Extension of Non-O (retirement). Passbook-less

[bg53]

Asking for a friend.

 

Immigration Office: Chiangmai

 

In August he will apply for a 1 year extension (renewal) of his non-O visa (by reason of retirement, >800k).

 

He consolidated his money (< 2mil baht) into an SCB e-savings account, which is passbook-less. 

 

Since he has no passbook for that account, will he face any hurdles getting his extension? Any advice?

 

 

 

Edited April 5, 2023 by bg53

[Red Phoenix]

Immigration wants applicants for the 1-year extension of their Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement, to provide evidence that on the day of application:

- The required funds have been kept on a personal Thai bank-account, and that

- The required funds never slipped under the 800K and 400K tressholds during the 12 months preceding his application.

An updated Bank Pass-book on the date of application will provide evidence of the latter (provided the entries on his Bank Pass-book are complete and were not consolidated < some Banks consolidate the transactions on your Pass-book when you do not regularly update it, making it impossible for Immigration to check whether he met the requirement during the period when his transactions were consolidated).

Obviously if the specific personal Thai Bank-account where he keeps his Funds does not come with a Pass-book, Immigration cannot require that he presents it. 

But he can go to his Bank branche and request to provide him with the following 2 Bank-statements which would provide the required evidence:

#1 - A Bank Account statement, which is a letter from the Bank stating that he is the owner of the account, as well as the Balance on the date that statement was issued.  

Such statement can be issued by the Bank on the spot, so he should first do a transaction on that day, and then ask the Bank for the Statement which will then show the current balance as a result of him having done that latest transaction. 

#2 - A Bank Transactions statement showing ALL transactions made during the last 12 months.  In absence of a Pass-book that statement will provide the evidence that the balance on his account never slipped under the required tressholds. 

Be aware that it is possible that his local Bank branche may not be able to create that statement, and in that case they will have to request Headquarters to provide it (which might take some days before it will be available at the Bank branche). 

So he would need to check with his local Bank branche whether they are able to create that statement on the spot, and if not order it some days before he wants to do his 1-year extension application. 

= = =

Doing the above and presenting both documents on the day of application, provides the evidence that he meets the financial requirements.  However, this is Thailand and it would be prudent to contact the Chiang-Mai Immigration Office, and ask whether doing this would be accepted by them.  And of course he should make it clear that his personal Thai Bank-Account does NOT come with a Bank Pass-book, so if the Imm Officer tells him that he needs this, he should ask to talk to the Officer in charge as otherwise he won't be able anymore to meet the requirements when CM Immigration insists on a Bank Pass-book.

Edited April 5, 2023 by Red Phoenix

[bg53]

Thank you.

 

You are right about the rules. How the Chiangmai office interprets those rules is the issue because applicants cannot go around them.

 

It would be great if specific experience with this office can be shared.

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, bg53 said:

It would be great if specific experience with this office can be shared.

Thinking this is one where you would need to ask CM what are their specific requirements on bank book-less extension.

 

Obviously bank statements.

Along with the standard "bank letter" 

 

Surprised you didn't check with immigration prior to setting up the account. 

 

[bg53]

53 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

 

Surprised you didn't check with immigration prior to setting up the account. 

 

 

My friend wasn't thinking!

 

Anyone with specific experience/knowledge, whether for good or for ill?

 

[ignis]

Not CM Immigration Office..

 

My Thai Bank also was No Passbook type, when setting up the account 20 years ago there was an option Bank statement sent to my address every month

 

Yes also needed to order the Bank letter 3 days before the yearly trip to Immigration. to pick up at my local Bank branch..  [go into local branch fill out 'letter' request {for Immigration} =  printed at head office over night, next day sent to local branch = pick up said letter day 3 as soon as they opened on way to Immigration]

 

= Needed 12 months Statements + Bank letter + copies of each

[cnx355]

From a good friend experience 4 years ago at Chiangmai Immigration.

 

He had a FCD account in USD at Krungsri Bank ( know as Bank of Ayuthya ).

Main branch on Taphae Road.

No passbook for FCD account at the Yellow Bank..

 

He had to speak to a superior officer to inform him aout this bank FCD no passbook.

The officer requested a letter from the bank manager attesting to thyme fact that there was  no passbook for this FCD account.

  He finally got his retirement extension.

 

I suggest that you may ask your bank manager to write a letter for you explaining FCD account has no passbook.

 

Or maybe know Chiangmai Immigration is aware that no passbook account exist for some type of account.

Good luck