One year extension, 12 monthly deposits, Khon Kaen

[KhunBENQ]

Yesterday (Oct 2nd, 2024) I did my one year extension (retirement) at KK office.
Due date Oct 30th, 2024.

For the first time I used the 12 monthly deposit method.

Last year I was assured that you can use it whatever nationality you are even if you could get an income certificate from your consulate.

So I did transfer religiously every month since Sep 2023 using WISE with varying amounts > 65k.

 

On Aug 30th I ordered a one year statement at Bangkok Bank (200 Baht, wait for 5 working days!).
Last entry for Aug 29th.

 

On Oct 1st early morning I did transfer for October, arrived in the afternoon.
On Oct 2nd (yesterday) early morning I transferred a small amount from another Thai account to make sure the book update shows something meaningful.

Then driving to bank, waiting for a almost an hour(!).
Had book update done, account letter/certificate (100 Baht).

Then ask for statement from Aug 30th to Oct 1st (100 Baht) and issued on the spot.
(make sure you specify exact date range, they can do but some don't ask properly)
Statements were in English and show "FOREIGN T/T".

 

Then rush to KK immi (84 km from the bank), arrived at 11 AM, out and done at 11:20.
That was the short version

 

Besides the financial stuff I had the usual:
passport plus copies since last entry/border run
TM7 form plus photo
the two "acknowledge" forms (downloaded from immi website)

 

That was all, no asking for yellow book, TM30 or the like (I live more than 12 years at the same address),

no copies of the statements.

Had overlooked only one stamp in the passport, 5 Baht copy, new low.

 

After "checkpoint" I was immediately sent to the counter, no wait, very quiet.
The female officer patiently went through the quite long statements, underlined each foreign transfer.

She was not the talkative type and seems I was prepared enough for "no questions".

 

She just stapled all together and walked over to the other room for the boss signature.
Came back with stamped passport.
Paid 1900, returning 100 was a bit "slow".

 

Be aware: this is KK, not Jomtien, not Chaeng Wattana.
Experience can vary.

 

I have already seen that some offices don't want to wade through the statements and want some 12 foreign transfers document. Anybody knows how it is called in English/Thai?

 

I did this route because my pensions are sufficient and why "freeze" 800k.
Also check whether I can spare me the consulate visit, all "local".

 

Still not sure whether next year I will do it again (get me consulate certificate?).

Sending money at the worst possible rate if there is no urge?
For the last transfer I just sent enough (66k) to reduce the pain.

Edited October 3 by KhunBENQ

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, KhunBENQ said:

I did this route because my pensions are sufficient and why "freeze" 800k.

You state "my pensions" ...

Did immigration want to see proof transfers were from Pension or just the monthly (12) 65k+ deposits. 

[KhunBENQ]

35 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You state "my pensions" ...

Did immigration want to see proof transfers were from Pension or just the monthly (12) 65k+ deposits. 

No she didn't ask for the source.

I had photocopies with me.

Could she see the files from last year with certificate from consulate?

Don't think so.

But when asking about the procedure last year a male officer said that I might be asked for some proof of income.

Game of luck.

As I send on my own and have some savings back "home" the amounts differed more than usual (66k to almost 90k in April/May).

Sometimes less, sometimes more than the pensions make up.

No questions asked.

 

Edited October 3 by KhunBENQ

[Caldera]

1 hour ago, KhunBENQ said:

For the first time I used the 12 monthly deposit method.

Last year I was assured that you can use it whatever nationality you are even if you could get an income certificate from your consulate.

 

That's the most interesting part, and potentially the biggest issue. From previous reports, other IOs seem to be of the opinion that you can only show them monthly transfers if your embassy is one of those that are unwilling to certify your income.

 

You did ask them and they did give you an answer. Whether you can rely on them to stick to that answer a year later is anyone's guess - luckily it worked out fine in your case.

 

For someone who (unlike you) doesn't have income that their embassy could certify if immigration change their mind, that would be a risky thing to try.

Edited October 3 by Caldera

[TheAppletons]

On 10/3/2024 at 1:07 PM, DrJack54 said:

You state "my pensions" ...

Did immigration want to see proof transfers were from Pension or just the monthly (12) 65k+ deposits. 

 

  Funny you should ask.....

 

  I visited my agent this morning after picking up my 12 monthly statements from BBL and the letter that CM Immi wants showing the FTT amounts listed by month for the last year.

 

  One of the first things the agent asked me was if my deposits were directly from a pension or if I transferred them myself (which I do.)

 

  She told me that immigration wants to see direct transfers from pensions into the accounts so - in the future - I should transfer the "same amount" (or as close as one can get with FX fluctuations) so that it looks like a steady pension income flow into my account.

 

  All of my future WISE transfers will be as close to 65K THB as one can get.  

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, TheAppletons said:

All of my future WISE transfers will be as close to 65K THB as one can get.  

As long as you are doing over 65k then fine.

Few months ago my transfers using from AU to Thailand were 120k baht that was 5k aud.

That same 5k aud  is now land as 110k baht. 

It's not expected to be consistent amount due to exchange rates

[TheAppletons]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

As long as you are doing over 65k then fine.

Few months ago my transfers using from AU to Thailand were 120k baht that was 5k aud.

That same 5k aud  is now land as 110k baht. 

It's not expected to be consistent amount due to exchange rates

 

  No quarrel there.

 

  The point my agent was trying to make was that instead of some months being 67K THB and some months being 110K THB, to standardize what I transfer to give the appearance of a "regular" amount being transferred in from a pension.  Hence my comment that I'll just do 65K and change for future transfers.

 

  (I surmise that in someone's train of thought - whether immigration officers or my agent - a number that is consistent over time is easier to correlate with a pension payment.  Dunno.)

[Neeranam]

On 10/3/2024 at 12:58 PM, KhunBENQ said:

I have already seen that some offices don't want to wade through the statements and want some 12 foreign transfers document. Anybody knows how it is called in English/Thai?

 

หนังสือรับรองการโอนเงินจากต่างประเทศ" (nangseu raprong gan oan ngern jak dtang prathet)

[DrJack54]

22 minutes ago, Neeranam said:

Anybody knows how it is called in English/Thai?

"Certificate of money transfer from abroad" 

[Presnock]

On 10/7/2024 at 2:04 PM, TheAppletons said:

 

  Funny you should ask.....

 

  I visited my agent this morning after picking up my 12 monthly statements from BBL and the letter that CM Immi wants showing the FTT amounts listed by month for the last year.

 

  One of the first things the agent asked me was if my deposits were directly from a pension or if I transferred them myself (which I do.)

 

  She told me that immigration wants to see direct transfers from pensions into the accounts so - in the future - I should transfer the "same amount" (or as close as one can get with FX fluctuations) so that it looks like a steady pension income flow into my account.

 

  All of my future WISE transfers will be as close to 65K THB as one can get.  

Originally I of course used the embassy letter with my pension yearly but then eventually the embassy stopped providing a letter and the IO told me that he only wanted Thai documentation and since my pension just goes to my US bank, he didn't want that document either, stating that I was providing way too muchj documents!  I swear he said that! this was at CM too and then that is the way I did my yearly extension of stay with only the local bangkok bank documents of the greater than 65K monthly deposit from overseas until I changed this year to LTR.

[mfd101]

On 10/7/2024 at 3:50 PM, TheAppletons said:

The point my agent was trying to make was that instead of some months being 67K THB and some months being 110K THB, to standardize what I transfer to give the appearance of a "regular" amount being transferred in from a pension.  Hence my comment that I'll just do 65K and change for future transfers.

Over the years, including the last few weeks, I have transferred anything from 70K฿ to 250K฿ in a month. Never been a problem - or even a question - here in Surin. I've always assumed that it's the 65+ that counts, not its source particularly.

 

And in 2016-17 I was bringing several millions across for land purchase and house build ... Never questioned by anyone (but I guess that was when the Oz Embassy still certified one's income. But again not its source). 

[DrJack54]

5 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Over the years, including the last few weeks, I have transferred anything from 70K฿ to 250K฿ in a month

So you have used "income method" after Oz embassy stopped providing income letter and the monthly deposit has varied between 70k-250k 

[mfd101]

50 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

So you have used "income method" after Oz embassy stopped providing income letter and the monthly deposit has varied between 70k-250k 

Yes. And the top monthly figure is only a rough estimate. It may have been a bit bigger than that on occasion, though rarely - repairs to the car (mostly driven by my b/f! (sigh)), works around the house, looking after the extended family ... I haven't bothered to check back.

[KhunBENQ]

2 hours ago, Neeranam said:

หนังสือรับรองการโอนเงินจากต่างประเทศ" (nangseu raprong gan oan ngern jak dtang prathet)

Thanks a lot. Very helpful.

Surprised that my threat has lived up again.

[Upnotover]

On 10/7/2024 at 2:04 PM, TheAppletons said:

All of my future WISE transfers will be as close to 65K THB as one can get.  

They can all be exact if that is what you want, I transfer exactly 75k on the 2nd of every month.  Just enter 65000 as the receiver amount and Wise will calculate your cost accordingly.

[lungbing]

6 hours ago, Upnotover said:

They can all be exact if that is what you want, I transfer exactly 75k on the 2nd of every month.  Just enter 65000 as the receiver amount and Wise will calculate your cost accordingly.

And if they get it wrong, just once, there goes your visa.  

[Upnotover]

2 hours ago, lungbing said:

And if they get it wrong, just once, there goes your visa.  

Well make it 66 then.