bank, and it

can take 5 to 7 days depending on which bank. BE SURE IT HAS BANK BAL TOTAL INCLUDED.

3-You also need to have normal 6 month printout from your bank, UPDATE YOUR BOOK FIRST

4-ALSO bring your Yellow House book with you, may not be required, but best be prepared.

5-If you can get printout of 12 Month history from your Foreign Bank, to match with deposits,

it will help, but is not always needed.

6-You may need to prove you receive a SS or Other Monthly Pension,

Can use Foreign Bank Deposit Records which show Monthly Pension payments.

 

Never know what the IO bureaucrat will ask for, as it is Totally at his discretion, and can vary

from one to another. Which means Bad Day Unlucky for you, Good Day Sail on through.

 

Hope this Helps lessen the load for my fellow Expats.

thanks, whatup- good info

Tanoshi,  I have a Retirement "visa", It expires Oct 20,2019. Went to my IO here in Sisaket to renew last month. IO officer said I didn't have 12 months of transfers so I should go to laos get a 1 year non O, or A (since not married to my lady ) to build up my transfers. I tried to explain to her that it's a new law- nobody has 12 months of transfers ( 3 times ). Told her immigration said to give leway because of 1 year of law , she just smiled and said sorry .I've been renewing here for 3 years now. As I live here and have to deal with her and the office I don't want to get on their bad side. going to Laos ( Savannahket ) is no big deal. I just tell them the situation and they will lead me in the right direction I hope-

Tanoshi-  have a long stay non-O based on retirement

ahhh, thanks-

Have to go next month- so, teusday/wendsday good days-  traveling from Sisaket

the thai police clearance certificate-  is it a form- , I only say this because Sisaket police had no idea what I was talking about.