Bank docs for retirement extension based on 800k

[hapark]

A bit confused on what docs, bank letters, statements, passbook copies are required and date of issue of document.

Do banks issue all required docs on spot or is there a wait?

Clarification on these items much appreciated.

[foreverlomsak]

11 minutes ago, hapark said:

A bit confused on what docs, bank letters, statements, passbook copies are required and date of issue of document.

Do banks issue all required docs on spot or is there a wait?

Clarification on these items much appreciated.

Depends on your Immigration Office requirements, check with your office what the need.

Phetchabun & Phitsanulok have always in the past been happy with standard Bank Letter stating that you are the owner of the account, that the account is still active and what the current balance is. A copy of the passbook which has been updated (with a money deposit or withdrawal). Phetchabun insist that the bank letter and updated passbook be dated the same day as application for extension, which was not the case with when I dealt with Phitsanulok.

Bank letters can be obtained on the day, however if you are required to produce a 12 month statement, they usually have to be ordered and can take 7/10 days to be delivered.

Hope this helps.

[allane]

Copy of last 3 months, bankbook - get it issued on the day if possible. Most Immigration offices will accept from the previous business day, but you may be asked to do a deposit or withdrawal on the day.  So, have a little over B 800,000, so you can do a withdrawal. You also need a copy of the front ID page of your bankbook.  I get the bank staff to put their  seal and initials on each page.

Bank Letter - this confirms your bank balance on the day it was written.  Get it on the day if possible, or one business day prior.  I think most banks will issue this letter from any branch, but you might check with your bank first, to see if it has to be done at your home branch.  

[scubascuba3]

3 minutes ago, allane said:

Copy of last 3 months, bankbook - get it issued on the day if possible. Most Immigration offices will accept from the previous business day, but you may be asked to do a deposit or withdrawal on the day.  So, have a little over B 800,000, so you can do a withdrawal. You also need a copy of the front ID page of your bankbook.  I get the bank staff to put their  seal and initials on each page.

Bank Letter - this confirms your bank balance on the day it was written.  Get it on the day if possible, or one business day prior.  I think most banks will issue this letter from any branch, but you might check with your bank first, to see if it has to be done at your home branch.  

I doubt 3 months passbook is enough if they are checking the balance for the previous year

[allane]

- I always take my bankbook when I apply. If Immigration wants to know what my balance was one year prior, they can look at it.

-in the present case, the OP has previously posted, indicating that this is his initial application.

[hapark]

2 hours ago, allane said:

Copy of last 3 months, bankbook - get it issued on the day if possible. Most Immigration offices will accept from the previous business day, but you may be asked to do a deposit or withdrawal on the day.  So, have a little over B 800,000, so you can do a withdrawal. You also need a copy of the front ID page of your bankbook.  I get the bank staff to put their  seal and initials on each page.

Bank Letter - this confirms your bank balance on the day it was written.  Get it on the day if possible, or one business day prior.  I think most banks will issue this letter from any branch, but you might check with your bank first, to see if it has to be done at your home branch.  

Thank you, very helpful

[moontang]

CIMB gave me a letter for someone applying for a visa, which was incorrect.. My IO wanted a letter of guarantee.. But they accepted it anyways.  Kind of amazing they aren't on the same page. 

[LALes]

No bank letter needed at Jomtien, only a current update of your bankbook and copies of your passport and visa.

[1DegreeN]

My local office insisted on both a bank letter and a 12 month statement of account, even though I was using a fixed deposit account for the 800K and the passbook (also required, of course) was complete and up to date. My local branch could only issue a 6 month statement on the spot and had to send off to head office for the 12 month statement which took 3 working days ( they said 3 to 5) to reach the local branch. So, yes, check with your local immigration office first and make sure to leave time to get all the docs prepared.

[foreverlomsak]

22 hours ago, allane said:

Copy of last 3 months, bankbook - get it issued on the day if possible. Most Immigration offices will accept from the previous business day, but you may be asked to do a deposit or withdrawal on the day.  So, have a little over B 800,000, so you can do a withdrawal. You also need a copy of the front ID page of your bankbook.  I get the bank staff to put their  seal and initials on each page.

Bank Letter - this confirms your bank balance on the day it was written.  Get it on the day if possible, or one business day prior.  I think most banks will issue this letter from any branch, but you might check with your bank first, to see if it has to be done at your home branch.  

With the requirement for maintaining the 800k for 3 months after extension and not less than 400k until time to season the 800k again (2 months before, 3 for some offices) I doubt if copying the the last 3 months only will be acceptable.

Take the original of the passbook with you so they can verify the copies for themselves.

[fulhamster]

2 hours ago, LALes said:

No bank letter needed at Jomtien, only a current update of your bankbook and copies of your passport and visa.

They needed the letter when I renewed in December -- have they changed their rules ???

[Peter Denis]

On 2/10/2021 at 4:24 AM, hapark said:

A bit confused on what docs, bank letters, statements, passbook copies are required and date of issue of document.

...

Yes, easy to get confused as there is no consistency between what different IOs require for a 1-year extension of stay application.  And on top of that it will depend on your local bank branch, whether they will be able to provide you with the required IO bank-documents on the spot or have to involve Bank Headquarters.

= = = = =

For sake of clarity, I will outline all bank-document requirements for the most strict IO.  If you meet those you will always be in compliance, even though it is possible that your local IO will be less strict.

 

When applying for the 1-year  extension of stay using the Funds-in-Bank method for reason of retirement based on your original Non Imm O or Non Imm O-A Visa, the following bank-documents are required:

1 - Your bank-book UPDATED on the day of application for your extension.

This can be done inside your local bank-branch or at an Automated Bank-Book Update machine outside the bank (but also inside of course).

Depending on your Thai Bank, in order to update the bank-book you might need to do a small transaction in order for the Bank-book to show the transaction and the balance on the date of your application.

2 - A Bank-Account statement, which will state that the bank-account is on your name and show the current balance, and should preferably be issued same day as date of application (but IOs will accept a 1-day old Bank-Account statement) 

This can be done after you have updated the Bank-Book (such that the Bank-Account statement and the updated bank-book balance are same).

At some Thai Banks, the bank-balance is not immediately updated, such that the Bank-Account statement does not show your current bank-balance with the transaction you did on date of application, but it will show the balance of the previous day. 

3 - Copies of all bank-book pages showing the transactions you made during the required period. For a FIRST TIME 1-year retirement extension, that's 2 months, when renewing your retirement extension you would need copies of all bank-book pages since your previous extension, i.e. approx 12 months.

4 - When applying FIRST TIME for the 1-year retirement extension, a 3-month bank-transfers statement will be required (note that you only need it for 2 months but the 3-month statement is the Bank standard).

When applying for a RENEWAL of your 1-year retirement extension of stay, a 12-month bank-transfers statement will or can be required.  That transfer-statement provides the SAME information as your bank-book, but it has been introduced because some Thai banks - in a misplaced effort to 'save paper' - consolidate the transfers you made when not regularly (e.g. monthly) updating your bank-book.  And that consolidation makes it impossible for IO to check whether you did not slip under the +800K/+400K tress-holds during that period as it does not show ALL transactions you made.  Hence the introduction of that new 3 or 12 month bank-transfer statement requirement.

It will once again depend on your Bank branch, whether they are able to provide you with such 12-month statement on the spot.  Some bank branches do not have access to the 'codes' to do that, and hence will need to route your request to Headquarters, and in that case it can take 3-5 working days before that 12-month bank-transfer statement will be available. 

>> Considering all of the above, it is recommended to enquire beforehand at your local Bank branch whether they are able to provide you with the required bank-documents 'on the spot' and if not what time they need to provide them you so that you can align it with the date of your retirement extension application.

 

Note: Last month, when I applied first time for my 1-year extension of stay based on my original Non Imm O-A Visa for reason of retirement, I did it as follows.

> In the morning of the date of application, I did a small on-line transfer (I have K-Cyber from Kasikorn Bank).  Then I went to my local Kasikorn Bank branch, and updated my bank-book outside at the automatic Bank-Book update machine (could have done it inside also).  It already showed that same-day on-line transaction I did that morning. 

Then went inside the Bank branch, and requested:

- a Bank Account Statement;

- a 3-month Bank transfers Statement.

I had enquired earlier and they confirmed then they were able to provide them on the spot, but still it took them almost 1 hour before the documents were ready.

Then I went to the local copy-shop, to make copies of my bank-book pages for the required period (which in my case was 2 months as it was a first time 1-year retirement extension of stay I applied for).

And made use of the occasion to also make a copy of the 2 Kasikorn bank-documents I had just acquired.

Then it was up to my local IO in SiSaKet, where my application was processed quick and smoothly.

None of the bank-documents I had prepared were given back to me, so I presume that SiSaKet IO is one of the 'strict' offices that insist on having all those bank-documents (but they only require 1 copy of each, so that's a good thing).

Hope the above can be of some help for those lost in the Thai admin jungle of Imm Office and Bank brach. 

Edited February 11, 2021 by Peter Denis

[Blue Muton]

21 hours ago, hapark said:

Thank you, very helpful

As previously advised you need to check with your local office, the requirements for my office are not the same as this, there's no point in me detailing the differences as I don't know whether or not you use the same office.

[Seeall]

23 hours ago, allane said:

- I always take my bankbook when I apply. If Immigration wants to know what my balance was one year prior, they can look at it.

-in the present case, the OP has previously posted, indicating that this is his initial application.

usual sillyness....  easy to read a bankbook.. but no, need statements as well....

[allane]

I have done it nine times, at three different Immigration offices. I have never been asked for statements. I am not sure, but I think last year was the first time they ever checked the bankbook (probably to check my balance 9 months prior.)

[Peter Denis]

22 minutes ago, allane said:

I have done it nine times, at three different Immigration offices. I have never been asked for statements. I am not sure, but I think last year was the first time they ever checked the bankbook (probably to check my balance 9 months prior.)

That's well possible, because that 12-month bank-transfers statement is only a relatively recent requirement and not enforced at all IOs.

[khunPer]

On 2/10/2021 at 4:24 AM, hapark said:

Do banks issue all required docs on spot or is there a wait?

Clarification on these items much appreciated.

Required documents might depend on the local immigration office.

 

The immigration office I use are normally considered to be among the most strict. They require a bank letter, a three month statement from the bank, and copy of all pages in the bank book (If you're renewing a 12-month permission to stay, you would presumably need to show at least 12 month, in case you have renewed your bank book; i.e. both old and new bankbook).

 

It might be different from bank-to-bank if the can issue the documents, i.e. letter and statement, on the spot. I use Bangkok Bank, and there has never been a problem, it's done in minutes and the fee is 100 baht for letter, and 100 baht for each statement; "each" in case your deposit is spread over more than one account.

 

I have in periods used other banks for my 800k baht deposit, SCB also issued letter and statement on the spot, whilst Krungsri needed two bank days to do it.

 

Ask in your local bank branch about how long time they need for issuing the letter and statement, and ask in your local immigration office what they need of documentation, including validity of the letter and statement; my immigration office accepts up to seven days.

[Jingthing]

4 hours ago, LALes said:

No bank letter needed at Jomtien, only a current update of your bankbook and copies of your passport and visa.

No. A bank letter is DEFINITELY needed at Jomtien for retirement extensions using the 800k method. Maybe you're talking about something else. 

[moontang]

7 hours ago, allane said:

I have done it nine times, at three different Immigration offices. I have never been asked for statements. I am not sure, but I think last year was the first time they ever checked the bankbook (probably to check my balance 9 months prior.)

I have done five extensions in two offices.. I paid 100 for the 12 month statement and tbh, simply copying the pages for 12 months and the title pages is just as good.. make them stamp it, while they are stalling on the letter.. And bring in all copies but the last one, and let them copy after the update...one page.  Banks can pretend they have many with 7 figures, but they don't.  Been tougher with low interest rates.  Had two of the bank girls escort me to the office after one of three botches... 

[LALes]

OOPS.  Sorry to confuse anyone.  I thought this was about showing the money after 90 days.

Yes, you definitely need the letter when doing the retirement extension.

[LivingNThailand]

In Phuket, sometimes they ask for the original bank book and sometimes they don't.  Why sweat it.  Take the book and the copies of the last 3 months.  Along with all the other paperwork statement, letter, etc.

 

[moontang]

Keep it simple, too.. Minimize transactions, minimize books

... will save time.  However, if it is a slow day, the IO will fill time by sending you for a copy or two.. Don't sweat it, that means you are moving forward.  

[hapark]

Does anyone know the name of the bank letter or have a template to show them in order to avoid any miscommunications at bank?

 

Thanks

[ubonjoe]

15 minutes ago, hapark said:

Does anyone know the name of the bank letter or have a template to show them in order to avoid any miscommunications at bank?

 

Thanks

Example of letter. bank letter.pdf

[Seeall]

On 2/12/2021 at 10:41 AM, LivingNThailand said:

In Phuket, sometimes they ask for the original bank book and sometimes they don't.  Why sweat it.  Take the book and the copies of the last 3 months.  Along with all the other paperwork statement, letter, etc.

 

then need 6 months.. then 12 months...

[hapark]

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

Example of letter. bank letter.pdf

Thank you

[easydoor]

The most easy way is using a FIXED account. On a FIXED account you don't do any movements, so there is no statement needed. The only bank letter you need is in what the bank declare you are the only owner of the account and all year the amount has been untouched on the account.

Never had a problem with it.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, easydoor said:

and all year the amount has been untouched on the account.

Where in the bank letter does it state that.

[LivingNThailand]

16 hours ago, Seeall said:

then need 6 months.. then 12 months...

I just looked at my paperwork from last year because I’m going in for my renewal soon.  Phuket needs a copy of your bank book for the past 12 months.  Not 3 or 6.  I always keep a copy of what I did last to help my brain process everything.  Also check the phuket volunteer website every so often.   They update it from time to time.  

[Jaxxper]

On 2/10/2021 at 11:36 AM, scubascuba3 said:

I doubt 3 months passbook is enough if they are checking the balance for the previous year

I always go back one full year, so it’s clear how much has been on deposit over time. Good point though.