BREAKING NEWS British Embassy Bangkok to Stop Certification of Income Letters

[Joe Mcseismic]

2 minutes ago, Esso49 said:

even easier if like my previous post 22.   But maybe they will no longer accept letters ( due to the dodgy scams) rather want to see actual bank books to witness the history of all credits ?

When you get the letter from the bank, the bank also supplies a certified copy of every page in your bank book. At least they do for the seasoned 800K route.

[garyk]

13 minutes ago, doctormann said:

I can easily get electronic statements from my bank (Kasikorn) but will Immigration accept these of will they insist on 'original' hard copies?  Who knows!!

I don't want to put money in a Thai bank! I can show a verified 65K + from retirement institutions coming into my bank. Will they accept that or will I have to transfer the money into Thailand? I can prove I have the funds but do not want to bring it over here.

Edited October 8, 2018 by garyk

[Joe Mcseismic]

3 minutes ago, garyk said:

I don't want to put money in a Thai bank! I can show a verified 65K + from retirement institutions coming into my bank in the states. Will they accept that or will I have to transfer the money into Thailand? I can prove I have the funds but do not want to bring it over here.

They want to see proof that the money comes into Thailand. That is the whole point of these visas; to make money for Thailand. Otherwise, what is to stop you borrowing money for a day, get this copied and then live on 10,000 Bt a month?

Edited October 8, 2018 by Joe Mcseismic

[CharlieH]

Be interesting to see how this gets interpreted and implemented by the numerous offices around the Kingdom. As we all know, rarely any consistency.

 

I would suggest to talk to your local office for what they want.????

[doctormann]

1 minute ago, garyk said:

I don't want to put money in a Thai bank! I can show a verified 65K + from retirement institutions coming into my bank in the states. Will they accept that or will I have to transfer the money into Thailand? I can prove I have the funds but do not want to bring it over here.

In the past, I don't think that there was ever any actual requirement to bring any of your income into Thailand, which was a bit silly really.

In practice, one way or another, you do have to transfer money here because you need it to live on.  Some offices have been keen to see money entering and leaving a Thai account - just to prove that you are not working illegally!

 

[garyk]

1 minute ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

They want to see proof that the money comes into Thailand. That is the whole point of these visas; to make money for Thailand.

Just doesn't make sense to me. But, I never understand this place. I refuse to bring money into this country. Big Joke is going to have a field day after the first of next year. haha

[phutoie2]

I wonder why the Brit embassy say they are unable to verify your income?, too much like hard work, not enough staff etc. I do the income letter every year using the combo method for retirement extensions. I know many others who keep little funds here and use the letter as proof for pensions banked in UK. 

[bluesofa]

2 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Be interesting to see how this gets interpreted and implemented by the numerous offices around the Kingdom. As we all know, rarely any consistency.

 

I would suggest to talk to your local office for what they want.????

They are consistently inconsistent.

 

[roiethome]

Closing another loophole to keep the abusers of the system out of the country.

It amused me that each year when I used the pension letter route, that the embassy did not check on the documents being shown for income.

Any unscrupulous person could create an 'official' looking document from a reputable company and pass it off as an income letter,

Now I use funds in the bank for my marriage extension of stay.

I am guessing they really need to see funds transferred to Thailand from outside if a pension, as the code will show in the passbook different from funds deposited inside Thailand.

[Pilotman]

9 minutes ago, garyk said:

I don't want to put money in a Thai bank! I can show a verified 65K + from retirement institutions coming into my bank. Will they accept that or will I have to transfer the money into Thailand? I can prove I have the funds but do not want to bring it over here.

I agree, I am the same, but I guess we have been had and the 800K will become compulsory. The Embassy are just aiding and abetting the Thai economy.  Funny thing, but I thought that one of  their primary duties was to look after the well being of their citizens abroad.  Clearly I was wrong. 

[Torrens54]

Sounds like a few highly paid, Lazy, British Embassy Party Goers have been getting by, just using their “Rubber Stamps” instead of adhering to Thai Immigration Regulations. 

[The Fat Controller]

The Embassy are saying this

 

The British Embassy Bangkok is stopping the certification of income letters because it is unable to fulfil the Thai authorities’ requirements to verify the income of British Nationals.

 

So what exactly do the Thais want regarding income letters ?

 

Maybe a notarised pension statement from a lawyer in the UK, then translate to Thai and get certified at the MFA ?

[Jingthing]

49 minutes ago, sqwakvfr said:

I’m going to the US Consulate next week to get my Income Affidavit.  Of course the US never certifies anything(it is just an Affirmation Under Oath). I will ask if the US Consulate has plans to terminate this sevice?  In my case the 800K deposit is a no-go and direct depositing my pension into any Foreign Banks is also a no-go.  Maybe my time in LOS is coming to end soon?  

You never know. I try to have a backup. Trying to learn Spanish now and Vietnam is sounding more interesting. 

[Pilotman]

Just now, roiethome said:

Closing another loophole to keep the abusers of the system out of the country.

It amused me that each year when I used the pension letter route, that the embassy did not check on the documents being shown for income.

Any unscrupulous person could create an 'official' looking document from a reputable company and pass it off as an income letter,

Now I use funds in the bank for my marriage extension of stay.

I am guessing they really need to see funds transferred to Thailand from outside if a pension, as the code will show in the passbook different from funds deposited inside Thailand.

If you are not transferring money from the UK to live,  then how do the idiots think that you are financing yourself.  Income doesn't need to be checked by the Embassy. beyond ensuring that the supporting docs are genuine.  Its not the job of the Embassy to do the work of the Thai Authorities for them, its to support their Citizens.  

[Kaoboi Bebobp]

1 hour ago, mok199 said:

My Canadian embassy told me they too will stop, I went for my letter of income lastweek and the woman at my Canadian embssy  BKK ,(who has been their for years) told me this was coming ,I asked why ,she replied ''too much paper work''.2 days latter when I went to immigration in Pattaya(with my letter of income) to renew my visa, my wife was approached by an immigration officer ''next year when your husband needs his retirement visa ,come and see me '' and he quoted her a price.. hmmmm

 

I'm a little unsure which income you are talking about. Is it a CPP/OAS income proof? Or investment income proof? Or company pension proof.

 

I have a company pension. The company sends me a letter, which the embassy certifies after I swear the usual oath. They then use a form letter with embassy seal. I've never used the CPP/OAS proof yet, so it may have a different requirement, such that the embassy has to search your federal pension records.

 

Please explain your situation. Thanks. 

[Joe Mcseismic]

6 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

I agree, I am the same, but I guess we have been had and the 800K will become compulsory. The Embassy are just aiding and abetting the Thai economy.  Funny thing, but I thought that one of  their primary duties was to look after the well being of their citizens abroad.  Clearly I was wrong. 

I'm no fan of the British Embassy, but, just how do you expect them to check your income? At the very least, it would be time consuming and possibly expensive.

The British Embassy's task has never been primarily to look after it's citizens abroad. It's primary mission, apart from needed diplomacy is to rustle up business for British companies.

Edited October 8, 2018 by Joe Mcseismic

[Esso49]

2 minutes ago, Pilotman said:

If you are not transferring money from the UK to live,  then how do the idiots think that you are financing yourself.  Income doesn't need to be checked by the Embassy. beyond ensuring that the supporting docs are genuine.  Its not the job of the Embassy to do the work of the Thai Authorities for them, its to support their Citizens.  

perhaps they may think you are getting income thro working in Thailand illegally ?

[Esso49]

21 minutes ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

When you get the letter from the bank, the bank also supplies a certified copy of every page in your bank book. At least they do for the seasoned 800K route.

so what is the point of the letter then if they also have the real bank book pages as proof I wonder ?

[giddyup]

Let's face it, the letter of income, or signing a statutory declaration, as is the case with the Aussie embassy, in a lot of cases is a scam, and taking advantage of a loophole which allows those with insufficient funds or income to remain in Thailand.

Edited October 8, 2018 by giddyup

[Joe Mcseismic]

Next step will be proof that the 800k is coming from overseas, which presently isn't the case.

[Pilotman]

1 minute ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

I'm no fan of the British Embassy, but, just how do you expect them to check your income? At the very least, it would be time consuming and possibly expensive.

The British Embassies task has never been primarily to look after it's citizens abroad. It's primary mission, apart from needed diplomacy is to rustle up business for British companies.

I dont expect them to check, its really got nothing to do with them them, or at least, it should not be.  Their job is to do the minimum required by the Thais  and the maximum for their own citizens, not the other way around.  

[Esso49]

Just now, giddyup said:

Let's face it, the letter of income, or signing an statutory declaration, as is the case with the Aussie embassy, in a lot of cases is a scam, and taking advantage of a loophole which allows those with insufficient funds or income to remain in Thailand.

I see that but so are many of the so called visa agents running scams , and that is not going to stop, rather than increase their business

[Pilotman]

2 minutes ago, Esso49 said:

perhaps they may think you are getting income thro working in Thailand illegally ?

So what, that's a Thai problem, not the Embassy's.  

[Joe Mcseismic]

1 minute ago, Esso49 said:

so what is the point of the letter then if they also have the real bank book pages as proof I wonder ?

Dunno.....

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, Pilotman said:

I dont expect them to check, its really got nothing to do with them them, or at least, it should not be.  Their job is to do the minimum required by the Thais  and the maximum for their own citizens, not the other way around.  

And now they have been instructed by the Thais to obtain proof of income, so what do you expect them to do?

[giddyup]

1 minute ago, Esso49 said:

I see that but so are many of the so called visa agents running scams , and that is not going to stop, rather than increase their business

I disagree. I think you will see these agents gradually disappearing.

[garyk]

I now predict this will be the longest running and fastest growing thread, ever on ThaiVisa!

[Esso49]

21 minutes ago, CharlieH said:

Be interesting to see how this gets interpreted and implemented by the numerous offices around the Kingdom. As we all know, rarely any consistency.

 

I would suggest to talk to your local office for what they want.????

done that already in post 22.  no one corroborated it yet though

[Pilotman]

2 minutes ago, Joe Mcseismic said:

Next step will be proof that the 800k is coming from overseas, which presently isn't the case.

No mate, the next step will be compulsory Health Insurance.  That will be the death of expats in Thailand, excuse the pun . Lets face it, the Thais, aided by the Embassy, dont' really want us here.  We are a problem that they would rather not have.  Death by a thousand cuts.   Or is it death by a thousand cxxxs? 

[Pilotman]

3 minutes ago, giddyup said:

And now they have been instructed by the Thais to obtain proof of income, so what do you expect them to do?

Object!