Retirement Extension Based Fully On Bank Account

[Jingthing]

1. You only need one copy of the required documents, and one photo, contrary to official Thai immigration website which says you need two of everything.

2. They are serious about enforcing the three month rule for money in the bank account, at least if qualifying solely based on that account (not sure if you are using a pension combo deal). I don't know what they would do if your money isn't old enough; anyone here who had that experience?

3. They do accept the codes in your passbook as proof of international money transfer, so apparantly no need to bring more detailed proof such as paperwork showing the transfers, or a letter from your bank verifying they were international transfers.

4. No health certificate is needed even for first time extenders.

5. Get the bank letter the same day as you go for the visa if you want to earn brownie points.

Now, here is the more controversial item in this post.

I was told that for subsequent renewals you still do need to have the 800K in the bank three months before applying for an extension. Now assuming you still need over 800K there the day you apply for an extension, the reality is that for most of us that means we need to top up at over a million baht, not 800K baht, because you need to spend money to live here.

Has anyone heard differently? I do know they are cutting slack for repeat extenders currently, but what about after this grace period? Based on what I now know, sounds like you do have to top up early to be sure.

Edited January 17, 2007 by Jingthing

[lopburi3]

I didn't think there was any question on that - it will be three months for everyone - the only question is when.

The account only needs to be at 800k - you can live on ATM transfers or any way you like during the three month period as you are not required to be using that money to live on. For the few that might be planning one transfer per year for everything you would have to have it high enough to live on but there is no requirement you spend 65k per month so it would not have to be above 1 million unless you need it to be that much.

[Jingthing]

Thats a very useful clarification, Lopburi.

I didn't mean to indicate that you had to prove that you were spending your money from that account. I guess I just projected from the way I am handling this. I prefer to have the baht in the bank here and use my local account to live here, but as you point out, not a requirement.

[lopburi3]

And believe everyone thanks you for the good report. Was not being critical but just wanted to point it out before we have another group of 800 really means more than a million posts. It could be or not - depending on how you chose to do it.

[VBF]

And believe everyone thanks you for the good report.

I second that - thank you both!