What is your method to stay here (changes in the embassy letters)

[HampiK]

Hello,

 

As with the latest changes in some embassies (till now 4) that they will not provide further income verification letters. Maybe it would be nice too to know how many of the TV posters use which method to stay in Thailand. Of course this is more for the TV posters who are considered expats or how you will call them (persons who stay in Thailand all the time or at least more here than in another country).

 

As from the other topics it seems there have to be a lot of person who use (used) the 65K/40K income verification method in the past. As I always wondered how many person are real affected by this changes. What will happen when more and more embassies come up with the same stop of income verification.

And yes we don't know yet if the income verification still can be used in future or not and what exactly are the requirements of the Thai Immigrations. But this I guess we will also know in the near future. But here first let's check how many TV members are affected at the moment.

 

 

 

[KittenKong]

800kB in the bank.

[HampiK]

I use the 800K/400K method, as I have here the better interest rate as in a bank back in Swiss.

Additional I feel more comfortable when I have some spare money for a fast use if needed.

 

@admin thanks for delete the second poll, as I had a timeout and then send it a second time ????

 

 

[JohnnyBD]

I used income affidavit (US) for my initial in 2016 and yearly extensions in 2017 & 2018. I have pension well over 65k, but Jomtien Immigration would not accept my pension and said I had to have the income affidavit from US embassy... I will use 800k bank account in Sep 2019 unless they (TI) starts accepting pensions.

Edited November 15, 2018 by JohnnyBD

[Expattaff1308]

18 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

I used income affidavit (US) for my initial in 2016 and yearly extensions in 2017 & 2018. I have pension well over 65k, but Jomtien Immigration would not accept my pension and said I had to have the income affidavit from US embassy... I will use 800k bank account in Sep 2019 unless they (TI) starts accepting pensions.

Ditto.. used the Embassy letter since 2009 but unless things change with Imm then it will have to be the cash in bank

[dabhand]

I initially used the 800k in the bank when doing a retirement extension a few years back. Then changed to income letter (BE) for the last 3/4 years as it was an easy process (more so being able to email the docs).

With the BE discontinuing the IL I have time before my next extension date (May19) to see what options are available going forward. In any event, will apply for the BE Letter by 12 December to leave that as a possible option for next year.

 

I receive a yearly lump-sum private pension in November each year well in excess of the minimum requirement and can either arrange the monthly inflows (if an option) or place 800k in the bank for 3 months ahead of the extension date around Jan/Feb then, from May, use that up to my next pension payment. So will see what transpires by end January and decide at that time. Extending the 'seasoning' time to, say, a full year with no monthly income option would need a rethink.

[ubonjoe]

A inflammatory post has been removed.

[KittenKong]

It's a bit late but an option 6 should have been included: "I just pay an agent to do it all". I know many people who do this.

[cleverman]

What people were doing is irrelevant. Every thing you want to know has been commented on thousands of times already. 

[gaviny]

I will use the letter for the last time as my renewal is in February and after that I will use the money in a Thai bank as my monthly income sometimes falls under the required amount.

Sent from my Redmi Note 6 Pro using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[turgid]

I use 800K method. I use it for all my Thailand banking and then top it back up once a year 100 Days before my Visa is due.   I only get 0.5% interest on the funds but I dont get any other transfer fees, credit card fees, ATM withdrawal, exchange rate  fees etc.     I suspect I probably come out behind compared with using a fixed deposit at 1.3%, its hard to real world compare but the convenience is worth it to me.

     

 

[rubik101]

There must be hundreds of residents who have been here for many years who have relied on the letters of income from the embassies. Many of them will have been here for many years, be married and have dependent children/families, etc. If they do not have 400k or 800k in the bank they will be in real difficulties when it comes to renewing their Non O visa. If the Thai gov't insist on the bank deposit then I fear many people will be forced to leave if they are unable to raise that amount of money when on a fixed pension income. There needs to be a solution from the Thai Immigration Service and it needs to be published very soon.

[doctormann]

Well, I was hoping to use the UK Embassy letter for my next extension but it looks as though this will not work because of the unfortunate fall of the dates.

 

My next extension is not due until 22 July so i would, normally, apply 30 days earlier, on 22 June.  I can get an Embassy letter by applying by 12 December but what the issue date would be is uncertain.  As the Embassy say that they will provide the letter 'within 10 working days' it is entirely possible that the issue date would be before 22 December.  I asked the Embassy if they could post-date the letter but they will not.  What you get is what you get! 

 

You can see the potential problem here.  Jomptien Immigration will allow extensions to be done 30 days early and I had heard that 45 days was allowable under some circumstances.  However, when I asked about this today - I was there for a 90-day report - the lady assistant on the retirement desk - admittedly, not the actual IO -was quite adamant that 30 days was the maximum allowable.  This means that the Embassy letter would likely have exceeded its 6-month life span by the time that I applied.  Bummer!!

 

Looks like the 800k in the bank route is the only viable option - unless Thai Immigration alters its stance on what is acceptable proof of income.  I can provide bank statements going back 14 years - both UK and Thai banks - but, as we know, at present these mean nothing without the Embassy letter.

 

We really need some decision by TI as soon as possible - always assuming that they are willing to change anything.  I really would prefer to leave my 800k invested where it currently is, rather than deposit it in a Thai bank.  If I have to do this, I will, but it can't be done overnight - takes time to liquidate investments.  I have time enough right now but I shall have to decide what to do by the end of the year.

 

Anyone asked the same, or similar question at Jomptien?

[lopburi3]

The big issue for some/many is the legal aspect if forced to hold money is their name only account - first hurdle is actually getting the account - once that obtained funding (are there going to be extra requirements) - but then the big issue is what happens on death - Thai banks do not have a pay on death provision available so if married there could be international legal issues about who gets what and months involved.  Even with a valid will payment must wait for legal process.  More headaches for those who are supposed to not have to face such difficulties; and their survivors.

[xylophone]

I used to use the 800k method in the bank, but over the last three years have reverted to the income verification letters from the NZ embassy, mainly because I didn't want to have to break my term deposits in NZ in order to bring the 800k over here. 

 

This mainly because the interest rates I was getting were between 3.5 and 3.75% per annum and breaking a term deposit can result in a break fee.

 

I suspect the NZ embassy will revert as the other embassies have done, so it is back to the 800k method – – no real problems other than being able to time my term deposits to give me the available funds when I want them.

 

[Longcut]

Thai immigration is not going to like it if a lot of expats change the extension category from retirement to marriage. 

  It involves a lot more work for them. But, many might just have to.  They can then deposit 400K instead of the 800K. I currently use the income method for my retirement extension and I could deposit 800K into a Thai bank. But, I am thinking of changing my status so that I only have to deposit 400K. That way, if something happens I will only lose half. 

Edited November 15, 2018 by Longcut

[Jingthing]

I use the 800k in the bank method but I had been planning to transition to the combination method for my next extension.

But being a U.S. national that will be stopping issuing income letters by the end of this year, sadly I now plan on using the 800K method again next time.

This doesn't totally mess me up, but I was looking forward to being able to spend down a significant chunk of the 800K without need to replenish. Oh well!

Are there going to be reasonable ways to use an income method going forward?

Nobody knows.

Will the combination method be preserved for retirement extensions?

Nobody knows.

You should have included the combination method in your survey.

 

I want to also add that people still getting income letters from the U.S., U.K, and Australia? and expecting them to be good for SIX MONTHS, maybe think again.

 

I just read a credible report from JOMTIEN immigration (reports of interviews with the head chief) that starting next year Jomtien will only be accepting 800K bank applications for retirement and income letters will NOT be accepted at all after Jan 2019. So letters or not letters, the income method (and of course the combination method as well) OVER.

 

Of course like anything here, that can still change. 

Good luck!

Edited November 15, 2018 by Jingthing

[doctormann]

36 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I use the 800k in the bank method but I had been planning to transition to the combination method for my next extension.

But being a U.S. national that will be stopping issuing income letters by the end of this year, sadly I now plan on using the 800K method again next time.

This doesn't totally mess me up, but I was looking forward to being able to spend down a significant chunk of the 800K without need to replenish. Oh well!

Are there going to be reasonable ways to use an income method going forward?

Nobody knows.

Will the combination method be preserved for retirement extensions?

Nobody knows.

You should have included the combination method in your survey.

 

I want to also add that people still getting income letters from the U.S., U.K, and Australia? and expecting them to be good for SIX MONTHS, maybe think again.

 

I just read a credible report from JOMTIEN immigration (reports of interviews with the head chief) that starting next year Jomtien will only be accepting 800K bank applications for retirement and income letters will NOT be accepted at all after Jan 2019. So letters or not letters, the income method (and of course the combination method as well) OVER.

 

Of course like anything here, that can still change. 

Good luck!

Do you have a link to the Jomptien reports?

 

Interesting - I was there, earlier today, finding out about applying early for a retirement extension, using the Letter Method, but nothing was mentioned about non-acceptance of such.  I didn't ask the direct question though.

[Jingthing]

22 minutes ago, doctormann said:

Do you have a link to the Jomptien reports?

 

Interesting - I was there, earlier today, finding out about applying early for a retirement extension, using the Letter Method, but nothing was mentioned about non-acceptance of such.  I didn't ask the direct question though.

The letters ARE accepted now. That was implied in my post when I mentioned that they won't be accepted later.

No, I can't link to anything as the report is from another forum and it is not OK to link other forum's here.

But I'm telling you I found the reports VERY CREDIBLE. From people I trust quoting the immigration CHIEF at Jomtien.

Not an intake clerk, not a paper processor at the retirement desk, not a retirement desk officer -- but the CHIEF.

Now some people may already know I strongly disapprove of fear mongering and spreading rumors about immigration matters.

But in my judgement the source for this goes beyond a rumor or I wouldn't have posted it. 

That said, we are talking about one office and that does not mean that central immigration won't still come up with an alternative method for income methods without letters.  That could happen next week or next year. Just because one chief in one major office says something definitive today doesn't mean he won't be saying something totally different later.
So take it for what it's worth … which is something, but not the final story.

Cheers.

Edited November 15, 2018 by Jingthing

[BoBoTheClown]

1 hour ago, gaviny said:

I will use the letter for the last time as my renewal is in February and after that I will use the money in a Thai bank as my monthly income sometimes falls under the required amount.

Sent from my Redmi Note 6 Pro using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

See this the problem. Too many people without the required income used the letter. This is perjury and it costed people who were doing the right to suffer. 

 

2 hours ago, cleverman said:

What people were doing is irrelevant. Every thing you want to know has been commented on thousands of times already. 

Oh really? 

[gaviny]

So how can I be committing perjury when I do have more savings in the Bank on Oz that I can withdraw if needed but my income stream from my rentals are completely different ,I could just top up my monthly stream from my savings if needed.

Sent from my Redmi Note 6 Pro using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[kevvy]

Have a separate account just for the immigration ...

[Pattaya46]

30 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

No, I can't link to anything as the report if from ANOTHER forum and it is not OK to link other forum's here.

Rules say to not post links to other forums,

but is giving the name of the forum a problem ?

Edited November 15, 2018 by Pattaya46

[gaviny]

I use the 800k in the bank method but I had been planning to transition to the combination method for my next extension.
But being a U.S. national that will be stopping issuing income letters by the end of this year, sadly I now plan on using the 800K method again next time.
This doesn't totally mess me up, but I was looking forward to being able to spend down a significant chunk of the 800K without need to replenish. Oh well!
Are there going to be reasonable ways to use an income method going forward?
Nobody knows.
Will the combination method be preserved for retirement extensions?
Nobody knows.
You should have included the combination method in your survey.
 
I want to also add that people still getting income letters from the U.S., U.K, and Australia? and expecting them to be good for SIX MONTHS, maybe think again.
 
I just read a credible report from JOMTIEN immigration (reports of interviews with the head chief) that starting next year Jomtien will only be accepting 800K bank applications for retirement and income letters will NOT be accepted at all after Jan 2019. So letters or not letters, the income method (and of course the combination method as well) OVER.
 
Of course like anything here, that can still change. 

Good luck!

If they are refusing to stop accepting letters in the year why don't they give advance notice now for people in my situation as my extension expires in Feb and it is now too late to season my 800000.

Sent from my Redmi Note 6 Pro using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Jingthing]

11 minutes ago, gaviny said:

If they are refusing to stop accepting letters in the year why don't they give advance notice now for people in my situation as my extension expires in Feb and it is now too late to season my 800000.

Sent from my Redmi Note 6 Pro using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

A very good question. Obviously it is draconian to change the rules in such a way that makes it impossible for many people to adjust in time. 

[rubik101]

It would be helpful if we had an idea of the numbers of people who either do not have and will not have the 800k/400k in a bank for 3 months on Jan 1st. There will be many who will overstay and be fined if this issue is not resolved. There will also be many who will be forced to leave if they are unable to raise the required money in a very short time-frame. Many of those might be long-term residents, 10-20 years or more. How can they survive on a minimal pension if forced to return to UK or the EU? The relevant Embassies have a hand in creating this major headache and bear responsibility for not providing adequate notice. Is this an issue with the various Foreign Ministries?

[Jeremy50]

Not more than 180 days in the country a year. It's all so tedious and boring. Have 800 thousand festering in a Thai bank waiting to be embezzled or lost in a crash? No thanks. I'm always astonished at those so keen to spend every last waking day of their time left on God's earth in a place with such a hostile attitude to foreigners.

[Suradit69]

Hard to say until we know for certain what options will look like in future.

 

I have been using the income affidavit from my embassy method, but may end up using the Baht 800,000 in the bank method.

 

If immigrations accepts a record of foreign sourced deposits in a Thai bank exceeding Baht 800,000 over the preceding 12 months, I might go that route.

[wwest5829]

I have used the monthly deposit income with Consulate affidavit letter ever since coming to Chiang Mai in retirement 7 years ago. I am not due to apply for extension until July 2019 and will wait to see what shakes out. My investments are in the U.S. and I am unwilling to bring 800,000 baht here before the funds are needed. As a free man, I am willing to leave Thailand permanently for a country more accommodating to having me as a resident spending my 65,000 baht monthly in their country.

[ubonjoe]

I am on my 11th extension of stay based upon marriage using a income affidavit to prove my Social Security payments that are well above the 40k baht requirement that I will have to renew next August.

I will have over 2 years (longer by showing the previous bank books) showing over 40k baht going into a Thai bank account then. I will also have proof of my income by using original documents from the SSA.

If they say I can only show 400k baht in the bank I will have my wife ask them why she should take the money out of her account that is for emergencies and after I am gone. It would be costly due to the type of account it is in concurs penalties for early withdrawal. I can assure you that she will let them know that she would not be pleased about having to do that.