Retirement Extension Based on Combo Method in Phuket

[LivingNThailand]

I was wondering if anyone in Phuket has done an annual extension on their retirement visa based on the combo method (US or Brit) in the past month or so.  It is still offered on the immigration website.  However earlier this year Phuket immigration was denying extensions based on combo to US, British and Australians because of no income letter.  When the Phuket News did a story on this subject immigration backtracked and said that there must be a misunderstanding that they still offered the combo method with the proper paperwork.   So, with proper paperwork are they accepting extensions with the combo method?  Any personal feedback would be very nice.   Be helpful to know because I am on the cusp, and don't want to put the extra money in my account if I can help it.  Thank you in advance.

[ubonjoe]

The Phuket immigration volunteers website only mentions proof of income from a embassy for it.

See: http://piv-phuket.com/long-stay-extensions/retirement/

[LivingNThailand]

thank you.  The immigration website says combo method is good.  I was wondering if anyone in Phuket has done this method in the last two months with success. It would be extremely helpful to me for my planning 

 

[scubascuba3]

I don't understand why monthly income method is ok (with no embassy letter) but combo method may not be ok, Thai logic?

[Jingthing]

19 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

I don't understand why monthly income method is ok (with no embassy letter) but combo method may not be ok, Thai logic?

More complicated. 

More work for the officers.

Puts them in a position where they don't really understand the exact rules much less being able to explain them.

I predicted this pretty much as soon as the issue came up with no more income letters and income still being allowed with transfers.

[ubonjoe]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

More complicated. 

More work for the officers.

No that complicated. Total up all the transfers for the past 12 months and subtract it from 800k baht to determine the minimum needed in the bank for 2 months.

Not really different than multiplying the monthly income shown on the proof of income from an embassy by 12 to get the annual income and then multiplying it by the exchange rate for the date the application is done. And then subtract that from the 800k baht.

 

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

Puts them in a position where they don't really understand the exact rules much less being able to explain them.

I predicted this pretty much as soon as the issue came up with no more income letters and income still being allowed with transfers.

Really not that much different than before.

[Jingthing]

39 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

No that complicated. Total up all the transfers for the past 12 months and subtract it from 800k baht to determine the minimum needed in the bank for 2 months.

Not really different than multiplying the monthly income shown on the proof of income from an embassy by 12 to get the annual income and then multiplying it by the exchange rate for the date the application is done. And then subtract that from the 800k baht.

 

Really not that much different than before.

Tell that to the immigration offices giving a problem with this type of application, not me! Your details above are not actually written a police order, right? The truth is there really is a fair amount of ambiguity with combo applications without embassy letters.

[ubonjoe]

5 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Tell that to the immigration offices giving a problem with this type of application, not me! Your details above are not actually written a police order, right? The truth is there really is a fair amount of ambiguity with combo applications without embassy letters.

The police order that was amended only stated this.

"(5) Must have an annual earning and funds deposited with a bank totaling no less than Baht 800,0000"

New one says about the same thing.

No mention of how the annual income is calculated. What I wrote is how they can do it which is not very hard to understand.

But how much to keep in the bank after the application is not stated. Phuket and other have said half the the amount needed in bank for the combination.

 

 

[LivingNThailand]

Thank you. I understand.  Any first hand experience from phuket extending retirement visa using combo method the last two months. Phuket only.  I need to know to plan.  Thank you 

[Chassa]

12 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

he police order that was amended only stated this.

"(5) Must have an annual earning and funds deposited with a bank totaling no less than Baht 800,0000"

Does this mean you no longer need to prove your overseas pension? My pension payments are listed as BTN - bank transfers.

[ubonjoe]

27 minutes ago, Chassa said:

Does this mean you no longer need to prove your overseas pension? My pension payments are listed as BTN - bank transfers.

You still have to prove your income.

The BTN code means baht net which is often a transfer done via the finance ministry. Ask your bank for a credit advice to see it it it shows it as a coming from abroad.

How are you doing your transfers into the country?

[Chassa]

1 minute ago, ubonjoe said:

You still have to prove your income.

The BTN code means baht net which is often a transfer done via the finance ministry. Ask your bank for a credit advice to see it it it shows it as a coming from abroad.

Thanks Mate!

 

[ubonjoe]

23 minutes ago, Chassa said:

Thanks Mate!

 

I did an edit while you were posting to add this question.

 

25 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

How are you doing your transfers into the country?

 

[TerryLH]

Bangkok Bank assured me that the code BTN is for overseas deposits.

Direct deposit of SS.

Terry

[wgdanson]

14 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

The police order that was amended only stated this.

"(5) Must have an annual earning and funds deposited with a bank totaling no less than Baht 800,0000"

New one says about the same thing.

No mention of how the annual income is calculated. What I wrote is how they can do it which is not very hard to understand.

But how much to keep in the bank after the application is not stated. Phuket and other have said half the the amount needed in bank for the combination.

 

 

So would that mean that you can transfer 33.3333k per month for 12 months = 400k, plus 400k in the bank. And would the bank money have to be 50% 2 months before and 3 months after.

My IO in Phitsanulok told my Mrs that as long as the total of FTTs and cash in the bank for the year adds up to 800k he would accept it.

[ubonjoe]

41 minutes ago, wgdanson said:

So would that mean that you can transfer 33.3333k per month for 12 months = 400k, plus 400k in the bank. And would the bank money have to be 50% 2 months before and 3 months after.

Not sure what you mean by 50%.

The 400k baht would have to be in the bank for 2 months before and 3 months after you apply. Then it could be reduced to 200k baht.

[wgdanson]

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Not sure what you mean by 50%.

The 400k baht would have to be in the bank for 2 months before and 3 months after you apply. Then it could be reduced to 200k baht.

Sorry Joe, I really meant 100% for 2 before,3 after and the rest of the time 50%, as you quite correctly corrected me. Cheers.

 

I shall ask my IO if 50k per month (which is what I need to live on) = 600k plus 200k  in bank then down to 100k. Fingers crossed.

[Inepto Cracy]

Slightly off point. When I did my Permit to Stay for Retirement in September, I was not told anything about having to go back to Phuket Immi, to show that I still had funds in my bank account. Did I blink and miss something, or is this only asked for with certain members of the retirees?

[xylophone]

2 minutes ago, Inepto Cracy said:

Slightly off point. When I did my Permit to Stay for Retirement in September, I was not told anything about having to go back to Phuket Immi, to show that I still had funds in my bank account. Did I blink and miss something, or is this only asked for with certain members of the retirees?

I did mine just recently and was not told to report back so that the funds could be checked, and according to a few other threads I've seen, this will be checked when you do the annual permit to stay next year.

[ubonjoe]

32 minutes ago, Inepto Cracy said:

Slightly off point. When I did my Permit to Stay for Retirement in September, I was not told anything about having to go back to Phuket Immi, to show that I still had funds in my bank account. Did I blink and miss something, or is this only asked for with certain members of the retirees?

Not needed in Phuket as far as I know. Only a few offices are wanting it done.

[Max69xl]

1 hour ago, TerryLH said:

Bangkok Bank assured me that the code BTN is for overseas deposits.

Direct deposit of SS.

Terry

Which code for your transfers are noted in your bank book? Bangkok Banks transfer code for foreign transfers is FTT. If SS doesn't transfer your money straight to Bangkok Bank, but goes through Bank of Thailand, which in turn transfers the money to your account, then the transfer will be a BAHTNET= a domestic transfer through Bank of Thailand. 

[LivingNThailand]

anyone from Phuket do the combo method in the past 2 months? That was my original question.  Just wanted to know what the general atmosphere is there in room 3.  Can be a bit frosty sometimes.

 

Thank you.

 

[jacko45k]

20 hours ago, xylophone said:

and according to a few other threads I've seen, this will be checked when you do the annual permit to stay next year.

I would say there was an expectation of this but until beyond March 2020 we will not be certain. More interesting, what if the required money levels cannot be proven to their satisfaction?

[xylophone]

19 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

I would say there was an expectation of this but until beyond March 2020 we will not be certain. More interesting, what if the required money levels cannot be proven to their satisfaction?

Bye, bye or brown envelope I suppose!!!

[ubonjoe]

59 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

More interesting, what if the required money levels cannot be proven to their satisfaction?

Your extension application could be denied and you would have to leave the country by the date your current extension ends unless they canceled it for not meeting conditions for your extension of stay and gave you 7 day to leave the country. 

[phuketrichard]

21 hours ago, xylophone said:

I did mine just recently and was not told to report back so that the funds could be checked, and according to a few other threads I've seen, this will be checked when you do the annual permit to stay next year.

as above, i was told DON'T go below the 800,000 for 3 months or 400,000 the remainder or i would have a problem for next extension.

[Max69xl]

4 hours ago, jacko45k said:

I would say there was an expectation of this but until beyond March 2020 we will not be certain. More interesting, what if the required money levels cannot be proven to their satisfaction?

How difficult is it to check the bank book? There are only 2 levels,800k and 400k. 

[ubonjoe]

14 minutes ago, Max69xl said:

How difficult is it to check the bank book? There are only 2 levels,800k and 400k. 

It might be difficult if the bank book was not updated on a regular basis.

A one year statement form the bank would overcome that problem.

[Max69xl]

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

It might be difficult if the bank book was not updated on a regular basis.

A one year statement form the bank would overcome that problem.

Of course,but you would think people should understand the importance of updating the bank book every month. It's not that difficult. 

[jacko45k]

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Your extension application could be denied and you would have to leave the country by the date your current extension ends unless they canceled it for not meeting conditions for your extension of stay and gave you 7 day to leave the country. 

It would seem prudent to go straight to an agent!