OK going in on Tuesday to Chantaburi to renew retirement extension and get reentry permit. The bank took out a 300baht card fee and that left me 22 baht short for a month. This was January.  As soon as I noticed I put 1000 in. I wouldn't have got the text reminder anyway as I was out of the country so please don't bang on about that.

 

I could leave the country without doing it as my flight is before the extension expires, but I would have to start again and I don't really want to do that, other possible issues etc. I get on pretty well with them and I expect that I'll be able to work it out reasonably, perhaps a small present. But forewarned is forearmed, whats the worst they can do. Any thoughts.

They could refuse your extension if they notice it. In that case they could suggest a 60 day extension to get your bank record back on track. Did you leave the 800K in the bank for the rest of the year?

 

"perhaps a small present."

Be very careful here! If, as a last resort, you could ask if you are able to pay a fine/penalty to right things.

 

In future, keep an extra 10 grand in the bank on top of the 800K!

Well, the worst they could do is deny your extension.

But I'm sure you will be able to sort it out

12 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

They could refuse your extension if they notice it. In that case they could suggest a 60 day extension to get your bank record back on track. Did you leave the 800K in the bank for the rest of the year?

 

"perhaps a small present."

Be very careful here! If, as a last resort, you could ask if you are able to pay a fine/penalty to right things.

 

In future, keep an extra 10 grand in the bank on top of the 800K!

As I was   3000 short one month  65000 method   5000 fine

21 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

They could refuse your extension if they notice it. In that case they could suggest a 60 day extension to get your bank record back on track. Did you leave the 800K in the bank for the rest of the year?

 

"perhaps a small present."

Be very careful here! If, as a last resort, you could ask if you are able to pay a fine/penalty to right things.

 

In future, keep an extra 10 grand in the bank on top of the 800K!

Yes the 800 has been there all year. I was hoping they wouldn't notice, ie the passbook update would be one of those block ones where each transaction isn't printed, however alas I didn't have enough transactions for that. No point "losing" the passbook and getting a statement as the opening balance would be 799977.5. I am leaving the country on 14/1 so I'm not sure an extension does it for me. My current one expires 18/1 a 2 month extension would be 18/3, they probably wouldn't do a retirement extension before I left. I should say regarding asking about a fine or penalty, my frugal instincts probably don't extend to giving them 5k for such a tiny mistake I'd have to think about that if it was the final option.

they could steer you to an agent who would charge 8k+ for that

1 hour ago, Bluetongue said:

Yes the 800 has been there all year. I was hoping they wouldn't notice, ie the passbook update would be one of those block ones where each transaction isn't printed, however alas I didn't have enough transactions for that. No point "losing" the passbook and getting a statement as the opening balance would be 799977.5. I am leaving the country on 14/1 so I'm not sure an extension does it for me. My current one expires 18/1 a 2 month extension would be 18/3, they probably wouldn't do a retirement extension before I left. I should say regarding asking about a fine or penalty, my frugal instincts probably don't extend to giving them 5k for such a tiny mistake I'd have to think about that if it was the final option.

couldn't this be sorted by the bank by just cancelling the charge and re-charging it now?

then they issue a corrected statement and it's like the charge never happened.

6 minutes ago, tgw said:

couldn't this be sorted by the bank by just cancelling the charge and re-charging it now?

then they issue a corrected statement and it's like the charge never happened.

Why would they do that even if they could?

 

6 minutes ago, tgw said:

couldn't this be sorted by the bank by just cancelling the charge and re-charging it now?

then they issue a corrected statement and it's like the charge never happened.

I like the way you think, I'll ask them when I'm in getting the letter

21 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

Why would they do that even if they could?

I would have done that for a customer.

It's not a big thing to do - at least it wasn't when I worked at a bank.

13 minutes ago, tgw said:

I would have done that for a customer.

It's not a big thing to do - at least it wasn't when I worked at a bank.

OK.

But here in Thailand I would fall off my chair in shock if they said anything other than CANNOT.

Really sorry to hear about your problem, a mere 22 baht, geez.

 

Here is my advice to you:

 

I think it's a very high probability that the immigration officers will detect the shortfall, and they may refuse your extension as a result. If you can give them some Covid-related excuse they might have mercy on you.

 

Do not offer a bribe to the immigration officer. I say it with some reason, because I use that particular immigration office, and my regular officer contacted me a while back requesting that I be a character witness for him since his senior officer was doing a general review of bribery issues among his staff.

 

If you can leave the country prior to your extension, it's really not that big of a deal to apply for a new retirement visa when you return, the paperwork is about the same. That would be the safest course of action, but you might get lucky with your current extension.

 

My recent experience with that office is that there are signs of leniency during the Covid period. In September I was 2 weeks late with a 90 day report and they didn't fine me, much to my surprise.

 

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

Paul Laew

 

20 hours ago, Paulaew said:

Really sorry to hear about your problem, a mere 22 baht, geez.

 

Here is my advice to you:

 

I think it's a very high probability that the immigration officers will detect the shortfall, and they may refuse your extension as a result. If you can give them some Covid-related excuse they might have mercy on you.

 

Do not offer a bribe to the immigration officer. I say it with some reason, because I use that particular immigration office, and my regular officer contacted me a while back requesting that I be a character witness for him since his senior officer was doing a general review of bribery issues among his staff.

 

If you can leave the country prior to your extension, it's really not that big of a deal to apply for a new retirement visa when you return, the paperwork is about the same. That would be the safest course of action, but you might get lucky with your current extension.

 

My recent experience with that office is that there are signs of leniency during the Covid period. In September I was 2 weeks late with a 90 day report and they didn't fine me, much to my surprise.

 

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

 

Paul Laew

 

I think this is sound advice. And as a bonus it's actually true. I wouldn't normally travel outbound at that time, because of Covid, I'd had flight cancellations and been bumped, I was stressed out and quite literally in the air when this happened. So I'll go with that. I wouldn't have offered a bribe, but sort of poked around a bit. I thought about actually owning up to it straight off, but then thats a very Western thing to do, probably better to let them "catch it" and then beg Covid and ignorance etc. Thanks.

Why does the money have to be there all year for retirement extension, but only two months for marriage/family extension?

 

Strange.

8 minutes ago, 2009 said:

Why does the money have to be there all year for retirement extension, but only two months for marriage/family extension?

 

Strange.

Weird yes. Actually only 400k has to be there all year, 800 has to be there 3months before and after extension. I just leave it there rather than stuff around with it

38 minutes ago, Bluetongue said:

I think this is sound advice. And as a bonus it's actually true. I wouldn't normally travel outbound at that time, because of Covid, I'd had flight cancellations and been bumped, I was stressed out and quite literally in the air when this happened. So I'll go with that. I wouldn't have offered a bribe, but sort of poked around a bit. I thought about actually owning up to it straight off, but then thats a very Western thing to do, probably better to let them "catch it" and then beg Covid and ignorance etc. Thanks.

Sorry, I do not think you will be getting any leniency or compassion from Thai Immigration, this is not the UK!

 

You also need a letter from your bank for your extension. I wouldn't be surprised if that letter states the minimum balance held during the past year.

 

PS. Do you only have one bank account in Thailand? Don't you have another with at least 22 baht in it so you could claim you have held the full 800K in Thai Banks?

 

They are usually very helpful at the IO but you may have to pay a fine or better still start working wit an agent for all your dealings with Thai bureaucracy.

I'd be very surprised if denied the extension.  That would have to be one anal IO & Imm office.  Since retirement ext issued on site.

27 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Sorry, I do not think you will be getting any leniency or compassion from Thai Immigration, this is not the UK!

 

You also need a letter from your bank for your extension. I wouldn't be surprised if that letter states the minimum balance held during the past year.

 

PS. Do you only have one bank account in Thailand? Don't you have another with at least 22 baht in it so you could claim you have held the full 800K in Thai Banks?

 

Yes I do have another account, it would have had some money in it I'm sure

4 minutes ago, Bluetongue said:

Yes I do have another account, it would have had some money in it I'm sure

Well you had better update the book and get photocopies of it then.

 

Update it by putting in 100 baht.

 

4 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

Well you had better update the book and get photocopies of it then.

 

I may have to get a statement as the book will update in bulk and will not give the details of the rolling balance

38 minutes ago, Chris.B said:

You also need a letter from your bank for your extension. I wouldn't be surprised if that letter states the minimum balance held during the past year.

Wrong

It has the balance in the account on the day the letter is done.

17 minutes ago, Bluetongue said:

I may have to get a statement as the book will update in bulk and will not give the details of the rolling balance

Correct.

A 12 month statement with the bank's stamp on each page. My bank charges 200 baht for that.

 

Of course, don't show them any of this unless they spot the shortfall!

 

An agent will certainly sort this out on this occasion

 

Next time put in a few extra 1000 THB 

35 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I'd be very surprised if denied the extension.  That would have to be one anal IO & Imm office.  Since retirement ext issued on site.

like i said

i am sure they will have a "friend" who they will suggest can help

That way the money is split by everyone  including most importantly  the boss

 

 

Good luck - please let us know what happens.

On 12/23/2021 at 11:23 AM, Bluetongue said:

The bank took out a 300baht card fee and that left me 22 baht short for a month.

Why have a card for an account used for retirement extensions with a balance so close to limit? Just open a second account for immigration only with no card so no annual fees or unexpected deductions all year long?

1 hour ago, Digitalbanana said:

Why have a card for an account used for retirement extensions with a balance so close to limit? Just open a second account for immigration only with no card so no annual fees or unexpected deductions all year long?

Yes, good point, originally didn't set the account up for that purpose but I'm going into the bank to cancel the card (and the fee) on that account

5 hours ago, Bluetongue said:

Weird yes. Actually only 400k has to be there all year, 800 has to be there 3months before and after extension. I just leave it there rather than stuff around with it

Wrong. 2 Months before.

 

2 hours ago, Bluetongue said:

Yes, good point, originally didn't set the account up for that purpose but I'm going into the bank to cancel the card (and the fee) on that account

You could tell immigration upfront that you asked the bank to cancel your card, but it appeared that they didn't because you noticed that they still took out their fee of 300 baht on such and such a date and when you realised it, you added 1,000 baht to the account and went into the bank to cancel the card again so that they don't charge you the fee again.

 

Add to that, that it was totally out of your control, and as they can see the funds where in the account when required except for when the bank took their fee out to leave you 22 baht short of the required 800k baht.

 

I would be firm, always polite, offer them nothing, and I believe it should be a walk in the park, look nervous and they will go you for some tea money, worse case scenario they refuse you and off you go, then do another when you return.

 

Not the end of the world and certainly wouldn't be feeding them for the job they are supposed to be doing, otherwise your just encouraging them and making things worse IMO.