Just Received Some Bad News For US Citizens. No More Income Affidavits.

[billd766]

1 hour ago, robblok said:

Why an exodus ? its not that hard to put money in a Thai account. If you have the money its just moving money around.

Absolutely. IF you have the money to spare.

 

Many people don't though they do have the income to cover it.

 

And for those who don't of cannot come up with a lump sum?

 

What are they supposed to do?

 

Leave their Thai families behind and go back to their own country on their own?

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, Wake Up said:

to show 65k monthly income by having 65k transferred to a Thai bank account each month.  I am sure more details about the 65 k a month income route will be announced by Thailand since this is a major change.

One wonders over what period of time the Baht 65,000 deposits per month need to be shown. In the past they seemed to be only interested in seeing banking history for the three months prior to applying for an extension. 

[gunderhill]

41 minutes ago, pmarlin said:

I agree with this as I personally knew of several people who cheated. After the British Emb made their announcement I believed them that the US was going that way I went ahead and topped up my Thai Bank account  in order to go the Money in ih Bank way. didn't like doing it but I also like staying here,

Until  they  move  the  goal  posts  again.

[Nyezhov]

26 minutes ago, Suradit69 said:

You should still be able to get the income letter now. If the renewal date is mid-January you should be able to do the renewal before the end of this year.

Now Im confused. On Wednesday, I applied for (thanks Ubon Joe)  "a non immigrant visa based upon qualifying for an extension of stay based upon retirement". I used an income letter signed this month. 

 

On Nov 8th, I go back to Immigration and I will receive a 90 day extension.

 

That means I have to report back in February for the year extension...

 

I have a bank account, and I just transferwised in like 33,000 baht. the other deposits this month came in from cash in hand.

 

So when do I have to start the 65K in? Now? Next month? Or when I go back in February? Should I go in January to get the year extension?

 

My circs are a little different than most as I was only planning to be here about 5-7 months a year, which I could easily do by way of two SETVs or a METV. But it seem easier and cheaper to do the retirement extension. What if I decide to just bag the year extension in Feb and leave and get an SETV, then take off in April like I was planning?  I dont want to tie up 25 large in a Thai bank account. Nor do I want to fund one when Im not here.  Damn this is hard.

[rowan1981]

2 hours ago, certacito said:

How long until the Australian embassy's news flash ?

They same will eventually apply to every embassy 

[newatthis]

5 minutes ago, Kerryd said:

Maybe that is why Thailand now wants to see a (Thai) bank book showing regular deposits of 65,000/month.

Yeah, I think it has come to that. "We don't want a stat dec or an affidavit or a promise by aunt Mary, we want to see the money here in Thailand."

[balo]

Just use an agent and pay the 20k fee, at least here in Pattaya it still works. Will be busy times for agents . 

 

 

[NCC1701A]

35 minutes ago, garyk said:

125,000 total U.S. + U.K expats x 800,000 = 100 billion baht?

Just speculation on my part but I would bet 95-98% used the letter. It was required, and anyone that actually put 800K in a Thai bank just for that purpose would be ignorant IMO.

I have a total of 1.6 million baht in two different Thai banks. One bank has 800,000 baht year round and one letter is all I need from the bank for the immigration requirement so I don't need to worry about all this crap. What am I ignorant of? I need to know.  

[garyk]

2 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

Well I, for one, don't want to put aside $$$$ that have been making a good return on investment - last year that 24k ended up at 27.6k just sitting there.....

You're dead ended once you are forced to move & park that money in a Thai account....Moving it there is easy, moving it back & forth from a Thai bank across international boundaries to allow for earnings is not easy, or a good plan....

I've used the income affidavit & can verify every amount off my US bank statements as well as the monthly Thai withdrawls noted & itemized on the same bank statements in increments between 40-75k withdrawn at the Thai bank branch a couple of times each month......

Dead ending that money is, not what I feel, a good option.....

Everyone should agree with that. I do the same. People that park 800K in a Thai bank when they did not have too didn't have the monthly income IMO.

[marcusarelus]

4 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

Well I, for one, don't want to put aside $$$$ that have been making a good return on investment - last year that 24k ended up at 27.6k just sitting there.....

You're dead ended once you are forced to move & park that money in a Thai account....Moving it there is easy, moving it back & forth from a Thai bank across international boundaries to allow for earnings is not easy, or a good plan....

I've used the income affidavit & can verify every amount off my US bank statements as well as the monthly Thai withdrawls noted & itemized on the same bank statements in increments between 40-75k withdrawn at the Thai bank branch a couple of times each month......

Dead ending that money is, not what I feel, a good option.....

How much would you lose putting 25 grand in a Thai bank as opposed to a US bank? Why do you think you can't move it back to the USA?  I've had no problems.

Edited October 26, 2018 by marcusarelus

[blackhorse]

FAQS: CESSATION OF INCOME AFFIDAVITS

Is it true the Embassy will no longer complete income affidavits for U.S. citizens?

 Yes. Beginning January 1, 2019, the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok and U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai will no longer provide the income affidavit form and will not notarize previous versions of the form. 

Why is the U.S. Embassy making this decision? 

 The Royal Thai Government requires foreigners to meet a minimum income threshold to obtain nonimmigrant “O,” “O-A,” or 

“O-X” long-term stay visas. The self-sworn affidavits notarized at the Embassy and Consulate General do not meet the Thai 

requirement to certify the income of U.S. citizens. In addition, U.S. Citizens have often expressed concern at the expense and 

burden of travel necessary to obtain the income affidavit at the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. 

I want to renew my visa in 2019. How can I verify my income for the application?

 Thailand provides information about visa application and extension requirements on the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington, 

D.C., and the Thai Immigration Bureau websites. These include minimum savings and income amounts and types of evidence 

required.

 As of October 26, 2018, U.S. citizens can verify they meet the income requirements directly with Royal Thai Immigration by 

providing a local bank statement indicating a minimum deposit of 800,000 Thai Baht or a local bank statement showing a 

monthly deposit of at least 65,000 Thai Baht. Applicants should refer to the above-referenced websites for specifics regarding 

the timing and conditions associated with these deposits.

 We will continue to notarize income affidavit forms through the end of 2018. Thai Immigration Bureau officials confirmed to us

that they will support early visa renewals for U.S. citizens during the transition period. The income affidavits are currently valid 

for six months. 

I receive U.S. Government benefits. Can the U.S. Embassy or Consulate General verify this income?

 We cannot verify or guarantee income, regardless of source.

 The U.S. Mission in Thailand has been working with the Social Security Administration (SSA) regarding deposits directly into 

Thai banks. The SSA recently notified us that it has approved Thailand to participate in the International Direct Deposit (IDD) 

program. This will make proof of income easier. IDD will be implemented beginning in the first quarter of 2019. More information about IDD can be found at: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10137.pdf

What will happen to those who cannot demonstrate sufficient income?

 Sufficient finances are an eligibility requirement of the Royal Thai Government for the issuance of a long-stay retirement or 

family-based visa. Individuals who do not meet the income and financial thresholds do not qualify for these visas in Thailand. 

U.S. citizens should thoroughly understand the Royal Thai Government’s visa requirements to ensure eligibility. We cannot 

intervene on U.S. citizens’ behalf. 

What are the U.S. Embassy and Consulate doing to ease the transition?

 We recently met with the new Commissioner of Immigration and his staff to discuss the change, and both the Embassy and 

Consulate General will work closely with regional immigration offices during the transition period to address any concerns. 

U.S. EMBASSY BANGKOK

95 Wireless Rd., Bangkok 10330 THAILAND 

Find us on or +66 (2) 205-4049

"local bank statement showing a 

monthly deposit of at least 65,000 Thai Baht."

 

System can still be scammed

I'm not USA but let's say you're pension is 50 k you take out 50 k and send 15k back to the USA and redirect back to your thai account and there is your 65 k

 

[IamNoone88]

While British, I have to ask what function the Embassies actually serve? They seem to do very little in my mind, having absconded for any real work to support their citizens overseas. Certainly, they can be counted on less and less for anything useful.

[pookiki]

2 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The ball is now in the Immigration Bureaus hand now. They are the ones that are going to have change the rules.

I can prove every cent or sating shown on the income affidavits I have done.

A bank book showing all of it coming in plus the letter I will get in December stating how much I will be getting next year and a statement in January for this years income.

Very true Ubon Joe.  My credit union account in the US clearly shows the source of my direct deposit for my one pension and social security.  We can only guess if such documentation will be acceptable to Thai immigration. Plus I have my tax statements, too.  It will be interesting to see what Thai immigration will do, now. I can tell you for sure that I'm not overly eager to keep 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account!

[david555]

2 minutes ago, pgrahmm said:

Well I, for one, don't want to put aside $$$$ that have been making a good return on investment - last year that 24k ended up at 27.6k just sitting there.....

You're dead ended once you are forced to move & park that money in a Thai account....Moving it there is easy, moving it back & forth from a Thai bank across international boundaries to allow for earnings is not easy, or a good plan....

I've used the income affidavit & can verify every amount off my US bank statements as well as the monthly Thai withdrawls noted & itemized on the same bank statements in increments between 40-75k withdrawn at the Thai bank branch a couple of times each month......

Dead ending that money is, not what I feel, a good option.....

Dead ending for only 3 months...! And even in my country I could get from bank 0.10 % max, in Kasikorn on by you named e dead end money 0.50% and I can live on it and fill up again what is needed next extension......must be a golden investment you can do in this financial times ...

[rowan1981]

Just now, IamNoone88 said:

While British, I have to ask what function the Embassies actually serve? They seem to do very little in my mind, having absconded for any real work to support their citizens overseas. Certainly, they can be counted on less and less for anything useful.

I agree, they're completely useless.

[garyk]

2 minutes ago, NCC1701A said:

I have a total of 1.6 million baht in two different Thai banks. One bank has 800,000 baht year round and one letter is all I need from the bank for the immigration requirement so I don't need to worry about all this crap. What am I ignorant of? I need to know.  

If from America you could of invested that money and it would be paying you a great dividend? Even a crummy fund would pay you some good dividends!

[ccarbaugh]

Where is an "affordable" country to retire to?????  

[jsgatse]

I'm counting the days until I, and my money, will leave....

[marcusarelus]

2 minutes ago, garyk said:

Everyone should agree with that. I do the same. People that park 800K in a Thai bank when they did not have too didn't have the monthly income IMO.

I have a few million in a Thai bank because I like to have money available and I don't trust US banks. 

[david555]

5 minutes ago, gunderhill said:

Until  they  move  the  goal  posts  again.

in the past they "grandfathered" continuous extended ones

[Genericnic]

Actually, it's a one time deposit that you can enjoy until you'll leave this planet. Can't really see the problems that US people have with this.

Could be that some of us see Thailand as a moderately unstable 3rd world country that we might have to bail out of on short notice.

Sent from my SM-N950F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[garyk]

1 minute ago, marcusarelus said:

I have a few million in a Thai bank because I like to have money available and I don't trust US banks. 

Wow, amazing.

You sir are the new poster child for Thai banking.

Edited October 26, 2018 by garyk

[marcusarelus]

2 minutes ago, garyk said:

If from America you could of invested that money and it would be paying you a great dividend? Even a crummy fund would pay you some good dividends!

OK how much would 25 grand for 3 months make you in the USA as opposed to Thailand?  Bet you don't respond!

[Jingthing]

Just now, pookiki said:

Very true Ubon Joe.  My credit union account in the US clearly shows the source of my direct deposit for my one pension and social security.  We can only guess if such documentation will be acceptable to Thai immigration. Plus I have my tax statements, too.  It will be interesting to see what Thai immigration will do, now. I can tell you for sure that I'm not overly eager to keep 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account!

I will say this.

Until we get clear rules from Thai immigration, the wisest move is to use the 800K in a Thai bank seasoned.

There does appear to be hints that Thai immigration will start to accept (without embassy letter) evidence of MONTHLY deposits into a THAI bank for the entire year.

Even that's not certain yet.

However, nobody should assume at this point that they will accept non-Thai bank statements or non-Thai income stating documents.

Also, is the COMBO method going away, or not?

Also, if it's about showing income flows into Thailand, why does it need to be MONTHLY. If it's the same amount of claimed income, what's the difference if it's sent in one time a year (or 2,3,4, whatever)?

[Suradit69]

1 hour ago, wpcoe said:

Bangkok Embassy is only accepting online appointments right now until 30-Nov

Assuming they are working from 28th to 31st, keep checking for appointments in Bangkok. They normally only show appointment dates for a month or so in advance. Not sure about CM.

[marcusarelus]

Just now, garyk said:

Wow, amazing.

It's not amazing at all.  I have 3 litigious ex wives in America.  

[garyk]

1 minute ago, marcusarelus said:

OK how much would 25 grand for 3 months make you in the USA as opposed to Thailand?  Bet you don't respond!

I don't understand what that has to do with anything?

[Orac]

One wonders over what period of time the Baht 65,000 deposits per month need to be shown. In the past they seemed to be only interested in seeing banking history for the three months prior to applying for an extension. 

Would assume long enough to show it made up at least 800k a year ie. 12 months, or ppl would not bother going the deposit route if they just needed 195k of transfers over three months


Sent from my iPad using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[HHTel]

3 minutes ago, david555 said:

Dead ending for only 3 months...! And even in my country I could get from bank 0.10 % max, in Kasikorn on by you named e dead end money 0.50% and I can live on it and fill up again what is needed next extension......must be a golden investment you can do in this financial times ...

One of the reasons I don't want to put 800K in a Thai bank at almost zero interest.  All my current pension investments have produced a lot more than that.  One stock gave 19% growth and I'm not talking risk investment.

[garyk]

Just now, marcusarelus said:

It's not amazing at all.  I have 3 litigious ex wives in America.  

Haha,, ok