Questions about UK embassy confirming monthly income for marriage extension

[davejonesbkk]

I usually use the fixed sum in a Thai bank account for my yearly extension based on marriage but having to make sure that amount is there for the min 2 months (or is it 3 months?) is getting annoying so Im thinking of trying the monthly income method as that might even be easier for me.

 

Im not clear on a few things though for example:

 

On the official docs online it says the proof of income is for pensions for the extension based on retirement

What do they actually need to see specifically as evidence and for what duration of time?

 

I just called them actually and the women did say that the online form is for pensions and when I said that I thought it was for marriage too she said they can do it as long as the immigration in Thailand will accept it

 

I asked about the evidence of the income and she said they need to see it before giving any feedback on that.

 

Can anyone shed any light on this? 

 

How I normally do things now is receive an income via a business Paypal account and withdraw the funds to a Thai bank account, however the Paypal account is in a business name and not my own.

 

I have a UK account too and with a lump sum of funds in but I dont normally have regular income going into that. I could change to having my income go into there but Im due to extend in May so not sure if thats enough time for them?

 

 

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, davejonesbkk said:

I have a UK account too and with a lump sum of funds in but I dont normally have regular income going into that. I could change to having my income go into there but Im due to extend in May so not sure if thats enough time for them?

Having it go into a bank in the UK would be best. Then you could show a bank statement to prove your income of at least 40k baht per month or 480k baht per year.

Normally they only want to see 3 months of income for the proof.

[NanLaew]

AFAIK, Thai Immigration will want to see 12 months of minimum income that matches or exceeds their annual income regulations whether it be for a marriage extension or a retirement extension. However, if they accept only 3-months provenance got a marriage extension as joe suggests, you could do these transfers over a 3-month period and as long as it meets the minimum required monthly/annual totals, less paperwork would be needed. I have always given them a year's worth of income and proof and didn't know that 3 months income proof would be sufficient for marriage extensions.

 

The proof of income letter on the British Embassy website is for BOTH marriage and retirement extension proof of income and income is not limited to a state pension.

 

It doesn't have to be a set amount every month or even paid monthly. The UK bank account I use specifically for proof of non-pension income for my retirement extension issues quarterly statements. Typically I deposit a lump sum of £5000 per quarter in this account so it is well in excess of Thai Immigration's monthly/annual requirements. When I fill in the Embassy 'statement' I simply reference the 4 quarterly deposits, total them up and then divide by 12 as the letter instructs. I also provide the 4 quarterly statements that cover the year. The Embassy is happy with that and write the letter to indicate the approximate monthly and approximate annual income in £ sterling which is all Thai Immigration needs. The letter based on that format has been accepted for the past 5 years.

 

Between now and May, the OP could get away with doing 5 deposits, each of around £2250 to have the required minimum 'regular' income to satisfy the Embassy letter writers and Thai Immigration. If you have online banking that allows you to download the statements, these are also accepted by the Embassy. I did my letter online this year, emailed the paperwork to the embassy on 12th. they emailed to say they had issued the letter on 13th (took payment from the credit card on 12th), they EMS'd it on 14th (and emailed me the tracking number) and I received the letter in Udon on 15th.

[ubonjoe]

10 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

AFAIK, Thai Immigration will want to see 12 months of minimum income that matches or exceeds their annual income regulations whether it be for a marriage extension or a retirement extension.

Immigration only wants proof you have the income. They don't care how long you have had it since you are applying for a one year extension that has not even started yet.

There is no annual income requirement it is 40k baht per month.

The 3 months I was writing about was for the embassy not immigration.

[davejonesbkk]

33 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

When I fill in the Embassy 'statement' I simply reference the 4 quarterly deposits, total them up and then divide by 12 as the letter instructs

 

interesting, I already have enough in my UK account that covers the requirement for a full year and more even, but I havent been submitting money into it monthly. So I guess if I just start submitting monthly anyway now with over the equivalent of 40k bath + the total in the account easily being more than whats required I should be ok right?

[NanLaew]

38 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Immigration only wants proof you have the income. They don't care how long you have had it since you are applying for a one year extension that has not even started yet.

Yes , I always though it funny that they will accept proof of what you HAD (in a foreign account) over proof of what you HAVE (in a Thai account).

 

38 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

There is no annual income requirement it is 40k baht per month.

Yes, but the nice letter from the British Embassy will handily detail monthly and annual amounts.

 

38 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

The 3 months I was writing about was for the embassy not immigration.

As I acknowledged, this is good to  know. Some regional IO's have been known to ask to see the paperwork that supported the income letter and/or affidavit. The British Embassy may be happy enough with only 3 months as sufficient proof but do you know if these more pedantic offices will be happy with only 3 months provenance? This of course on the assumption that they know what they're asking for and/or looking at?

[NanLaew]

5 minutes ago, davejonesbkk said:

 

interesting, I already have enough in my UK account that covers the requirement for a full year and more even, but I havent been submitting money into it monthly. So I guess if I just start submitting monthly anyway now with over the equivalent of 40k bath + the total in the account easily being more than whats required I should be ok right?

ubonjoe will have the definitive answer if a lump-sum overseas will be acceptable for Thai Immigration. Since the Embassy letter is drafted to indicate a monthly income which is what Thai Immigration wants to see, not sure how they will see it. You may need to ask them again. Otherwise, could you just transfer some money out-in, once a month just to show 'income'? 

[davejonesbkk]

4 minutes ago, NanLaew said:

ubonjoe will have the definitive answer if a lump-sum overseas will be acceptable for Thai Immigration. Since the Embassy letter is drafted to indicate a monthly income which is what Thai Immigration wants to see, not sure how they will see it. You may need to ask them again. Otherwise, could you just transfer some money out-in, once a month just to show 'income'? 

 

I will have the lump sum but Im going to deposit into my UK account min 40k+ baht a month from now on for the next 4 months anyway.

 

Do I need to show money going into a Thai account as well as this? Eg that monthly income in the UK account then being transferred to my Thai bank?

 

I want to get this right as otherwise it will mean having to go and get a new non immigrant visa and starting again

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, davejonesbkk said:

Do I need to show money going into a Thai account as well as this? Eg that monthly income in the UK account then being transferred to my Thai bank?

That would be good back up proof for the income letter if immigration was to ask for it. Very few offices ask for it though.

[NanLaew]

9 minutes ago, davejonesbkk said:

 

I will have the lump sum but Im going to deposit into my UK account min 40k+ baht a month from now on for the next 4 months anyway.

 

Do I need to show money going into a Thai account as well as this? Eg that monthly income in the UK account then being transferred to my Thai bank?

 

I want to get this right as otherwise it will mean having to go and get a new non immigrant visa and starting again

I stopped providing the matching annual Bangkok Bank statement as 'belt and braces' a couple of years ago; both for the Embassy letter AND at extension filing. The Embassy would make the additional comment of proof of income coming into Thailand being shown but it was pretty much superfluous. The Immigration Officer never looked at the BB statement and only checked that the Embassy income letter was the original one andf had the correct minimums. This at Jomtien IO.

 

I would recommend dropping by your local IO where you will be filing and ask for specifics, and do it again in May, just before you file.

[billd766]

Don't forget to do photocopies (or scan it into your pc and print it out, I make at least 2 copies) of everything and sign every page.

 

1 hour ago, NanLaew said:

I stopped providing the matching annual Bangkok Bank statement as 'belt and braces' a couple of years ago; both for the Embassy letter AND at extension filing. The Embassy would make the additional comment of proof of income coming into Thailand being shown but it was pretty much superfluous. The Immigration Officer never looked at the BB statement and only checked that the Embassy income letter was the original one andf had the correct minimums. This at Jomtien IO.

 

I would recommend dropping by your local IO where you will be filing and ask for specifics, and do it again in May, just before you file.

 

Very good advice as Immigration can change the rules or add more locally if they so wish.

 

I always take the tm 28 and the tm30 with me to Khampaeng Phet though they haven't asked for them plus copies of my yellow tabien ban and of course the originals too.

[Tanoshi]

It is a 'proof of income' letter the BE issue.

Income does not have to be Pensions related, just an income.

 

Firstly, the application is by Post only.

Details and form download here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/631665/Attachment_2.pdf

 

You enter the annual amount for each source of income, then divide it by 12, to enter a total monthly and annual amount at the bottom in £ sterling. The Embassy will issue a letter for Immigration detailing both the monthly and annual income.

Thai Immigration will convert the £ to THB using the Bangkok Bank TT rate on the day of application.

 

I actually don't see why you can't supply a bank statement showing annual income, rather than a monthly income, when you look at the form layout, then divide by 12 to obtain the monthly amount.

i.e. One annual deposit of say £10,000

The requirement after all is for a monthly income of 40,000 baht, or annual income of 480,000 baht.

 

Edited BE letter for Immigration:

 

[wgdanson]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Having it go into a bank in the UK would be best. Then you could show a bank statement to prove your income of at least 40k baht per month or 480k baht per year.

Normally they only want to see 3 months of income for the proof.

Surely not. The form you fill in for the Consulate has YEARLY TOTAL column for each income source, not just pension. Then an ANNUAL TOTAL and then MONTHLY = ANNUAL / 12. How could that work with just three month's proof?

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, wgdanson said:

Then an ANNUAL TOTAL and then MONTHLY = ANNUAL / 12. How could that work with just three month's proof?

Multiply the monthly by 12.

[wgdanson]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

Multiply the monthly by 12.

So ignore the YEARLY AMOUNT column, and change it to MONTHLY? 

[wgdanson]

58 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

It is a 'proof of income' letter the BE issue.

Income does not have to be Pensions related, just an income.

 

Firstly, the application is by Post only.

Details and form download here:

https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/631665/Attachment_2.pdf

 

You enter the annual amount for each source of income, then divide it by 12, to enter a total monthly and annual amount at the bottom in £ sterling. The Embassy will issue a letter for Immigration detailing both the monthly and annual income.

Thai Immigration will convert the £ to THB using the Bangkok Bank TT rate on the day of application.

 

I actually don't see why you can't supply a bank statement showing annual income, rather than a monthly income, when you look at the form layout, then divide by 12 to obtain the monthly amount.

i.e. One annual deposit of say £10,000

The requirement after all is for a monthly income of 40,000 baht, or annual income of 480,000 baht.

 

Edited BE letter for Immigration:

 

Actually, this letter from the Consulate is wrongly worded. Mine says roughly the same but I sent them, by email by the way, not post, evidence of a monthly UK pension, plus an annual private pension, plus an annual share dividend payment, showing my ANNUAL income, which is then divided by 12 to give monthly.  . 

[wgdanson]

3 hours ago, davejonesbkk said:

 

interesting, I already have enough in my UK account that covers the requirement for a full year and more even, but I havent been submitting money into it monthly. So I guess if I just start submitting monthly anyway now with over the equivalent of 40k bath + the total in the account easily being more than whats required I should be ok right?

Or could you get away with just one bank deposit of 12 x 40,000 Bht = 480,000, from any source, send off for your letter and then take the money out of that bank.

[evadgib]

11 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Actually, this letter from the Consulate is wrongly worded.

Spare a thought for the fact that you weren't there when they prepared it. Your application might not have been crystal clear when viewed in a 2nd language by someone tasked with decyphering up to 50 such applications per day.

[wgdanson]

35 minutes ago, evadgib said:

Spare a thought for the fact that you weren't there when they prepared it. Your application might not have been crystal clear when viewed in a 2nd language by someone tasked with decyphering up to 50 such applications per day.

Sorry Evadgib, but the 'application form' is very simple, and the letter is a template where they just fill in names and figures. And the British Embassy should not have incompetant staff, especially when we/you pay 52 quid for the letter.

[phutoie2]

59 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Sorry Evadgib, but the 'application form' is very simple, and the letter is a template where they just fill in names and figures. And the British Embassy should not have incompetant staff, especially when we/you pay 52 quid for the letter.

Well you would like to think so, but I remember when you could visit the embassy to get your income letter and just about every year my letter indicating Phetchaburi instead of Phetchabun. This despite gently reminding at the counter. 

[wgdanson]

7 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Having it go into a bank in the UK would be best. Then you could show a bank statement to prove your income of at least 40k baht per month or 480k baht per year.

Normally they only want to see 3 months of income for the proof.

Sorry Joe, I misunderstood. Do you mean that the Bht 480,000 for marriage, or 780,000 for retirement can be put in your UK bank in a three month period in order for the Embassy to give you the letter? 

[ubonjoe]

13 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

Do you mean that the Bht 480,000 for marriage

The OP asked about marriage. For an extension based upon marriage you can have an average income of 40k baht for a year which means the total income would need to be at least 480k baht. If asked by immigration for back up proof it would require showing proof of the total income for the year.

If he had proof of at l;east 40k baht income for 3 months prior to applying for the income letter it would be accepted. The embassy does not expect a person to show income for a full year.

 

[wgdanson]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

The OP asked about marriage. For an extension based upon marriage you can have an average income of 40k baht for a year which means the total income would need to be at least 480k baht. If asked by immigration for back up proof it would require showing proof of the total income for the year.

If he had proof of at l;east 40k baht income for 3 months prior to applying for the income letter it would be accepted. The embassy does not expect a person to show income for a full year.

 

So if the same applies to get a letter for retirement extension, can I send the Embassy bank statements with just 3 deposits of the equivalent of Bht 65000 in GBPs, and they will issue the letter.

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

So if the same applies to get a letter for retirement extension, can I send the Embassy bank statements with just 3 deposits of the equivalent of Bht 65000 in GBPs, and they will issue the letter.

Yes they will.

How could they ask for a year when the person might be applying for their first extension and just started getting their pension(s).

[wgdanson]

26 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Yes they will.

How could they ask for a year when the person might be applying for their first extension and just started getting their pension(s).

That's great then. Can get letter with only Bht 195,000 into UK bank instead of Bht 800,000 in Thai Bank. It doesn't have to be pension income though, can be rental income. IO at Phitsanulok just looked at Embassy letter and all OK.

[billd766]

3 hours ago, wgdanson said:

That's great then. Can get letter with only Bht 195,000 into UK bank instead of Bht 800,000 in Thai Bank. It doesn't have to be pension income though, can be rental income. IO at Phitsanulok just looked at Embassy letter and all OK.

 

4 hours ago, wgdanson said:

So if the same applies to get a letter for retirement extension, can I send the Embassy bank statements with just 3 deposits of the equivalent of Bht 65000 in GBPs, and they will issue the letter.

 

Why don't you talk or email the embassy directly and then come back on here and tell us all what they say?

 

It would be a lot easier for you and us as well.

[vogie]

Can I send last years statements of my pension income to the British Embassy for proof of monthly income. Is it Thai immigration that requires the letter from the Embassy to be no more than 6 months old?

[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, vogie said:

Can I send last years statements of my pension income to the British Embassy for proof of monthly income. Is it Thai immigration that requires the letter from the Embassy to be no more than 6 months old?

The embassy will accept your old pension statements.

Immigration will accept a income letter that is up to 6 months old on the date you apply for the extension.