I just successfully processed my retirement extension at the new office in Hua Hin.  For the extensions you go upstairs and they have someone at a table to look through your paperwork and then give you a queue number.  I arrived just at the end of their lunch break so I just grabbed the ticket myself, unaware there would be someone there to check the paperwork.  The paperwork I provided was 1) TM7 application form, with photo, 2) Letter from my bank and copy of my bank book covering the last 2 months, 3) Appropriate passport copies, 4) copies of rental contract, landlord's ID and House book and hand drawn map from immigration to my apartment.  None of my paperwork was questioned and nothing else asked for.

I used the combo method with an Income Letter from the U. S. Consulate and money in the bank.  My money has been in the bank for just over 2 months.  I renewed my passport "after" I got the income letter, so I was not 100% confident that the income letter would be accepted because it had my old passport number on it.  Therefore, I actually had 800k in the bank for those 2 months. 

The immigration officer said he would just process it using the 800k in the bank but I explained I wanted to use the Combo method so I did not have to keep the full 800k in the bank an additional 3 months (and 400k the rest of the year).  Once he understood my desire, he processed it using the combo method.  He stated I needed to keep 400k in the bank for 3 more months.  I asked if I needed to keep the 400k in the bank for the rest of the year and he was not aware that was required.  I did not see any senior officers around and since it was crowded in the office I decided to ask that question of a senior officer another time.

I was not given a copy of the new rules to sign as others have.  I was also not told to report back in 90 days to show the money was still in the bank and my 90 day report (July for me) was not changed to align with the date of the Extension.  Next year I will continue to use the Combo method and have started doing the needed monthly transfers.

I'm going to head out to meet with a friend and get something to eat so will be back this evening to answer any questions you might have.

Are you sure he didn't just use the 800K to process your application?

If not how is the difference, combo method, recorded?

 

3 hours ago, Thailand said:

Are you sure he didn't just use the 800K to process your application?

If not how is the difference, combo method, recorded?

 

No real way to know for sure since we can't see their computer entries, but when he was going to do the 800k method, he handed the Embassy letter back to me, after the discussion he took it back and included it in the paperwork and the fact he told me I only needed to keep the 400k in the bank for 3 months.  Guess will find out next year for sure.

Interesting, and tks for posting. Before the new rules came out (correct me if I'm wrong), I believe that there was no need to season the money in the bank part of the combo method. Now, at least in one office, the two months before and three months after seasoning is needed. Hopefully there'll be more reports of this method in the near future because it's one of my options.

try and do the Combo method without the Embassy letter and this would  not have worked.  i plan on using my SS letter and and my bank book with letter from the bank.  i have been advised to  use an agent if they do not accept a perfectly legal United States government document.  

Edited May 22, 20197 yr by malibukid

17 hours ago, Scott424 said:

No real way to know for sure since we can't see their computer entries, but when he was going to do the 800k method, he handed the Embassy letter back to me, after the discussion he took it back and included it in the paperwork and the fact he told me I only needed to keep the 400k in the bank for 3 months.  Guess will find out next year for sure.

My guess 800k method don't touch the 400k just in case.

1 hour ago, malibukid said:

try and do the Combo method without the Embassy letter and this would  not have worked.  i plan on using my SS letter and and my bank book with letter from the bank.  i have been advised to  use an agent if they do not accept a perfectly legal United States government document.  

To use the combo method without an embassy letter, you need to make monthly transfers from overseas into your Thai bank account which is what I am doing for next year.  The social security letter might be used/required in some immigration offices as prove of the source of the monthly transfers. The social security letter without the monthly transfers will not work, the new rule is clear that for the income method (which you will be using for part of the financial requirement) has to have monthly transfers into a Thai bank account.

1 hour ago, Scott424 said:

To use the combo method without an embassy letter, you need to make monthly transfers from overseas into your Thai bank account which is what I am doing for next year.  The social security letter might be used/required in some immigration offices as prove of the source of the monthly transfers. The social security letter without the monthly transfers will not work, the new rule is clear that for the income method (which you will be using for part of the financial requirement) has to have monthly transfers into a Thai bank account.

missed that.  time to go downtown and  see the agent man.  will not make the deadline

Edited May 22, 20197 yr by malibukid

3 minutes ago, malibukid said:

missed that.  time to go downtown and  see the agent man.  will not make the deadline, surely this is being overcomplicated but for what reason.

 

Just now, Graviton said:

 

surely this is being overcomplicated but for what reason.

4 minutes ago, Graviton said:

surely this is being overcomplicated but for what reason.

i am trying to play ball, just had a large chunk of change transfered over  here.  now this. 

2 minutes ago, malibukid said:

i am trying to play ball, just had a large chunk of change transfered over  here.  now this. 

You can use a FCD therefore keeping it in your home currency?

Hand drawn map??????

7 minutes ago, Graviton said:

Hand drawn map??????

I am not sure if this is a universal requirement, but some offices have wanted a map from immigration to your residence.  I forgot to print out one from google maps and was reminded by another person waiting at immigration about needing this so I drew one up.

2 minutes ago, Scott424 said:

I am not sure if this is a universal requirement, but some offices have wanted a map from immigration to your residence.  I forgot to print out one from google maps and was reminded by another person waiting at immigration about needing this so I drew one up.

This is obviously a joke yes ??????

7 minutes ago, Graviton said:

This is obviously a joke yes ??????

Not a joke, I have had to provide the map in the past as have others.

4 minutes ago, Scott424 said:

Not a joke, I have had to provide the map in the past as have others.

Forgive me I fail to see how that can be interpreted as a new rule???? Its nowhere in there????

34 minutes ago, Graviton said:

Forgive me I fail to see how that can be interpreted as a new rule???? Its nowhere in there????

That is why I said it was a requirement not a rule, as we know many offices make up there own requirements outside of the letter of the law.  Also the requirement is not new, I had to draw a map the first time I did an extension 3 years ago.

Edited May 22, 20197 yr by Scott424

1 hour ago, Scott424 said:

That is why I said it was a requirement not a rule, as we know many offices make up there own requirements outside of the letter of the law.  Also the requirement is not new, I had to draw a map the first time I did an extension 3 years ago. 

Well well well

 

10 hours ago, Scott424 said:

I am not sure if this is a universal requirement, but some offices have wanted a map from immigration to your residence.  I forgot to print out one from google maps and was reminded by another person waiting at immigration about needing this so I drew one up.

At Sri Ratcha the map must be hand drawn, they threw the google map out and my wife had to quickly do one. I think the IO's that do the home visit have a problem following the google map.

Yes, they do home visits for retirement extension.