Please clarify the "money in the bank" method..

[KhunFred]

I am in the third year of Extensions of stay. I go next October for another extension but I want to make sure I understand the requirements. My understanding was that I had to have 800 thousand baht in the bank. Now, some are telling me that i only have to show that I have had 65 thousand baht deposited in my account for the past three months. This is confusing. Do I actually have to hold 800 thousand in the bank (impossible for me) or do they average it out based on deposits of 65 thousand for the previous three months? Thanks to anyone who can clear up this matter.

[allane]

3 x B 65,000 proves that you got B 195,000 from someone, somewhere. I wouldn't presume or expect that Immigration is going to extrapolate that to an annual income of B 800,000.

[Pattaya46]

Rules available on the Immigration Bureau website :

https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_22

 

Currently it's 800k last 3 months the safest way,

and income or combo if you still can get an Embassy letter...

[KhunFred]

9 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

Rules available on the Immigration Bureau website :

https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_22

 

Currently it's 800k last 3 months the safest way,

and income or combo if you still can get an Embassy letter...

No embassy letter available since it's only good for six months. I could get one at the outreach but it would have expired by the time I could use it. Looks like my only options are to use a visa service or go and live in the Philippines.

[wgdanson]

You DO understand the requirements......Bht 800,00 in the bank for three months. Forget about what anyone else tells you unless it is the nice man from Head Immigration Office.

Edited December 4, 2018 by wgdanson

[KhunFred]

Settled......Philippines, here I come. Easy visa requirements and cheaper living.

[Pattaya46]

2 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Settled......Philippines, here I come. Easy visa requirements and cheaper living.

Grass seems always greener in other countries... but many retirees came back to Thailand after less than 1 year in Cambodia or Philippines.

You need more than an easy visa and a cheap living to live happy in a foreign place... 

[KhunFred]

No....I need REASONABLE requirements based on REALITY. I know what I can afford and I can't idle 12 to 20 thousand dollars in a Thai bank that may fail in the next recession. (which won't be long in coming). Thais have the most amazing facility for cutting off their nose to spite their face and throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I had plans to get married, but my fiancee will not live in any country except Thailand, because, (as every Thai knows) it is the center of the universe. Immigration has simply thrown expats into the crocodile-like mouth of the visa agencies. Graft and corruption for everyone.

[DrJack54]

18 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

No....I need REASONABLE requirements based on REALITY. I know what I can afford and I can't idle 12 to 20 thousand dollars in a Thai bank that may fail in the next recession. (which won't be long in coming). Thais have the most amazing facility for cutting off their nose to spite their face and throwing the baby out with the bathwater. I had plans to get married, but my fiancee will not live in any country except Thailand, because, (as every Thai knows) it is the center of the universe. Immigration has simply thrown expats into the crocodile-like mouth of the visa agencies. Graft and corruption for everyone.

Bit over dramatic. Use a visa agent 20k per year. As for money in bank 800k for 3 months only. Day after extension start using it to live. In 9 months top it up. Easy.

[KhunFred]

13 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Bit over dramatic. Use a visa agent 20k per year. As for money in bank 800k for 3 months only. Day after extension start using it to live. In 9 months top it up. Easy.

Easy for YOU.........most assuredly NOT easy for me. Do you think 20 thousand baht is a fair price???

[JLCrab]

12 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Easy for YOU.........most assuredly NOT easy for me. Do you think 20 thousand baht is a fair price???

I have no first-hand knowledge but several have commented recently that they can routinely get a one year non-IMM O via marriage at Savannakhet consulate.

[Pattaya46]

1 hour ago, KhunFred said:

Immigration has simply thrown expats into the crocodile-like mouth of the visa agencies. Graft and corruption for everyone.

- first: not "expats" but a tiny part of them: those who are from UKUSAUDK, who used Embassy letter for their extension; and who are enable to put 400/800k in a Thai bank. So not many.

- second: not "Immigration" but your embassy. You know where to complain.

[mackayae]

or you can use the 65k baht/month (40k if married) transfer into your Thai bank.

Edited December 4, 2018 by mackayae

[KhunFred]

40 minutes ago, Pattaya46 said:

- first: not "expats" but a tiny part of them: those who are from UKUSAUDK, who used Embassy letter for their extension; and who are enable to put 400/800k in a Thai bank. So not many.

- second: not "Immigration" but your embassy. You know where to complain.

Immigration started this pissing contest by demanding "proof" of income that no embassy could possibly provide. They even challenged them to show those who had allegedly "cheated" on the requirements and offered to prosecute them. That wasn't good enough. The embassies threw us to the wolves (visa agencies) who will charge whatever obscene price that expats will pay. They split it with immigration and that's why they are tolerated. This is all a scam hatched by a sweetheart deal between agencies and immigration.

 

[wgdanson]

12 minutes ago, mackayae said:

or you can use the 65k baht/month (45k if married) transfer into your Thai bank.

Please tell me where you gleaned that bit of knowledge. No-one else seems to know of this method.

[wgdanson]

11 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Immigration started this pissing contest by demanding "proof" of income that no embassy could possibly provide. They even challenged them to show those who had allegedly "cheated" on the requirements and offered to prosecute them. That wasn't good enough. The embassies threw us to the wolves (visa agencies) who will charge whatever obscene price that expats will pay. They split it with immigration and that's why they are tolerated. This is all a scam hatched by a sweetheart deal between agencies and immigration.

 

So please, how do German, French, Italian, Swedish, Norwegians etc etc get their Embassy letters.

[mackayae]

Eligibilities

• The client must be at least 50 years of age or over during the time of the application.
• The client must meet the financial requirement which could be any of the following:
  • Security deposit of 800,000 baht in a Thai bank; or
  • A monthly income or pension of 65,000 baht; or
  • A total of 800,000 baht combination of personal bank deposit and income or pension for the entire year.

[mackayae]

https://www.thaiimmigration.net/thai-retirement-visa.html

[ubonjoe]

19 minutes ago, mackayae said:

https://www.thaiimmigration.net/thai-retirement-visa.html

That is not a official website. From the bottom of that page "THIS IS NOT THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE THAI IMMIGRATION NOR CONNECTED TO ANY GOVERNMENT AGENCIES".

You will find that it has some incorrect and misleading info on it.

[mackayae]

The alien: (1) Must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IM). (2) Must be 50 years of age or over. (3) Must have evidence of having income of no less than Baht 65,000 per month; or (4) On the filing date, the applicant must have account  deposited  (saving / fixed account) in a bank in Thailand of no less than Baht 800,000 for the past three months. For the first year only, the applicant must have proof of a deposit account in which said amount of funds has been maintained for no less than 60 days prior to the filing date; or (5) Must have an annual earning and funds deposited with a bank totaling no less than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date. (6) An alien who entered the Kingdom before October 21, 1998 and has been consecutively permitted to stay in the Kingdom for retirement shall be subject to the following criteria: (a) Must be 60 years of age or over and have an annual fixed income with funds maintained in a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht 200,000 or have a monthly income of no less than Baht 20,000. (b) If less than 60 years of age but not less than 55 years of age, must have an annual fixed income with funds maintained in a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht 500,000 or have a monthly income of no less than Baht 50,000.

[Dorian232]

17 hours ago, KhunFred said:

Immigration started this pissing contest by demanding "proof" of income that no embassy could possibly provide. They even challenged them to show those who had allegedly "cheated" on the requirements and offered to prosecute them. That wasn't good enough. The embassies threw us to the wolves (visa agencies) who will charge whatever obscene price that expats will pay. They split it with immigration and that's why they are tolerated. This is all a scam hatched by a sweetheart deal between agencies and immigration.

 

If you follow the rules you don't need an agent, never used an agent.in the 22 years I've been here and never had any real problems so don't understand why all the fuss.

[wgdanson]

17 hours ago, mackayae said:

The alien: (1) Must have been granted a non-immigrant visa (NON-IM). (2) Must be 50 years of age or over. (3) Must have evidence of having income of no less than Baht 65,000 per month; or (4) On the filing date, the applicant must have account  deposited  (saving / fixed account) in a bank in Thailand of no less than Baht 800,000 for the past three months. For the first year only, the applicant must have proof of a deposit account in which said amount of funds has been maintained for no less than 60 days prior to the filing date; or (5) Must have an annual earning and funds deposited with a bank totaling no less than Baht 800,000 as of the filing date. (6) An alien who entered the Kingdom before October 21, 1998 and has been consecutively permitted to stay in the Kingdom for retirement shall be subject to the following criteria: (a) Must be 60 years of age or over and have an annual fixed income with funds maintained in a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht 200,000 or have a monthly income of no less than Baht 20,000. (b) If less than 60 years of age but not less than 55 years of age, must have an annual fixed income with funds maintained in a bank account for the past three months of no less than Baht 500,000 or have a monthly income of no less than Baht 50,000.

(3) means the evidence is in the form of a letter of verification from your Embassy. However the UK, USA AUS and Danish Embassies have said they cannot verify ...................oh no ,not again !

Edited December 5, 2018 by wgdanson

[Boon Mee]

Why all this talk about visa agencies? 

It's not rocket surgery to accomplish the task oneself. 

[wgdanson]

11 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Why all this talk about visa agencies? 

It's not rocket surgery to accomplish the task oneself. 

Unless you do not have the required wonga.

[ExpatDraco]

I know what I can afford and I can't idle 12 to 20 thousand dollars in a Thai bank that may fail in the next recession. (which won't be long in coming).

How many years are people proclaiming that Thai banks are going to fail or the THB is going to crash? For as long as I can remember probably...

[Aupee]

18 hours ago, wgdanson said:

Please tell me where you gleaned that bit of knowledge. No-one else seems to know of this method.

The requirements on the application for a visa, state the monthly deposit method above. 

[KhunFred]

45 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

(3) means the evidence is in the form of a letter of verification from your Embassy. However the UK, USA AUS and Danish Embassies have said they cannot verify ...................oh no ,not again !

No mention of the funds having to be in a THAI BANK. Still not clear enough. Half of my total income is in an American credit union. I have difficulties paying bills with my Bangkok Bank account. Most of the bills have to be paid using my credit union account. Bringing all my income to Thailand would be a mistake if I can't pay my bills.

[melvinmelvin]

18 hours ago, wgdanson said:

So please, how do German, French, Italian, Swedish, Norwegians etc etc get their Embassy letters.

Norwegians can ask for it at the embassy, cost 1100 baht (standard price for consular business).

They normally do it while you wait.

 

dunno about the other countries

 

[chicowoodduck]

21 hours ago, KhunFred said:

Settled......Philippines, here I come. Easy visa requirements and cheaper living.

It might be cheaper....but the place will wear you out with all the filth and crime......just saying......????

[wgdanson]

36 minutes ago, Aupee said:

The requirements on the application for a visa, state the monthly deposit method above. 

Application for a visa are totally different from applying for a retirement extension.