Retirement Visa

[micaw60]

For all fellow members and retirees in Thailand I must post my experience and shock at the lack of documents required when I went to Suan Phlu Immigration office yesterday to check if I had all the required documents for my Retirement Visa renewal as the goal posts appear to move at will in various offices.

This must be a first!

I was later than planned leaving Saraburi yesterday and so decided as I would be too late to visit the British Embassy to apply for my police clearance and confirmation of income (pension) letters before they closed I decided to go to Suan Phlu to make sure I had all the required documents for the planned return trip today to apply for my visa renewal. I went into room 101 and spoke to the lady officer who issued my first retirement visa last year and as before she was very pleasant and helful and when reviewing my bundle of documents (Bank Statements, pension transfers from abroad, copy of passport etc.) she asked if I had filled out the application form and I said "no I will come tomorrow when I have the Embassy letters". She told me that as I had submitted the letters and proof of pension last year I didn't need them and told me all I needed was a copy of my passport ID page, copy of last years visa and a copy of the TM document and of course the fee. No bank statements no Embassy letters just the help of a very pleasant and helpful Immigration Officer so I walked out of Suan Phlu less than two hours later (she went for lunch in between) with my Retirement and multi entry Visa renewed. I was to say the least pleasantly surprised and shocked having read some of the posts from disappointed members on here.

[Krub]

For all fellow members and retirees in Thailand I must post my experience and shock at the lack of documents required when I went to Suan Phlu Immigration office yesterday to check if I had all the required documents for my Retirement Visa renewal as the goal posts appear to move at will in various offices.

This must be a first!

I was later than planned leaving Saraburi yesterday and so decided as I would be too late to visit the British Embassy to apply for my police clearance and confirmation of income (pension) letters before they closed I decided to go to Suan Phlu to make sure I had all the required documents for the planned return trip today to apply for my visa renewal. I went into room 101 and spoke to the lady officer who issued my first retirement visa last year and as before she was very pleasant and helful and when reviewing my bundle of documents (Bank Statements, pension transfers from abroad, copy of passport etc.) she asked if I had filled out the application form and I said "no I will come tomorrow when I have the Embassy letters". She told me that as I had submitted the letters and proof of pension last year I didn't need them and told me all I needed was a copy of my passport ID page, copy of last years visa and a copy of the TM document and of course the fee. No bank statements no Embassy letters just the help of a very pleasant and helpful Immigration Officer so I walked out of Suan Phlu less than two hours later (she went for lunch in between) with my Retirement and multi entry Visa renewed. I was to say the least pleasantly surprised and shocked having read some of the posts from disappointed members on here.

Congratulation

Sounds like you had a lucky day as normaly at least the copy of the Embassy letter is required even if a new original is not.

When I checked what documents were needed at the Kap Choeng Immigration they replied that only the Embassy letter will do as supporting document. No bank letter, bank book or other.

Seems that retirement extension is getting easier and easier if you can go the Embassy letter way.

[naka]

Embassy letter is only required for Pension (Option A)

Bank letter is only required for Bank balance (Option

Sorry, but what did you think was required ?

Naka.

[astral]

If you have retired and presented proof of pension it should not be necessary to do the same every year.

That is the logical approach,

but Thai's and logic often take different paths.

I wonder if the procedure is as simple at the other Imm offices around the country?

[Krub]

Embassy letter is only required for Pension (Option A)

Bank letter is only required for Bank balance (Option

Sorry, but what did you think was required ?

Naka.

Up to now even with the Embassy letter stating 65K over income, immigration always requested to see a bank book + copies and a bank balance letter original matching balance.

On the other hand when I went the bank balance way, they insisted to have a letter from Embassy stating my adress.....

If for the Embassy letter at over 65K they only need that letter it is a great improvement on top of the medical not required anymore