Retirement Extension Koh Phangan

[delgarcon]

Unfortunately there is no-one in the Koh Phangan Immigration office that speaks enough English to understand the requirements of their own forms. Without going into too much detail, my advice is not to leave your request for the extension until the last minute. An example of the problems that I've had (and am still having) is their insistence that they need a 1 year bank statement and not 3 months. I was even shown their new form of requirements as proof and they wouldn't believe me when I told them that the form quite clearly states 3 months bank statement, as usual. As some of you may know, it takes at least a week for the Bangkok Bank to produce a 1 year's statement, which I now have to wait for. Prior to this, I've had problems with photos and google maps and my next visit with the bank statement (when it arrives) will be early next month, my 1st having been on the 23rd May. Fortunately I didn't wait until the last minute.

I've lived in KP for 13 years and I was very happy to learn that I wouldn't have to make 2 round trips to Koh Samui this year, but it's at a price . I'm 80 years old and really don't need the stress that these people put us under. Any way I'll update this when they finally stamp my passport, ok until June 2025!

[Upnotover]

They want 1 year to check you maintained your account minimum 800/400/800 in the preceding year.  At least next year you'll know in advance, despite what their forms might say.

[DrJack54]

OP, no offense but you were unaware of the requirements.

You need all the months back to previous extension.

Bit harsh that they would not simply accept photocopies of bank book pages for 12 months.

 

Bangkok bank does require time to provide bank statements.

Most other banks can do it on the spot. 

[ChaiyaTH]

Bring a local with you, or the local know female lawyer, she can resolve that for 5K i guess.

[brianthainess]

It has been several years now since the Financial requirements need a one year statement, and most IO require a Hand Drawn map. No offence intended but I find it surprising you were unaware of it. I would Change banks like Krungsri take 20min to issue letter and a 1yr extension. And what @Upnotover says

Edit: This is from Trat immigration

Edited May 26 by brianthainess

[delgarcon]

1 hour ago, brianthainess said:

It has been several years now since the Financial requirements need a one year statement, and most IO require a Hand Drawn map. No offence intended but I find it surprising you were unaware of it. I would Change banks like Krungsri take 20min to issue letter and a 1yr extension. And what @Upnotover says

Edit: This is from Trat immigration

And where does it say 1 year bank statement? I have been here for 13 years and I've never been asked for this and your "evidence" clearly states 3 months bank statement!

[brianthainess]

6 minutes ago, delgarcon said:

And where does it say 1 year bank statement? I have been here for 13 years and I've never been asked for this and your "evidence" clearly states 3 months bank statement!

I still find it hard to believe you don't know the new rules even though it is not stated on my "evidence". And you have been a member of AN for 12 years, and have never seen it mentioned. 

[delgarcon]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, no offense but you were unaware of the requirements.

You need all the months back to previous extension.

Bit harsh that they would not simply accept photocopies of bank book pages for 12 months.

 

Bangkok bank does require time to provide bank statements.

Most other banks can do it on the spot. 

I WAS aware of the requirements, I went to the Immigration office to pick up the form before I started my paperwork. The form  clearly state 3 MONTHS bank statement and photo copies of 1 YEAR of bank book transactions, all of which I provided. When I arrived at Immigration, my paperwork was passed ok and I was given a number and sent inside. As I stated in my post, the Officer in charge could not speak English and totally misinterpreted the requirements form.

[delgarcon]

6 minutes ago, brianthainess said:

I still find it hard to believe you don't know the new rules even though it is not stated on my "evidence". And you have been a member of AN for 12 years, and have never seen it mentioned. 

The rules are in writing and you are suggesting that I should listen to hearsay and ignore them. Go away  please. I posted my experience to help others, not to read some of the stupid replies. I'll know better next time.

[delgarcon]

2 hours ago, ChaiyaTH said:

Bring a local with you, or the local know female lawyer, she can resolve that for 5K i guess.

You're not wrong Chaiya, unfortunately I don't know anyone bilingual that could have helped me. Hopefully next year they will have learnt from their mistakes and I hope that I'm still around to benefit.

[Upnotover]

Unfortunately, this one overules any of the others......

[delgarcon]

2 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Unfortunately, this one overules any of the others......

 Just for you Upnotover, someone has copied the requirements needed in my domain, under the heading of "An Idiots Guide to the Retirement Extension process at Samui Immigration Office" Tailor made wouldn't you think! They have the same  form in Koh Phangan and you will find it on Page 11. I find it unbelievable that the level of intelligence is so low on this forum that between you all you could not offer a constructive reply.

None of you have addressed the problem of the Imm Officer not being able to read his own office's Requirements Form, apart from Chiaya, who at least read and understood my predicament.

 

•  

Posted January 4

On 1/4/2024 at 12:34 PM, phetphet said:

 

Expand  

This is still the current list (from August 2023 in @Neilly post)...

 

[DrJack54]

39 minutes ago, delgarcon said:

I find it unbelievable that the level of intelligence is so low on this forum that between you all you could not offer a constructive reply.

I find it unbelievable that you are not aware of the fact immigration offices can change even what is stated on relevant "Lists" 

For example for 10 years using money in the bank method. 

Previously all that was required re proof of funds was my bank book with photocopies of all balances back to previous extension. 

Out of the blue last extension demanded bank statement 12 months.

I use a dedicated bank account.

I was well aware they can require bank statement if some transactions can be consolidated.

My problem was one month had no activity. 

 

Again few weeks ago I went to CW  and had my stamps transferred to new pp.

CW has a form for this with list of required docs.

IN ADDITION to list of required docs on the form they wanted my bank account books showing balances back to last extension and made me go to bank for update.

 

Then you have a crack at posters.

There are many more recent threads that mention more offices are not accepting the bank book only but requiring 12 month bank statement. 

 

Next extension check with any current threads of any changes. 

[Caldera]

59 minutes ago, delgarcon said:

None of you have addressed the problem of the Imm Officer not being able to read his own office's Requirements Form, apart from Chiaya, who at least read and understood my predicament.

 

What exactly are you looking for here? People who commiserate with you?

 

No amount of agreement on this forum will help you with your IO. But for the record, I agree with you, the documents you've provided should have been enough (assuming that your bank book didn't have gaps due to "combined" transactions, which is the main reason immigration might ask for a statement covering the whole period since your last extension).

 

In the big scheme of things, your "predicament" is a small issue and easily fixed. Not worth losing sleep over.

[delgarcon]

5 minutes ago, Caldera said:

 

What exactly are you looking for here? People who commiserate with you?

 

No amount of agreement on this forum will help you with your IO. But for the record, I agree with you, the documents you've provided should have been enough (assuming that your bank book didn't have gaps due to "combined" transactions, which is the main reason immigration might ask for a statement covering the whole period since your last extension).

 

In the big scheme of things, your "predicament" is a small issue and easily fixed. Not worth losing sleep over.

I posted this because Koh Phangan is new to Retirement Extensions and if you read my post properly you would understand that I was letting people know what to expect.

[delgarcon]

38 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I find it unbelievable that you are not aware of the fact immigration offices can change even what is stated on relevant "Lists" 

For example for 10 years using money in the bank method. 

Previously all that was required re proof of funds was my bank book with photocopies of all balances back to previous extension. 

Out of the blue last extension demanded bank statement 12 months.

I use a dedicated bank account.

I was well aware they can require bank statement if some transactions can be consolidated.

My problem was one month had no activity. 

 

Again few weeks ago I went to CW  and had my stamps transferred to new pp.

CW has a form for this with list of required docs.

IN ADDITION to list of required docs on the form they wanted my bank account books showing balances back to last extension and made me go to bank for update.

 

Then you have a crack at posters.

There are many more recent threads that mention more offices are not accepting the bank book only but requiring 12 month bank statement. 

 

Next extension check with any current threads of any changes. 

The problem in KP is that they dont speak English, have you not understood that. I'll repeat, "I was even shown their new form of requirements as proof and they wouldn't believe me when I told them that the form quite clearly states 3 months bank statement, as usual."

Anyway, enough, I think we've flogged this one to death.

[TaoNow]

OP complains that the IO in the Koh Phang Ngan Office does not speak English to his/her satisfacton.

 

I would counter that, if I was 80 years old and living in KP for 13 years, I think it would be prudent to know the language of my adopted country.

 

Why do people on this forum feel the need to be coddled because they speak English and are incompetent in Thai?

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, delgarcon said:

Anyway, enough, I think we've flogged this one to death.

Seems OP, is in process of obtaining the 12 month bank statement for his extension.

 

Thread closed