Hi

My retirement extension is due in 6 days now.  I was going to do it yesterday but Bangkok bank now takes 3-5 days to produce the statement that took them about 5 minuets to produce last year.  If they take the full 5 days, it won't give me much leeway for any problems. I guess I don't have any options this time, but can anyone tell me if they (the banks) have all changed to do this, of is there another bank I can move my money to so I won't have this problem again next year?  If Bangkok bank don't want my money I'm sure there are others that do.

 

Also, I was told the statement would be up to the previous day.  Unless the rules have changed I though it had to be the day I went to immigration and had to match the bank book.  I have enough cash to last me without making a withdrawal, but I'm not sure if there will be a problem when I go to Immigration?

How long did you want the statement for?

For a one year statement it takes about 7 days normally at Bangkok Bank. For 1 month to 6 months it is done while you wait.

How long the statement needs to be for depends upon the office you apply at.

Some only want the bank book showing the previous 3 months.

I use Chaeng Wattana immigration all the time for my retirement extension.  Every year, my first stop on the day I do my retirement extension renewal, my first stop is at the Bangkok Bank in the lower level to get my bank letter. I provide them with both of my bank books, my passport, and I get my letter and bank books back without a long waiting time.  

10 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

How long did you want the statement for?

For a one year statement it takes about 7 days normally at Bangkok Bank. For 1 month to 6 months it is done while you wait.

How long the statement needs to be for depends upon the office you apply at.

Some only want the bank book showing the previous 3 months.

Well, I thought it dad to be 12 months, but I might try going there today then with just my bank book.  I guess that way I'll find out if the rest of the info is correct for when I actually get the statement, if they want to see it.  I've recently moved and have only done 1 90 day check at new IO

1 minute ago, metisdead said:

I use Chaeng Wattana immigration all the time for my retirement extension.  Every year, my first stop on the day I do my retirement extension renewal, my first stop is at the Bangkok Bank in the lower level to get my bank letter. I provide them with both of my bank books, my passport, and I get my letter and bank books back without a long waiting time.  

Yes, I used to do the same.  It only took them 5 min.  I'll still check out other banks and move if the others can do it on the day.  No need to take 3-5 days for this.  It's quiet as far as foreigners go here anyway now.  (Hua Hin)

This seems hard to believe? I went last year to CW and got a years statement within minutes at the KBank there. Also even today KBank emails you a years statements within minutes. The email version doesn't get accepted by IO tho needs to be printed out by an authorized bank teller.

 At my Bangkok Bank branch it has always been 7 days

for a 12 month statement ,as it has to be sourced from

main branch in Bangkok , knowing that I always ask for

a statement at least 7 days before I am going to do my

yearly extension, maybe you need to change banks, as

some can do yearly statements immediately ,ask around.

regards Worgeordie 

53 minutes ago, nopsled said:

is there another bank I can move my money to so I won't have this problem again next year?  If Bangkok bank don't want my money I'm sure there are others that do.

How about asking your bank for the statement say 10 days before you need to do your extension instead of leaving it to the last few days as Worgeordie suggested above.

32 minutes ago, nopsled said:

Well, I thought it dad to be 12 months, but I might try going there today then with just my bank book.  I guess that way I'll find out if the rest of the info is correct for when I actually get the statement, if they want to see it.  I've recently moved and have only done 1 90 day check at new IO

It depends on whether you've been regularly keeping your bank book up to date or not. 

 

I hadn't & so had a period of about 3 months rolled up into 1 transaction which wouldn't have been acceptible to immigration (they need to be able to check that your balance hasn't gone below the 800/400K limits) so I went into the branch at Emporium and got a statement covering the missing 3 months (done while I waited) & then got an updated bank book & letter from the Bangkok Bank in the basement of CW on the day I extended.

 

 

9 minutes ago, KannikaP said:

How about asking your bank for the statement say 10 days before you need to do your extension instead of leaving it to the last few days as Worgeordie suggested above.

Yes, I'll have to next time if I don't find another bank, but I was under the impression it had to be a statement dated up to the day I went to immigration.  I updated my bank book at the same time and was told they needed to match.

I was trying to comply with the letter of the law as I understood it, but as with so many things immigration related, it changes depending on where you are, phase of the moon etc.

13 minutes ago, nopsled said:

Yes, I'll have to next time if I don't find another bank, but I was under the impression it had to be a statement dated up to the day I went to immigration.  I updated my bank book at the same time and was told they needed to match.

You cannot get your 12 month statement on the day, that as said before usually takes a week. It is only the letter confirming the balance which needs to be the same day, or day before for some IOs. I do an online transfer to another account, ANY account, the morning I go for my letter, update the book whilst waiting for the letter. Done.

4 hours ago, nopsled said:

I was going to do it yesterday but Bangkok bank now takes 3-5 days to produce the statement that took them about 5 minuets to produce last year. 

Two bank statements -- for those going the 400/800k money in the bank -- have been required now for several years, at least at some IOs, including Chiang Mai. And, at least at CM, even if your passbook has been updated frequently, the 12-month lookback letter is still required, according to my agent. No big deal -- order the 12 month letter a week before you're to go to Imm; then, pick up that letter same day you order the second latest balance letter -- and if this is Immigration visit day, have bank clerk update your passbook and make a photocopy of that update.

 

As others have reported, apparently Kasikorn Bank has no multi day waiting period for the 12- month letter. Not sure moving my account to KBank would be worth the bother of waiting multi days for a Bangkok Bank letter.......

 

In case you encounter a newbie Bangkok Bank clerk, the following letter is what my agent gave me to present as explanation:

 

I have to admit this wait for a bank statement is a mystery to me.  I worked at banks for many years and even years ago we had the ability to retrieve a statement online and print it for a customers.  Now a 1 year statement may mean printing 12 separate statements but so what. 

You have a banking system that you can transfer money with your phone, pay with a QR code, get SMS messages each time you log in or do a transaction, wire money online, etc and yet it takes a week to print off records that the bank must already have on its computer system.  

Strange. 

Same same.. Last two years,  I ve had to wait 7 days for yearly statement. 

Phetchabun Immigration Office now require a one year statement for the 800K in a Thai bank. 

My Brit neighbour did his last Friday and got the statement and bank letter on the day of his extension from the main Bangkok Bank branch in Phetchabun City. Do not use the BKB in Big C Mall. 

The statement was for his fixed deposit (orange book) savings account. Apart from interest being paid in, there was no account activity, he is fortunate in just leaving the 800K in the account. 

As an aside the same Imm Office refuses to issue a marriage extension based on monthly income from a decent pension for myself. 

I have to use the services of............ 

Kasikorn bank at Jomtien give me a 12 month statement and the letter on the spot - takes them 5 minutes.

22 hours ago, nopsled said:

Yes, I'll have to next time if I don't find another bank, but I was under the impression it had to be a statement dated up to the day I went to immigration.  I updated my bank book at the same time and was told they needed to match.

If you are doing retirement income (from country that Embassy does not issue income letter) good to get full year statement covering last 12 deposits - it does not have to be to current date.  Then a second letter, such as done at Bangkok Bank CW that proves you own account and current balance.  Passbook also needs current balance printout and photo copies (there are several stalls on ground floor that can make copies - near North end on same side as Bangkok Bank).  

SCB can do the statement in Bkk in just 15' at least in their Head office in Bkk or in other Bkk main branches. Since SCB no longer has a branch in CW, this year I asked the letter one day before going to Immigration (and yes the statement is always up to one day earlier that the day you ask for it). Then, the following day I just withdraw some cash in the ATM and update the passbook and went to CW and all the documents were accepted. Keep in mind that usually (at least in CW) the letter from the bank can be from 7 days earlier to the day you submit the documents, but passbook always updated the same day.

Update your bank book monthly then your bank can use that to provide immigration certification

If I only need have the 800K in my account for 3 months (2?) then why would they want a 12 month statement? Wouldn't the 3 months statement be enough if I had the 800K in the account ?  

10 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

Update your bank book monthly then your bank can use that to provide immigration certification

Not all immigration offices will accept bank book only.

My immigration requests a 12 month statement from their head office ( Bangkok Bank ) which takes 3-4 days to arrive plus the bank book updated on the day.

4 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

If I only need have the 800K in my account for 3 months (2?) then why would they want a 12 month statement? Wouldn't the 3 months statement be enough if I had the 800K in the account ?  

You need to verify the 2 months prior AND the 3 months AFTER your extension. Also maintenance of 400k  for 12 months

3 minutes ago, IAMHERE said:

If I only need have the 800K in my account for 3 months (2?) then why would they want a 12 month statement? Wouldn't the 3 months statement be enough if I had the 800K in the account ?  

Because you can’t go below 400k in the the year preceding your extension.

change your bank to Krungsri

bank letter and statements within 1 hour of asking every time

Immigration have never asked me for a bank statement for my retirement extension, only a copy of the updated passbook.

 

However, for a guardian extension they require a 1 years bank statement, as well as the copy of the updated bankbook, and Kasikorn issue that immediately.

 

Edit: They also require, for some mysterious reason, copies of the Blue Book as proof of address for the guardian extension, even though a foreigner cannot be included in a Blue Book?

On 9/15/2021 at 1:37 PM, JimGant said:

Two bank statements -- for those going the 400/800k money in the bank -- have been required now for several years, at least at some IOs, including Chiang Mai.

Not in Jomtien when I did my extension in January this year.

1 hour ago, chilly07 said:

Update your bank book monthly then your bank can use that to provide immigration certification

Which office? Never heard of that being accepted anywhere. 

1 hour ago, nickmondo said:

change your bank to Krungsri

bank letter and statements within 1 hour of asking every time

Cheers Nick, sounds like a plan.

My retirement extension last January was the first time my local IO asked for a bank statement covering the period since the previous extension. I've been using the same fixed deposit a/c for the last 5 years and previously the pass book and the bank letter were sufficient. I tried to argue that the pass book, showing no transactions other than annual interest credited and balance update, was proof but of course there's no room for flexibility, procedure must be followed exactly. And then I discovered, as others have related, that Bangkok Bank can only issue statements up to 6 months on the spot at my local branch and have to send off to head office for a 12 month statement which can take 5 working days to get back.

So for my next extension I plan to get a 12 month statement from the bank about a month before I apply for the extension and then on the day I will go to the bank for a statement covering the previous 6 months, the bank letter and pass book update. Hopefully that will be sufficient but there always seems to be a new requirement.