Trip Report - Chaeng Wattana (22 February 2024) - Retirement Renewal

[expat_4_life]

Using the 800k method,
- fixed account that remains topped up to 800k permanently at Bangkok Bank
- TM30 - I am a condo owner, filed TM30 back in 2019
- TM47 is current
 

Prepared the following documents before my immigration visit
- TM7 (generated from a Word document I been using for 15+ years)
- Condo Map - something I created in Excel some years ago
- TM47 (90 days) receipt
- Appointment notification
- Bank letter obtained the day before
 

Arrived Chaeng Wattana at 08:50 (09:30 appointment)

First went to the basement floor,
- update bank book with balance forward
- Copy (one) of bank book (cover page and last year activity)
- Copy (one) of passport - ID page, original extension, most recent extension
- Current photo (100 Baht)
Had enough time to grab a coffee
 

Visited the documents check counter (09:25), provided the documents listed above
- signed a couple of documents they provided then proceeded to renewal counter
- at renewal counter 09:30, signed a few more documents - done by 09:45
- Passport returned at 10:05

I attended immigration with a friend who was also renewing retirement extension
- only difference is regards residence - he has a one year lease
- his landlord recently filed a TM30 in January and his TM47 is also current
- he was not asked for a TM30 or a lease agreement
- friend had a 10:30 appointment - we were both done at 11:00
 

Notes - based on concerns from other recent reports
- never asked about TM30
- never asked about Bank Statements

- no request for a hand-drawn map
- not asked to complete another more recent version of the TM7

Uneventful, relatively quick experience, staff were professional, courteous and friendly.

We were both in a celebratory mood afterwards, a victory over the immigration
bureaucracy was had this day, so followed up our visit with a pub lunch and a few pints.

Best of luck on your next renewal.

 

Edited February 23 by expat_4_life

[Crossy]

Did you mean "February"??

[expat_4_life]

5 minutes ago, Crossy said:

Did you mean "February"??

 

Good catch, one might surmise that I had one too may pints when I was in the mood yesterday and am paying for it today 🍻 (edited the title) - Thanks

Edited February 23 by expat_4_life

[DrJack54]

21 minutes ago, expat_4_life said:

never asked about Bank Statements

Thanks for clear report.

 

Regards bank statements....you used FD account. May have been different if you were using savings account. 

[expat_4_life]

1 minute ago, DrJack54 said:

Thanks for clear report.

 

Regards bank statements....you used FD account. May have been different if you were using savings account. 

 

Almost assuredly 100% correct - that why I included my account type details in my report.

[Khyron]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Thanks for clear report.

 

Regards bank statements....you used FD account. May have been different if you were using savings account. 

Sorry for my ignorance, but what is an "FD" account? and how is it different than a savings account for immigration?

Thanks.

[DrJoy]

8 minutes ago, Khyron said:

FD

Fixed Deposit

[TaoNow]

Excellent trip report.  Many thanks.  I still maintain that these trip reports are the most valuable contribution to the Forum.

 

Just a note on Immo/CW:  

 

My 800K+ FD account is with SCB, and I use it solely for extension purposes.

 

So, every year, I go to the nearest SCB branch to the Govt. Complex, and they produce two documents:  (1) Is the standard letter indicating the balance on that day (after I deposit a nominal amount to update the bank book); and (2) An annual statement, which lists the balance for the entire year, month by month.

 

In my experience, IMMO/CW (at the online appt desk) seems to like the annual statement, since they go over that carefully with a neon marker. 

 

They also require a photocopy of every page of the up-dated SCB FD bank book.

 

The only cost to me is an extra 200 baht for the annual statement -- which I am happy to pay.

[expat_4_life]

1 hour ago, TaoNow said:

Excellent trip report.  Many thanks.  I still maintain that these trip reports are the most valuable contribution to the Forum.

 

Just a note on Immo/CW:  

 

My 800K+ FD account is with SCB, and I use it solely for extension purposes.

 

So, every year, I go to the nearest SCB branch to the Govt. Complex, and they produce two documents:  (1) Is the standard letter indicating the balance on that day (after I deposit a nominal amount to update the bank book); and (2) An annual statement, which lists the balance for the entire year, month by month.

 

In my experience, IMMO/CW (at the online appt desk) seems to like the annual statement, since they go over that carefully with a neon marker. 

 

They also require a photocopy of every page of the up-dated SCB FD bank book.

 

The only cost to me is an extra 200 baht for the annual statement -- which I am happy to pay.

 

Are you sure you have a Fixed Deposit (FD) account - I referred to it as a fixed account.  In the US they are commonly referred to as Certificate of Deposit, CD?  This is a type of account that you deposit money for a "fixed term", commonly 3, 6, or 12 months (or longer) and get a better interest rate?

In my FD account the only activity is interest credits and an entire year is little more than a single page?  There is no access to the account except the passbook.

Since bank statements became a thing several years ago I've never been required to obtain a statement.  I have never made a deposit in the account since I opened it 20 years ago.

Are we talking about the same type of account?

Edited February 23 by expat_4_life

[DrJack54]

7 minutes ago, expat_4_life said:

Are we talking about the same type of account?

Yes

[dick turpin]

You mention "bank letter obtained day before," always thought

this was required same day as applying for extension.

[expat_4_life]

4 minutes ago, dick turpin said:

You mention "bank letter obtained day before," always thought

this was required same day as applying for extension.

 

I have always, 20 years, obtained my "Bank Letter" the previous day.

Have seen posted many times that up to a week in advance is acceptable,
however I never tried it personally.  I've always done it the day before.

[phaholyothin]

I am not sure why, in some of the posts above, the phrase "bank statements" is plural.  When I get my bank letter, they automatically produce one statement that shows the activity for the past year.  Why would multiple statements be needed?