Visa Extension Of Stay Question

[RHCP]

Question for Lopburi3 and Maestro.

My status is married to Thai and my previous extensions have been based on the 400,000 baht account balance requirement. Amongst the entries in the Bangkok Bank account has been evidence of money transferred in from overseas. For my last extension I brought in a significant amount of money last year for a condo purchase and still had 600,000 baht in the account when renewing my extension.

For my next renewal I wish to use another account with a different bank to meet the 400,000 baht requirement but this time it will show evidence of my monthly salary in Thailand as I don’t want to keep relying on bringing money in from the UK. I intend to top up this account to meet the 400,000 baht requirement by transferring an amount from my previously used account with Bangkok Bank. I don't want to revert to the 40,000 baht income option.

The question is will there be any problems in doing what I have suggested above? What do the Immigration officials usually consider when viewing the account and transactions? I know they like to see evidence of activity but I have never been really sure what they accept in terms of the source of money that goes into the account.

Appreciate your clarification on this.

[lopburi3]

Sunbelt translation of 606/2006

income, then, the latest 3 months

records of the account book of any

Bank in Thailand with the account

name of either or both parties need

to have the amount of money not

less than 400,000 Baht.

would indicate to me there should be no problem. By law the requirement is only that the account hold 400k for three months and does not mention that it has to be your funds; much less imported.

I would provide old book/copies to show where the money came from (non wage transfer to top up).

What Immigration wanted previously was activity to show that account was really being used for living expense - but at that time the visa extension was "support Thai wife". Do not believe this should be a factor anymore (but also believe it is hard to change some viewpoints; so best to allow for that).

[RalphUK]

Persons already in the system can obtain further extension with 400k in the bank “if the applicant does not have the said (40k/month) income”

RHCP does not want to go the income route. For the purpose of my response I am assuming he wants to retain the 400k option for future years in case his Thai income reduces. (Possibly he does not meet 40k salary in which case this post is not relevant)

He intends using an account which shows Thai salary. If it meets 40k/month conceivably they could apply the letter of the law and require he extends on that basis and he will forfeit the 400k route for future.

If he does earn 40k it may be in his interest to have the 400k in an account which does not show Thai income.

Just a thought.

[RalphUK]

Persons already in the system can obtain further extension with 400k in the bank "if the applicant does not have the said (40k/month) income"

RHCP does not want to go the income route. For the purpose of my response I am assuming he wants to retain the 400k option for future years in case his Thai income reduces. (Possibly he does not meet 40k salary in which case this post is not relevant)

He intends using an account which shows Thai salary. If it meets 40k/month conceivably they could apply the letter of the law and require he extends on that basis and he will forfeit the 400k route for future.

If he does earn 40k it may be in his interest to have the 400k in an account which does not show Thai income.

Just a thought.

I cannot substantiate my assertion that once going the 40k route you forfeit a right to revert to 400k. I have assumed the accuracy of previous posts in this forum but, s*ds law, read only 5 minutes after posting that Sunbelt state this is not the case.

Edited June 24, 2007 by Maestro
Link added to referenced post, for convenience

[opalhort]

I cannot substantiate my assertion that once going the 40k route you forfeit a right to revert to 400k. I have assumed the accuracy of previous posts in this forum but, s*ds law, read only 5 minutes after posting that Sunbelt state this is not the case.

I did renew my stay this May using the 400K bankbook route for a second time (before that used income plus deposit).

But because the bank account (fixed deposit) shows no activity for the past couple years apart from interest/tax I took all income and WP papers with me just in case. The officer suggested to stick to the bank deposit route for now since I won't be allowed to go back to it if I use the income route now.

opalhort