A friend of mine went to Udon Thani Immigration office recently to apply for another 1 year extension of stay based on retirement. He receives a pension in Euros, that due to the currently  strong THB, just falls short to qualify for the income requirements. He offered to deposit the 'gap' of THB 25,000 into a bank account, but immigration requires this amount to be seasoned by 90 days. The seasoning would therefore occur after his extension expires end of September.

 

Question for you: what are his options, without travelling to his home country? Are there embassies/consulates in the region that would issue a Non O based on retirement without proof of (sufficient) funds, i.e. Savannakhet?  He is well aware of the option of converting a tourist visa to a Non O, but would see this as a last resort at the moment.

 

Many thanks for your help!

His problem is a result of people abusing the combination of income and money in the bank option. The written rules do not state it has to be in the bank any amount of time for it but immigration has a policy of requiring it . His case is exactly what the combination option was meant for and no seasoning for that reason.

He can apply for a single entry non-o visa in Savannakhet. He could show both the money he has in the bank and his income letter. The money he has in the bank would only need to be in the bank on the date he applies (no 3 month requirement).

When he applies for his extension the money will only need to be in the bank for 60 days since it would be considered his first extension.

Or he can pay an agent for an under the table extension. I believe the cost to be around 16,000 in UT. Someone on here must be doing it under the table. Maybe they'll be along soon?

Edited August 29, 20187 yr by sinbin

In fact, the senior official at the immigration office has the discretion to waive the seasoning requirement. At many offices, they prefer you use an agent for the extension instead (at which point, the senior official does waive seasoning). However, it is known to happen for individuals. Before using an agent, I would ask to talk to the senior official to plead your case. If possible, take a respected Thai with you to help. If the official does waive the seasoning, buy a nice food item for the office to share to show your gratitude.

Many thanks, Joe. This will answer his question.

I would think there are going to be quite a few Brits in the sunken pound boat joining him?

2 minutes ago, sammieuk1 said:

I would think there are going to be quite a few Brits in the sunken pound boat joining him?

 He receives a pension in Euros

34 minutes ago, Lamkyong said:

 He receives a pension in Euros

He was, I believe, simply making the point that people other than those in the Euro Zone could also face the same problem. The Euro is not the only currency to buy fewer baht these days  than in the past.

43 minutes ago, Lamkyong said:

 He receives a pension in Euros

That's why I said pounds and Brits?

Or he can pay an agent for an under the table extension. I believe the cost to be around 16,000 in UT. Someone on here must be doing it under the table. Maybe they'll be along soon?

If you know say who! Names ? Just another fake


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2 minutes ago, markaoffy said:

If you know say who! Names ? Just another fake


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Well these folk/companies are around and one (at least) advertises this "service" in the local newspaper here...…….I know it is not UT but shows it can be done.

4 minutes ago, xylophone said:

Well these folk/companies are around and one (at least) advertises this "service" in the local newspaper here...…….I know it is not UT but shows it can be done.

Ive been offered it for 20,000b a year in udon.might take up the offer as it releases 800,000b that gets eaten away with inflation at 3% or more.

26 minutes ago, happy chappie said:

Ive been offered it for 20,000b a year in udon.might take up the offer as it releases 800,000b that gets eaten away with inflation at 3% or more.

15,000 00 in Pattaya Info freely available on the web 

7 minutes ago, happy chappie said:

Ive been offered it for 20,000b a year in udon.might take up the offer as it releases 800,000b that gets eaten away with inflation at 3% or more.

And at 3% per annum, that's 24,000 baht. A cheaper alternative to the seasoning providing you invest the money wisely and not blow it. Any annual return over 3% (KrungThai bank offers 1.75% per fixed annual return) will pay the visa agency costs. I know of several bona-fide schemes (mainly offshore or in other countries) that would bring in returns of that magnitude  - or more - and at very low risk. 

 

However, the visa agent's offer is illegal and the authorities at some point will close the loophole - so don't get caught up in the scapegoats-effects unless you're armour plated.

15,000 00 in Pattaya Info freely available on the web 

12900 in Pattaya the lowest I've heard of. I wouldn't do it unless desperate, like the op

 

Get a statement from the bank and an updated bankbook, when you show up @ immigration.

For the rest see Joe's post.

in Pattaya soi Buokhao shops first time 19.000, next year 11.000.

 

1 hour ago, Ban Phe Dezza said:

15,000 00 in Pattaya Info freely available on the web 

12000 in Pattaya all day long, someone’s being ripped off.

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

I would think there are going to be quite a few Brits in the sunken pound boat joining him?

I think you are correct - I am cutting back a bit - for those of us who solely  derive an income in sterling I can see the rate going down to perhaps 38 baht to the pound - the Brexit fiasco gets worse by the minute. It hurts .

In the long term - it will work out OK .

 

I always thought if you were doing the money in the bank / income route the money had to be seasoned for 3 months ? 

 

I rent - fab house - but in a way the rental just goes up and becomes increasingly less sustainable. 

 

Oh dear - will have to join the flat dwellers . 

 

 

2 hours ago, markaoffy said:

If you know say who! Names ? Just another fake

Fake what? 

2 hours ago, sammieuk1 said:

That's why I said pounds and Brits?

And which is higher than the Euro.

3 minutes ago, Jimbo1964 said:

And which is higher than the Euro.

Forget it appears to much of a challenge? 

2 hours ago, markaoffy said:

If you know say who! Names ? Just another fake


Sent from my iPhone using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

There is a company advertising on Facebook who do it in Bangkok. No deposition income. They say they sponsor you. I asked about Chiang Mai and they said they don't have an officer at immigration here so I would have to send my passport to Bangkok or take it in person. Cost 16,000. Don't know how genuine it is.

 

https://thaivisacentre.com/#/

36 minutes ago, peterb17 said:

I always thought if you were doing the money in the bank / income route the money had to be seasoned for 3 months ? 

Not according to Police Order 327-2557.

 

2.22 In the case of retirement:

(5) Must have an annual earning and fluids deposited with a bank totaling no less than
Baht 800,0000 as of the filing date.

 

No mention of a seasoning period using the combination method, but some insist.

8 minutes ago, Dazinoz said:

There is a company advertising on Facebook who do it in Bangkok. No deposition income. They say they sponsor you. I asked about Chiang Mai and they said they don't have an officer at immigration here so I would have to send my passport to Bangkok or take it in person. Cost 16,000. Don't know how genuine it is.

 

https://thaivisacentre.com/#/

A fool and his money and his Passport are soon parted.

1 minute ago, Tanoshi said:

A fool and his money and his Passport are soon parted.

It would be interesting to see if any one on TVF has used the company.

Time to end the off topic discussion of visa agents. It serves no purpose in this topic. A baiting post has now been removed.

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Time to end the off topic discussion of visa agents. It serves no purpose in this topic. A baiting post has now been removed.

Actually I thought it was not off topic. The OP asked what his friends options were. I mention the advert I saw. Is that not an option?

4 hours ago, jerry499 said:

A friend of mine went to Udon Thani Immigration office recently to apply for another 1 year extension of stay based on retirement. He receives a pension in Euros, that due to the currently  strong THB, just falls short to qualify for the income requirements. He offered to deposit the 'gap' of THB 25,000 into a bank account, but immigration requires this amount to be seasoned by 90 days. The seasoning would therefore occur after his extension expires end of September.

Got caught in the same trap, by the same office 2 years ago. Not such a problem for me because being married, I was able to resort to a marriage extension instead.

 

In a way, I got the last laugh because it caused them a load of extra work.

12 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Time to end the off topic discussion of visa agents. It serves no purpose in this topic. A baiting post has now been removed.

 

8 minutes ago, Dazinoz said:

Actually I thought it was not off topic. The OP asked what his friends options were. I mention the advert I saw. Is that not an option?

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