Retirement visa Phuket

[Psimbo]

There's a massive great thread on it.

[iforget]

In the coming week I have to renew my one-year permit to stay on retirement (non-imm O) basis. Anyone been there in the past few days and can say what the current requirements are at Phuket Immigration? (Experience tells me they have a habit of adding or subtracting elements without announcing it. At one time, I recall, they wanted a doctor's cert stating you were not bonkers, alcoholic or riddled with syphilis)

Last year it was:

• Passport + signed copy of every page,
• Proof of B800k baht in Thai bank,
• Bank book,
• Photo of self outside home,
• Map of where home is,
• Cert of address (already in passport).

Anything else? Would very much appreciate any response that saves me having to go back more than once.

[xylophone]

1 hour ago, iforget said:

In the coming week I have to renew my one-year permit to stay on retirement (non-imm O) basis. Anyone been there in the past few days and can say what the current requirements are at Phuket Immigration? (Experience tells me they have a habit of adding or subtracting elements without announcing it. At one time, I recall, they wanted a doctor's cert stating you were not bonkers, alcoholic or riddled with syphilis)

Last year it was:

• Passport + signed copy of every page,
• Proof of B800k baht in Thai bank,
• Bank book,
• Photo of self outside home,
• Map of where home is,
• Cert of address (already in passport).

Anything else? Would very much appreciate any response that saves me having to go back more than once.

Just done mine...…..a couple of points to note/add:-

 

Copy of passport main page. Signed.

Copies of last 3 Retirement Extensions. Signed.

Bank book copies stamped by the bank (as well as the bank letter).

Rental contract, as I had been out of the country and hadn't reported in.

Re-entry Visa form completed along with pic (if that is applicable)

Check that the TM7 and TM8 forms are needed, signed along with pic (see above).

Complete and sign the form which says that you understand the laws and what you are signing (or something like that).

AND inside leg measurement...……..no just kidding on that one!

 

I always take p/ports, bank books and just about everything else I can think of, as there is a copy service there if needed. I also sign every piece of paper......just in case.

 

 

 

[watcharacters]

1 hour ago, iforget said:

In the coming week I have to renew my one-year permit to stay on retirement (non-imm O) basis. Anyone been there in the past few days and can say what the current requirements are at Phuket Immigration? (Experience tells me they have a habit of adding or subtracting elements without announcing it. At one time, I recall, they wanted a doctor's cert stating you were not bonkers, alcoholic or riddled with syphilis)

Last year it was:

• Passport + signed copy of every page,
• Proof of B800k baht in Thai bank,
• Bank book,
• Photo of self outside home,
• Map of where home is,
• Cert of address (already in passport).

Anything else? Would very much appreciate any response that saves me having to go back more than once.

You didn't mention Elephantitus which was asked on health form I was given.

 

Copy of EVERY page?    I'd hope not.    With the extra pages mine's a book with between 40 - 50 pages.

 

Bank book?    here copies for sure and update the passbook.

 

Be sure to make a deposit or withdrawal to show recent  activity.

 

[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, watcharacters said:

You didn't mention Elephantitus which was asked on health form I was given.

 

Copy of EVERY page?    I'd hope not.    With the extra pages mine's a book with between 40 - 50 pages.

 

Bank book?    here copies for sure and update the passbook.

 

Be sure to make a deposit or withdrawal to show recent  activity.

 

 

I always copy every page in passport. Save them randomly asking you go out and copy various pages.  Even then they ask for copies of pages they already have in hand. Just cant find. 

[watcharacters]

17 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

I always copy every page in passport. Save them randomly asking you go out and copy various pages.  Even then they ask for copies of pages they already have in hand. Just cant find. 

 

Just a few days ago I came close to  finally getting an answer to a question  that I've asked of many.     Where does Thailand officialdom store the mountains of copies it produces on a daily basis.  My talk was with a bank manager who likely had an idea about it but my question fell victim to distraction.

[LivinginKata]

8 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

Just a few days ago I came close to  finally getting an answer to a question  that I've asked of many.     Where does Thailand officialdom store the mountains of copies it produces on a daily basis.  My talk was with a bank manager who likely had an idea about it but my question fell victim to distraction.

 

Have you never noticed that they just recycle it as note paper.

[watcharacters]

16 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Have you never noticed that they just recycle it as note paper.

 

How do you arrive at that conclusion?

Have you see someones passport photo on the back of a note pad?

 

[Kopitiam]

6 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

How do you arrive at that conclusion?

Have you see someones passport photo on the back of a note pad?

 

You just got back from Mars?  There are many posts reporting the use of recycled paper for TM forms by TVFs.

[Jimi007]

I got the official word that now the US Embassy won't be issuing any income certificates after the first of the year. This should get interesting. I have proof of my income in the USA and I can show deposits to my Thai bank account. But I do believe my retirement income is based upon my income I receive in the USA. Whenever my Visa extension based on retirement expires and I am in the US, I apply for an O Visa based on marriage as it cheaper and easier than doing an O-A visa, which is

 now a pain in the ass! So I am wondering if Thai Immigration is now going to accept a US Bank statement as verifiable proof of income. I would save me time and money if they did. They seemed to have shot themselves in the foot again! 

 

U.S. Mission in Thailand to Cease Providing Income Affidavit

October 26, 2018

Bangkok, THAILAND

 

As of January 1, 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and the U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai will cease to provide the income affidavit for the purpose of applying for Thai retirement and family visas and will not notarize previous versions of the income affidavit.  The Royal Thai Government requires actual verification of income to certify visa applicants meet financial requirements for long-stay visas.  The U.S. government cannot provide this verification and will no longer issue the affidavits.  

 

[LivinginKata]

2 hours ago, Kopitiam said:

You just got back from Mars?  There are many posts reporting the use of recycled paper for TM forms by TVFs.

 

Exactly correct.  They use the back of the photo copy to make notes and even print out new forms. Been widely reported. Seen it myself.

[LivinginKata]

2 minutes ago, Jimi007 said:

<snip>

So I am wondering if Thai Immigration is now going to accept a US Bank statement as verifiable proof of income. I would save me time and money if they did. They seemed to have shot themselves in the foot again! 

 

 

I would very much doubt it.

 

The UK embassy flat out just says need 800,000 baht seasoned inn a Thai bank account.

[Jimi007]

Just now, LivinginKata said:

 

I would very much doubt it.

 

The UK embassy flat out just says need 800,000 baht seasoned inn a Thai bank account.

But Thai Immigration rules say that you need to show income and or a combination of income and saving in a Thai bank or savings of 800K Baht. So they would have to change the law as well as the rules.

 

[xylophone]

2 hours ago, watcharacters said:

 

How do you arrive at that conclusion?

Have you see someones passport photo on the back of a note pad?

 

I have, along with other info from various forms...……...just this last time I had a copy of a Russian passport, complete with mugshot!!

[madmitch]

2 minutes ago, Jimi007 said:

But Thai Immigration rules say that you need to show income and or a combination of income and saving in a Thai bank or savings of 800K Baht. So they would have to change the law as well as the rules.

 

The rules don't have to change as it's, so far, only US and UK Embassies that have announced this new policy. It's no change for other nationalities but for Brits and Americans it probably 800,000 baht in the bank or no Retirement Extension. 

[Psimbo]

I'll step in and light the blue touch paper. I apologise for going off topic but I don't want to get into a countrywide debate.

 

I never understand why a single guy has to have 800k, whilst a married person with the added responsibilities only has to have half the cash Logic would dictate the other way around but we won't go there.

 

In this day and age is 800k really that much - its approx USD 24 or GBP 19k at current exchange rates. It can't be difficult to ring fence that sort of money and if one can't can they really afford to live here. I don't mean this in an arrogant way but that 800k also acts as an emergency or contingency fund it a rapid infusion of cash is need at short notice. Keep it separate and its there if you need it

 

Too many people in the past have been living on the edge here and its starting to catch up with them, Look at the people who bragged how they fiddled the cash every year and had dodgy arrangements to renew retirement permits.

 

These people are often not likely to have medical insurance either but will fall back on the gullible for crowdfunding and other online appeals for cash when things bite them in the erse. They are the most vulnerable when it comes to having cash quickly.

 

To me it boils down to if you can't afford to live here- don't. The worn out excuse of 'but I don't want to tie up 800k coz its not safe in a Thai bank' is just that- worn out.

[LivinginKata]

31 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

<snip>

I never understand why a single guy has to have 800k, whilst a married person with the added responsibilities only has to have half the cash Logic would dictate the other way around but we won't go there.

 

 

Thought the same for years. Only thing I can think is that the Thai wife drags the husband into a cheaper Thai life style. But we all know that's not true. The Thai wife goes way up scale life style. 

[Valentine]

13 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Thought the same for years. Only thing I can think is that the Thai wife drags the husband into a cheaper Thai life style. But we all know that's not true. The Thai wife goes way up scale life style. 

Local family support which a single does not have

[LivinginKata]

1 hour ago, Valentine said:

Local family support which a single does not have

 

Interesting comment Val. But I fail to see why 'local family support' = a cheaper living cost. Quite the reverse. More hands out ... Don't get me wrong. In times of financial need my wife's family help out as much as they can afford. But when we help out we can afford more. Sorry mods ... gone way of the original topic. 

[Valentine]

5 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

 

Interesting comment Val. But I fail to see why 'local family support' = a cheaper living cost. Quite the reverse. More hands out ... Don't get me wrong. In times of financial need my wife's family help out as much as they can afford. But when we help out we can afford more. Sorry mods ... gone way of the original topic. 

My thought process was related to people having to use their 800k for emergency medical whereas with local family support medical costs in terms of care could be reduced. I have never had a problem with local family clamoring for money as they are reasonably self sufficient although have voluntarily helped on occasion.

 

Dealing with immigration for extensions has always been a reasonably painless experience albeit a bit frustrating at times such as needing a hand written map rather than one produced & printed out from computer although it seems they might shift to asking for coordinates.

[merijn]

On 10/27/2018 at 12:43 PM, Jimi007 said:

So I am wondering if Thai Immigration is now going to accept a US Bank statement as verifiable proof of income. I would save me time and money if they did. They seemed to have shot themselves in the foot again! 

 

 

The income certificates are valid for 6 months.

So if your extension is coming up in the next 6 months you can apply for the income certificate now and use it for your extension.

According to the Thai immigration it's up to the embassies to come up with a solution and there are no plans to change the acceptance criteria for the Thai Immigration in regards to the income certificate for the near future.

Hopefully when the government realizes how much people will be affected they will introduce a change to the income certificate criteria. (the US embassy is already in talks about this with the Thai government)

 

As for the other comments, all recycled paper is used for the copier machines at the immigration office.

So if you don't want your passport or financially details known to the rest of the world make sure that the copies used have something on the back so they can't be used in the copy machine.

 

 

 

[xylophone]

10 minutes ago, merijn said:

So if you don't want your passport or financially details known to the rest of the world make sure that the copies used have something on the back so they can't be used in the copy machine.

Good point Merijn………...

 

Next time I do my copies for Immigration, I shall draw a big smiley face or put a very large X on the back of them.

[LivinginKata]

On 10/26/2018 at 5:08 PM, xylophone said:

Copies of last 3 Retirement Extensions. Signed.

 

Bank book copies stamped by the bank (as well as the bank letter).

 

 

I'm going in today. I have a new passport with only one extension stamped in. Guess I need to take my old passport just in case.

 

I only have bank letter and my copies of the bank book pages, That has worked Ok in the past.

 

Thoughts gentlemen. Thank you. 

[Jimi007]

1 hour ago, LivinginKata said:

 

I'm going in today. I have a new passport with only one extension stamped in. Guess I need to take my old passport just in case.

 

I only have bank letter and my copies of the bank book pages, That has worked Ok in the past.

 

Thoughts gentlemen. Thank you. 

You'll need the copies of the last three extension, copy of the stamp transferring your visa to a new passport and the original visa. At least that's what I needed when I got a new passport, but as you know, they make it up as they go along. Along with copies of your ID page, departure card, copy of your residence cert, photo of you with house number, map. I don't know about bank statements as I had always used an income affidavit, which isn't going to be accepted after the 13 years I had used it all of a sudden!

 

Good luck and let us know what new hoops they have come up with. I might get an O-A while I an here in the US just so I don't have to go to Immigration in Phuket again. Although it isn't cheap! $200 to apply, plus about $50 for a criminal check and a doctor's visit for him to sign the old ridiculous health certificate.

[xylophone]

3 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

I'm going in today. I have a new passport with only one extension stamped in. Guess I need to take my old passport just in case.

Yes, good idea and I copied those from my old passport as well as taking it with me...…………..as has been said; You never know what they will ask for next!

 

Good luck.

[LivinginKata]

Well that was easy. Back in Kata already. I aim to arrive at 10.30 when the rush is over. I decided to stop at a bank branch on the way in and they endorsed my copies no fuss no charge. Outside room 103 usual chaos at the forms table. I was all prepared and walzed into the room as no officer giving out numbers. Office inside (knows me well) ask my number. No officer outside I says. Ok. He gives me 19 which he calls for 2 minutes later. Officer checks my application in just 5 minutes. Never asked for my 2 previous extensions although I had prepared in my bag. Happy with stupid hand drawn map. Selfie at my home number plate. Surprised that I had a screen shot printout of my last house registration. Asked how I got that. Register myself online I says. 

 

Pay 1,900 baht. Thinks this is going quick. Next wait for 2 hard working admin types run everything through their  data base while the 2 officers twiddle thumbs, play with phones. Waited 25 minutes more for that, photo, receipt, collect passport tomorrow at 13.00 and out the door.  

[merijn]

36 minutes ago, LivinginKata said:

Well that was easy. Back in Kata already. I aim to arrive at 10.30 when the rush is over. I decided to stop at a bank branch on the way in and they endorsed my copies no fuss no charge. Outside room 103 usual chaos at the forms table. I was all prepared and walzed into the room as no officer giving out numbers. Office inside (knows me well) ask my number. No officer outside I says. Ok. He gives me 19 which he calls for 2 minutes later. Officer checks my application in just 5 minutes. Never asked for my 2 previous extensions although I had prepared in my bag. Happy with stupid hand drawn map. Selfie at my home number plate. Surprised that I had a screen shot printout of my last house registration. Asked how I got that. Register myself online I says. 

 

Pay 1,900 baht. Thinks this is going quick. Next wait for 2 hard working admin types run everything through their  data base while the 2 officers twiddle thumbs, play with phones. Waited 25 minutes more for that, photo, receipt, collect passport tomorrow at 13.00 and out the door.  

Doing the extension with the bank certificates is always the easiest option and as long you have both bank papers with enough balance (together with the rest) it's a piece of cake.

[STALINGRAD]

If the income affidavit which consular will issue on 29 Nov is not accepted with a letter from non government pension office confirming same amount for life is not accepted in December 2018 by Phuket immigration can i just transfer 800,000B into my account and come back the next day?Or does the 800K need to sit in Thai bank for a set amount of time? Just the facts , maam

[LivinginKata]

8 minutes ago, STALINGRAD said:

If the income affidavit which consular will issue on 29 Nov is not accepted with a letter from non government pension office confirming same amount for life is not accepted in December 2018 by Phuket immigration can i just transfer 800,000B into my account and come back the next day?Or does the 800K need to sit in Thai bank for a set amount of time? Just the facts , maam

 

The 800,000 baht has to be 'seeded'. for 2 month first pension extension application. Thereafter 3 full months.  And they carefully check your bank book pages.

[STALINGRAD]

Thanks Kata this application will be my second year for retirement visa so i will transfer to get the money seeded just in case. Sounds like paying 1700 to notarize the affidavit is a waste of money in November.