Question on marriage visa and income

[KhunFred]

My Thai fiancee and I were planning to tie the knot sometime after the first of the year. I noticed that the American Embassy affidavit

of freedom to marry, includes information about income. Are these going to be accepted by Immigration as proof of income, even though

the Embassy will no longer issue income affidavits?  I do not have to renew my extension until October of 2019, so I have some time. Just trying

to make contingency plans, rather than paying a visa service 20 thousand baht.

[ubonjoe]

A affirmation of freedom to marry affidavit would not be accepted by immigration.

The best contingency is to start transferring the equivalent of at least 40k baht into the country every month.

 

[KhunFred]

Ok, here's the problem. I have had an account with Bangkok Bank for three years now, but I need to return my Social Security payment to my American credit union to cover fees for credit card debt, That would begin in January. My state retirement payment and my annuity are already deposited into the credit union but is not covering the payments. What are my options?  It does not appear that IO is going to recognize income from any source except a Thai bank.  Will a visa service negate this problem?

[Tanoshi]

An affirmation of freedom to marry is required by the Marriage Registry office at your Amphoe.

Your marriage certificate is later used at Immigration if applying for an extension based on marriage.

 

The Affidavits of proof of income will cease on 31st December.

 

It's unclear if, or how proof of income will be proved later next year.

The 400K in a Thai bank for 2 months will be the only guaranteed method, unless Immigration make an announcement of an alternative option.

[Tanoshi]

15 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Ok, here's the problem. I have had an account with Bangkok Bank for three years now, but I need to return my Social Security payment to my American credit union to cover fees for credit card debt, That would begin in January. My state retirement payment and my annuity are already deposited into the credit union but is not covering the payments. What are my options?  It does not appear that IO is going to recognize income from any source except a Thai bank.  Will a visa service negate this problem?

 

Speechless!     ????

 

“There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard.”

[KhunFred]

5 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

 

Speechless!     ????

 

“There are some things money can’t buy. For everything else, there’s MasterCard.”

Okay, I failed to be clear on one point. My income DOES cover the payments, but if a payment is assessed before my annuity or State Retirement income hits the bank, I am assessed penalties for "insufficient funds" and overdraft charges. This is what is causing the problem. I owe about 12 thousand USD in credit card debt which is paid until those fees kick in. Nothing I can do about that. If anyone has a suggestion besides tellling me how stupid I am, please post it. Thanks.

[keithet]

26 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A affirmation of freedom to marry affidavit would not be accepted by immigration.

The best contingency is to start transferring the equivalent of at least 40k baht into the country every month.

 

I've heard this mentioned a couple of times

"transferring the equivalent of at least 40k baht into the country every month."

If hypotheticaly this was to be accepted could 3 large transfers equal to or slightly more be accepted? I ask because my US bank charges alot for transfer.

[BigT73]

have you thought about a ed visa? or there is talk of detv which they are talking of trialing, could be a bandaid solution until you sort your financials out.

[ubonjoe]

20 minutes ago, keithet said:

I've heard this mentioned a couple of times

"transferring the equivalent of at least 40k baht into the country every month."

If hypotheticaly this was to be accepted could 3 large transfers equal to or slightly more be accepted? I ask because my US bank charges alot for transfer.

I cannot answer your question with any certainty it would be correct. But I would say it should be accepted but it would help if you showed the monthly going into a US bank that would help.

For an extension of stay based upon marriage it states a average annual income of 40k baht.

[Tanoshi]

14 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Okay, I failed to be clear on one point. My income DOES cover the payments, but if a payment is assessed before my annuity or State Retirement income hits the bank, I am assessed penalties for "insufficient funds" and overdraft charges. This is what is causing the problem. I owe about 12 thousand USD in credit card debt which is paid until those fees kick in. Nothing I can do about that. If anyone has a suggestion besides tellling me how stupid I am, please post it. Thanks.

I'm not going to ridicule your position Fred.

You need to tighten your belt and get your debt down to a manageable level.

 

Do you have any assets you could sell? (Car).

Wrong time to be getting married as well, possibly an extra financial burden.

Also a test of your relationship. If the girls interested in you, she'll stand by you through the rough times and be understanding. If she doesn't, another valuable lesson learned.

[sanook 1]

55 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

A affirmation of freedom to marry affidavit would not be accepted by immigration.

The best contingency is to start transferring the equivalent of at least 40k baht into the country every month.

 

For how many month approx would they(immigration) like to see monthly transfers into the country? 

[Tanoshi]

50 minutes ago, keithet said:

I've heard this mentioned a couple of times

"transferring the equivalent of at least 40k baht into the country every month."

If hypotheticaly this was to be accepted could 3 large transfers equal to or slightly more be accepted?

There is no definitively correct answer to this question at the present time.

 

UJ may disagree with my opinion, but if Immigration do accept funds deposit in a Thai bank as proof of income, I believe it will be based on total annual incomes deposited, not a fixed monthly income of 40 or 65K.

In other words a total of 400 or 800K deposited over 12 months, which Immigration will divide by 12 for the monthly average.

In agreement with Joe, as long as you deposit the equivalent of 40K per month, whether as one deposit, or several, should not make any different. I believe it will be based on average monthly deposits.

 

50 minutes ago, keithet said:

I ask because my US bank charges alot for transfer.

Most US citizens I know use Bangkok bank and transfer through their New York branch.

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Transfers/Transferring-Into-Thailand/Transfer-money-from-US-to-Thailand-via-Bangkok-Bank-NewYork-branch

 

Others find Transferwise a cheaper option than direct bank transfers.

https://transferwise.com/us/

 

 

[Tanoshi]

21 minutes ago, sanook 1 said:

For how many month approx would they(immigration) like to see monthly transfers into the country? 

To soon to ask that question, nobody knows, it's opinions and assumptions at the moment.

[ubonjoe]

9 minutes ago, Tanoshi said:

In other words a total of 400 or 800K deposited over 12 months, which Immigration will divide by 12 for the monthly average.

In agreement with Joe, as long as you deposit the equivalent of 40K per month, whether as one deposit, or several, should not make any different. I believe it will be based on average monthly deposits.

For marriage a total of 400k baht income would not be enough it would have to be at least 480k baht. For retirement 800k baht would be over 65k baht per month.

For marriage it does state a average income but not for retirement. Immigration will have to clairy what would be accepted in any directive or order done. But of course some offices could think differently.

[bobthomas]

53 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Okay, I failed to be clear on one point. My income DOES cover the payments, but if a payment is assessed before my annuity or State Retirement income hits the bank, I am assessed penalties for "insufficient funds" and overdraft charges. This is what is causing the problem. I owe about 12 thousand USD in credit card debt which is paid until those fees kick in. Nothing I can do about that. If anyone has a suggestion besides tellling me how stupid I am, please post it. Thanks.

Yes, apply for new credit cards that offer 0% interest for 18 months on balance transfers and purchases, move the existing $12,000. debt to those cards and just pay the minimum each month. You will be paying down the debt and also avoiding interest charges. Set up a monthly outgoing wire from your credit Union for just slightly over 40,000. Baht to your Thai Bank. and before you say you won't qualify for the new CC Cards..... just apply.

[KhunFred]

1 hour ago, Tanoshi said:

There is no definitively correct answer to this question at the present time.

 

UJ may disagree with my opinion, but if Immigration do accept funds deposit in a Thai bank as proof of income, I believe it will be based on total annual incomes deposited, not a fixed monthly income of 40 or 65K.

In other words a total of 400 or 800K deposited over 12 months, which Immigration will divide by 12 for the monthly average.

In agreement with Joe, as long as you deposit the equivalent of 40K per month, whether as one deposit, or several, should not make any different. I believe it will be based on average monthly deposits.

 

Most US citizens I know use Bangkok bank and transfer through their New York branch.

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Other-Services/Transfers/Transferring-Into-Thailand/Transfer-money-from-US-to-Thailand-via-Bangkok-Bank-NewYork-branch

 

Others find Transferwise a cheaper option than direct bank transfers.

https://transferwise.com/us/

 

 

The transfer process from my credit union to Bangkok Bank is a nightmare. They send two small deposits which are converted to baht, (which the credit union won't accept as the correct amount). Someone suggested that I call the bank in New York, but that's a nightmare too, since you keep getting transferred to revolving choices which have nothing to do with your problem.

[JackThompson]

8 hours ago, KhunFred said:

I noticed that the American Embassy affidavit

of freedom to marry,

While you are at the embassy, you may also need to get an embassy-certified copy of your passport face-page.  This is not a requirement at all amphoes, but it is at some of them.  Be sure to have your fiance ask at the amphoe for a list of exactly what they require for your nationality (the rules often vary by your nationality). 

 

Do not believe the old reports of getting married here - it's not as easy now.  But it can be done.  Be prepared to amphoe-shop, as some will point to the disclaimer on a US-Embassy document, and reject you outright (happened to me several attempts).  Worst case, you may have to pay a "marriage agent" (under 10K Baht) to get all the docs translated, certified by the MFA, and also covering a payoff to an amphoe to marry you.

 

 

7 hours ago, KhunFred said:

My state retirement payment and my annuity are already deposited into the credit union but is not covering the payments. What are my options? 

Two possibilities

• Send some money back after it clears the Thai bank with something like Dee Money

But we don't know for sure if that the 40K Deposits will be accepted at some/all immigration offices as "proof of income" without the now-ending embassy-letters.  This is just a "best guess" of what will be accepted in the future.

•  
• Get a 1-year Non-O Multiple-Entry Visa with no-financials required at the Thai Embassy in Savannakhet, Laos. 

The Non-O ME Visa requires doing a "border bounce" every 90 or 150 days (150 days if you apply for 60-day extensions on each entry), and you can get almost 17 months out of it, by leaving and returning just before it expires (1 year from issuance), and then extending that last entry by 60-days.  If your local immigration-office won't accept your income into a Thai account - even with your pension-documents - then this would be your only choice at that point, in any case.

[JackThompson]

5 hours ago, KhunFred said:

The transfer process from my credit union to Bangkok Bank is a nightmare. They send two small deposits which are converted to baht, (which the credit union won't accept as the correct amount). Someone suggested that I call the bank in New York, but that's a nightmare too, since you keep getting transferred to revolving choices which have nothing to do with your problem.

What I did - go to your Bangkok-Bank branch, and ask them for a printout of the transfer info.  They showed this to me, which showed the USA dollar-amounts (cents) which I then used for the online confirmation process.

 

But these "micro-deposits" may not work at all any more (rejected) - and there is a change coming to how Bangkok Bank accepts ACH coming next year - another thread on that here:

 

 

 

[ubonjoe]

10 hours ago, JackThompson said:

But these "micro-deposits" may not work at all any more (rejected) - and there is a change coming to how Bangkok Bank accepts ACH coming next year - another thread on that here:

The would be accepted but would need to be in the IAT format.

To resolve the problem of knowing the amount a SMS notice for international transfers can be set up which shows the amount in dollars minus any transfer fees deducted by the New York branch.