Several people on here (myself included) have reported Jomtien immigration demands 800k in bank account for 2 months prior to application for Non-Immigration O (Retirement). This is totally different to the rest of the country who only require funds in bank day of application.

 

I now see Pattaya City Expats Club has also issued this warning with 3 cases reported as above

 

https://pcec.club/LATEST-IMMIGRATION-INFORMATION

 

This makes it impossible for visa exempt entries without a bank account to apply for a non-imm O in Jomtien. Even if you get bank account first day of 30 day exempt entry and get 30 day extension, you still cannot apply for non-imm O as it must be done 15 days prior to expiry of current entry stamp (so you need at least 76 days entry)

 

Is there a place to report this to or getting word out there the only way and hoping someone like Pattaya News picks it up as a story?

 

For me I'm going back to Aus to get an O-A visa so to not have to deal with this rubbish (I'm not paying an agent 25k when 800k is already in bank)

 

They must be short on tea money to make it even harder than usual. Report it to Pattaya News, try AJ on Facebook 

They love us so mut.

Quote

For me I'm going back to Aus to get an O-A visa so to not have to deal with this rubbish (I'm not paying and agent 25k when 800k is already in bank)

But then you will get in the realms of the special insurance racket.

TIT.

 

They want you to use an agent.

 

Agents are lucrative.

Entry to Thailand:

1. Visa Exempt 30 days
2. Change to Tourist Visa at immigration office 60 days
3. Extend Tourist Visa 30 days

Total of 120 days to get ready for non '0' extension.

 

6 minutes ago, quake said:

But then you will get in the realms of the special insurance racket.

TIT.

 

I've checked that out. Pacific Cross with 40k deductible (once per policy year) gives 3 million baht insurance for 38k a year. I'd be getting insurance anyway and that's cheaper than my current health insurance in Aus

 

O-A visa also means I never have to visit immigration for 2 years (other than first 90 day report in person) ????

 

4 minutes ago, Madgee said:

Entry to Thailand:

1. Visa Exempt 30 days
2. Change to Tourist Visa at immigration office 60 days
3. Extend Tourist Visa 30 days

Total of 120 days to get ready for non '0' extension.

 

You can't go from visa exempt to tourist visa at immigration office

3 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

I've checked that out. Pacific Cross with 40k deductible (once per policy year) gives 3 million baht insurance for 38k a year. I'd be getting insurance anyway and that's cheaper than my current health insurance in Aus

Ok, good to go.

It's about time the Big Joke come down,  and had a clear out at that office.

it's well over due. 

4 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

You can't go from visa exempt to tourist visa at immigration office

Oh yes you can petal. 

It's been like that since the onset of covid 19.

I done it in July last year and know of several who have been down this route in the past year or so.

 

This is the way! ????

2 minutes ago, Madgee said:

Oh yes you can petal. 

It's been like that since the onset of covid 19.

I done it in July last year and know of several who have been down this route in the past year or so.

 

This is the way! ????

i doubt it but let's see if others can confirm

9 minutes ago, Madgee said:

Oh yes you can petal. 

It's been like that since the onset of covid 19.

I done it in July last year and know of several who have been down this route in the past year or so.

 

This is the way! ????

When got yours July last year they were still issuing 60 day covid extensions. Pretty sure you can't do that today post covid rules (unless it's a magical Agent Tourist Visa)

 

All the IO offices I have dealt with over the years (3 different ones) all require:

 

- 2 months prior

- 3 months after 

- Cannot drop below 400k for the entire year

9 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

All the IO offices I have dealt with over the years (3 different ones) all require:

 

- 2 months prior

- 3 months after 

- Cannot drop below 400k for the entire year

That's for the 12 month extension to the Non-imm O. My post is about the initial Non-imm O visa which only requires 800k on day of application (even Laos only require bank letter without 2 months seasoning)

 

I'm starting to realize each immigration office makes up their own extra requirements. I relocated to Chanthaburi so it's a whole new ball game.

 

I'm renewing my retirement extension. I went to the bank where I keep the 800k, got the letter stating whatever it is they state (the bank official knew exactly what it was), but when I handed my stack of paper in, the immigration #@&^@ said I needed to go back and get 6 months of statements. I held my bankbook in my hand, showed her how I had every page copied and signed, had made a transaction earlier that very day, and how it had been verified by the bank. No dice.

 

Next roadblock - I only have two months left to my lease. Same immigration #@&^@ said she wanted to see a renewed contract for the following year. Fine, I went back home, Photoshopped new dates on the first page, printed it out then handed that to her. She started making noise about how I'd have to come back the next day for some more made up bullsh!t. That's when I put my foot down, called the condo manager who I have befriended, and had them chat.

 

Condo manager smoothed things over. The paperwork garbage is now complete and I'll get my passport back in a week. Apparently, since they are a small outfit, the signing official only comes in once a week. 

 

All in all, it's still easier than trying to get into the US. And, 100 years from now, none of us are gonna care anyway.

9 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

That's for the 12 month extension to the Non-imm O. My OP is about the initial Non-imm O visa which only requires 800k on day of application

 

An application is required for both, the initial extension request and any following extension requests. 

 

I just re-read your OP and you make no indication if it was the initial application or an application for a following year.

 

Hmmmmmmmmm............

7 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

I just re-read your OP and you make no indication if it was the initial application or an application for a following year.

 

Hmmmmmmmmm............

I posted "Jomtien immigration demands 800k in bank account for 2 months prior to application for Non-Immigration O (Retirement)".

 

Where did I mention any 12 month extension to get you confused?

 

4 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

An application is required for both, the initial extension request and any following extension requests. 

 

I just re-read your OP and you make no indication if it was the initial application or an application for a following year.

 

Hmmmmmmmmm............

Read it again.

He clearly stated application for non imm O visa not extension .

14 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

Apparently, since they are a small outfit, the signing official only comes in once a week. 

The "signing official"? That means the senior policeman in charge of the whole outfit, almost certainly. I wonder what he does the rest of the week.

Realistically, people affected by this rogue interpretation of the rules have two options. Either use an agent, or do a border bounce to gain extra time to season the money.

 

I don't think reporting them will go anywhere, as each Thai government office is basically being run like a fiefdom. They get away with it and they know it.

4 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

Read it again.

He clearly stated application for non imm O visa not extension .

Have you not read the top title of a TM7?

 

Hmmmmmmm... I see the word 'application' there!

 

Maybe it's just deciphering the English language. Or writing it so that it clear for all.

 

Do note: An application is required whether it's the first tine or any time thereafter.

 

12 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

I posted "Jomtien immigration demands 800k in bank account for 2 months prior to application for Non-Immigration O (Retirement)".

 

Where did I mention any 12 month extension to get you confused?

 

...and where did you post that it was your INITIAL application?

 

Hmmmmmmm....

Like the OP wrote, Jomtien by requiring 2 month seasoning of the +800K on your personal Thai bank-account when applying for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement, makes it very difficult for Newbies arriving on a TouristVisa or VisaExempt, to meet that requirement when they still need to open a Thai bank-account.  

One option for them is to do a border-run after they have opened the bank-account and transfered the required funds from abroad, as that will provide them with a 30-day VisaExempt entry which can be extended with an additional 30 days, thus meeting that Jomtien-only requirement of having seasoned the funds for 2 months at initial application for the 90-day Non Imm O Visa.

The reason for that rogue Imm Office behavior is also clear > it drives Newbies exasperated by these shenanigans to make use of a Visa agent, which guarantees some 'brown envelopes with content' for the corrupt Immigration officers at that rogue office. 

6 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

Hmmmmmmm... I see the word 'application' there!

It also says "for an extension of stay", which the OP isn't applying for...

1 hour ago, Madgee said:

Entry to Thailand:

1. Visa Exempt 30 days
2. Change to Tourist Visa at immigration office 60 days
3. Extend Tourist Visa 30 days

Total of 120 days to get ready for non '0' extension.

 

not possible unless you are married to a Thai

60 day tourist visas are not issued in Thailand, the only 60 day you can get is if you are married to a Thai

1 hour ago, Madgee said:

Entry to Thailand:

1. Visa Exempt 30 days
2. Change to Tourist Visa at immigration office 60 days
3. Extend Tourist Visa 30 days

Total of 120 days to get ready for non '0' extension.

 

It is not possible to obtain a tourist visa inside of Thailand.

 

The only thing remotely related to 60 days is "60 day extension to visit Thai wife"

 

 

42 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

All the IO offices I have dealt with over the years (3 different ones) all require:

 

- 2 months prior

- 3 months after 

- Cannot drop below 400k for the entire year

Our office requires 2 months prior and 1 month after.

51 minutes ago, dingdongrb said:

All the IO offices I have dealt with over the years (3 different ones) all require:

 

- 2 months prior

- 3 months after 

- Cannot drop below 400k for the entire year

you are talking about an extension of a

visa or an extension of permission to stay. When applying  for an O based on Retirement the rule is that it has to be in the bank on the day of application