Brit, 50 yrs+, several retirement extensions through Chaeng Wattana using Bank 800k method, permission to stay expiring 9th April 2019.

 

This time round with the GBP exchange rate so low prefer to use combination of pension letter (500k - application already with British Embassy) and residual 300k in bank.

 

Today the wife phoned immigration and they questioned if I was sure I could do the combo method.  It seems strange they asked this question, so has anything changed?  Also, Immigration said the 300k has to be in my account for 3 months.  I thought here was no seasoning period using the combo route. So what gives?

Yes. So use the 800k in bank. Bit of pain with bad exchange rate but keep it simple this time. UK and other embassies have stopped issuing income affidavits. 

There has been no change. As long as you have the income letter dated within 6 months, and the 300K is in your bank for 3 months before applying, you should have no problem applying using the combo method.

11 minutes ago, makalu said:

Today the wife phoned immigration and they questioned if I was sure I could do the combo method.  It seems strange they asked this question, so has anything changed?  Also, Immigration said the 300k has to be in my account for 3 months.  I thought here was no seasoning period using the combo route. So what gives?

Some offices want the money to be in the bank for 3 months on the date you apply for the extension. Some though will accept the application if the application if the money in the bank is considerably less than your annual income.

If your wife is Thai you could apply for the extension based upon marriage which only requires 40k baht income.

18 minutes ago, elviajero said:

There has been no change. As long as you have the income letter dated within 6 months, and the 300K is in your bank for 3 months before applying, you should have no problem applying using the combo method.

Maybe I have misread the op. My impression is he does not presently have income affidavit from embassy? When do uk stop issuing letter. 

Thanks ubonjoe.  Yes I could go the marriage route but I would prefer not to make 2 trips to immigration if possible as Chaeng Wattana always seems to be busy.  But it is a back up plan if immigration won't accept the combo option.

UK embassy stopped issuing income letters on 12th or 13th December.  My application was submitted (and accepted) before that date. It takes them up to 10 working days to issue the income letter and is currently awaited.

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Maybe I have misread the op. My impression is he does not presently have income affidavit from embassy? When do uk stop issuing letter. 

 

5 hours ago, makalu said:

This time round with the GBP exchange rate so low prefer to use combination of pension letter (500k - application already with British Embassy) and residual 300k in bank.

 

10 hours ago, makalu said:

UK embassy stopped issuing income letters on 12th or 13th December.  My application was submitted (and accepted) before that date. It takes them up to 10 working days to issue the income letter and is currently awaited.

The UK Embassy stopped receiving applications on Dec 12th, but are still issuing them until Dec 31st.

If an embassy income letter was just used to get a 90 day non O can a copy of same income letter be used to extend at immigration? or will they want to see monthly deposits or money in non thai bank?

8 minutes ago, atyclb said:

If an embassy income letter was just used to get a 90 day non O can a copy of same income letter be used to extend at immigration? or will they want to see monthly deposits or money in non thai bank?

They gave me a "certified" copy of my income letter to be used when I go back for the one year extension...in a day or two