oldcpu

9 hours ago, sabaiguy said:

You're a "Wealthy Pensioner" don't have to worry about running the AC.

I never worried about running the A/C, even before we had solar panels ...  I am a lucky guy as my Thai wife is careful with our money - but given we are not poor, most times she is far too careful, as before we had solar panels she did not want to switch on the A/C much  (which I see as silly as we can't take our money with us, and we have no children to bequeath the money too ) ... but now have solar panels, she is now very happy to turn on the A/C a LOT more .    So yes - I am very happy now we have solar panels - given the current heat in Thailand.

3 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

My wife tells me that for license renewals the proof of residence isn't needed. 

In Phuket a couple of years ago,  I needed 'proof of residence' for my Thai driver's license renewal.  However they were happy with my 'Yellow Book' (showing my condo ownership/residence) and with 'Pink-ID' (and my passport) and they did not ask for a TM-30.

4 hours ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

I don't have a Thai wife. 
 

 

I don't stay in Thailand for more than 180 days. Before, I used to stay 3 months in Thailand, 3 months in Portugal and 6 months in the US. I have sold all my real estate in Portugal. Now I only stay 6 months in the US and 6 months in Thailand, and visit Portugal one or twice a year for a month. 

 

 

I don't do 90-day online or not. The agent picks up my Passport from my condo and returns it the next day. Sometimes I even don't need to do 90 days because I make a trip to Singapore to visit family members. 

 

 

Agents never asked me for any documents except my passport. And she picks it up from my condo. 

In the last 7-years that I have been in Thailand, I have never stepped foot in the IO office. Last March, I wanted to get a taste of the IO office for a residence certificate to renew my driving license. I went to the office and handed over my passport. They said your TM-30 is not up-to-date. I ran from there and called my agent. She came and got the passport from me and got a residency certificate and a brand new TM-30 stapled to my passport. And then she drove me to the DMV office and got my license renewed. 

 

Ok - so if under age-70, and if no Thai wife, then if you don't fly business class, you will likely have to suffer through the immigration lines.  NOT having to suffer through those lines is a benefit, especially when they are long.  When I departed Phuket in March of this year, there was a 30-minute to 45-minute foreigner line just to reach the immigration booths (so catch one's flight). It was sheer madness. People were panicking that they could miss their flights. ...  Since there was no fast track line, I was able, with my LTR visa to show it at the Thai immigration line (which had NO ONE in line  but they accepted 'fast track' people) and I could bypass that 30 to 45 minute foreigner wait.  I consider that a useful benefit.

I don't pay an agent ... I use that money for food and drinks instead.  And while I don't begrudge those who want to use an agent,  I still do note an LTR in this case (my not paying an agent) has saved me that money.   I consider that saving a useful benefit.

If the agent does not ask you for any documents, and if you stay in Thailand for 6 months (or shorter periods) then I assume you are regularly contacting your agent (or your agent contacting you) for either the 90-day report, or the TM-30 or for other aspects.   With a 5 year permission to stay - I don't have to contact an agent multiple times per year.  I don't need to phone an agent.  An agent doesn't need to phone me.   I don't have to leave Thailand every 90-days so not to have a 90-day report ... etc ..   I consider that being able to stay peacefully. relaxing in my seaside condo, for 1 year full year with no such contact needed, a useful benefit.

Many of us stay in Thailand MORE than 180 days a year. That implies tax residency. You don't have that, but many of us do.  Hence it appears for those of us, having an LTR visa that the LTR-visa could turn out to be a significant benefit for reasons of taxes. Really significant.

So maybe you don't see any benefits - but I dare say many of us do.  I think its clear we would not have applied for (and obtained the LTR) if we did not believe there was a benefit.  

But I have said before and I will again. Thailand has many visa options, and LTR is not a visa for everyone.  It is thou for some of us.

1 hour ago, Ben Zioner said:

Amusing that one, BOI have reinvented perpetual movement. I live in Surin, and would need to spend on night in Bangkok to do my TM30, going back to Surin I would need yet another TM30, so off to Bangkok again, etc..

Indeed.

I think thou most immigration offices don't require a TM30 for one's internal to Thailand travel if one always returns to one's normal Thai residence. I think it also possible (?) to postal mail a TM30 in addition to doing online.

I believe it's only when one returns to Thailand from being outside of the country that a few (?) more immigration offices want a TM30 filed.

Which brings up an interesting thought .. at present for most of the LTR visa holders, we deal with BoI and the immigration in the same building and floor in Bangkok. Does their TM30 requirements supercede any of our local immigration office requirements ( if different). I suspect this is a very mute question as this is all pretty minor.

21 hours ago, LivingNThailand said:

I did that once.  The first year I went to immigration, I got 12 month statements for both accounts.   Since you had 800,000 in both accounts for a couple of weeks it shouldn't be a problem.

 

Thanks - that's interesting to know (even if no longer applicable to me).

When I did this a few years back (switching from Bangkok Bank to Krungsri bank) , I simply setup a new Krungsri account with the 800k THB in it for over a year, before switching from Bangkok Bank account (where I also maintained the 800k THB for the same year), and that also worked fine for Phuket immigration.  My biggest 'worry' was it would be more difficult (for the new Krungsri Bank account, as opposed to the old Bangkok Bank account) to prove the new 800k in Krungsri came from outside of Thailand.  The money did come from outside of Thailand, but the paper trail would have been complicated and a small annoyance to prove.

Thankfully immigration never asked for that proof.

3 minutes ago, Presnock said:

 

The response was a BOI explanation of the yearly report and included in the first sentence that one was to do the TM.30 at the BOI immigration office or I guess who ever is doing the report pluse the other requirements. 

I read that - but that was for the documents needed if one does not leave the country and has to do a 1-year report at BoI.

The other half of that was to do with a Thai driver's licence application (either TM-30 or legal document with regard to property where one is staying - I can't recall exact words).

Still, I do believe none of that exempts the LTR visa holder from having to do a TM-30 when re-entering Thailand.

3 minutes ago, Presnock said:

Yes I think that 99.9% of the forum users don't have a very good opinion of the TM30 reporting

Agreed - the requirement to submit a TM-30 is fuzzy at best - perhaps even worse than fuzzy.

3 minutes ago, Presnock said:

take care, enjoy the heat!

Yes - take care also.  And the heat !!  After 6 weeks in New Zealand and Australia, the humidity and heat when we arrived back in Thailand 2 weeks ago hit us like a red hot brick wall.

Thank God that we invested in solar panels last summer, so we can turn on our A/C a LOT more than normal, and still have a 0 THB electrical bill.

.

6 minutes ago, Presnock said:

if you check out the response of SHA 22 BKK, where there is included the info in the BOI website about this subject - includes reporting to the BOI immigration the tm.30  info plu plus plus.

Yes - that response of SHA 22 BKK is relevant for reporting if after 1 year, one has still not left the country.  Then one must fill in those appropriate forms as the 1-year reporting "counter" was never reset.

However if one exits and returns, as has been noted, the clock/clock for 1 year restarts counting from the beginning again.

Still, my understanding, and I would be happy to be proven wrong with a pointer to an official document, NONE OF THAT exempts an LTR visa holder from having to complete a TM-30.  TM-30s are still, as far as I can determine required when one re-enters the country. And that TM-30 lists where one is staying.

The confusing aspect for many of us with regard to TM-30s, is each immigration office appears to interpret the TM-30 requirement differently.  Since as LTR visa holders, we have much less interaction with immigration, it is likely (?) this "TM-30" aspect is not a big thing and will never arise as an issue if not completed.   In my case, I am very conservative, so I did (have my Thai wife for me) fill in an online TM-30 when I returned to Thailand a couple of weeks ago.

On 5/4/2024 at 8:17 AM, Presnock said:

I am only telling you my experience and meetings with the BOI reps.  In my passport is a note indicating that I am to report where I am living once a year.  If it does not apply to you, I am not concerned, just wanted you to know what I have been instructed by the BOI folks.  good luck stay safe

As has been pointed out , when one exits and re-enters Thailand, that resets the 1 year clock.

As for reporting where you live once per year, when you re-enter Thailand, you still must do an online TM-30 which indicates to immigration where you are staying. 

There is nothing new there.

18 hours ago, JackGats said:

My understanding was that it needed to be cash over 12 months, never mind which kind of account (current account, savings account, brokerage account). It then became an issue of showing at least 12 statements of account for at least 12 consecutive months up to the present.

As pointed out - this was not the case when I applied.

For self health insurance, I tried two different accounts, both easily exceeded the $100K US cash equivalent. One was a 'pure' trading account, and despite exceeding the cash requirement, it was rejected as it was a trading account.

I then tried (what in Canada is called) a Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP). ... sort of like a USA 401k, where that 'Savings plan' account also had the prerequisite cash by a large margin (multiples). That was also rejected by BoI.

In the end I pointed to a Foreign Currency Account in Thailand bank, that had the prerequisite amount and that was accepted.  I did not want to use that Thai bank account initially, as I wanted to be able to tap into that account (and lower it below the $100k US equivalent).  However, since I now use that account (for the $100K US$ self health insurance accepted now by BoI) I have restructured my finances a bit, such that I don't have to touch money in that account.   But I am curious to learn (maybe in 4 more years time) if that restructuring on my part was really necessary.

4 hours ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

I thought to apply for an LTR visa, but except for the Work permit to run your business, I really did not see any more benefits.

LTR has many more benefits - but possibly for YOUR situation - they are not applicable.

I assume when you travel, you always travel business class, or you have a Thai wife who always travels with you, such that you can go through a Thai immigration line when you travel out of country?  or you simply don't travel out of country any more.    I am  age 70 (with Thai wife) and I still travel - as much as I can generate the energy to travel. Theoretically (if I didn't have a Thai wife or if I was under age-70), I think it fair to say the LTR visa would have saved me from suffering in about 3 hours of immigration lines when both leaving and entering Thailand.

I assume ALL your income is covered by a Double Tax Agreement and hence you receive no benefit from the tax exemption (by Thai Royal decree) for any money brought into Thailand.  This LTR tax exemption on money brought into Thailand, has the potential over coming years, to be a big benefit to some, dependent how the Thai implementation of some tax enforcement changes play out.

I assume the online 90-day reports always worked for you (they never worked for me) and so since you say you don't travel much anymore , you can still do your 90 day reports online?  In my case, before I had the LTR visa, the 90-day online NEVER worked.  If I had not traveled recently, I would every 90-days have to drive to immigration (and potentially go in line with the hordes at immigration)  to do a 90-day report.  Since getting the LTR I have not had to do an immigration 'report' (other than my entering/leaving Thailand at the immigration booth).

Can you submit your documentation (for your extensions) online to your agent ? (ie sit on a chair on your seafront accommodations balcony with your feet up, sipping a glass of wine)?  I could to that with my LTR application.  I do note my friends on type-O visas can mostly do such with their agents (to whom they give power of attourney for their visas) except they are required yearly to physically visit their agent a couple of times AND despite having an agent they are still required to go to immigration yearly to pick up their passport with their extensions.  Perhaps other agents handle this differently.

I confess - when the LTR-WP (wealthy pensioner) visa was announced I too was a BIG skeptic.  A couple of my friends strongly recommended the LTR-WP visa to me and I shrugged off their recommendations, stating it had no tangible benefits over my new (then) Type-O non-immigrant visa (as i had recently switched to the Type-O from a Type-OA).   One of my friends, who knows my financial situation, challenged me, point by point, to prove my rejection of the LTR-WP.  As a result, after a point by point review, he convinced me I was wrong (given my financial status) to reject the LTR Visa. 

That point by point check also convinced me that the LTR visa is not helpful for some, but for others it is very good.

I suspect BoI had some specific guidelines they had to follow for the LTR visa qualifications ... and they in my view deliberately limited the LTR to those in strong financial situations with a substantial very liquid portfolio (but not in stocks/foreign-property/nor foreign company ownership) and a strong consistent financial source of money (from either major companies or passive income from government or major companies - and likely not from astute stock trading).  Clearly there were exceptions on this, but in general, I believe they deliberately did not include the vast majority of expatriates, whose finances are more subtle/illusive as to how it is structured.  The finances of many expatriates and foreigners being more illusive, BoI, likely for good reasons (to eliminate their own administrative verification efforts) decided to not expand the LTR qualification to include the wealthy whose source of money was more difficult for them to be assured of future stability.  A case in point - they reject the $100k US$ equivalent for health insurance in a trading portfolio, even if a massive amount of money in that account is cash (5x or more of that $100k US$ equivalent) just because that cash is in an account with stock trading functionality.  BoI drew a line to reject cash in any stock trading portfolio. 

I do note, that Thai immigration still kept all the other visa types after the LTR visa was introduced - and for those potential or existing expatraites whom the LTR visa makes no sense (due to how their wealth is structure, or how they receive their wealth) , I note that there are other options to stay in Thailand, with the other visa types.

2 hours ago, CartagenaWarlock said:

The best thing in Thailand is to just get an agent to get your things done, including your retirement visa and never step into the immigration office. I avoided the immigration office for 7 years and always got things done by agents. Last March, I wanted to get a taste of the IO office to get my residence certificate for my MC license. They looked at my stapled TM30 and said it was out of date. I ran from there and went to my agent, who got everything done for me, including a brand new TM30 without any documents. 

The beauty of the LTR visa is it is valid for 10 years.  No need to go for an agent EVERY YEAR.  No need to pay an agent - EVERY YEAR.

Further, one can apply for the LTR-visa - where in my case I uploaded all the documents with a laptop computer from my condo balcony (with a great sea view) with my feet up, sipping a glass of wine.  Why pay an agent - as I meet the requirements and I don't have to wait at immigration ?

I do thou, have a couple of good friends who share your view and always use an agent. They easily meet the Type-O visa financial requirements, and they do NOT want to wait with the hordes at immigration ever year.  So EVERY YEAR they pay an agent (which includes handing over 'power of attorney' to the agent for the Type-O visa extensions) and this reduces my friends travel EVERY YEAR to 1 or 2 trips to see the agent, and 1 trip to immigration to pick up the passport when the extension stamp is in place. 

Each to their own - but I note the LTR visa is for 10 years ( with financial proof and likely a trip to Bangkok to have next 5 year stamp applied needed).  I much prefer that over yearly going for a 1-year extension via an Agent.  Again - each to their own.

22 hours ago, pedritosan said:

 However, there is a 1-year requirement for check in with immigration. When I went to immigration, they told me to fill out the 90-day form and come back in 90-days. I explained that it had been 1 year since I last came into the country. They told me that I should wait another 90 days before checking in. Is that correct?

No, it reads to me that the immigration individual made a mistake asking you to return in 90-days and they are likely unfamiliar with the LTR Visa.

The first time I re-entered Thailand with an LTR visa at Phuket, it created a big 'buzz' of excitement, and a bit of a huddle of a few IO, as they rarely see an LTR visa in Phuket (according to what my Thai wife was told by one of the IO).  That was early last autumn last year.

Then about 2 weeks ago, when I re-entered Thailand with an LTR visa (again at Phuket), I passed to the IO my passport opened at the LTR visa page, and made a point of VERY politely indicating the LTR-Visa stamp when I handed it to the IO (because my passport has many stamps and I was afraid the IO might miss the LTR visa stamp).  The IO stared at the LTR-WP visa stamp for a long time then the IO held it up to the glass to the adjacent IO booth.  That IO in the adjacent boot stated "LTR (  + something in Thai ) and then walked around to the immigration booth where I (and my IO) were at, and from what I could understand explained to 'my IO' as to how to handle an LTR visa.

So its clear to me the LTR visa is still 'relatively new' and hence I believe those 90-day report comments are simply from an IO who is NOT yet familiar with the LTR visa.  If it were me, and if that 'return in 90-day request' were to happen, I would VERY POLITELY ask for confirmation from the IO's boss as to the 90-day report request being needed (politely pointing out a reference page on LTR visa requirements) , as it is clear that a 90-day report is not a nominal requirement for an LTR visa.

This LTR visa is still new - and some learning (and some mistakes) are likely still being made.

4 hours ago, Ben Zioner said:

I don't think that's right, BOI know when a tax return should be available. For instance when you apply while living in your home country, or a US citizen. In my case, where I applied after living 7 years in Thailand and as a non US citizen, they understood that I couldn't show a tax return. 

I am not convinced BoI know when a tax return should be available - at least NOT in my case.

I suspect it depends on more than just one's stay in Thailand for I have been in Thailand since 2019 (and applied for LTR-WP in mid-Jan-2023). 

In the case of the Wealthy Pension LTR visa, I suspect the source of one's retirement income plays a factor.   BoI know that for foreigners living in Thailand, that there will likely be withholding tax on one's pension, and then one might (or might not) have to file a tax return for that country.

Case in point:  I obtain a small German pension, and the German government sent me a letter asking me NOT to file a tax return to them, as that pension was too small for them to bother for a non-resident of Germany. 

However, on the other-hand, I also obtain a similar financial sized Canadian Old Age Security payment, but the Canadian government ALWAYS wants a tax return.  The due date for the Canadian tax submission is end-April for income of the previous year.

I applied for LTR-WP visa in mid-January-2023, while tax returns for Canada are not required until end-April-2023.    I did not include my German pension in my proof of income, as I did not need to show that income to prove I met the financial requirements (as I exceeded such with Canadian Old Age Security + a European government organisation pension).  I did include proof of my Canadian Old Age security as part of my  income proof and I provided official government proof of that.  I also included official proof of the European government organisation pension.   I did not include any tax returns immediately as I provided government proof of the incomes.

BoI immediately contacted me and asked for the previous two years of tax returns. I replied again with my proof of income, and they again insisted on a tax return.  I had Canadian tax returns for year 2020, and 2021 (which "fortuitously" also note the amount of the total of all my global income - Revenue Canada demands one state their global income) , and I immediately sent Canadian government tax assessments from returns to BoI for 2020 and 2021 (within less than a few hours of BoI asking again for the tax returns).   BoI within a couple of days then asked for a year 2022 tax return !!    This was still mid January and that 2022 tax return was not even due until end-April 2023.  ie not due for more than 3 months !!

In the end (it took me time) to get the receipts to prepare and submit a year 2022 tax return to Canada (and get the official Canadian Revenue department official assessment notification) - and provide that to BoI, ...  but frankly, I don't think BoI do know, like you state. Why would they insist if not due for > 3 months?

BoI know some things, but I think they get the different details mixed up. 

After submitting my 2022 Canadian tax "official" return assessment notice of tax filed (from the Canadian government) proving to BoI I exceeded the global income requirement, BoI then asked for the Tax document for a Canadian Pension !!  I had NEVER mentioned my getting a Canadian government pension and further, I did not YET get a Canadian government pension then (although I was eligible for such).   Rather I had provided ALL the tax paperwork for Canadian Old Age Security. 

So I had to then had to write an explanation letter to BoI noting that even thou I was age-69, I had deferred receipt of my Canadian pension to age-70. I also (very very politely) noted again to BoI that I already exceeded the passive income necessary for the LTR-WP visa, and that proof of a Canadian pension should not be necessary.  BoI finally then accepted my income proof.

So I am not convinced the BoI know all about different countries and their tax returns - rather I think they have bits and pieces and they make a best guess ... and sometimes they guess wrong ...  - although I do concede they are likely learning this very fast.

3 hours ago, Eddie45 said:

For you guys that have replied to the thread and have the LTR. Did you use a visa agent to get the LTR or did you fill out all the forms and apply yourself. 

I did not use an agent to get the LTR Visa.   I did most my document submissions to BoI electronically, uploading via Internet, from my seafront condo balcony, with my feet up, sipping a glass of wine.

It took me longer than most to get the LTR visa, as I more or less very slowly fed information to BoI on my finances,  tooth and nail (as i didn't want to reveal my full financial state).   The biggest delays for me was (1) BoI wanted government response/proof of my income from my latest foreign income tax return (which I had not yet submitted - and that took me time to put together, submit a tax return to the foreign government, and get the foreign government income confirmation response), and (2) BoI wanted a copy of a Thai Government bond certificate (which is not nominally issued any more, but rather one is provided a bond book by the banks).  After a few weeks of no progress I finally was able to get the Thai bank to write a 'to whom it may concern' letter to BoI about the bond and also get the Thai bank to edit my bond book to add the detailed bond information BoI wanted to see (where that information is not nominally in a bond book, but it is in a bond certificate).    Still pretty much most of the delays boiled down to me slowly feeding BoI the information they wanted, avoiding to provide a full reveal of my financial status.

I don't think an agent will offer any advantages here - one still need to provide the financial proof to the agent.

On 10/1/2023 at 9:24 AM, oldcpu said:

I recently returned to Phuket after 1 month outside Thailand, traveling in Europe.

 

I could not find a 'Fast Track' line at the Phuket International Airport, so my Thai wife and I entered the Thai line, which I note had no one in line waiting to clear immigration.  This was in stark contrast to the line to clear immigration for non-Thai, which was very long.  I venture a 30 minute or longer wait in line to clear immigration.

 

Once again, I left Phuket and then returned to Phuket, this time after a 6-week visit to New Zealand and Australia (myself having an LTR-WP visa).

Again - I did not spot a 'Fast Track' line in Phuket airport immigration (at arrivals), but I was with my Thai wife, so we entered the Thai line area, which again had no one waiting in line.  The foreigner line thou was not as bad this time, maybe only a 5 to 10 minute wait for any in the foreigner line.

There were two booths side by side for the Thai line, and I went through one and my wife through the other booth. 

The IO looked at my LTR visa, looked again, and then looked again, then looked again.  Then they knocked on the glass window to another adjacent IO booth (likely a more experienced IO in that booth) and showed them through the glass my LTR visa stamp.  The IO in the other booth stated "LTR" plus some Thai, and that IO quickly came around to the booth where I was waiting, and gave the IO in my booth, what I believe to be some instructions.  The IO in the booth where I was waiting then very carefully stamped my entry into Thailand, and hand filled in the 'permission to stay' date (which was the same date as my previous permission to stay date ... just 4 years from now).  

When I received my passport back, I took a quick look, confirmed the 'permission to stay date' was correct, and I gave the IO a polite wai, to which he wai'd back ... and I was through immigration.

It was a bit slow for me to go through as it appears the Phuket IOs still are not all that familiar with the LTR visa.  Still there was a very good level of politeness and effort to be professional.  I am happy how the entry went.

.

A few years back I was flying Thai Airways from Frankfurt to Bangkok.  I did an online checkin.  My Type-OA Visa had been previously (deliberately) invalidated by me leaving without a re-entry permit, so I was planning to (and did) enter Thailand for a 45-day visa exempt stamp (this was when 45 day visa exempt possible).  

When I did the online checkin in Frankfurt (to fly to Bangkok), I did receive a popup stating an onward flight proof might be requested by Thai Airways in Frankfurt (for showing an eventual future departure from Thailand)

After checking in my luggage, clearing security and immigration, at the Frankfurt departure gate (while waiting for boarding to be called), I was called to the counter and asked for my passport.  The Thai airways representative spent a long time looking at the page with my Type-OA visa  (which had been invalidated by me leaving without a re-entry permit), and eventually passed me my passport back without saying anything - they did NOT ask for an onward flight ticket. I think my departing early (before a stamped date of type-OA permission to stay date associated with Type-OA visa) to invalidate the Type-OA visa confused them (and so they did not ask) ??  I did have an inexpensive (Krabi to KL) onward ticket, but I was never asked for that.

My view is this is all very highly airline and departure city dependent. More often than not, I think one will not be asked for an onward ticket, but it can (legally) happen at times. So its best to be prepared.

2 hours ago, HerewardtheWake said:

My dilemma is: at over 75, if I discontinue my Pacific Cross policy , and if at some point BoI changes the LTR health insurance rules, I will not be able to get health insurance.

 

So, is it best to continue carrying the health insurance policy?

 

Each person's situation is different.  I am age-70 and I obtain subsidized health insurance (as part of my pension) from Europe, that while it exceeds the LTR Health Insurance requirements, the Insurance company does not provide their information in a format that the BoI folks want to see.  So I have gone with the $100K US$ in the bank equivalent as 'self health insurance proof'.

Still, I have no intention of giving up my superior health insurance from Europe.  As you note if at our age one's health insurance policy is discontinued, it be very difficult to get appropriate health insurance again.  Keeping $100k US cash equivalent (and keeping my superior health insurance) is not an issue for me.

My recommendation, if it is not a big financial issue to maintain the $100k US$ equivalent cash, and not an issue to keep separate health insurance, then keep both. 

But it reads to me this is a financial issue for you - so you need to choose which you wish to go with.  Your guess is likely just as good as anyone else's guess.

1 minute ago, 1tent42 said:

I applied for the LTR visa and submitted my pension benefit letter that showed I have a pension of at least $80K a year.

 

BOI keeps asking me for my tax return and 1099s.  Is this normal?  I thought the pension benefit letter would be sufficient since I've exceeded the $80K minimum requirement for passive income.

When obtaining my LTR Visa, I first submitted my pension paperwork proof, and BoI still asked for my tax returns.   So I would say it is normal.

.