Stopping pension letter services for one-year visas with immediate effect

14.11.2018  10:02

 

 

The Danish Embassy in Bangkok can no longer issue income certificates/pension letters as a supporting document for obtaining a one-year visa through the Thai authorities.

 

This is due to the fact that the Embassy in Bangkok is legally unable to fulfil the Thai authorities’ requirements to guarantee the future level of pension/income for Danish Nationals.

 

If this will affect you, we encourage you, to seek more information about alternative ways of applying for a visa on the Embassy of Thailand in Copenhagen’s web page: http://thaiembassy.dk/category/visa-application/

 

Affected residents can also seek information at the Thai Immigration Authorities about the current valid regulations. Here, you can find information about how to apply for a long-term visa: http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/base.php?page=procedure

 

The following link give you information about needed documentation: http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/base.php?page=service#

 

Please note, that applicants who have applied for the income certificate/pension letter already will get a fee refunded if the letter has not yet been issued by the embassy.  

 

From embasssy website. http://thailand.um.dk/en/News/newsdisplaypage/?newsID=5FD2318C-7DE7-4241-9A60-990E671E1D3F

This is the first embassy to stop issuing the letters with immediate effect, so perhaps a Danish citizen will be the first to test what Thai Immigration will do when one tries to use the income method with proof but without the required embassy income letter.

A inflammatory off topic post has been removed.

This is the first embassy to stop issuing the letters with immediate effect, so perhaps a Danish citizen will be the first to test what Thai Immigration will do when one tries to use the income method with proof but without the required embassy income letter.

Yeah that was very harsh! Something rotten in the state of Denmark embassy?

 

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Wow, with immediate affect, they didn't even give their citizens a heads up. I feel bad for them.

Standby for more and more embassies to do the same....either immediately stop or at a near-term date.

 

My agent told me this week more where coming. Seems we are going to get a flow on effect to other Embassies. Just taking time. Seems pretty harsh the no notice and I wonder how many Danish people are in Thailand on these Visas? Looks like they will be first off the block now in finding out what they need to keep Immigration happy.

34 minutes ago, skatewash said:

This is the first embassy to stop issuing the letters with immediate effect, so perhaps a Danish citizen will be the first to test what Thai Immigration will do when one tries to use the income method with proof but without the required embassy income letter.

A particularly poor show on the part of the Danish Embassy to pull the plug straight away, I think. Recent reports about certain immigration offices lead me to strongly suspect that, as things stand, any Danish retiree would almost certainly receive short shrift if he were to apply for a retirement extension based on monthly income without an Embassy letter.

 

I feel particularly sorry for any retiree who is currently awaiting an Embassy letter which will not now be issued. Even if he were able to rustle up 800,000 THB at the drop of a hat, he would, of course, have already missed the bus on account of the 3-month seasoning requirement.

 

And for the Embassy seriously to suggest that those who might find themselves up a gumtree as a result of their decision might be able to seek recourse through a trip to the Thai Embassy in Copenhagen or the Chaengwattana Immigration Office (even, presumably, if they didn't live in Bangkok) is, quite frankly, ridiculous and pathetic IMHO.

The immediate seems very harsh. The more Embassies that pull out the better now as it should force TI to make a decision/announcement.

The more the better.

Hopefully will hear from Thai Immigration soon with new requirements.

No notice and a refund if you have not received it yet is extreme to say the least.

Our Dutch colleagues would have every right to be furious.

5 minutes ago, pontious said:

Our Dutch colleagues would have every right to be furious.

I think you meant Danish.

19 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

The immediate seems very harsh. The more Embassies that pull out the better now as it should force TI to make a decision/announcement.

The Danish embassy action is definitely harsh.  Their action will surely screw those Danish using the income letter for their annual extension and whose extension expires within 3 months.  Gives them no chance to season Bt800/400K in a bank for 3 months even if they had the Bt800/400K to immediately put in a Thai bank account.

 

And I don't know if this really pressures Thai Immigration to put out guidance ASAP as Thai Immigration will just say the Danish embassy should not have cut their citizens off immediately....should have done it like the UK/UK/AU embassies did it by giving everyone a few more months to get letters that should be valid for 6 months. 

 

Thai Immigration may just see this as a Danish self-inflicted wound.  Or maybe said another way, Poor Planning on Your Part (Danish Embassy) Does Not Create An Emergency For Me (Thai Immigration).

 

8 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I think you meant Danish.

OOPS! Sorry, Joe can you change it to avoid Dutch heart attacks.

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

The Danish Embassy in Bangkok can no longer issue income certificates/pension letters as a supporting document for obtaining a one-year visa through the Thai authorities.

This part of the notice confuses me. What are these one-year visas?

 

I know this sounds pedantic, but one would expect an Embassy to be using precise and correct terminology.

 

Are they still issuing letters for extensions of stay based upon marriage/retirement?

34 minutes ago, Peterw42 said:

The immediate seems very harsh. The more Embassies that pull out the better now as it should force TI to make a decision/announcement.

I feel that you are right and I also feel that this is our respective countries giving the bird and a large <deleted> to Thai authorities with their ridiculous demands regarding income letters.

Surely an immigration officer can look at a pension letter or a bank book and make the decision themselves to grant an extension.

This nonsense of having to send the application to Bangkok or CM is quite frankly a total waste of time and just pure bureaucracy. 

Let each provincial immigration office decide based on a list of clear requirements. If the alien can meet said requirements then grant he or she their extension.

But hey, why make something very easy when you can make it hard, eh! TIT

4 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

This part of the notice confuses me. What are these one-year visas?

 

I know this sounds pedantic, but one would expect an Embassy to be using precise and correct terminology.

 

Are they still issuing letters for extensions of stay based upon marriage/retirement?

Good point.

4 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

This part of the notice confuses me. What are these one-year visas?

 

I know this sounds pedantic, but one would expect an Embassy to be using precise and correct terminology.

 

Are they still issuing letters for extensions of stay based upon marriage/retirement?

They are not issuing income letters. Embassies are not aware of the terminology - and nor is Thai Immigration..

5 minutes ago, thequietman said:

I feel that you are right and I also feel that this is our respective countries giving the bird and a large <deleted> to Thai authorities with their ridiculous demands regarding income letters.

Surely an immigration officer can look at a pension letter or a bank book and make the decision themselves to grant an extension.

 

 

How do they understand what is written in Danish or any other language. 

13 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

This part of the notice confuses me. What are these one-year visas?

 

I know this sounds pedantic, but one would expect an Embassy to be using precise and correct terminology.

 

Are they still issuing letters for extensions of stay based upon marriage/retirement?

I fully expect they mean extension of stays because when you go to say the Bangkok  Immigration 1 website they refer to extensions of stay as "Visa Extension."

 

http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/base.php?page=service

Visa Extension In the case of business necessity, for example, the applicant must stay to carry out work for a company or partnership: In the case of necessity where the applicant must carry out duties relating to investment approved by the relevant ministry, department, and bureau: In the case of necessity where the applicant must carry out duties for the government, state enterprise, or other government agency In the case of tourism purposes In the case of investment In the case of a teacher, professor, or expert in a government educational institution In the case of a teacher, professor, or expert in a private educational institution In the case of study in a government educational institution In the case of study in a private educational institution In the case of conducting training or research in a university or research institute In the case of being a family member of an alien who has been permitted a temporary stay in the Kingdom for study in an educational institution according to Clauses 2.8 or 2.9 hereof In the case of performing duties in the mass media In the case of studying Buddhism or practicing religious activities In the case of a missionary In the case of a skilled laborer or a medical expert or a practitioner of other professions for the purpose of transferring knowledge to Thai people In the case of installation or repair of machines, aircraft, or ocean vessels In the case of an actor, vocalist, or musician working at a hotel or an entertainment company in Thailand with a paid-up registered capital of no less than Baht 20 million In the case of being a family member of a Thai national In the case of being a family member of a Thai resident In the case of being a family member of an alien permitted a temporary stay in the Kingdom In the case of necessity where the alien must stay to perform duties in a public charitable organization, a foreign private company, a foundation, an association, a foreign chamber of commerce, the Thai Chamber of Commerce, or the Federation of Thai Industries In the case of retirement In the case of a person who used to have Thai nationality or whose parent is or was of Thai nationality visiting relatives or returning to his or her original homeland In the case of visiting a spouse or children who are of Thai nationality In the case of receiving medical treatment, attending rehabilitation, or taking care of a patient In the case of litigation or court proceedings In the case of performing duties or missions for a government agency, state enterprise, other government agency or embassy or consulate or international organization In the case of necessity, with certification or request made by an embassy or consulate In the case of proof of nationality In the case of an actor, vocalist, musician, or performance director, including persons responsible for entertaining performances or plays conducted from time to time In the case of a person in charge of conveyance and crew of conveyance who entered through a port, station, or locality in the Kingdom, and has not departed from the Kingdom In the case of Necessity to Perform Duties in a Juristic Person In the case for Foreigners Having Rights under the Investment Promotion Act B.E. 2520, the Petroleum Act B.E. 2514, and the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand Act B.E. 2522 Extension of temporary stay under Section 15 Alien Registration Permanent Residence Book Change visa Other services

Is it correct to assume that the Danish embassy used the same way of checking/verifying like the brit and aussie and american embassy did?  Meaning there was no real check and verification, thus open to abuse?  Does anybody know? 

3 minutes ago, TeaMonkey said:

 

How do they understand what is written in Danish or any other language. 

I am sure a request to have the pension letter sent in English from Dutch authorities is doable. After all, it is the language of business all over Europe.

1 minute ago, Carib said:

Is it correct to assume that the Danish embassy used the same way of checking/verifying like the brit and aussie and american embassy did?  Meaning there was no real check and verification, thus open to abuse?  Does anybody know? 

The Brits actually checked. Oz and USA didn't.

2 minutes ago, thequietman said:

I am sure a request to have the pension letter sent in English from Dutch authorities is doable. After all, it is the language of business all over Europe.

Danish is not the same as Dutch...

24 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

This part of the notice confuses me. What are these one-year visas?

 

I know this sounds pedantic, but one would expect an Embassy to be using precise and correct terminology.

 

Are they still issuing letters for extensions of stay based upon marriage/retirement?

Don't expect too much from them ????

 

According to their website you can apply for an extension of stay at border crossings:

Quote

Visitors may apply for an extension of stay or a re-entry permit at any immigration checkpoint.

http://thaiembassy.dk/extension-of-stay-and-re-entry-permit/

9 minutes ago, Pib said:

I fully expect they mean extension of stays because when you go to say the Bangkok Bank Immigration 1 website they refer to extensions of stay as "Visa Extension."

 

http://bangkok.immigration.go.th/en/base.php?page=service

I think you are probably correct.

 

But, it's hard to understand why the Danish Embassy would leave their citizens in such a mess when others have at least given their people a bit of time to organise their next extension.

 

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Yeah that was very harsh! Something rotten in the state of Denmark embassy?

 

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Its no big deal the Danish are taxed so severely they can not afford to travel or retire any ways...

24 minutes ago, chickenslegs said:

This part of the notice confuses me. What are these one-year visas?

 

I know this sounds pedantic, but one would expect an Embassy to be using precise and correct terminology.

 

Are they still issuing letters for extensions of stay based upon marriage/retirement?

You are being pedantic. Almost everyone refers to 1 year extensions as visas. A visa being something that gives a foreigner permission to enter or stay in a country.

 

It is a permit (form of visa) granting an extension of stay.

 

They are referring to issuing any letter required by immigration or embassies to issue visas/permits.

 

10 minutes ago, thequietman said:

12 minutes ago, Carib said:

Is it correct to assume that the Danish embassy used the same way of checking/verifying like the brit and aussie and american embassy did?  Meaning there was no real check and verification, thus open to abuse?  Does anybody know? 

The Brits actually checked. Oz and USA didn't

The British embassy didn’t check anything. They just asked for evidence of the income being claimed by the applicant.

27 minutes ago, fforest1 said:

Its no big deal the Danish are taxed so severely they can not afford to travel or retire any ways...

True, but they do get very good pensions, the other "Nordic" nations will follow suit for sure ????