Lopburi Immigration View on new Visa extension system

[chrisyork]

Information for the Group about my experience today asking about the detail of the new system for extending a Retirement Visa.

 

First off, This was at LOPBURI Immigration office.

I do the income based one - 65,000 per month. I ought to be OK for that barring exchange rate disasters......... And there's time for the system to settle for me - renewal in November.

I'm with Bangkok Bank, use their Bualuang iBanking and transfer money into Thailand from the UK with TransferWise.

 

I was very rapidly passed up to the senior officer. We all know each other over many years, so no personality issues. And Father in Law was with me.

The conversation was animated. I formed the strong impression they had not previously done an extension under the new system. Folders and directives were quickly resorted to.

I took with me a print out of my iBanking statement - which looks exactly like a UK bank statement. They were quite bemused by that. My Bank Pass Book got the thumbs up, though.

They were reasonably clear that they were looking for total "International Transfer" amount over the course of a full year. 12 X 65k is actually 780,000, but they said 800,000. I'm sure that would resolve with further discussion. They were not bothered by my money coming 13 X 4 weeks - they wanted the overall total.

I was certain they had not yet understood the availability of discretion for the first year.

They also said they were prepared to look at an account statement provided by the Bank.

 

I then went to the Bank to update my Pass Book. I don't usually do this. As I have iBanking and it's a 60 km round trip to the nearest place that can do that update, I generally rely on the iBanking on screen............

A PassBook update can, it transpires, only go back ONE month. So I have big gaps in my PassBook. So the bank did manual prints on headed A5 slips for the missing periods and stapled them into the PassBook........... That is going to be a nightmare for Immigration to read come the time...........

The good news is that "International Transfer" against a transaction seems to be sufficient. And Bangkok do record that against a transfer in from TransferWise.

 

Conclusion.

 

The easy path is to keep your Bank PassBook up to date. That seems like it is going to be readily accepted by Lopburi Immigration. Other solutions to demonstrating the transfers look like they might be challenging......

If you have been below the threshold of 65k per month to date, it is going to be acceptable to over-transfer later, so that the total transferred over the past year is above the 780k/800k.

My other suggestion is to have prints with you of the actual directives from Big Joke in the original Thai. I suspect that could be useful...........

 

I hope that assists people.

[Spidey]

Why didn't you have an embassy letter?

[chrisyork]

3 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Why didn't you have an embassy letter?

I shan't be extending until November, when Embassy letters will already have lapsed and be out of date eligibility.

So this was an enquiry as to exactly what they are looking for under the new system.

Better prepared than having to fly to the UK and start again...............

Edited February 8, 2019 by chrisyork

[Spidey]

Just now, chrisyork said:

I shan't be renewing until November, when Embassy letters will already have lapsed and be out of date eligibility.

So this was an enquiry as to exactly what they are looking for under the new system.

Better prepared than having to fly to the UK and start again...............

Not surprising that they were confused, everyone is still using the Embassy letter. They probably haven't been asked before.

 

No need to fly back to the UK, you can start the process in Thailand. I did. Came in on a tourist visa and had my 12 month Non O a couple of weeks later.

[chrisyork]

I'm sure you're right!

Better prepared, though..............

[sumrit]

22 minutes ago, Spidey said:

Why didn't you have an embassy letter?

He says his next extension isn't due until November, an Embassy letter wouldn't be valid.

 

Sorry, the OP had already replied.

Edited February 8, 2019 by sumrit

[skatewash]

Thanks for the report.  I think a 12-month bank statement stamped and issued by Bangkok Bank would be a lot more welcome than a passbook stuffed with errata sheets.  Such a statement might be 200-300 baht and not be available immediately if it has to come from the headquarters office, but should be obtainable.  Of course, they will still want to see the passbook but the statement will be the primary document that tells the tale, I would think.

Good to hear about some flexibility on possibly making up for a few month's shortfalls, but I'm afraid that's the sort of thing that's going to vary by office, by officer, and by day.  Also, as it doesn't sound like they've had to do one before not sure it's all been worked out.  Still an interesting report.

[ukrules]

7 hours ago, chrisyork said:

I shan't be extending until November, when Embassy letters will already have lapsed and be out of date eligibility.

Don't forget to keep checking the rules, I'm sure there will be plenty of opportunity for changes between now and November, especially with the election coming up.

 

[Thailand]

Why would they have done an extension under the new system as it does not come in to effect until 1st March? Does it apply to first time applicants as has been suggested or all

It would appear that even heads of immigration in each provincial office have no idea what is going on.

BJ needs to clarify all the many unknowns.

[jimn]

I fully understand you are trying to be helpful by posting the information and your visit was to clarify the position for yourself. However in my opinion your visit serves little purpose. Things can change before your extension is due and visiting now puts unnecessary pressure on the office and yourself. What if everybody decided to do what you did and visited immigration with their extension due months away. You would get massive queues and probably dozens of different answers. Let things take their course and relax, but keep an eye on the news. But dont if the process changes again go back to immigration to clarify things again. I am sure you have better things to do.

[Pattaya46]

5 hours ago, Thailand said:

Why would they have done an extension under the new system as it does not come in to effect until 1st March? 

New rules about income (65k/month) are in application since January 1st 

[timendres]

Awesome post. Thank you!

[kickstart]

Having used Lopburi office ever since it has been open ,they do things  they own way (where have I read that before) ie, 800k has to be salted for 3 months ,no 2 months at Lopburi .a woman was renewing her visa ,the officer asked her for copies the ID and Tabin-Bann, from the owner of the house she rented ,she said at Hua Hin I did not need that ,officer said, You do here....., and this woman was speaking  very good Thai, kept her cool, so no miss unerstanding. 

As has been said ,let the dust settal, waite for Bangkok to send the new regs to all the provincial offices, then we shall see. and what will Lopburi's interpretation will be.