US Embassy reminder: Income affidavits for visas to cease Jan 1

[Jonathan Fairfield]

US Embassy reminder: Income affidavits for visas to cease Jan 1

 

 

PHUKET: The US Embassy in Bangkok is reminding US citizens that the US Mission in Thailand will cease providing income affidavits and will not notarise previous versions of the income affidavit from Jan 1.

 

The reminder comes via US Embassy Deputy Spokesperson Steve M. Castonguay, who visited The Phuket News offices yesterday (Dec 12).

 

Joining Mr Castonguay was Bussabonglahwan Pattaro, Information Specialist Media and Cultural Section at the US Embassy in Bangkok.

Read more at https://www.thephuketnews.com/us-embassy-reminder-income-affidavits-for-visas-to-cease-jan-1-69675.php#h0I5Clo0FbKSviDX.99

 

 

-- © Copyright Phuket News 2018-12-13

 

[Jonathan Fairfield]

REMINDER: British Embassy has now stopped issuing income letters

 

 

[Just1Voice]

No big deal.  500 baht gives me a bank print out of my direct deposit account for the entire year, showing well over the monthly income stipulation, plus letters every Dec from both VA and SS telling me what my new monthly rate will be.  

[from the home of CC]

 IMO not the embassies fault, it would require full time positions funded by taxpayer money to complete the necessary finance forensics - it's all about the benjamins. But for some, this might be the last Christmas together with all the family. I sincerely hope that there are some in the Thai government that respects what is at stake here. With all the complaints that Thais make of us and how we conflict with their culture, I am sure there are some that realize that the majority of us here make a positive contribution to Thailand in general and to Thai family members specifically. Surely there's a solution compatible to both parties. 

[Jingthing]

No big deal.  500 baht gives me a bank print out of my direct deposit account for the entire year, showing well over the monthly income stipulation, plus letters every Dec from both VA and SS telling me what my new monthly rate will be.  

Very big deal indeed if Thai immigration won't accept that without an embassy letter. Why would you assume they would?

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app

[Nielsk]

50 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

No big deal.  500 baht gives me a bank print out of my direct deposit account for the entire year, showing well over the monthly income stipulation, plus letters every Dec from both VA and SS telling me what my new monthly rate will be.  

You know nothing !!

[Just1Voice]

18 minutes ago, Nielsk said:

You know nothing !!

Oh, really?  Well, <removed>, my next door neighbor just happens to work at Chiang Mai Immigration, and according to him, I'm more than covered.  <removed>

Edited December 13, 2018 by ubonjoe
inflammatory baiting comments removed

[garyk]

2 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

No big deal.  500 baht gives me a bank print out of my direct deposit account for the entire year, showing well over the monthly income stipulation, plus letters every Dec from both VA and SS telling me what my new monthly rate will be.  

As long as you have it deposited in a Thai bank monthly no problems what so ever I would think.

[pookiki]

If anyone saw the post I made on the notes from a representative of Democrats Abroad Thailand (DAT) who attended the Chiang Mai 'Town Hall' meeting, it was our own embassy who created a problem where there was none.  They threw their own citizens 'under the bus'.  May all the embassy staff find coal in your stockings - especially since it is Trump's favorite fossil fuel! 

[Just1Voice]

2 minutes ago, garyk said:

As long as you have it deposited in a Thai bank monthly no problems what so ever I would think.

Bangkok Bank.  Every month for the past 10 years. 

 

[pookiki]

1 minute ago, Just1Voice said:

Bangkok Bank.  Every month for the past 10 years. 

 

None of us know what Thai Immigration is going to do to show 'proof of income' -- it's as simple as that -- or even if it will remain a viable option except for those embassies who still issue income verification letters.  In the meantime, you'd better prepare to have 800,000 baht in the bank for at least three months before you extend. 

[wgdanson]

2 hours ago, Just1Voice said:

No big deal.  500 baht gives me a bank print out of my direct deposit account for the entire year, showing well over the monthly income stipulation, plus letters every Dec from both VA and SS telling me what my new monthly rate will be.  

It is a big deal considering that Thai Immgration will not (yet) accept your bank book and letters from VA, SS or the UK pension Service as proof of income.

[wgdanson]

10 minutes ago, garyk said:

As long as you have it deposited in a Thai bank monthly no problems what so ever I would think.

Which world have you been living in?

[wgdanson]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Very big deal indeed if Thai immigration won't accept that without an embassy letter. Why would you assume they would?

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

Sorry Jingthing I said exactly the same a bit later on. Don't know where some of these guys have been for the last two months.

[wgdanson]

13 minutes ago, garyk said:

As long as you have it deposited in a Thai bank monthly no problems what so ever I would think.

I would stop thinking if I were you.

[wgdanson]

11 minutes ago, Just1Voice said:

Bangkok Bank.  Every month for the past 10 years. 

 

So are you saying that you have extended your permission to stay with just evidence of deposits into Bkk Bank without a letter from your embassy, for the past 10 years?

[wgdanson]

1 hour ago, Just1Voice said:

Oh, really?  Well, <removed>, my next door neighbor just happens to work at Chiang Mai Immigration, and according to him, I'm more than covered.  <removed>

Can he come and live next door to me please?

[JackThompson]

3 hours ago, from the home of CC said:

With all the complaints that Thais make of us and how we conflict with their culture, I am sure there are some that realize that the majority of us here make a positive contribution to Thailand in general and to Thai family members specifically. Surely there's a solution compatible to both parties. 

I have an idea - they can boot and ban the farangs who openly disrespect Thai culture, and leave the rest of us alone.

 

But, in reality, I think this is just an excuse to justify policies whose core-purpose is to expand opportunities for extortion.  It turns something that would be viewed by the general populace as "morally wrong," into something justified - aka "som num naa" / roughly translated: "You got what you deserved."

[garyk]

1 hour ago, wgdanson said:

Which world have you been living in?

The world i live in is where money is king. Giving away 800K for no reason, even if for only 3 months has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard of... haha

Hopefully, the 65K in a Thai bank will satisfy immigration. If not, I say vacate!

 

[bdenner]

The Udon Thani Immigration Office cannot give a definitive answer to the proof of income problem yet = not a surprise! They are just telling their applicants to get the Affidavit/Stat Dec while they can and confirmed that it is good for 6 months.

 

Just1voice must be using the equivalent to our "Ms Udon's Dodgy Visa Service"!!! going by the statements he is making!

[jacko45k]

13 hours ago, Nielsk said:

You know nothing !!

That does seem to meet the requirements as posted on immigration website. No mention there of an Embassy letter being obligatory. 

Let us hope he will be fine with what he has.

[jlwilliamsjr18]

I suspect a bigger scheme has not yet been revealed.  That being, that 800 K in a Thai bank is the goal. I also suspect monthly pensions will no longer count for much. It's basically like this, expats will have 2 choices, 800K in a Thai bank or hiring an agent to basically function as your bondsman.  To paint a darker picture, the 800K could be made to be a secured (locked in) deposit in the Thai bank. Thai economy is counting all it's eggs and they want no liabilities. 

[eggers]

Yep, all the well meaning posts from contributors, but no direction from those who brought about the change!!

Namely, Thai Immigration..... simply, give same info of funds (800KBht) in account or 65k Bht p/m, but no instruction as to how verify monthly income?? Only assumed will accept copy Thai Bank statement for (how long???), probably 12mths, showing equiv.monthly deposits. Thai Immi needs to give proper advice to Expats!! 

[1337markus]

14 hours ago, Jingthing said:

Very big deal indeed if Thai immigration won't accept that without an embassy letter. Why would you assume they would?

Sent from my Lenovo A7020a48 using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

With many main stream countries now refusing this letter maybe its time Thai Immigration changed its habits.

[keithet]

It seems 3 out of the 4 embassies have given their citizens at least 2 months notice that the income letter will stop being issued. Not happy about it but at least they gave some notice. But on the other hand there is roughly 2 weeks left till the new year and nothing from imagration. Their website shows the same information before all this. 

It's frustrating that laws and rules here are hardly ever announced ahead of time but intead introduced at the last moment and that is frustrating for me at least. 

If imagration officials do read some of these posts, I think they probably enjoy watching people speculate and comment without 100% certainty because no one knows anything except for the embassy anouncment. 

Edited December 14, 2018 by keithet
Spelling

[wgdanson]

11 hours ago, garyk said:

The world i live in is where money is king. Giving away 800K for no reason, even if for only 3 months has got to be the dumbest thing I have ever heard of... haha

Hopefully, the 65K in a Thai bank will satisfy immigration. If not, I say vacate!

 

Come on, the 800k is not 'given away'. It is deposited in a bank which you can get back anytime you want. Yes, HOPEFULLY Immigration will accept the 65k monthly but I am not holding my breath.

[wwest5829]

13 hours ago, wgdanson said:

It is a big deal considering that Thai Immgration will not (yet) accept your bank book and letters from VA, SS or the UK pension Service as proof of income.

We are already hearing from folks renewing their retirement extensions by doing just as has been stated by Just1Voice.

[ocddave]

I was able to get my money into SCB bank quick enough to make the 3 month seasoning, just barely, but I should be able to run my 1 yr extension about 4 days before my due date in the beginning of March. I did this 15-30 days earlier the last two times, but did so with the US Embassy Income Letter. I was going to get the Income Letter as well, but not worth running to the US Embassy, then the Thai MFA for a stamp, just going to stick with the bank account method.

[wgdanson]

21 minutes ago, wwest5829 said:

We are already hearing from folks renewing their retirement extensions by doing just as has been stated by Just1Voice.

Hearing from where please? No body is posting that here on T Visa except Just1Voice.

[sumrit]

1 hour ago, keithet said:

It seems 3 out of the 4 embassies have given their citizens at least 2 months notice that the income letter will stop being issued. Not happy about it but at least they gave some notice. But on the other hand there is roughly 2 weeks left till the new year and nothing from imagration. Their website shows the same information before all this. 

It's frustrating that laws and rules here are hardly ever announced ahead of time but intea d introduced at the last moment and that is frustrating for me at least. 

If imagration officials do read some of these posts, I think they probably enjoy watching people speculate and comment without 100% certainty because no one knows anything except for the embassy anouncment. 

6

The Embassy letter is valid for six months so everybody who needs to renew their extension before the end of July 2019 has had the opportunity and adequate time to obtain one before the end of this month. 

 

Apart from the Danes, the problem will only arise for people needing to renew their extension after August next year, plus people arriving in Thailand from January onwards who then need to apply for their 'first' extension.

 

So, assuming Immigration do not intend to separate all the (married) couples in long-term relationships, they would need to come up with a more secure method of verifying income than going into one's Embassy and signing a piece of paper declaring "my name is.........and I have an income of......." without the need to show any proof whatsoever.

 

Again, assuming the initial seasoning time required for that proof might be three months, Immigration would have until around next April to make an announcement. They don't need to say anything now and that will not affect anybody, apart from the Danes, now. Time to come up with an acceptable solution is still on their side.

 

incidentally, since their Embassy stopped issuing letters I haven't seen any posts from any Danish people who have already needed to renew their extension and how they got around the letter issue.  Does this mean they all have a spare 800k baht they can use that don't need, or are they now all using 'dodgy' agents to get an extension? It would be interesting to hear from some Danes who have already had to 'find a way'.