new regulations for retirement visa for Americans?

[tomahawk]

A friend told me today that CM immigration will no longer acceptt he proof of income caffidavit from US consulate but must now show proof of income. Is this true?

Edited October 9, 2018 by ubonjoe
Added a ? mark to the title to make it correct.

[JWNZ]

I believe so, as more than a handful were getting around the required income/savings criteria by producing an affidavit to verify income, that never actually existed, or fell short...………...

[KhunBENQ]

THIS is what I waited for after the hot topic of the UK consulate no more issuing income statements!

 

Move to Visa forum.

[KhunBENQ]

25 minutes ago, tomahawk said:

but must now show proof of income

Show proof directly at immigration?

Was that a personal experience at immigration or just a "feeling"?

Edited October 9, 2018 by KhunBENQ

[NCC1701A]

34 minutes ago, tomahawk said:

must now show proof of income. Is this true?

yes. so just show proof of income. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

For some months, there have been reports here that CM Immigration has been asking some (many?) extension applicants to show backup income documents in addition to their consulate income letters.

 

At least the last I heard, those kinds of requests/demands were NOT universal, but instead being made selectively. Perhaps someone in closer touch with CM Immigration can confirm about that and or update on the topic.

 

And beyond CM, I've heard of no blanket Immigration practice/policy about demanding backup financial documents in addition to Embassy income affidavits. I did my most recent extension at BKK about a month ago and my U.S. Embassy letter was accepted with a brief glance and no request for anything else.

 

But either way, the CM deal is a whole different matter from a situation like the British Embassy saying it's going to cease issuing income letters, period.

Edited October 9, 2018 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[nwh]

I showed affidavit from consul back in July no prob. Now I hear no longer admitted . Have to show income proof or 800,000 baht document from your bank. Beginning December. True??

 

[KhunBENQ]

10 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

yes. so just show proof of income. 

Sounds easy.

And immigration will be able to verify proof of income from dozens of different countries in misc languages?

[ubonjoe]

1 minute ago, nwh said:

I showed affidavit from consul back in July no prob. Now I hear no longer admitted . Have to show income proof or 800,000 baht document from your bank. Beginning December. True??

 

Absolutely false info.

Immigration has changed nothing,

[ubonjoe]

49 minutes ago, tomahawk said:

Is this true?

No it is not true,

[ubonjoe]

14 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

yes. so just show proof of income. 

No it is not correct.

Nobody has said that.

[The Deerhunter]

6 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

For some months, there have been reports here that CM Immigration has been asking some (many?) extension applicants to show backup income documents in addition to their consulate income letters.

 

At least the last I heard, those kinds of requests/demands were NOT universal, but instead being made selectively. Perhaps someone in closer touch with CM Immigration can confirm about that and or update on the topic.

 

And beyond CM, I've heard of no blanket Immigration practice/policy about demanding backup financial documents in addition to Embassy income affidavits. I did my most recent extension at BKK about a month ago and my U.S. Embassy letter was accepted with a brief glance and no request for anything else.

 

But either way, the CM deal is a whole different matter from a situation like the British Embassy saying it's going to cease issuing income letters, period.

My embassy has told me each time for several years that they do not require proof of income for the affidavit but to be aware that some Immigration offices do ask for documentary proof.  

 

The two things I have been expecting to see for some years are this proof of in come thing and a clamp down on ownership of houses and land by ex-pats by the illegal "loopholes" using companies and nominees.  This is one step closer with Thai Nominees getting hammered over fronting businesses for non-Thai's.

[moe666]

About a month ago I asked my agent if any of their clients had been asked for proof of income and they said no only letter from Embassy is needed. This agent is on the up and up no funny money stuff just paper work and going to immigration, she also does a lot of japanese extensions of stay. I am located in Chiang Mai

[nwh]

38 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Sounds easy.

And immigration will be able to verify proof of income from dozens of different countries in misc languages?

No way.

 

[fforest1]

This is rubbish....But in Chang Mai the problems never seem to end...Huge lines,short on staff,changing rules etc etc...  

[gk10002000]

40 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Sounds easy.

And immigration will be able to verify proof of income from dozens of different countries in misc languages?

And what would they accept as proof?  Some sort of monthly deposit into a Thai bank?  I won't have that as I don't have a pension.  I have an income estimation statement from my broker for my stocks and bonds and dividends and interest, and Etrade said they would issue a letter affirming the estimated values.  I doubt a Thai or many Americans really understand quarterly stock dividends or monthly ETF dividends, or bi-annual Municipal Bond interest payments.  The Thai officials could really make this difficult, not to mention all the different immigration office interpretations!

[NCC1701A]

47 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

Sounds easy.

And immigration will be able to verify proof of income from dozens of different countries in misc languages?

this is about Americans. maybe not speaking English there any more.

[NCC1701A]

9 hours ago, gk10002000 said:

And what would they accept as proof?  Some sort of monthly deposit into a Thai bank?  I won't have that as I don't have a pension.  I have an income estimation statement from my broker for my stocks and bonds and dividends and interest, and Etrade said they would issue a letter affirming the estimated values.  I doubt a Thai or many Americans really understand quarterly stock dividends or monthly ETF dividends, or bi-annual Municipal Bond interest payments.  The Thai officials could really make this difficult, not to mention all the different immigration office interpretations!

what about 1099's or tax return with gross income or a change in value statement over 12 months. are you generating 800,000 a year?

why not just park 800k in Bangkok Bank and think of it as cost of living in Thailand. So easy to give immigration statements from them.

I am lazy and just leave it there all year so I don't have to <deleted> around with it. and it is a emergency source of funds so no waiting for USA bank transfers. 

 

[PoorSucker]

12 minutes ago, gk10002000 said:

And what would they accept as proof?  Some sort of monthly deposit into a Thai bank?  

According to the British embassy, yes. 

 

[4evermaat]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

THIS is what I waited for after the hot topic of the UK consulate no more issuing income statements!

 

Move to Visa forum.

 

And the topic should be changed to add "...in Chiang Mai"  e.g.

"New Regulations for Retirement Visa for Americans in Chiang Mai"  or

"New Regulations for Retirement Visa in Chiang Mai for Americans"

 

 

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

.............

 

And beyond CM, I've heard of no blanket Immigration practice/policy about demanding backup financial documents in addition to Embassy income affidavits. I did my most recent extension at BKK about a month ago and my U.S. Embassy letter was accepted with a brief glance and no request for anything else.

 

But either way, the CM deal is a whole different matter from a situation like the British Embassy saying it's going to cease issuing income letters, period.

Correct.  A lot of people are missing these two important points:

 

1) That Thai immigration has not issued anything official changing the requirements for the 1 year extension of stay based on staying with Thai family (marriage) or retirement.  Each local immigration office may have their own local requirements for additional documents, etc, but that is nothing new.

 

2)  That the actions of one country's embassy/consulate change in service policy does not have any bearing on how other countries service policy to provide a similar service.  It could foreshadow, but that is pure speculation until those countries update their policies. 

[zzaa09]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

THIS is what I waited for after the hot topic of the UK consulate no more issuing income statements!

 

Move to Visa forum.

Kinda expected the other national embassies to follow suit.

Seems to be the current trend. 

 

I'm guessing that these new restrictive policies have come about because of the continued falsehoods and shenanigans from numerous individuals. Adding that the Thai immigration hierarchy has put the clamps on any "official" documentation regarding financial status and whatnot, therefore requesting any [selected?] foreign embassy to cease as acting sponsors/guarantors towards their respective citizenry. 

 

All this aside, I believe most missions are weary of all this business of financial proof documentation......and certainly not their responsibility to act in this manner. 

 

Most of the principle embassies/consulates have cut back on general services for it's citizenry that they deem trivial and non-essential. 

Turning the tide towards trade missions, en lieu of diplomatic/state equivalent. 

[KhunBENQ]

1 minute ago, zzaa09 said:

Kinda expected the other national embassies to follow suit.

Seems to be the current trend.  

For me it smells like a "Big Joke"

[nwh]

And US too?? Haven't seen any announcements on not issuing Income Affidavit.

 

 

[Jingthing]

7 minutes ago, nwh said:

And US too?? Haven't seen any announcements on not issuing Income Affidavit.

 

 

Because there haven't been any from the U.S.

[marcusarelus]

16 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

For me it smells like a "Big Joke"

The Brits are feeling blue

And

Want the Yanks to feel blue too.

[observer90210]

So to understand things a bit more clearly, an 800k deposit in a Thai bank is sufficient and no other proof of income is required ?

[marcusarelus]

1 minute ago, observer90210 said:

So to understand things a bit more clearly, an 800k deposit in a Thai bank is sufficient and no other proof of income is required ?

It's been that way for the 20 years I've been doing extensions. 

[Jingthing]

5 minutes ago, observer90210 said:

So to understand things a bit more clearly, an 800k deposit in a Thai bank is sufficient and no other proof of income is required ?

Yes. No change. But the funds must be seasoned for the required time period. 

[nwh]

26 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Because there haven't been any from the U.S.

Will keep it this way I hope.

 

[gk10002000]

59 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

what about 1099's or tax return with gross income or a change in value statement over 12 months. are you generating 800,000 a year?

why not just park 800k in Bangkok Bank and think of it as cost of living in Thailand. So easy to give immigration statements from them.

I am lazy and just leave it there all year so I don't have to F around with it. and it is a emergency source of funds so no waiting for USA bank transfers. 

 

Why not put 800k baht in a thai bank you ask:  Some reasons: 

1: that now requires one to report the over $10k in a foreign account to the US.  Some people don't like telling the government any more than necessary

2:  that ~ 25,000 USD can remain invested safely in the USA earning dividends or interest

3:  Some people prefer not to have large amounts of money in a foreign country where transferring money in and out may be a problem

4:  Even if you park the 800k baht in a Thai bank, one presumably is still transferring or carrying in funds in to Thailand to live on.  I don't like dead money just sitting