Chiang Mai Immigration Requiring Your Monthly Income?

[Mike Lister]

41 minutes ago, jeffandgop said:

After signing a few pages of the routine docs supporting my application, I was escorted to a counter where an IO, with the form the agent showed me the day before at the agency's office in front of the IO, asked if I had any income beyond the money in the fixed account which she knew I was using for my financials...she said that it was for info only and no verification or sources of that income was being asked- just an estimated monthly amount. I gave the IO an amount purposely greater than the minimum monthly income requirement of 65K for those that use the monthly income method. The IO emphasized the information being requested was not mandatory for the extension and I could decline and assert no other income; she was prepared to delete what I had already told her.

 

In the end I saw this as no harm...the info is only info and is not auditable.  The conversation was very polite and I felt comfortable.

 

I want to stress I was told I did not have to provide any info of income beyond the fix deposit if I wished.

Thanks for that. 

 

As I suspected, it's a fishing trip to find out more information. My strongest suspicion is that visa extension fees and money in the bank will be increased before too long, I'm very surprised that hasn't happened before now. The other strong possibility is that they are gauging the ability of expats to adopt new types of visa such as the LTR. This is nothing to do with tax, I'm pretty certain of that.

[jeffandgop]

1 hour ago, Mike Lister said:

Thanks for that. 

 

As I suspected, it's a fishing trip to find out more information. My strongest suspicion is that visa extension fees and money in the bank will be increased before too long, I'm very surprised that hasn't happened before now. The other strong possibility is that they are gauging the ability of expats to adopt new types of visa such as the LTR. This is nothing to do with tax, I'm pretty certain of that.

I came away feeling it is just a survey, and not anything related to the immediate task of extension of stay renewal. Why the survey? It makes sense what you suggest this survey could be for.....

[Skipalongcassidy]

On 3/19/2024 at 6:51 AM, jeffandgop said:

In preparing our latest annual extension of stay based on marriage, we always submit evidence of 400K+ in the bank to meet the financial requirement.  We never use the monthly income method.  Now we were told, by an agent, that CM IM wants to also know your monthly income amount and sources.  I declined to provide that to the agent and we will see tomorrow if an IO requires this info....never have we ever been asked about my monthly income given we use the 400K+ in the bank method.

Anyone ever been asked to provide monthly income when submitting the 400K+ in the bank method?

 

And another new one; in addition to photos of us in front of the house address and in the living room, now we were told we need two more photos- one in the kitchen and one standing outside the front door...anyone having similar demands?

I just renewed my extension based on marriage at CM IO... they asked what my monthly income was even though I too use the $400 bank balance method... no big deal.. I just told them the deposit figure on the bank statement/letter and reflected on the copies of my bank book... and they moved on... nothing contentious about it.

They require 4 photos... front door... front of house with house number showing... kitchen... and living room... was instructed that they cannot be selfies... again no big deal.

[Mike Lister]

33 minutes ago, jeffandgop said:

I came away feeling it is just a survey, and not anything related to the immediate task of extension of stay renewal. Why the survey? It makes sense what you suggest this survey could be for.....

Guessing here but it could be to see what the market will bear, those amounts haven't been increased in over 20 years.

[Raindancer]

8 minutes ago, Mike Lister said:

Guessing here but it could be to see what the market will bear, those amounts haven't been increased in over 20 years.

As you say.....it is just a guess.

 

Who really knows the reason for them asking. 

 

If people answer by inflating their income to immigration, it will be counterproductive, if indeed your guess is correct.

 

It will give them a reason to consider increasing fees or financial qualifications for extensions.

[Mike Lister]

6 minutes ago, Raindancer said:

As you say.....it is just a guess.

 

Who really knows the reason for them asking. 

 

If people answer by inflating their income to immigration, it will be counterproductive, if indeed your guess is correct.

 

It will give them a reason to consider increasing fees or financial qualifications for extensions.

Yes I agree, playing the wealthy farang is counterproductive.

 

 

[jayboy]

On 3/19/2024 at 7:24 AM, Ben Zioner said:

But "they" are the affluent, entitled Thai upper and middle classes.

 

In many cases of course of Chinese heritage themselves.

 

Don't however agree with your simplistic take on Thai attitude to foreigners.Thailand is far from being anti-foreigner but they like to be able to place people in an understandable context.

[Confuscious]

5 hours ago, Raindancer said:

As you say.....it is just a guess.

 

Who really knows the reason for them asking. 

 

If people answer by inflating their income to immigration, it will be counterproductive, if indeed your guess is correct.

 

It will give them a reason to consider increasing fees or financial qualifications for extensions.

 

It's all a guess, without knowing the real reason for asking this question.
I remember, long ago when the only Immigration office was at Suan Phlu in Bangkok, I went for my 1st Visa extension.
I had the 400 Kbaht (a few years later it went up to 800 KBaht) in a bank account and had all the nexessary documents ready.
The Immigration Officer asked from what I was living, outside from the 400 KBaht.
He wanted only to know if I had the means to support myself as many expats were using Visa agents who used deposit the money in a bank account for a fee.

[JeffersLos]

On 3/19/2024 at 3:59 PM, Surasak said:

If I am asked as to where my income comes from, they will be informed to contact the tax office, as that is their domain.The only thing immigration can possibly ask for is the 800/400K as proved in a bank, the rest of my income is none of their damned business.

 

They are the police and it certainly is their business. 

 

What are you hiding? Working illegally? They have every right to see where the money you spend to live here is coming from. 

[sirineou]

11 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

What are you hiding? 

Incredible good looks and a huge.........

But modesty requires that I hide them , especially  my huge......That ,and that  it's a tripping hazard.