american
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I also applied to Expatvav on Aug.2. I received my "acceptance" on aug. 3. I have had no reply since then. My Thai friend copied and attached my documentation as I do not know how to do those functions. My passport page was copied as well as the only page that showed my O visa. I did not provide my retirement extension, as it is not a visa. The application form requested my visa. No mention was made in the application for my retirement extension. If they wanted "retirement status", that is what they should have aked for, but they didn't. I think the application form should have mde it clearer what they wanted: my visa or retirement status, or both? That issue was confusing. I am American, 80 years old, with underlying health condition: coronary heart disease. That documentation was provided. Another reader posted a phone # for contacting Expatvav: 02 572 8442. I called and pressed # 9 for English. A rep came on and spoke good English. BUT he said he had no way to verify my application status. I live in udon Thani and he suggested that being in an outer lying province from Bangkok he thought it was taking longer for arrangements to be made for vaccine transfer and vaccination appointments to get made. His only suggestion was for me to wait longer for an appointment for vaccination. He had no information on applictions or their current status. No abiity to access status of accepted applications (or rejections) is, in my opinion, a flaw in that system. Other readers replies about their receiving "rejections" due to visa issues, also seems to point to other system flaws. I continue to wait, as contacting Expatvac at their phone # provided no answers to the status of my accepted application.
i suggest Expatvac aplicants within driving distance to Khon Kaen consider contacting Bangkok hosp. in Khon kaen and consider applying to receive vaccination there. I did that as an alternative option, since the rep representing Expatvac could provide no status of my accepted, but in limbo status (?), of my accepted Ecpatvac application. Bangkok hosp offers multiple selections of vaccines, depending on your circumstances: I chose Pfixer based on my elegibility due to my age and heart condition. My application was accpted and i am going to call and confirm my appt. date of Sept 12 between 11-12 noon. I have not received any emailor sms response since my application was submitted yesterday. I will update when I have any Expat, or Bangkok hosp in khon Kaen, additional response or confirmtion, etc.
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UPDATE FROM AMERICAN:
when i discussed my upcoming retirement extension, based on 65,000 monthly income, at Udon Thani immigration, I ws told I could apply 30 days early for my retirement extension. I asked if I could apply earlier and was told no. I have heard some office use 30 days early while other Immigration Offices allow up to 45 days early.
I forgot to mention this in my original post. I don't know if 45 days is allowed in some offices. Again, i am just posting what i was told by the Udon Thani Immigration officer.
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16 minutes ago, Wake Up said:
I was told the same information at CW Bangkok back in October so I think the OP post is accurate for udon thani and Bangkok. 65,000 deposited into a Thai bank account every month or 800 k in the Thai bank for three months prior to requesting extension of stay and the income letters will be accepted for 6 months from the date they were signed.
Bravo to Wake up. His reply is so succinct and right to the point. I wish I had been able to be as brief in my posting.
AMERICAN
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10 hours ago, Peterw42 said:
If they accept a one off transfer of 780k then that removes the 800k seasoning requirement. why put 800 in the bank for 90 days when you can put 780 in the bank the day before your extension.
There is some misunderstanding here, (if you are referring to my opening post) about a 780,000 transfer. In my opening post, I never mentioned anything about a one off transfer of 780k. Did someone ele say that? I said the IO told me I would need 12 months of deposits into my Thai bank account showing a monthly minimum of 65,000 baht. 12 x 65,000 = 780,000 baht. My yearly bank book deposits would have posed a problem, because I had not met a minimum monthly deposit of 65,000. My total for the year would have been 780,000+, BUT some months I deposited less than 65,000. My posting went into more details.
I apologize if your posting was referring to someone else and you weren't referring to my post. I don't want my post to be misunderstood or misinterpreted. i just did my best to explain what the IO told me regrading my process of trying to meet the retirement extension requirements, based solely (for me) on meeting the 65,000 monthly income requirement.
AMERICAN
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5 hours ago, rott said:
Probably I have missed a bit, but in one year's time if nothing changes will your 65,000 per month give you another extension?
Yes, based on what I was told. 12 x 65,000 = 780,000 income and it can be verified in my Thai bank book.
(800,000 is required if one does the 3 month seasoning, I think. I don't do that.)
I do not know what "transaction code" Thai Immigration may expect to see as the 65,000 is deposited. Or what issues may arise if "multiple" deposits add up to 65,000 for 1 month. Or what happens if, for some reason, a retiree uses 2 different bank accounts to reach the 65,000 total monthly. etc, etc, etc.
there are going to be many questions to get resolved due to the income affadavids being eliminated.
AMERICAN
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5 hours ago, Issanjohn said:
From the OP: “From now on i will be sure to always deposit at least 65,000 baht monthly into my bank account.”
I'm on a marriage visa extension however my local immigration office has told me the exact same thing. I’m gonna start doing exactly what you’re gonna do that’s a great plan! My extension expires in February so I’ll renew it in either late December 45 days early or early January 30 days early using my income affidavit this one last time. My local immigration office told me Friday that when I come back for my extension in probably January to make sure that I bring my income affidavit and they did confirm that the income affidavit will be accepted in January and of course up to six months after the date of completion, my local immigration office was very reassuring about that and they actually told me that I will in fact need the income affidavit in January. They said that’s internal immigration policy regarding the income affidavits being valid for up to six months after the date of completion for ALL immigration offices. So basically I was told pretty much exactly the same thing you were by my local immigration office it sounds like anyway, although I skimmed through your post because I’m kind of in a hurry but it looks like exactly what I was told at my immigration office Friday. So it sounds like most of the immigration offices are actually on the same page for the exception of MAYBE a few who probably just haven’t got the word yet or whatever but it sounds like they’re actually mostly on the same page this time.
Then either next month on payday or in January on payday I’ll open a Thai bank account and start transferring probably half of my monthly pension payments into a Thai bank account or at the very minimum at least the minimum monthly income requirement EVERY MONTH FOR THE ENTIRE YEAR EVERY YEAR like you said. That’s also been my plan as well but I’m on a marriage visa but my monthly pension payments are more than double the minimum monthly income requirement so I’m covered there. Then when I do my visa extension in January 2020 I should be covered for next time.
Your plan sounds great and that’s exactly what I’ve been planning on doing as well. It’s good to see that there are some other intelligent people on this forum. Now I really gotta stop reading these posts this one was actually intelligent but some of them are just really dumb. There are a lot of really weird people on this forum but it’s good to see some intelligent posts like this one. The man with the most factual knowledge on this forum is a guy under the screen name UbonJoe he’s the only person I take advice from on this forum because he goes by facts that I can verify. Anyway I gotta go I’ve got a long road trip ahead of me and a busy few days and I’m trying to get over the flu. I was laid up with the flu yesterday and I ended up reading a lot of these posts. Normally I don’t even bother reading these anymore because there’s so much false misinformation being spread about what’s happening now and a lot of strange people on here but this OP actually made a good point and that’s exactly my plan as well.
Every once in a while there are actually some intelligent people on here that go by facts instead of here say information as so many other people on here do. I’ve also found that some people deliberately post false information on here just to try and get people spun up and just to spread fear and doom and gloom. I really don’t understand why people do that, it’s probably the people who the income verification changes coming mid next year will actually negatively affect, the people who don’t have enough money to legally live here and are just jealous of the rest of us who do.
Anyway I was happy to read an actual intelligent post from the OP, someone using the same plan I am. I’m still gonna ignore a lot of the other posts in here though, except for one person in here who knows what he’s talking about UbonJoe.
Also to the OP make sure the deposits into your Thai bank account are electronic transfers from your bank in the states to your Thai bank account because according to the embassy and other factual information I’ve received that’s probably what Thai immigration will want to see when they verify our income after the income affidavits totally go away in the middle of next year. Just a tip, don’t just deposit cash or they might think you are working here, make sure that it shows on paper that the deposits are coming from the states. That’s what I’m going to do next time after the income affidavits eventually go away. I’m sure you probably already knew that. As long as we fall within Thai immigration laws we should not have anything to worry about. You sound like an intelligent guy.
Thank you for your kind reply. Our plans of action seem very similiar. I plan to use my American debit card at my Thai bank and receive a "cash advance" monthly of a minimum of 65,000 baht. The paper printout I receive from the bank shows the cash was drawn out of my American bank along with the last 3's of my American debit card and the date is also printed. I will deposit that EXACT same amount of converted cash into my Thai bank. I'll meet the monthly minimum 65,000 and my 12 month total will meet Thai requirements. My bank book and paper "cash advances"printout will meet the Thai rules. sometimes the ink fades on the "cash advnce"paper printouts and becomes illegible, so I plan to photo each paper slip for backup. I think, so far, Based on current rules, I'm covered. And you seem to have thought this through also.
all retirees need to try and plan ahead and try to stay abreast of the coming rules. with income affdavids disappearing, Thai rules will also. for a while, it's going to probably be a bumpy ride, more for some than others. Good luck to uss all.
Again. thank for your compliments on my posting. it' alsways nice to be appreciated.
American
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13 minutes ago, Longcut said:Please don't take this personally. I salute you for this report and also thank you. But, I think the IO was being moronic. What difference can it possibly make what the monthly total deposit is if it averages out come next year when you reapply? It is this reasoning here that so infuriates me.
I know I am venting and I apologise.
I "think/guess" immigration is trying to enforce a steady monthly income, which most people need. They don't want to see months of no deposits and then 1 sudden huge deposit. As in so many things, rules are created without always seeming to make sense or be reasonable. I just passed on what I was told. i understand many will not like or agree with how the 65,000 baht will be calculated or resolved at Thai immigration. I'm not judging, just passing on what i was told at Thai immigration.TIT. it is up to us to follow their rules. of course, this and any other rules can change on a moments notice.
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I just posted this subject and apologize for the following errors:
1. My spellcheck function is not working.
2. Before posting this, i tried to rewrite some parts. Tht has resulted in some strange formatting of what I wrote.
3. This is my first ever posting. I will need to get used to all of the rules for postings. i will learn in time.
AMERICAN
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Udon Thani provided me with the following 65,000 baht retirement extension information on Friday, nov 17, 2018.
I am a single American male in my upper 70's and only use the 65,000 monthly income for my retirment extension.
i asked no questions about married requirements or the 800,000 baht requiring 3 months in a Thai bank accct. i use the 65,000 baht income method.
This is the information I received:
1. The American Embassy income affadavid document will be accepted at udon Thani Immigration up to 6 months from the date the US Embassy issues and certifies it. But the letter has to be issued by the US Embaassy prior to Jan. 1, 2019. Because, as of Jan 1, 20119, the US Embassy will no longer isssues any letters documenting american citizens income. Example: a letter certifying one's income that is issued and stamped by the US Embassy on any date during this november 2018 will be accepted at Udon Thani up to that SAME date in May 2019. That is a 6 month period. Here's another example: if the income affadvid is issued during Dec. 2018, it will be accepted at Udon thani up to that SAME date in June 2019. That is a six month period. As I understood it, the bottom line is that any income affadvids issued between now, but prior to jan.1, 2019 will be accepted at Udon Thani for up to 6 months from the exact date the affadvid was issued and stampedby the Us Embassy.
2. In my case, I am fortunate that I can get my US income affadavid certified before the end of Dec. 2018 and be within the Thai time frame that will allow me to apply for and receive my retirement extension in late Dec. 2018, prior to the Jan 2019 date stamped in my passport. The Thai Immigration Officer was very pleasant and very helpful through this whole period of questions. He even said i did not have to rush to get my Thai retirement extension, as once I received the us certified income letter, I could just wait and come in Jan. 2019 for my retirement extension as required by the date stamped on my passport by Thai immigration. The only real rush was that i had to get my income verified at the US Embassy before they stopped issuing such letters as of Jan. 2019.
Once I can provide the income verification letter to Thai immigration, my income requirements are met for the coming year and Thai immigration will consider me as meeting the retirement extension. Of course i have to pay the usual charges to recive my stamps of approval for retirement extension as well as a multiple entry visa.
3. However, I was given information that could prove problematic for other reetirement extensions based on the 65,000 monthly income requirement. I was
told the 65,000 income requirement has to be met each and every individual month. One can't have less than 65,000 deposited 1 month and then
deposit a higher amount another month so that the "averaged monthly income" would in fact be 65,000 or greater. That could have been a deal breaker
for me, becuse over the past year I had some monthly deposits into my bank acount of less thn 65,000 baht, but had other months of 90,000 to 100,000
baht. As explained to me, I had not met immigration's requirement that a minimum of 65,000 baht had to have been deposited "monthly" into my bank
acct. I would have had more than the required 780,000 baht (65,000 x 12 = 780,000 baht) required for a years income, BUT I had Not deposited at least
65,000 baht monthly minimum into my bank account. I had never considered that situation, as I always previously used my verified income affadavid.
Fortunately, I still have time to get that needed income letter of verification, and have Thai immigrtion give me my retirment extension for the coming
year. From now on i will be sure to always deposit at least 65,000 baht monthly into my bank account.
I think thai immigration wants confirmation that retirees have a stable monthly income to meet expenses, etc. REquiring a minimum of 65,000 baht
monthly into one's bank acct. accomplishes that goal. I did not think to ask if the monthly deposit had to be in 1 lump deposit. I will ask that question when i go son to do my 90 dy report.
I do want to thank the immigration officer for being so professional, polite and helpful. He understood that different retirees are bound to come up with their own individual income issues for satisfying the Thai income requirements for a retirement extension. he hopes all rules regarding income for retirement extensions will become clarified sooner than later. i am sure we all hope for that.
I hope some of this information will prove helpful to some other single American retirees here inThailand.
i hope some of this information will help a few people.
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SURVEY: What's your vaccination status?
in Thailand News
Posted
I received my 2nd Pfizer jab today in Udon Thani. I am an 80 year old American retiree that registered successfully, but never heard back, from both the Expatvav program and Bangkok Hosp. in Khon Kaen for the Pfizer vaccinations. To the best of my knowledge, I never received any email or message from either source, which I kept checking.
I randomly read on line about the Pfizer vaccination program offered by the Udon Thani Provincial Health dept. I registered and received both vaccinations here in Udon Thani quickly, efficiently, and professionally.