Latest Retirement Extension a Warning .

[khastan]

On the 18th January I transferred adequate funds from the UK together with a income letter from the UK Embassy, obtained middle of December last year to qualify for a second extension. My 90 days was due today so I thought (foolish me) I would do both the extension and the 90 day report in one go. So this morning I obtained the two letters from the Bangkok Bank. Less than an hour ago I arrived at Nong Khai immigration with all the necessary paperwork. After perusing this carefully the immigration officer pointed at the date I transferred the money from the UK, the 18th January. She said not yet three months must come back tomorrow. the 18th. I then insisted the rules have changed now and it"s only two months. She then consulted some paperwork and said no two months for first extension and three months for every extension afterwards. I insisted this was incorrect but she was adamant. The upshot is I have been told to go again to bank tomorrow and obtain another two letters with the 18th and try again.

[Thailand Outcast]

So, your OP is warning readers of the incompetence of immigration staff.  I think readers are already well aware of this.  ????

[khastan]

With the greatest respect I am not concerned that readers are well aware of the incompetence of immigration staff. My OP is a genuine heads up and a warning and to try help anybody who is applying for a extension now or in the future to make sure that three months have elapsed since they transferred funds into a Thai bank before applying for a second or more extension.. Fortunately I have only missed it by 1 day others might not be so lucky.

[Thailand Outcast]

1 minute ago, khastan said:

With the greatest respect I am not concerned that readers are well aware of the incompetence of immigration staff. My OP is a genuine heads up and a warning and to try help anybody who is applying for a extension now or in the future to make sure that three months have elapsed since they transferred funds into a Thai bank before applying for a second or more extension.. Fortunately I have only missed it by 1 day others might not be so lucky.

All the immigration offices, and officers, around the country, have their own interpretation of the laws.

 

If you went to another office, on the same day, with the same paperwork, it probably would have been accepted.

 

My point being, no one really knows where they stand in Thai immigration law, because the interpretation of the laws are different from office to office, and from officer to officer.

 

Actually, for all we know, a guy walks into the same office as you, on the same day, with the same paperwork, in the same circumstances, but sees a different immigration officer, and is approved.  

 

It's a messy and unpredictable system, with no one really knowing where they stand within it.

 

Just look how ridiculous it is that you can be denied entry at an airport, despite a valid visa, but within hours, legally cross a land board with the same visa.    

[yang123]

Am I missing something? 

OP had an income validation letter from the embassy issued in mid-December, thus valid for six months.  Why the need for bank statements/letters - combo method?  

 

 

Edited April 17, 2019 by yang123
Typos

[Thailand]

As a matter of interest, anyone left that qualify under the rules at the bottom? 21 consecutive extensions?

[observer90210]

35 minutes ago, Thailand Outcast said:

So, your OP is warning readers of the incompetence of immigration staff.  I think readers are already well aware of this.  ????

you should rather be thanking him for sharing information,  instead of making a comment that sounds rather rude. case closed.

[khastan]

My Income statement was for only 400.000 baht unfortunately, the rest of the money I transferred on the 18th January from my UK bank to my Thai Bank. Hence 1 day short of three months so refused.

[smedly]

are we now seeing signs that the new rules have been binned 

 

what a mess 

[Thailand]

Just now, smedly said:

are we now seeing signs that the new rules have been binned 

 

what a mess 

Bring back BJ? ????

[ubonjoe]

10 minutes ago, smedly said:

are we now seeing signs that the new rules have been binned 

No

Just an officer that is not aware of the new rules.

[samsensam]

 

two lessons; always include contingency in your plans, the IO is always right (even when they're wrong).

 

this has served me well and allowed hassle/stress free travel in over 50 countries.

 

 

[baansgr]

Did she have a whistle.....crazy is crazy and there lies the issue of so many leaving

[khastan]

Ubonjoe I am at a loss why she was not aware of the new rules because before she refused my application she consulted at length a binder full of what looked like official documents, she also consulted a colleague about the issue, which I forget to mention.

[khastan]

baansgr

Did she have a whistle.....crazy is crazy and there lies the issue of so many leaving.

No whistle and yes I agree fully with your comment

[khastan]

smedly

are we now seeing signs that the new rules have been binned



what a mess


Maybe yes in Nong Khai.

[The Man Who Sold the World]

khastan - thank you for reporting

Edited April 17, 2019 by The Man Who Sold the World

[khastan]

You are all more than welcome. My main reason for the original post was to prevent others from facing the same dire situation.. I have printed the rules out and when I go tomorrow I will asked her if these rules made in January 2019 are no longer applicable now. Maybe I am to sensitive but I left Nong Khai Immigration feeling like I had been treated like something brown you scrape off the bottom of your shoe..

[Somchai Scotland]

After reading so many posts on here regarding this subject what I have in my head is that it is 2 months for first time applicants then subsequent renewals (2nd extension the following year) is 3 months.

 

Thanks for the information.

[khastan]

I have absolutely no idea but you could be correct clause 4 of the translated new order states clearly 2 months but never mentions three months. The only time 3 month is mentioned and I quote " The alien (don't you just love the endearing way the refer to us) can withdraw the fund 3 months after being granted permission etc etc."

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, khastan said:

I have absolutely no idea but you could be correct clause 4 of the translated new order states clearly 2 months but never mentions three months. The only time 3 month is mentioned and I quote " The alien (don't you just love the endearing way the refer to us) can withdraw the fund 3 months after being granted permission etc etc."

Four mentions 3 months twice. Once on line 2 and again on line 5.

 

[Jip99]

4 hours ago, yang123 said:

Am I missing something? 

OP had an income validation letter from the embassy issued in mid-December, thus valid for six months.  Why the need for bank statements/letters - combo method?  

 

 

 

 

It might be valid for 6 months in the eyes of the British embassy, but since 1st March they have not been accepted by immigration (my local ones at least).

[khastan]

Yes agreed UbonJoe but where is the reference to 3 months before the application for extension.

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, khastan said:

Yes agreed UbonJoe but where is the reference to 3 months before the application for extension.

There is no mention of 3 months before in the order. It eliminated the 3 months requirement and the 60 days for the first extension in the original clause of the police order and only mentions 2 months before.

[khastan]

Ubonjoe that was my understanding also. When I explained that it was not three months but two now she admitted to not knowing and I was surprised when she had to look the matter up.

[MikeN]

1 hour ago, ubonjoe said:

 

With reference to the last sentence, does anybody know for sure if the "3 months after being granted permission" starts on the day an extension is approved or from the expiry of the last extension/start of new one ? The qualifying period before is counted back from application date so i would assume it is 3 months after that too ...... but maybe that it too logical for Thai bureaucracy. I would hate to do an extension a month early, start spending the money 3 months later, only to be told next year that the 3 months started on the extension date and therefore I was a month short !

[sfokevin]

It would be nice to have a printed copy of these new orders with the Thai & English in two columns side by side to take to immigration as reference so one could point out the Thai version to them to help clarify... Is there such a .pdf available?

Edited April 17, 2019 by sfokevin

[smedly]

20 minutes ago, MikeN said:

With reference to the last sentence, does anybody know for sure if the "3 months after being granted permission" starts on the day an extension is approved or from the expiry of the last extension/start of new one ? The qualifying period before is counted back from application date so i would assume it is 3 months after that too ...... but maybe that it too logical for Thai bureaucracy. I would hate to do an extension a month early, start spending the money 3 months later, only to be told next year that the 3 months started on the extension date and therefore I was a month short !

It is filing date and granted date the latter may not be the effective date of your extension

[DaRoadrunner]

I am not surprised this happened. Under the old rules it used to be 2 months prior for the first application only. From then on 3 months. Guess your IO is still going by the old rules. Anticipating this might happen I will transfer sufficient funds 3 months before.

 

You ask three IO's and you could well get three different answers. Amazing Thailand again.

[khastan]

Good then my original post has had the desired effect that I wanted with at least one member.