Jomtien changing the rules again?

[chilly07]

Been told by several  agents that Jomtien are now insisting on 800k in your bank for a retirement  extension?

Last year they only wanted  to see my Bank book which shows 65k pm for the previous  year!

So now  have to do the in/out top up to 800k.

The reason I went for a no show retirement extension last year (changing from marriage) was to avoid 2 bank visits a visit to the ampho and a visit to  immigration to have my photo taken as I have to  use a wheelchair.

Now it seems  even using an agent I have to do the footwork/wheelchairwork anyway?

Is Jomtien discouraging the use of agents now?

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by Maestro
added question mark to the topic title, to show that it is speculation

[bkk6060]

?

An agent will do all that for you.

Sounds to me they are encouraging the use of an agent. 

[jaideedave]

6 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

?

An agent will do all that for you.

Sounds to me they are encouraging the use of an agent. 

Agree, I've come to believe thats true also.I did my own for years until I was asked one time too many for some ridiculous copy or info and gave up.

I only use agents these days and never enter that building any more.The signature on the actual Visa is exactly the same person every year.

When you think about it it's easy money for them and they don't have to deal with the farang. 

Win/Win

[doctormann]

12 minutes ago, jaideedave said:

Agree, I've come to believe thats true also.I did my own for years until I was asked one time too many for some ridiculous copy or info and gave up.

I only use agents these days and never enter that building any more.The signature on the actual Visa is exactly the same person every year.

When you think about it it's easy money for them and they don't have to deal with the farang. 

Win/Win

Me too.  I've used an agent for the last three years with no issues whatsoever.  OK, it costs a few Baht but it's worth it to avoid visiting Soi 5!

I extended my permission to stay just three weeks ago, using the 65k per month method.  Nice new stamp in the passport and, as you say, the signature is just the same as it always has been.

[garygooner]

Don't you have to visit soi 5 immigration with the agent to have your photo taken?  

[jaideedave]

15 minutes ago, garygooner said:

Don't you have to visit soi 5 immigration with the agent to have your photo taken?  

In my case it's done right in the agents office.Previous years yes,had to visit that dreadful place for the photo..no more

[doctormann]

12 minutes ago, jaideedave said:

In my case it's done right in the agents office.Previous years yes,had to visit that dreadful place for the photo..no more

Same here.

[Jingthing]

I'm not clear what rules have been changed.

[OJAS]

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

I'm not clear what rules have been changed.

The OP appears to be suggesting that the 65k monthly income method for retirement extensions is no longer deemed acceptable by Jomtien. But @doctormann's recent experience contradicts this assertion!

 

[doctormann]

13 minutes ago, OJAS said:

The OP appears to be suggesting that the 65k monthly income method for retirement extensions is no longer deemed acceptable by Jomtien. But @doctormann's recent experience contradicts this assertion!

 

Maybe this only works if using an agent?

No mention of needing 800k in the bank from mine.  I did need to get an annual statement and account verification letter from my bank but this is quite normal.

[Pattaya57]

This thread sounds like yet another false news thread based on heresay

 

OP says several agents not processing his retirement extension based on 65k per month income method, find another agent or do it yourself 

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by Pattaya57

[Jingthing]

19 minutes ago, OJAS said:

The OP appears to be suggesting that the 65k monthly income method for retirement extensions is no longer deemed acceptable by Jomtien. But @doctormann's recent experience contradicts this assertion!

 

Well that's totally ridiculous. 

Of course the income method is still accepted as long as the application meets their guidelines of proof.

[Jingthing]

1 minute ago, Pattaya57 said:

This thread sounds like yet another false news thread based on heresay

 

OP says several agents not processing retirement extension based on 65k per month income method, find another agent or do it yourself 

My impression is most agents do use the 800k method with doctored papers.

 

But the income method of course still stands for non agent applicants of course.

[Maestro]

Indeed, the English translation of the "Order of Royal Thai Police no. 654/2564" published on the website of the Immigration Bureau is unchanged and includes this provision in clause 2.22 for the retirement extension:

 

Quote

 

...

(3) An Alien must have evidence of monthly income of no less than 65,000 Baht or

...

 

Source: https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/RTP-Order-No.654-2564.pdf

 

P.S. If anyone needs to show an immigration official the original Thai text, see here:

https://www.immigration.go.th/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/คำสั่ง-ตร..pdf

Edited July 9, 2023 by Maestro
added postscript

[doctormann]

1 hour ago, Jingthing said:

My impression is most agents do use the 800k method with doctored papers.

 

 

This rather depends on what you are using the agent for.  Not everyone is trying to circumvent the 'money in the bank' requirement.  

 

[hotandsticky]

1 hour ago, Pattaya57 said:

This thread sounds like yet another false news thread based on heresay

 

OP says several agents not processing his retirement extension based on 65k per month income method, find another agent or do it yourself 

 

I confirm that agents cannot/will not use the income method (at least not the 3 that I contacted). 

 

Evidence money in the bank - 8,000 Baht. No money 12,500 Baht.

[hotandsticky]

3 hours ago, doctormann said:

Me too.  I've used an agent for the last three years with no issues whatsoever.  OK, it costs a few Baht but it's worth it to avoid visiting Soi 5!

I extended my permission to stay just three weeks ago, using the 65k per month method.  Nice new stamp in the passport and, as you say, the signature is just the same as it always has been.

Which agent?

 

 

[Maestro]

4 minutes ago, doctormann said:

This rather depends on what you are using the agent for.  Not everyone is trying to circumvent the 'money in the bank' requirement.  

 

Although the OP,  @chilly07, mentioned that he is using an agent I understand that he meets the requirement for the monthly income and is using the agent merely for his convenience.

[Pattaya57]

2 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

I confirm that agents cannot/will not use the income method (at least not the 3 that I contacted). 

 

Evidence money in the bank - 8,000 Baht. No money 12,500 Baht.

Okay but that's not what thread title says. Should be "Agents ignoring the rules" rather than "Jomtien changing the rules"

[Maestro]

4 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

I confirm that agents cannot/will not use the income method (at least not the 3 that I contacted). 

 

Evidence money in the bank - 8,000 Baht. No money 12,500 Baht.

That leaves the OP to do the footwork himself.

[Maestro]

5 minutes ago, Pattaya57 said:

Okay but that's not what thread title says. Should be "Agents ignoring the rules" rather than "Jomtien changing the rules"

That's how also I see it. @chilly07, can you confirm that it was not an immigration official who told you that the monthly income route is currently not available?

 

[Jingthing]

13 minutes ago, doctormann said:

This rather depends on what you are using the agent for.  Not everyone is trying to circumvent the 'money in the bank' requirement.  

 

Most are.

[Pattaya57]

13 minutes ago, Maestro said:

That's how also I see it. @chilly07, can you confirm that it was not an immigration official who told you that the monthly income route is currently not available?

 

He clearly said: 

"Been told by several agents" rather than told by immigration

Edited July 9, 2023 by Pattaya57

[Maestro]

I'm going to add a question mark to the topic title. That should fix it.

[doctormann]

37 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Which agent?

 

 

Khaotalo Visa Services <http://www.visakhaotalo.com/en/Home/Index>

Just down the road from me, which is why I use them.

Khun Thanita is the lady that runs the agency.

[doctormann]

39 minutes ago, Maestro said:

Although the OP,  @chilly07, mentioned that he is using an agent I understand that he meets the requirement for the monthly income and is using the agent merely for his convenience.

As many of us do.

[Pattaya57]

28 minutes ago, Maestro said:

I'm going to add a question mark to the topic title. That should fix it.

Well if you're making it a question, no Jomtien is not changing the rules again.

 

I went to a popular, highly reccomended agent on here and because I had the 800k in the bank they didn't seem to know how to deal with me. 

 

It was 25k baht for non-imm O + 12 month extension with no baht in bank. When I said I had 800k in Krungsri (they prefer Bangkok bank), they said "it may be 1-2k cheaper but have to check". It was obvious their business was no money visa so easy to see why Agents don't want to deal with a ligitimate 65k/month extension as it's different to their normal easy process 

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by Pattaya57

[DrJack54]

@chilly07 you start a thread and not visit Asean Now since then.

 

Your OP is far from clear.

You did a change from based on marriage to based on retirement.

 

The income method same as money in bank is retrospective.

In the past 12 months you would  have been safe to start the 65k transfers from your previous extension date.

 

You did not even mention if your embassy provides "income letter" 

 

Jomtien has not made any changes to option of using income method. 

 

Edited July 9, 2023 by DrJack54

[kinyara]

I find the Visa Section of the Pattaya City Expats website a useful reference point in keeping up with the actual local office situation. They seem to have enough members that any real changes consistently affecting applicants are highlighted.  https://pcec.club/.  I always check it in advance of doing anything in Immigration for latest requirements and paperwork.

[Jingthing]

2 hours ago, kinyara said:

I find the Visa Section of the Pattaya City Expats website a useful reference point in keeping up with the actual local office situation. They seem to have enough members that any real changes consistently affecting applicants are highlighted.  https://pcec.club/.  I always check it in advance of doing anything in Immigration for latest requirements and paperwork.

Agreed. Also it's less "loaded" than this forum because their members are not anonymous.