Retirement Extension based on U.S. Embassy Letter

Hello all,

Using my U.S. Embassy Letter/affidavit that I received on December 21st of last year, along with pension and social security award statements, and U.S. bank statements showing the directly deposited amounts adding up to exactly the amount on the affidavit,  I got my annual retirement extension.

I actually went this past Wednesday, but didn't want to post the result until I actually was able to pick up my passport yesterday. I didn't want to jinx it...Lol.

When I presented the IO with the letter, they didn't say anything, or react much at all, just like business as usual...like last year before the new rule changes. They of course wanted the usual photocopies of everything. They did have me sign my pension and U.S. Social Security award statements. I don't remember having to do that last year. 

They also had me fill out a form that outlined penalties for "overstaying."  It was mostly in Thai, so I am not sure what all it actually said.  

They also didn't admonish me about the new requirements that will affect my application next year, i.e., money or transfers into a Thai bank, etc.  I think, at one point, the IO helping us did mention the 800k deposit, into a Thai bank, to my wife in Thai, but it must have been a very brief exchange because I was standing right there, and did not notice the conversation. She mentioned it to me in passing right after we left the immigration office.

They did ask my Thai wife to draw a map to our home in Na Yai Am, which I don't remember having to do last year, but I may have forgotten. They did not ask for my wife to fill out a TM30. They just asked for copies of her Thai ID and Tabien Baan pages. They did take my picture, but they did that last year. 

All in all, I was completely surprised as to how easy it was. The whole thing from start to finish was only about 45 minutes, and that was mostly because they were really busy.  Only two IO's trying to service about 15 people (in a very small office) at the same time.

This is a huge relief, as we are waiting for my wife's U.S. spousal visa to be approved, and I really had no "plan B." I have no Thai bank account.  As some other kind forum members had suggested, I was ready to apply for a 60 day extension to "stay with my Thai wife." But that was about all I had for a backup plan.

Hope everyone else, with a December Embassy income letter, has the same positive result.

Thanks for all the helpful suggestions regarding this extension and staying in Thailand, at least for the short term!

DH