Marriage Extension (40K/Month Financial Requirement) Question

[protagonist]

Hello, 

 

I'm gearing up to get my 1-Year Extension of Stay Based on Marriage. In the past I did the 400k financial requirement, but this past year I wanted to keep as much money in my US bank because my business wasn't as strong as previous years. I decided to use the 40k/month method this time around. I have transferred over, via Wise, a minimum 55k every 20th of the month from my business account in the US to my private Kasikorn account the past 12 months. 

 

I have printed out each months receipt from Wise, obtained a credit advice for each of the 12 months (from Kasikorn), and have obtained a stamped letter from Kasikorn verifying that each of the transactions came from an overseas source. I was unable to get an income affidavit however as the US Embassy is no longer issuing those. 

 

Is there anything else I'll need? 

 

Thank you in advance for your help. 

 

Edited December 20, 2021 by protagonist

[lopburi3]

You should have your bank book and copies.  You also require bank letter of account balance/ownership (not the same as transactions).  This letter often has to be same say as application or close (Bangkok same day).

Edited December 20, 2021 by lopburi3

[ubonjoe]

When you do the application you will need copies of your bank book and a one year bank statement. Plus the same letter from the bank needed for the 40101k baht option.

They may also want proof of the source of your income (pension statement and etc for example).

[protagonist]

Thank you so much for the information. 

 

I will make sure to bring copies of my bank book and a one year statement.  I will also request the 40k option letter from Kasikorn. 

 

In regards to proof of the source of my income, I'm self employed and do freelance work. I use PayPal for the majority of inbound payments for my services and then transfer that money to a business bank account. Other than a few exceptions, I'm paid directly from the customer. I don't receive a pension or retirement currently because I'm not old enough to collect yet.

 

Could this be an issue?

 

 

[lopburi3]

21 minutes ago, protagonist said:

Could this be an issue?

To avoid any gray zone issues I would return to 400k in account method.  If not time believe you can extend 60 days to visit wife without financials and then make the new one year extension of stay.

[ubonjoe]

27 minutes ago, protagonist said:

Could this be an issue?

It could be if they insist you have proof of the source of your income. Proof it came from freelance work would not be accepted.

[protagonist]

Thank you again for the replies. 

 

I unfortunately won't be able to do the 400k method this time. I do plan on doing that method next year though. 

 

I've just got a message from two guys that recently went to get there extension (40k/month method). One guy was asked to verify his income and the other guy said he was never asked. Both went to Chaengwattana. So, I guess it's a roll of the dice. I'll report back here and update this thread with what happened in the case this information may help someone else down the road. 

 

If the income verification turns out to be an issue, would it be possible a Visa agent could help me out if I give them all of the necessary documents for a 1 year extension? Do they assist in issues like these?

[streetlite]

Does the bank letter for the 400K have to be submitted on the same day as application for extension or is their some wiggle room?

[ubonjoe]

4 minutes ago, streetlite said:

Does the bank letter for the 400K have to be submitted on the same day as application for extension or is their some wiggle room?

You have to submit every required document on the day you apply for a extension. If you do not not have everything they will send you away and tell you to return when you have everything.l

[sandyf]

18 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

You should have your bank book and copies.  

In all the years I have done marriage extension on income I have never been asked for the bankbook. Would be a bit irrelevant anyway, has had consolidated entries since 2009.

At the end of the day you only ever need what they want to see but would agree it is not unwise to be prepared.

[bbko]

OP could you set up your business, stateside bank account & Pay Pal account in a way that makes it more business like, such as setting up a LLC?  Then if you need to prove your source of income to immigration it appears you work for a business and not "just freelancing".

If your business is done online, Wyoming, Delaware & Nevada are the best states to file the LLC application.  Just a thought.

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, bbko said:

OP could you set up your business, stateside bank account & Pay Pal account in a way that makes it more business like, such as setting up a LLC?  Then if you need to prove your source of income to immigration it appears you work for a business and not "just freelancing".

The problem is that it would require proof it is being earned as the owner to the company. Working online and etc would not be accepted as proof of income. If a person was traveling out the country to work on a regular basis it would be accepted.

[streetlite]

4 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You have to submit every required document on the day you apply for a extension. If you do not not have everything they will send you away and tell you to return when you have everything.l

Wrong wording on my part.....does the letter have to be dated the same day or can you have it dated a day or two prior?

[lopburi3]

12 minutes ago, streetlite said:

Wrong wording on my part.....does the letter have to be dated the same day or can you have it dated a day or two prior?

Will depend on office, and even when allowed may require update on passbook - in Bangkok believe same day is standard.

Edited December 21, 2021 by lopburi3

[chilly07]

5 hours ago, ubonjoe said:

You have to submit every required document on the day you apply for a extension. If you do not not have everything they will send you away and tell you to return when you have everything.l

I have always got the 12mth certificate from BB a day or 2 before applying and the on the day 100bht transaction on the day. Although I always have my P60 pension statements with me plus my HMRC tax statement they (Jomtien) have only ever checked them once and didn't want copies. But yes they do want copies of my bank book showing FTTs

[protagonist]

Just an update. The IO didn't ask about the source of my monthly transfers. They only cared that they were all a FTT. I did bring tax documents (proving my self employed status) and documentation that the money was transferred from a business account and not a personal account, but again I wasn't asked for anything. It was just a shot in the dark the IO would look at them. I don't want folks to think I'm saying documents like those will help in any way. 

 

I do recommend having all you documents in order. She appreciated (told my wife, not me) I highlighted the areas of my bank statement to coordinate with the credit advices. She also appreciated that I transferred money on the same day every month. Not saying these things increase your chances, but I think the IOs like when they can just breeze through a complete and organized extension application. 

 

Also, I have previously done the 400k method three times, so maybe that was taken into account. 

 

Like everyone else has said, it's a 50/50 chance you'll be asked. If you're reading this and fall into the same boat as myself, my biggest piece of advice is to come organized and hope you get the right IO. 

 

Thank you all for the good info.