Fixed Account Bank Statement for extension of stay based on marriage?

[jeffandgop]

This concerns Chiang Mai Immigration only.

In the last 4 years of submitting the paperwork for an extension of stay based on marriage (originally entered on an O-A Non Immigrant Visa based on retirement), when it came to verifying the required funds deposited into a Thai bank of a minimum of $400K 2 months prior to applying, I have always had the minimum necessary in a Bangkok Bank Fixed Account. In fact this fixed account was originally opened in 2019.

For the Chiang Mai IO, they have always wanted to see the fixed account bank passbook and the letter from the bank verifying those same funds and the account.  I have NEVER been required to provide any monthly bank statements for this fixed account.  This year I have decided to engage an agency, and in contacting 2 agencies, they insist I now need to also provide 12 months of bank statements as well!  Note the funding requirement is only to show proof of no less than 400K in the bank for 2 months prior to applying for the extension of stay.

Has anyone been confronted with this requirement to provide bank statements to support an extension of stay based on marriage using a fixed (not savings) account?

[worgeordie]

You need 12 months statement ,like the Agents and I have already told you, 

Your at Bangkok Bank , you need to ask for statement 5-7 days before you

need it ,as has to come from Bangkok head office  cost 200 Baht

 

regards worgeordie

[jeffandgop]

And as the regulation only requires 400k in the bank 2 months prior to applying what is the regulation that dictates 12 months worth of statements and is there a minimum balance required?  The demand for a year of statements makes sense for retirement extension of stay where there are full year of minimum balances required but not for extension of stay based on marriage to  a Thai. 

[jeffandgop]

On 2/29/2024 at 6:19 AM, worgeordie said:

You need 12 months statement ,like the Agents and I have already told you, 

Your at Bangkok Bank , you need to ask for statement 5-7 days before you

need it ,as has to come from Bangkok head office  cost 200 Baht

 

regards worgeordie

I would like to read the regulation that requires this- I've never been asked for bank statements for a fixed account for an extension of stay based on marriage derivative from an O-A Visa entry. So support why you say so when I've reported I've never had to provide these bank statements- only requirement was to have 400K in a Thai bank 2 months prior to submitting the request for the extension of stay. TIA

[worgeordie]

It does not have to be a regulation , it's what the IO says it is , not all offices 

require this ,some only 6 months , the 12 month requirement came about when

Big Joke came to Chiang Mai Immigration to clear up the corruption that was

going on there at the time, 

 

People were using agents , who were putting the 400 K or 800 K into the bank

of the people who were using the agent for only one day ,till they got the Visa

then taking it back , so they were getting extensions/visa with no money in the bank.

 

So if you don't believe anyone go to the IO and ask them , you might prove yourself

right or not , at least you will get it from the horse's mouth ....

 

regards worgeordie

[john donson]

immigration does not want movement on your account from the same day and I always wondered how impossible that would be as you cannot add money, only withdraw and lose all interest paid ...

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, john donson said:

immigration does not want movement on your account from the same day and I always wondered how impossible that would be as you cannot add money, only withdraw and lose all interest paid ...

You can deposit into an FD account 

For most banks the minimum deposit is 1000b

[Lite Beer]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You can deposit into an FD account 

For most banks the minimum deposit is 1000b

Yep.

I always deposit 1,000 Baht on the days of application to get the bank book up to date.

[john donson]

18 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You can deposit into an FD account 

For most banks the minimum deposit is 1000b

 

and... you get the same % ?

 

my bank has promotions like 2.3% for this month, but next months it can be much lower, I don't see how they will honor the old % that was for a one time promotion...

 

or is it just at a lower rate ?  

 

not a time to experiment for me, as I will only have 3 months left before I have to move out of my current place when I go extend... (with a forced move out as it was in my divorce agreement, well, I took care of my kids after divorce and when kids turn 20... have to leave)

[CecilM]

Lucky that your office accepts fixed accounts.

Requiring monthly statements seems to depend on the officer reviewing the documents (now I always prepare them, it's not difficult). 

[jeffandgop]

6 hours ago, worgeordie said:

It does not have to be a regulation , it's what the IO says it is , not all offices 

require this ,some only 6 months , the 12 month requirement came about when

Big Joke came to Chiang Mai Immigration to clear up the corruption that was

going on there at the time, 

 

People were using agents , who were putting the 400 K or 800 K into the bank

of the people who were using the agent for only one day ,till they got the Visa

then taking it back , so they were getting extensions/visa with no money in the bank.

 

So if you don't believe anyone go to the IO and ask them , you might prove yourself

right or not , at least you will get it from the horse's mouth ....

 

regards worgeordie

I don't need to ask Chiang Mai immigration.  12 years of using a fixed deposit account to support extensions of stay here in Chiang Mai based on retirement (first 7 years) and then switched to marriage to a Thai national (last 5 years). Never had to provide statements. Never had to add any money to the account just prior to submitting the EOS request to CM Immigration. Only the fixed deposit bank book and the bank letter demonstrating the amount of the deposit on the date shown is current and correct.

I don't know or speak of any immigration office other than the only one I've ever interfaced with- Chiang Mai Immigration.

 

Is it possible that the requirement for bank statements is true for those here on an O Visa (i.e., visa obtained in Thailand)?  I originally arrived on an O-A Visa (obtained outside Thailand).  

We know those who have O-A Visa for retirement are required to have evidence of health insurance  but that is not required for those who received their O Visa for retirement within Thailand....

[worgeordie]

On 3/1/2024 at 8:56 AM, jeffandgop said:

I don't need to ask Chiang Mai immigration.  12 years of using a fixed deposit account to support extensions of stay here in Chiang Mai based on retirement (first 7 years) and then switched to marriage to a Thai national (last 5 years). Never had to provide statements. Never had to add any money to the account just prior to submitting the extension of stay request to CM Immigration. Only the fixed deposit bank book and the bank letter demonstrating the amount of the deposit on the date shown is current and correct.

I don't know or speak of any immigration office other than the only one I've ever interfaced with- Chiang Mai Immigration.

 

Is it possible that the requirement for bank statements is true for those here on an O Visa (i.e., visa obtained in Thailand)?  I originally arrived on an O-A Visa (obtained outside Thailand).  

We know those who have O-A Visa for retirement are required to have evidence of health insurance  but that is not required for those who received their O Visa for retirement within Thailand....

OK.,if you know, why bother asking , good luck hope everything goes ok for you .

 

regards worgeordie

 

 

[connda]

Deleted. 

Edited March 1 by connda

[jeffandgop]

9 hours ago, worgeordie said:

OK.,if you know, why bother asking , good luck hope everything goes ok for you .

 

regards worgeordie

 

 

Your responses didn't answer what I asked in my original post, nor did it take into account the specific circumstances of my immigration status.  I laid out those circumstances so that anyone who matched my immigration status might be able to state whether or not they were required to provide bank statements.  In fact, no one who participated actually provided the information I was seeking.

But that's OK. I appreciate your interest.

[Liquorice]

Not CM specific, but matching the same criteria as you, extension based on Thai spouse, using fixed deposit account from Bangkok bank, I've always updated the passbook on the day of the application and requested a 3-month bank statement issued on request, to comply with the requirement of proof of 400K for 2 months prior to the date of application.

Theoretically just an updated passbook should be sufficient as it provides the start and end dates of the fixed amount for a 12 month period, but current orders state a bank statement, so for 100BHT, I voluntarily also supply a 3-month bank statement.

 

Never had an issue.

[jeffandgop]

On 3/2/2024 at 12:46 AM, Liquorice said:

Not CM specific, but matching the same criteria as you, extension based on Thai spouse, using fixed deposit account from Bangkok bank, I've always updated the passbook on the day of the application and requested a 3-month bank statement issued on request, to comply with the requirement of proof of 400K for 2 months prior to the date of application.

Theoretically just an updated passbook should be sufficient as it provides the start and end dates of the fixed amount for a 12 month period, but current orders state a bank statement, so for 100BHT, I voluntarily also supply a 3-month bank statement.

 

Never had an issue.

Thanks for your input with your experience. I will note that that with obtaining a bank letter within 7 days of applying for the extension is also the time that I have the bank update the fix deposit bank book...that in and of itself captures any changes made to the account since the last update and will show interest earned, and/or deposits made, and/or withdrawals made (yes I know that may cause a loss of interest if done before term), as well as documenting the presence (or lack thereof) having the minimum funds of 400K 2 months prior to the date of extension of stay application.....I still can't figure why anyone is required to provide 6 or 12 months worth of statements for this extension of stay situation when there is no requirement to have any amount of funds in any bank account whatsoever until 2 months prior to applying for the extension; and which funds can be withdrawn entirely immediately after receiving immigrations stamp of another year's extension in your passport....that is a question I may ask the CM IO to clarify/explain when I go for my extension of stay later this month...

[Liquorice]

On 3/2/2024 at 4:28 AM, jeffandgop said:

.I still can't figure why anyone is required to provide 6 or 12 months worth of statements for this extension of stay situation when there is no requirement to have any amount of funds in any bank account whatsoever until 2 months prior to applying for the extension; and which funds can be withdrawn entirely immediately after receiving immigrations stamp of another year's extension in your passport....that is a question I may ask the CM IO to clarify/explain when I go for my extension of stay later this month...

Very few agents deal with extensions based on Thai spouse.

Is the wife going with the agent because she has to also attend.
What about the Kor Ror 2 ?
Are you sure the agent was fully aware it's an extension based on Thai spouse ?

What did they quote ?

[jeffandgop]

12 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Very few agents deal with extensions based on Thai spouse.

Is the wife going with the agent because she has to also attend.
What about the Kor Ror 2 ?
Are you sure the agent was fully aware it's an extension based on Thai spouse ?

What did they quote ?

Answers to each of your latest comments:

Line 1- Interesting

Line 2- We've done the marriage extensions ourselves the last 4 years so we know she and I have to go together.

Line 3- We were married outside of Thailand so we don't have or need a KorRor 2 (or KorRor 3); we use a KorRor 22 and a U.S. embassy affidavit, translated into Thai, and stamped by the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs- all prerequisites to obtain a KorRor 22

Line 4- Yes

Line 5- 7000 exclusive of the 1900 fee accompanying the TM7 application.

[Skipalongcassidy]

Just did my extension of stay based on marriage in Chiang Mai... just called the agency that I use... asked them to get everything together... including whatever bank statements are currently required by IO... met the agent at IO and was in and out in 30 minutes...