Successful Retirement Extension 26/06

[doctormann]

Hi

Just to report that I did my second retirement extension yesterday at Jompthien / Pattaya.

This was based on income, not money in the bank, although there was some in there, with the passbook and bank letter to prove it.

Absolutely no hassles at all and the whole process took no more than 30 minutes, including queueing time. I was asked to go back later, to pick up the passport, complete with new stamp - it was ready and waiting. I also obtained a new multiple re-entry permit after getting the passport back. This took all of five minutes.

Interestingly, although the auto-queue ticket machine was broken, things seemed to be going quite smoothly. Not too busy though so that probably explains it.

DM

[oswaldcassidy]

Hi

Just to report that I did my second retirement extension yesterday at Jompthien / Pattaya.

This was based on income, not money in the bank, although there was some in there, with the passbook and bank letter to prove it.

Absolutely no hassles at all and the whole process took no more than 30 minutes, including queueing time. I was asked to go back later, to pick up the passport, complete with new stamp - it was ready and waiting. I also obtained a new multiple re-entry permit after getting the passport back. This took all of five minutes.

Interestingly, although the auto-queue ticket machine was broken, things seemed to be going quite smoothly. Not too busy though so that probably explains it.

DM

can you tell me if you had to go back to your embassy to get a letter of confirmation based on your income as I am on retirement based on income and not money in the bank

[Krub]

Hi

Just to report that I did my second retirement extension yesterday at Jompthien / Pattaya.

This was based on income, not money in the bank, although there was some in there, with the passbook and bank letter to prove it.

Absolutely no hassles at all and the whole process took no more than 30 minutes, including queueing time. I was asked to go back later, to pick up the passport, complete with new stamp - it was ready and waiting. I also obtained a new multiple re-entry permit after getting the passport back. This took all of five minutes.

Interestingly, although the auto-queue ticket machine was broken, things seemed to be going quite smoothly. Not too busy though so that probably explains it.

DM

Did you use a new income letter from Embassy or the same as last year ?

[doctormann]

Hi Krub and Oswaldcassidy

Sorry to take so long to get back to you - I lost track of this particular post for a while.

Anyway, here is the info:

I am British and, therefore, have to deal with the robbers at the UK Embassy - your mileage may differ. To extend your non-O based on retirement income you will need a letter from the Embassy confirming your income. You will have to show the Embassy some proof of how much this is. I provided a letter from my main pension provider and also one from the company that currently pays me an annuity. The Embassy was actually quite good about this. When I submitted the 'proof' they asked me if I wanted to declare the amount net of tax or the gross amount. I opted for the gross and this is what they based their letter on. This way, when Thai Immigration start playing with their calculator, it gives me a little more headroom for when the Baht goes even sillier than it is now.

I submitted the papers one day and got the letter back the next. It cost a few thousand Baht, if I recall correctly. You can get the current cost off the Embassy web site.

So far as re-using the letter is concerned, Pattaya/Jomthien Immigration told me that it would only be necessary to get a new letter when I had to renew my passport (because the pp number will change). On my first extension I provided a copy of the Embassy letter, which they kept, and I retained the original. Second extension I did exactly the same with the same letter. Again, your mileage at other Immigration offices may differ.

On the first extension I did ask them how much money they wanted to see in the bank - the answer was 'a few thousand Baht'. I wondered if they actually meant 'a few tens of thou' but no, apparently not. I know that, technically, you shouldn't need any but I have a feeling that if you fronted up with an empty bank book you might not get a very warm reception. Probably best to show some cash reserves - you are supposed to be bringing in enough to live on in any case.

I wondered also if they would require some sort of paper trail from the bank, other than the bank book, as the Pattaya/Jomthien web site mentions 'transfer slips', or something of the sort but I was told 'not necessary'. Again, what happens at other offices I can't say.

Hope this helps and good luck with your extensions.

DM

[Krub]

Hi Krub and Oswaldcassidy

Sorry to take so long to get back to you - I lost track of this particular post for a while.

Anyway, here is the info:

I am British and, therefore, have to deal with the robbers at the UK Embassy - your mileage may differ. To extend your non-O based on retirement income you will need a letter from the Embassy confirming your income. You will have to show the Embassy some proof of how much this is. I provided a letter from my main pension provider and also one from the company that currently pays me an annuity. The Embassy was actually quite good about this. When I submitted the 'proof' they asked me if I wanted to declare the amount net of tax or the gross amount. I opted for the gross and this is what they based their letter on. This way, when Thai Immigration start playing with their calculator, it gives me a little more headroom for when the Baht goes even sillier than it is now.

I submitted the papers one day and got the letter back the next. It cost a few thousand Baht, if I recall correctly. You can get the current cost off the Embassy web site.

So far as re-using the letter is concerned, Pattaya/Jomthien Immigration told me that it would only be necessary to get a new letter when I had to renew my passport (because the pp number will change). On my first extension I provided a copy of the Embassy letter, which they kept, and I retained the original. Second extension I did exactly the same with the same letter. Again, your mileage at other Immigration offices may differ.

On the first extension I did ask them how much money they wanted to see in the bank - the answer was 'a few thousand Baht'. I wondered if they actually meant 'a few tens of thou' but no, apparently not. I know that, technically, you shouldn't need any but I have a feeling that if you fronted up with an empty bank book you might not get a very warm reception. Probably best to show some cash reserves - you are supposed to be bringing in enough to live on in any case.

I wondered also if they would require some sort of paper trail from the bank, other than the bank book, as the Pattaya/Jomthien web site mentions 'transfer slips', or something of the sort but I was told 'not necessary'. Again, what happens at other offices I can't say.

Hope this helps and good luck with your extensions.

DM

Thanks, sounds easy enough

[pauleddy]

Interesting Post, sounds like the process was easy.

Couple of points:

With the 65k income route, do I still need to show a Thai current account pass book? I have such but it only shows about 20,000b at the moment.

The tax thing was something I hadnt considered. I do pay some UK tax on one income source, altho another source is 'offshore' and not subject to any country's tax unless I really wanna declare it as such (which most people dont, hence offshore). Does the Thai Immig check tax liability? Do they pass on tax info to the Thai tax office?

PEd

[Krub]

Interesting Post, sounds like the process was easy.

Couple of points:

With the 65k income route, do I still need to show a Thai current account pass book? I have such but it only shows about 20,000b at the moment.

The tax thing was something I hadnt considered. I do pay some UK tax on one income source, altho another source is 'offshore' and not subject to any country's tax unless I really wanna declare it as such (which most people dont, hence offshore). Does the Thai Immig check tax liability? Do they pass on tax info to the Thai tax office?

PEd

Although it is not in the 'rules' most reports tell us that immigration want to see a bank book, copies and a bank statement even though you meet the requirements with the income letter for 65K per month from Embassy.

[PeaceBlondie]

I had not thought much about declaring the pension income as gross or net of deductions, but with the sliding value of euros, pounds and dollars, it helps to declare a larger, legitimate amount. Besides, my pension deductions pay my tax, and pay my share of my comprehensive medical insurance which pays my hospital bills in Thailand, so it makes sense to declare the gross.

I show my Thai bank passbook with the letter from the bank, just to show them that in addition to living off the pension, I have cash on hand for the emergency room and the first few days of a private hospital room.

Since the American embassy lets us self-declare our pension, subject to penalties of perjury, I know the immigration folks may not trust our declaration. So, I get several months of bank statements printed out to show the income is there, and it's being taken out of Thai ATM's every month.

[JimGant]

I show my Thai bank passbook with the letter from the bank, just to show them that in addition to living off the pension, I have cash on hand f

But did they insist on seeing both the passbook and the letter -- or did you provide it unasked?

I can show the Consulate attestment to receiving 65k/mo, so officially I don't need to show a bank passbook. But that certainly would not be a problem, with, I'm sure, enough to make Immigration happy.

But the question I have is: Do I also need to show a letter from the bank confirming the amount, plus being recently dated (what is it, one week?). I don't really want to visit the bank for a letter if it's not required for this 'unofficial' bank book requirement.

[doctormann]

Interesting Post, sounds like the process was easy.

Couple of points:

With the 65k income route, do I still need to show a Thai current account pass book? I have such but it only shows about 20,000b at the moment.

The tax thing was something I hadnt considered. I do pay some UK tax on one income source, altho another source is 'offshore' and not subject to any country's tax unless I really wanna declare it as such (which most people dont, hence offshore). Does the Thai Immig check tax liability? Do they pass on tax info to the Thai tax office?

PEd

I believe that Immigration will expect to see that you do, at least, maintain some sort of bank account here in LoS. You do need access to some funds for emergency purposes, unless you are going to rely on ATM withdrawals. The usual type of account for those of us without work permits seems to be a Savings Account - comes with a pass book and international ATM card (if you ask for one). From what Immigration told me, I think 20k THB is sufficient.

I don't suppose that Immigration are remotely interested in where you pay tax. Normally, persons here on a retirement basis and receiving a pension do not pay tax in Thailand. This is because of the way in which Double Taxation Treaties are set up (certianly the case for UK and many other countries). The point of getting the Embassy to state the gross amount on the income certification letter was merely to give some headroom if the GPB starts to slide against the THB. The letter, in fact, does not mention the words 'net' or 'gross'. It merely states that Dr. X has provided evidence that he is in receipt of an annual income, from pensions, of £Y.

By the way, there is a recent post on this forum that indicates that, in future, these income letters may need to be legalised by the Thai MFA. I love the MFA (not) as it seems to be bureaucracy gone mad. Last time I was there, wanting a document legalised, it took an entire day and involved six separate queues. To make things worse, there was a TV in the room, turned up to max. volume, and this made hearing the announcements next to impossible. Not a fun day out. The UK Embassy is a haven of peace and tranquility, in comparison, even if they are robbers!

DM