"Easy Ride" for pensioners in Thailand now over, says Pattaya Radio

[NCC1701A]

45 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Isn't that a bolthole for criminals wanting to disappear? I'm sure "Canoe Man" ended up there.

yeah Thailand is squeaky clean.

 

actually Thailand is getting too tame. I need that edge where you think you are going to die everyday in the cross fire of drug lords.

[jesimps]

1 hour ago, dick dasterdly said:

Get over yourself ????!

 

Some of us came here with a large amount of money and a pension on top.  One way or another, things went sideways - and so we were left with pension income that fortunately, exceeded the 65,000 bht p.m. requirement.

 

The brit. embassy (capital letters in my posts decrease in direct proportion to my lack of respect for the institution/s), have decided that they can't be bothered providing Brits with the necessary documentation required by Thai Immigration....

 

Although to be fair - this is typical of the brit. govt., and even more typical of the brit. embassy ????...

 

 

As an ex-member of the Brit foreign service, I agree with every word you say. I figured a long time ago that the only purpose of the British embassies is to kiss the backside of their host nation. British citizens abroad are no longer of any concern to them, nor have they been for many years. Anyone who doesn't fall in line with this policy isn't going to go far up the Foreign and Commonwealth Office hierarchy.

[poanoi]

3 minutes ago, The Theory said:

I guess the worst case is that they will ask for proof of fund transfers. And perhaps that would be bank book. 

that will not suffice if they dont feel like giving you extension,

her latest trick was to demand proof, i showed all my ATM slips,

not good enough, she had made up her mind, no extension

[motaz]

15 hours ago, gunderhill said:

Invest 1  million in a 20 year Thai elite no questions asked  visa

That would be 1/2 a million for 5 years or 2 mil for 20 years. 

[GinBoy2]

I think for most folks this was a train wreck just waiting to happen if you're honest with yourself.

When were planning to move back to the US, I already moved all money back home just before I needed to do an extension, since I needed a few more months to tidy things up.

I remember thinking to myself as I was sat in the embassy waiting to get the affidavit...this is nuts. I could say I have $1M/month income just because I say I do!

Now I know it's perjury to swear to a lie in front of a consular notary, but you know what, I haven't read about anybody going to Federal prison yet.

I think I read many pages back as I was skimming through this, that the Thai authorities had asked the Brits to provide more confirmation that they had verified income before issued the verification letter. The Brits refused to do that so just gave up on the whole thing.

If that is indeed what happened, it's coming for everyone.

They may well have gone after the Brits first, since they are by far the most numerous..

All that being said. Thailand is Thailand. They got millions of laws and regulation on the books, 80% are ignored. Trouble this one, it affects peoples lives, so if it is the shape of things to come...Good Luck

[mrfaroukh]

It is really bad. They can ask other Embassies if they can guarantee the letter they issue. If they want to force us to keep a dead money of 800 000 in the Bank I think many people will leave Thailand including myself. I am spending at least 70000 a month here and now being force to keep 800 000 in the bank is just nonsense. I found out if you want to get a resident permit in Philippine you just have to show a transfer of 1000 dollar a month to your account for your expenses and you get permanent resident permit as long as the money coming inn. One can buy condo, land, house and even work.

 

So I hope Thai government would not change this law but just make sure the Embassies are doing their jobs.

[The Theory]

9 hours ago, shackleton said:

I was at the Immigration in Chaeng Wattana   this morning  for my Non O  retired  visa using the British Embassy Pension letter 

everything went well asked the Immigration Woman if she was aware of any future changes regarding the British Embassy not providing  the Pension letters 

she said she was not aware as of this moment  advised me on the Thai Bank options which I was already aware of thank her for the information 

in and out in just over 90 minutes 

The income letter is not limited to British only. They accept it as long as you have it in your hand. But if British embassy stop providing the letter then you will not have it for next time, but income letters still will be accepted by immigration from other expats from some other countries. 

Immigration will not change their rules and even some IO have no idea about what is just happening.

[Greenhill]

5 hours ago, wgdanson said:

In the four times I have got an income letter from British Consulate in Bangkok, I have NEVER had too prove the income claimed, simply send copies of my bank statements. I am not mixing anything up.

Original bank statements are pretty good proof, are they not?

[giddyup]

12 minutes ago, mrfaroukh said:

It is really bad. They can ask other Embassies if they can guarantee the letter they issue. If they want to force us to keep a dead money of 800 000 in the Bank I think many people will leave Thailand including myself. I am spending at least 70000 a month here and now being force to keep 800 000 in the bank is just nonsense. I found out if you want to get a resident permit in Philippine you just have to show a transfer of 1000 dollar a month to your account for your expenses and you get permanent resident permit as long as the money coming inn. One can buy condo, land, house and even work.

 

So I hope Thai government would not change this law but just make sure the Embassies are doing their jobs.

You only have to have the 800K in the bank for 3 months prior to applying for an extension. You can live on the 800K for 9 months and just top it back up 3 months before.

[jesimps]

3 hours ago, notamember said:

only for  first time applicant converting to an O visa inside Thailand and then only for 2 months not 3 months

Wrong, it used to be, it's now three months.

[The Theory]

28 minutes ago, poanoi said:

that will not suffice if they dont feel like giving you extension,

her latest trick was to demand proof, i showed all my ATM slips,

not good enough, she had made up her mind, no extension

I meant fund transfers from overseas to your Thai bank account that show minimum requirement for retirement (combo, if letter was not required), not ATM slips. 

 

Edited October 9, 2018 by The Theory

[poanoi]

5 minutes ago, The Theory said:

I meant fund transfers from overseas to your Thai bank account that show minimum requirement for retirement (either full or combo), not ATM slips. 

 

back then i had no idea how to transfer bank to bank,

now i do, but i bet my pension that even if i had shown bank transfer, she would not have accepted.

a video recording might have helped her do her duty

Edited October 9, 2018 by poanoi

[The manic]

2 hours ago, NCC1701A said:

 Americans have been told for decades that you need two million dollars to retire at 65. 

 

When I first came to this forum six years ago I said to someone "if you don't have 800,000 baht you are not ready to retire." Which is true.

I was shocked how many people came back at me and said they don't have it. I am not talking about the "I don't trust Thai banks" crowd.

 

after all, 800,000 baht is 66,666 baht a month for one year. It was just shown that a large group of expats get by on 45,000 baht a month. so people retired and came to Thailand without being able to put one or two years living expenses in the bank? It's not like you can't take it out anytime you want. It is your money. The little income you lose with a poor interest rate is not that much.    

 

and all you are going to do is use the money to live on for one year and then fill the account back up two months before your retirement extension of stay.

 

at a bare minimum you should have 16 million baht ($500,000 USD) in a bank somewhere in your home country and a pension or social security to scrape by over 30 years.

 

man that is really going to be tough moving forward for a few more decades without money.   

 

 

Some of us have our money in UK/European property equal to the amounts you suggest. As well as capital gains we are collecting rent to provide a steady income. But we dont have lots of cash in the bank. That does not make us poor or foolish. 

[jesimps]

4 hours ago, smedly said:

pretty much the same, but the fact that the British embassy cannot and perhaps will not authenticate the docs you provide means they now cannot sign off in a letter to Immigration, US AUS CAN do not do this, it is the applicant that swears the information to be true - the Embassy legally witnesses that declaration (Affidavit)  which means they have absolutely no legal responsibility for what you claim, if Thai authorities want to accept that then up to them

They more or less do that at the moment by saying in their letter "Mr ....... has also stated that he receives monthly pension totalling GBP .......... and has shown to us letter from the Pension Service and Civil Service Pensions stating that he receives pensions totalling GBP ............. per annum". It'd be nothing to add to that that the applicant swears the information to be true, along with the applicant's signature.

By the way smedders, is the junta still hitting your G spot or are you starting to go off them a bit? 

[Greenhill]

1 hour ago, NCC1701A said:

I am really handsome so it might be difficult.

 

I am truly sorry for everyone's grief. I understand sh*t happens. 

 

I guess what I am saying is, a good plan for people considering retiring in Thailand is to have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank that you never touch until you die.

 

That way you are bullet proof and don't have too many hoops to jump through.  

 

 

That's until they arbitrarily decide to increase that amount to 1.5 million baht, or more, maybe?!

[Russell17au]

4 hours ago, notamember said:

only for  first time applicant converting to an O visa inside Thailand and then only for 2 months not 3 months

next....

You have got it wrong notamember. The seasoning is 2 months for the first application as your Non-Imm "O" visa is only 90 days and you must make your application for your first extension 30 days before the visa expires, thus the 2 months seasoning for the first application and 3 months for each year after that

[Issanjohn]

1 hour ago, sambum said:

Wrong!

Well I’m sorry you guys who are British Citizens have to deal with that you should all complain to your embassy.  I know my embassy hadn’t made any changes so we’re lucky.  I’m not concerned about it because it seems like every year they’re always talking about drastic new changes but so far none of them have effected me. I spoke with immigration where I live about this article and according to them nothing has changed but then again I’m not a British Citizen so I don’t know how it is for you all.  Seems like there’s always a news story on here trying to spread fear and concern every year, it’s always new leadership or something we’ll be fine.  I wouldn’t worry so much.  Next year I’m going to get my next visa extension just like I have every other year.  

[Kalasin Jo]

If other Embassies follow suit then its a Thai immigration crackdown, if they don't it's a British Embassy cop out. I suspect the latter as they move premises and downsize staffing levels.

 

We need to establish which.

 

We Brits also need to complain loudly TO the BE, not just moan on here. After all for those who use this method it could be a question of having to leave, right?  We can't all just rustle up 800,000 baht or even 400,000 if we only have monthly income.

 

As it happens last Saturday I could and did download the forms from the BE site. Last night I saw this and thought it was a hoax. so I revisited the BE site....all gone, just a notice saying service to be discontinued at the end of the year and last applications must be in by 12 December to still be processed, which presumably means those income letters will still be accepted by IOs....but how can you get the application forms if they are no longer there?

[Issanjohn]

8 minutes ago, Greenhill said:

That's until they arbitrarily decide to increase that amount to 1.5 million baht, or more, maybe?!

I’m glad I have a monthly pension so I don’t have to worry about that.  Or worry about my bank account balance lol.  

[Issanjohn]

6 minutes ago, Kalasin Jo said:

If other Embassies follow suit then its a Thai immigration crackdown, if they don't it's a British Embassy cop out. I suspect the latter as they move premises and downsize staffing levels.

 

We need to establish which.

 

We Brits also need to complain loudly TO the BE, not just moan on here. After all for those who use this method it could be a question of having to leave, right?  We can't all just rustle up 800,000 baht or even 400,000 if we only have monthly income.

 

As it happens last Saturday I could and did download the forms from the BE site. Last night I saw this and thought it was a hoax. so I revisited the BE site....all gone, just a notice saying service to be discontinued at the end of the year and last applications must be in by 12 December to still be processed, which presumably means those income letters will still be accepted by IOs....but how can you get the application forms if they are no longer there?

That’s what I told another guy you Brits need to complain like hell to your embassy I would if the United States Embassy tried to pull this crap.  I’m sorry you Brits have to deal with that I really am I hope it gets sorted out somehow I’m sure it’ll get sorted out eventually don’t stress out too much about it if possible.  Although if my embassy did this I’d be very angry.  

[bwpage3]

19 minutes ago, The manic said:

Some of us have our money in UK/European property equal to the amounts you suggest. As well as capital gains we are collecting rent to provide a steady income. But we dont have lots of cash in the bank. That does not make us poor or foolish. 

First of all 800,000 baht is not lots of cash.

 

If you are living in Thailand or anywhere else and do not have 800,000 baht to squirrel away and not touch? 

 

Yes that does make you quite foolish and quite poor.

 

You are only talking about saving the equivalent of 2200 baht per month over 30 years of work.

 

It is hard to spend property!

[Issanjohn]

15 minutes ago, Greenhill said:

That's until they arbitrarily decide to increase that amount to 1.5 million baht, or more, maybe?!

That’s also why I’m very glad that my monthly pension is well over the minimum!  

[Issanjohn]

I think everyone should stop speculating about what’s going on and get the facts.  According to my local immigration office nothing has changed as far as the rules.  But I don’t know what’s going on with the British Embassy that sucks I hope it gets sorted out soon.  I’d be very stressed out if the US Embassy did this to us.  I know one thing I’m not leaving Thailand unless I want to ever not alive anyway.  

[bwpage3]

17 minutes ago, Issanjohn said:

Why is everyone on this site so confrontational to each other?  Relax as long as you do everything legally in accordance with Thailand’s immigration laws and as long as you qualify for the long stay visas you’ll be okay you’ll get your visa it’ll be fine.  Everyone needs to relax I used to worry about these things my first few years here but I’ve never had a problem and it seems like there’s always some story like this every year.  

Sorry, you are incorrect.

 

There is only 1 Big Joke and he is this year.

 

1700+ arrests this year so I would assume those 1700 are probably worrying right about now

 

German arrested for 19 years overstay.

 

All of sudden after 19 years he gets caught?

 

Not the same at all.

[Issanjohn]

20 minutes ago, Kalasin Jo said:

If other Embassies follow suit then its a Thai immigration crackdown, if they don't it's a British Embassy cop out. I suspect the latter as they move premises and downsize staffing levels.

 

We need to establish which.

 

We Brits also need to complain loudly TO the BE, not just moan on here. After all for those who use this method it could be a question of having to leave, right?  We can't all just rustle up 800,000 baht or even 400,000 if we only have monthly income.

 

As it happens last Saturday I could and did download the forms from the BE site. Last night I saw this and thought it was a hoax. so I revisited the BE site....all gone, just a notice saying service to be discontinued at the end of the year and last applications must be in by 12 December to still be processed, which presumably means those income letters will still be accepted by IOs....but how can you get the application forms if they are no longer there?

Also Thai immigration has absolutely no control over foreign embassies it sounds like just a British issue.  You all need to start writing to your Embassador like crazy and don’t except any excuses like it’s because of the Thais because the Thais don’t control our embassies at all.  Foreign embassies are the same as foreign soil Thailand does not control them at all.  Complain to your Embassador all of you!!!

[sambum]

24 minutes ago, Issanjohn said:

Well I’m sorry you guys who are British Citizens have to deal with that you should all complain to your embassy.  I know my embassy hadn’t made any changes so we’re lucky.  I’m not concerned about it because it seems like every year they’re always talking about drastic new changes but so far none of them have effected me. I spoke with immigration where I live about this article and according to them nothing has changed but then again I’m not a British Citizen so I don’t know how it is for you all.  Seems like there’s always a news story on here trying to spread fear and concern every year, it’s always new leadership or something we’ll be fine.  I wouldn’t worry so much.  Next year I’m going to get my next visa extension just like I have every other year.  

Immigration will only realise that there is a change when they stop getting "Proof of Income" letters from the British Embassy in January!

[The manic]

1 minute ago, bwpage3 said:

First of all 800,000 baht is not lots of cash.

 

If you are living in Thailand or anywhere else and do not have 800,000 baht to squirrel away and not touch? 

 

Yes that does make you quite foolish and quite poor.

 

You are only talking about saving the equivalent of 2200 baht per month over 30 years of work.

 

It is hard to spend property!

I reiterate my property portfolio generates a steady income  and creates  ROI. I do not intend to sell European property just to satisfy Thai immigration rules. 18 thousand pounds of dead money is a lot of money to me.  May I ask you the value of your property portfolio? I do have 18k...but its invested at 6% interest in the UK. I am neither poor nor foolish. Which is why I pay an agent 25k a year to sort out my extension and conserve my wealth in a stable investmentnin a stable country. BTW. I only worked for 21 years of my life. Never was a wage slave or a slave to other peoples rules or opinions. You talk about needing millions of dollars to retire but you may die tomorrow....if you live a really long time your lump some cash will run out. Property based incomes last forever,  can be cashed in as required and can be lived in. Trying living in a wad of dollars!

[Issanjohn]

3 minutes ago, bwpage3 said:

Sorry, you are incorrect.

 

There is only 1 Big Joke and he is this year.

 

1700+ arrests this year so I would assume those 1700 are probably worrying right about now

 

German arrested for 19 years overstay.

 

All of sudden after 19 years he gets caught?

 

Not the same at all.

Well okay then don’t overstay just follow their laws this is Thailand if people are getting arrested most of the time it’s for a reason just follow their laws and you’ll be fine.  As long as you qualify for any of the long stay visas at least.  It’s simple obey the law and don’t overstay your visa and you won’t get arrested.  

[Issanjohn]

4 minutes ago, sambum said:

Immigration will only realise that there is a change when they stop getting "Proof of Income" letters from the British Embassy in January!

Hopefully your embassy will correct their mistake or hopefully immigration will expect something else from you all from the UK.  

[bwpage3]

1 minute ago, The manic said:

I reiterate my property portfolio generates a steady income  and creates  ROI. I do not intend to sell European property just to satisfy Thai immigration rules. 18 thousand pounds of dead money is a lot of money to me.  May I ask you the value of your property portfolio? I do have 18k...but its invested at 6% interest in the UK. I am neither poor nor foolish. Which is why I pay an agent 25k a year to sort out my extension and conserve my wealth in a stable investmentnin a stable country. BTW. I only worked for 21 years of my life. Never was a wage slave or a slave to other peoples rules or opinions. You talk about needing millions of dollars to retire but you may die tomorrow....if you live a really long time your lump some cash will run out. Property based incomes last forever,  can be cashed in as required and can be lived in. Trying living in a wad of dollars!

Yes you can ask and I will tell you I live in Florida, USA right near the beach 

 

I have 7 figures in my Fidelity account with 10 more years of work to go, my contributions matched 65% per year from my company.

 

My social security should top out around US $7,000+/month at that time was well.

 

Still have no plans to move back to Thailand when I retire

 

10 years was plenty long enough and I don't have to move because I will be able to afford right where I am

 

Planning, planning, planning