Etiquette at CW immigration

[Nowaythatsreal]

It will soon be time for my Non-O retirement visa extension at CW. I have gathered together what I believe are the necessary documents and paperwork. My question is if it is better to present the folder containing this material en-masse and allow the IO to slog through it or maybe ask politely what they would like to see 🤷‍♂️

[bamnutsak]

You'll be directed to a document check desk where staff will assemble your documents in the proper order and verify you have everything. After that, you'll wait for the IO to call your number.

 

There are a lot of good trip reports you can find with a search...

 

https://aseannow.com/topic/1330696-non-o-retirement-extension-trip-report-chaengwattana/

 

[Nowaythatsreal]

I have made an online appointment and have heard that numbers are not always if ever called if under these circumstances 🤷‍♂️

[bamnutsak]

2 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

I have made an online appointment and have heard that numbers are not always if ever called if under these circumstances 🤷‍♂️

 

IO's will step out and ask if anyone has an appointment.

 

Last time I had a 9:30 appointment, got called in ~ 08:50.

 

Again, have a look at trip reports from the last year.

 

 

[Nowaythatsreal]

10 minutes ago, bamnutsak said:

 

IO's will step out and ask if anyone has an appointment.

 

Last time I had a 9:30 appointment, got called in ~ 08:50.

 

Again, have a look at trip reports from the last year.

 

 

OK many thanks 👍

[DrJack54]

20 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

I have made an online appointment and have heard that numbers are not always if ever called if under these circumstances 🤷‍♂️

 

First up make sure you print out hard copy of your appointment.

You have good answer in first reply.

Read the link to thread he posted 

You will note minor things such as hand drawn map etc 

With appointment you attend the L32-35 desks.

The doc check chicks will check your paperwork and direct you to L #desk

The io will not call you.

When you see her without customer at entrance show your appointment print out. 

Be 15-20 minutes early. 

You often seen tad early. 

 

Is this your first extension.

Which bank do you use.

[Nowaythatsreal]

I am with Bangkok Bank (800,000 THB method). 
 

Does the map have to be hand drawn? I was going to print out a google map. I live in a prominent tower block in a busy part of the city. I guess the hand drawn map is appropriate if you live in an obscure narrow soi off the beaten track? Thanks for the feedback 👍

[Nowaythatsreal]

Yes it will be my first without an agent 😳

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

Yes it will be my first without an agent 😳

So previously you used an agent.

Did you cover the financials? 

Meaning your money was in the account according to the requirements and maintained during the year.

Agent in that situation referred to as "hand holding only" 

 

So you are with Bangkok Bank.

What are you planning re 12 month Bank Statement and Bank Letter.

Also CW prefer/want an update plus activity on day of application.

Some folk do that with 100b deposit 

 

Re The Map. It's just a map showing your residence to main road. 

Not all the way to CW.

 

 

[Nowaythatsreal]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

So previously you used an agent.

Did you cover the financials? 

Meaning your money was in the account according to the requirements and maintained during the year.

Agent in that situation referred to as "hand holding only" 

 

So you are with Bangkok Bank. 

What are you planning re 12 month Bank Statement and Bank Letter.

Also CW prefer/want an update plus activity on day of application.

Some folk do that with 100b deposit 

 

Re The Map. It's just a map showing your residence to main road. 

Not all the way to CW.

 

 

I will provide my passbook and get the bank to provide last 12 month statements and get the bank letter. I was planning to make a 100 tHB withdrawal on the day. Is a deposit better?

 

The agent I used opened my bank account with his own 800,000 THB and withdrew it 5 seconds later in 2023 and did my first Non-O visa for me. I tried to extend it myself in 2024 but of course I failed because of the 3 month rule i.e the 800,000 baht was only in the account for 5 seconds not 3 months after the extension. The passbook that showed the original 800,000 THB deposit and withdrawal is now full so hopefully they will not ask to see that. It should not make any difference but you never know. 

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

I will provide my passbook and get the bank to provide last 12 month statements and get the bank letter. I was planning to make a 100 tHB withdrawal on the day. Is a deposit better?

12 month bank statement from Bangkok Bank takes 5-7 days. 

So this needs to be obtained PRIOR to day of application for extension.

You can also obtain Bank Letter prior.

 

100b deposit or withdrawal is fine.

Ask teller to photocopy this last page of bank book to show activity and update. 

 

9 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

The passbook that showed the original 800,000 THB deposit and withdrawal is now full so hopefully they will not ask to see that. It should not make any difference but you never know. 

Your bank book will be looked at back to last extension and indeed can also look at 2 months prior to last extension.

So to be clear: Unless your bank book/bank statements show 800k two months prior to last extension and maintained for min 3 months then not below 400k and then back up to 800k two months prior to next application.....there will be issue. 

 

[Nowaythatsreal]

Yes thanks for the warning. My replacement passbook has the two months prior to my 2024 renewal and is greater than 800,000 THB. 
 

I will get the Bangkok bank branch in CW to provide the letter and statements. They did this for me on my failed attempt last year. 
 

It’s a little annoying really because the first extension should never have been allowed since the 800,000 THB was clearly not going to be maintained for the first 3 months. Why wait until the next extension to highlight the issue?

[DrJack54]

27 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

 

I will get the Bangkok bank branch in CW to provide the letter and statements. They did this for me on my failed attempt last year. 

How did Bangkok Bank provide you 12 month bank statement at CW.

That bank takes 5-7 days to provide that so it needs to be obtained prior to day of application.

Also the Bank Letter can be obtained prior to day of application. 

 

27 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

It’s a little annoying really because the first extension should never have been allowed since the 800,000 THB was clearly not going to be maintained for the first 3 months. Why wait until the next extension to highlight the issue?

Not being rude but do not understand at all this comment.

You either have an agent bypass the financials or you don't.

For each expression your bank records are checked retrospectively.

This can be back till 2 months prior to date of last extension 

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

So you are with Bangkok Bank.

What are you planning re 12 month Bank Statement and Bank Letter.

Also CW prefer/want an update plus activity on day of application.

Some folk do that with 100b deposit 

 

Bangkok Bank will update the passbook (savings or fixed) without requiring a deposit.

 

IO's at CW have never asked ME to show transaction on that day.

[DrJack54]

4 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

Bangkok Bank will update the passbook (savings or fixed) without requiring a deposit.

In the main I was referring to Bank Statement and Bank Letter. 

[Nowaythatsreal]

Bangkok bank has a branch on the ground floor at CW so I just went in, waited a little after taking a queue ticket and asked for the letter and last 12 months of statements. As I recall they charged either 200 or 300 THB for the service. 
 

With regard to the agent original Non-O application my point was that if the rules state unequivocally that the 800,000 THB has to be in the account for the 3 months immediately after the granting of the extension then this condition could not possibly be met since the 800,000 THB was only in for 5 seconds even before the process had begun. In other words at the moment of application for the Non-O visa I did have any money in my account at all. 
 

I think the point that you are making perhaps is the the agent is able to bypass the 800,000 THB rule?

[Nowaythatsreal]

…..should be did not have 🤷‍♂️

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

I think the point that you are making perhaps is the the agent is able to bypass the 800,000 THB rule?

Of course...that's one of main reasons someone would use an agent. To bypass financial requirements. 

 

3 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

I just went in, waited a little after taking a queue ticket and asked for the letter and last 12 months of statements. As I recall they charged either 200 or 300 THB for the service. 

Wonder why everyone else using Bangkok Bank require several days to obtain 12 month bank statement.

Bank Letter yes on the spot..

200b and 100b respectively 

[scottiejohn]

27 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Bangkok Bank will update the passbook (savings or fixed) without requiring a deposit.

 

IO's at CW have never asked ME to show transaction on that day.

Same at CM.

[Nowaythatsreal]

So what you are saying is that if you start with an agent then the first extension request will fail if you try to do it yourself. I am hoping that subsequent extension requests if I do them myself will not be an issue as long as I have adhered to the rules regarding the balance amounts and durations necessary before and after renewal? 

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

So what you are saying is that if you start with an agent then the first extension request will fail if you try to do it yourself

If you start with an agent then the agent would have obtained the 12 month extension WITHOUT adhering to financial requirements.

When did you actually place the 800k in your account and leave it there. 

 

When you apply for next extension you would need to show financial compliance back to your last extension date and even 2 months prior..

Are you able to do that.

For anyone reading this thread, a better option to start DIY after having used an agent is to start over.

Exit Thailand reenter visa exempt and obtain a Non O with your own 800k in bank and then subsequent 12 month extension. 

[Nowaythatsreal]

Yes my 800,000 minimum started on Jan 4th 2024. 
 

Could my Non-O extension this year be compromised by the fact the original ‘agent obtained’ Non-O visa did not have the 800,000THB in my account 🤔

[DrJack54]

24 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

Yes my 800,000 minimum started on Jan 4th 2024. 

12 month bank statement will show compliance having started with 800k in bank on Jan 4.

When did agent apply for this current extension. 

When does current extension expire

[NoDisplayName]

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

In the main I was referring to Bank Statement and Bank Letter. 

 

Exactly.

 

For some other banks, a deposit/withdrawal is required to do the update, at least for fixed accounts.

 

OP has Bangkok Bank that can do a balance forward either at the desk or machine without a transaction.

[DrJack54]

9 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

OP has Bangkok Bank that can do a balance forward either at the desk or machine without a transaction.

I am not typing about bank book update. Yes I mentioned it however that's not a concern.

 

The OP stated earlier.......

"... I just went in, waited a little after taking a queue ticket and asked for the letter and last 12 months of statements".

 

He is obtaining a 12 month bank statement from Bangkok Bank.

They don't do them on the spot.

It takes days. 

[Nowaythatsreal]

33 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

12 month bank statement will show compliance having started with 800k in bank on Jan 4.

When did agent apply for this current extension. 

When does current extension expire

Current extension expires April 23 2025

Applied for on April 18 2024 

[Nowaythatsreal]

Looking back at my previous extension application I notice that I only asked for 6 months worth of statements and not 12. I assume that 12 months won’t be a problem if they can provide 6 months ? 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

Current extension expires April 23 2025

Applied for on April 18 2024 

At CW you can apply for extension up to 45 days prior to expiry.

Obtain your 12 month bank statement few days PRIOR to attending CW for extension application. 

[DrJack54]

3 minutes ago, Nowaythatsreal said:

Looking back at my previous extension application I notice that I only asked for 6 months worth of statements and not 12. I assume that 12 months won’t be a problem if they can provide 6 months ? 

6 month statement is provided by Bangkok Bank on the spot.

You want a 12 month bank statement. 

That takes 3-5 days if you are in Bangkok.

So you obtain the 12 month statement in the week prior to application.

Do you understand now

[Nowaythatsreal]

Yes I have booked an appointment on the 10 March 👍