Retirement extension

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, black tabby12345 said:

 

Really?

I though rule for that retirement o(OA) is universally the same in this kingdom(while some extra documents needed depending on where you lodge your papers).

 

 

Not sure we are referring to same thing.

Extensions based on retirement have financial requirements.

The two most common methods used is "Money in Bank" and "Income Method" 

The other option is "Combination Method" 

The combo method is accepted by most immigration offices however not all.

 

[black tabby12345]

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

The combo method is accepted by most immigration offices however not all.

 

 

Where is it about actually？

 I always go with Fund in Account, so I don't know other people's cases.

 

[DrJack54]

31 minutes ago, black tabby12345 said:

I always go with Fund in Account, so I don't know other people's cases.

Stick with the "money in bank" method

 

The OP pension transfers may possibly fall to below 65k/month.

A suggestion of combo method was made 

 

Better option for him is to just add to the pension amount from savings to ensure the 65k+ is maintained 

[sandyf]

19 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The combo method is accepted by most immigration offices however not all.

You shouldn't be promoting that rumour, you would not be party to the detail where an application had been refused, only hearsay.

It is up to individuals to check the situation applicable to them before deciding an approach. Some are paid directly from the pension provider and cannot add to the amount, then you have the issue if the office will accept a second payment or not. Those that use an embassy letter cannot add to the amount.

An extension based on income, for whatever reason, may be the only option and advocating money in the bank is of little help in that respect.

There may well be those that are unaware of the combo method and I know from experience it is a fairly straightforward process.

[scubascuba3]

29 minutes ago, sandyf said:

You shouldn't be promoting that rumour, you would not be party to the detail where an application had been refused, only hearsay.

It is up to individuals to check the situation applicable to them before deciding an approach. Some are paid directly from the pension provider and cannot add to the amount, then you have the issue if the office will accept a second payment or not. Those that use an embassy letter cannot add to the amount.

An extension based on income, for whatever reason, may be the only option and advocating money in the bank is of little help in that respect.

There may well be those that are unaware of the combo method and I know from experience it is a fairly straightforward process.

Most posts on this forum are hearsay or anecdotal, you can piece a lot together based on that. Certainly Jomtien has been ify with the income method, i for one was told cannot, of course this can change

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

You shouldn't be promoting that rumour, you would not be party to the detail where an application had been refused, only hearsay.

It's the interpretation by the immigration office that counts and anyone considering "combination method" for extensions should check with their immigration office. 

Some will require a certain minimum balance. 

A common "formula" is 400k money in account and monthly transfers of eg 35k  (retirement) 

 

Won't bother correcting rest of your post 

[DrJack54]

2 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Certainly Jomtien has been ify with the income method, i for one was told cannot, of course this can change

Did you mean "ify on combination method"....? 

[scubascuba3]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Did you mean "ify on combination method"....? 

Yes correct, i meant to say ify with combination method

[jaideedave]

On 3/1/2025 at 6:33 AM, Tod Daniels said:

Remember the hardest part about changing from banked money proof of funds to monthly income by international transfer proof of funds is:
 

You need to continue to meet the seasoning requirement for the current extension you're on NOW <- meaning you needed to have kept the 800K baht in a thai bank account in your name only for 3 months after your extension was granted and then you can't let the balance go below 400K the rest of the year until you apply for the new extension using monthly income by transfer <- meaning you also need to transfer in from abroad a minimum of 65K baht, each month every month for the previous 12 months before you apply for the extension based on monthly income.

The people who used an agent that banked the money for you cannot show they kept the 800K baht in the account for 3 months after the extension they're on now was granted and that will be readily apparent when you submit the year detail transaction report to the immigration office because it shows every transaction on that account (and the balance) for the whole year..

That is what runs most people who have agent gotten visas and want to do their own extensions..

It's a slippery slope getting agent banked money extensions and then trying to switch to one you do yourself.

@Tod,my experience at Jomtien to for 1 yr extension using monthly income vs agent last year. Luckily I had an example sheet to show Kbank desk Pattaya Klang. I hadn't updated my passbook for over 2 years.They went ahead and printed every transaction for that time period.(50 pages plus++) I also received the foriegn deposits for the past 12 months.Average 70k/mom.

At Immigration the IO looked that over with a fine tooth comb.Ruler and highlight pen in hand. He really took his time and found nothing out of order. No mention was made about previous agent stamps etc. I took my wife and they chatted the whole time and I was the invisible man.happily. He only acknowledged me when he said stand up for the pic and 1900b request. A real big sigh of relief from me.

So in my opinion if a persons foreign deposits are correct they should be okay.

[jaideedave]

On 3/1/2025 at 10:00 AM, DrJack54 said:

Good. If for some reason the extension is not granted, you would be aware of good border run companies doing border bounce from Pattaya to Cambodia. 

Worry about that after Tuesday.

 

Recent favourable report with mob.

 

https://www.tvsservicesthailand.com/Visa-Run-to-Cambodia-Laos

 

Here is thread discussing border run from Pattaya.

https://aseannow.com/topic/1331485-border-run-from-pattaya-in-a-6-seater-vip-van/

Dr Jack,my experience at Jomtien to for 1 yr extension using monthly income vs agent last year. Luckily I had an example sheet to show Kbank desk Pattaya Klang. I hadn't updated my passbook for over 2 years.They went ahead and printed every transaction for that time period.(50 pages plus++) I also received the foriegn deposits for the past 12 months.Average 70k/mom.

At Immigration the IO looked that over with a fine tooth comb.Ruler and highlight pen in hand. He really took his time and found nothing out of order. No mention was made about previous agent stamps etc. I took my wife and they chatted the whole time and I was the invisible man.happily. He only acknowledged me when he said stand up for the pic and 1900b request. A real big sigh of relief from me.

So in my opinion if a persons foreign deposits are correct they should be okay.

[DrJack54]

1 hour ago, jaideedave said:

So in my opinion if a persons foreign deposits are correct they should be okay

First up ...good result that you obtained the extension.

I'm very surprised as for previous extension you used an agent.

I assume while your bank statements can show 12+ monthly transfers of 65k (min) that not have been sufficient.

The io should have checked compliance for money in bank method. 

 

My last extension Nov 5 using money in bank, I had a chat with head the head io L34 at CW.

I signaled my intention to change to income method.

I already had been transferring monthly amounts.

FWIW she clearly stated..."keep 800k in bank next 3 month" 

I've gone a step up and currently running both methods in concert.

 

IMO you got a lucky break. 

[jaideedave]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

First up ...good result that you obtained the extension.

I'm very surprised as for previous extension you used an agent.

I assume while your bank statements can show 12+ monthly transfers of 65k (min) that not have been sufficient.

The io should have checked compliance for money in bank method. 

 

My last extension Nov 5 using money in bank, I had a chat with head the head io L34 at CW.

I signaled my intention to change to income method.

I already had been transferring monthly amounts.

FWIW she clearly stated..."keep 800k in bank next 3 month" 

I've gone a step up and currently running both methods in concert.

 

IMO you got a lucky break. 

I agree about being lucky.I went in giving myself maybe a 50/50 chance. There are some old original Visa stamps in my PP dated back to 2006 that were transferred from my last PP when I got this newer one.That may have something to do with it.

I did notice him confer with a senior IO in the corner at one stage so I'm sure they were aware something wasn't 100%.

BTW: Thanks for your advice and encouragement.   

[DrJack54]

10 minutes ago, jaideedave said:

I did notice him confer with a senior IO in the corner at one stage so I'm sure they were aware something wasn't 100%.

Bottom line you have your extension .....ongoing no worries.

Great result. 

[samtam]

On 3/1/2025 at 3:22 PM, WDSmart said:

Actually, I just found out last year that I could qualify for a one-year retirement extension based on monthly deposits of THB 65K. Before that, I thought it had to be retirement income. And that used to have to be verified by your consulate, but the US consulate quit doing that 15 years ago or more. So, after that, I've always relied on the THB 800K in the bank, that is, until last year when an Immigration official at my Immigration office told me I could just show proof of THB 65K each month.  My US retirement (Social Security) is much more than that, and I always transfer that from my US bank to my Thai bank every month. So now, I'm all set. 🙂

 

What about tax? 5% on THB780K after TEDA of THB500K is THB14,000 - or less, if you have insurance exemption.

[treetops]

4 minutes ago, samtam said:

What about tax?

 

US Social Security is not taxed in Thailand.

[samtam]

2 minutes ago, treetops said:

 

US Social Security is not taxed in Thailand.

 

Sorry. I missed any reference to US Social Security.

[scubascuba3]

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Bottom line you have your extension .....ongoing no worries.

Great result. 

Further proof you can move from Agent method to own funding method without getting a new non imm O, I'm not even sure the stamps are any different when using an agent, i read they are signed by the same person

[DrJack54]

5 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

, I'm not even sure the stamps are any different when using an agent, i read they are signed by the same person

Of course the Stamps are issued by immigration office.

The agents obtain extensions based on retirement.

The financial requirements are checked retrospectively.

Immigration should have seen that the requirements were not met. 

[gamb00ler]

On 2/28/2025 at 4:07 PM, Badrabbit said:

Just a quick question,

I'm just above the 65k per month requirement,  the exchange rate is worsening, I am now right on the limit, will Immigration refuse my extension If I fall below 65k per month because of the exchange rate or would thay take this into consideration?

I was in a similar situation prior to my last extension.  The difference was that I was using an 'income letter' rather than actual transfers.  Due to the strong Thai ฿ and an erroneus reduction in my pension, I fell below the 65K benchmark.  I was lucky as I also qualified for a marriage extension which was my backup plan.  I had the extra documentation for that method prepared as well.

 

My income was only about 2500 ฿ short of the 65K/month.  I decided that I would ask CM Immigration if they would accept my ~100K ฿ bank balance together with the income letter for an extension.  They did but asked for a 12 month bank statement instead of the 3 month version I had already prepared.

 

Now there's a good news/bad news situation.  They fixed my pension amount but Canada no longer provides the income letter.  The slackers at the Embassy/Consulate aren't getting my 1250 ฿ for the letter any more. 555

[scubascuba3]

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Of course the Stamps are issued by immigration office.

So you agree getting a new non imm O isn't required? you previously said it was, I've seen threads where people were encouraged to leave Thailand and get a new one

[DrJack54]

6 minutes ago, gamb00ler said:

The slackers at the Embassy/Consulate aren't getting my 1250 ฿ for the letter any more. 555

Will stir up some Canadians.

In any event since they accepted your money in bank +monthly transfers you dont need the embassy letter..

[DrJack54]

8 minutes ago, scubascuba3 said:

So you agree getting a new non imm O isn't required? you previously said it was, I've seen threads where people were encouraged to leave Thailand and get a new one

When you attend immigration for annual extension using money in bank method the immigration officer should check carefully at the banking records back till previous extension.

I can confirm (personal experience) that the io even looked at the two months PRIOR to day of last application.

If someone used an agent for previous extension then there is no proof of compliance.

One way out of this is to "start over" 

[samtam]

14 hours ago, samtam said:

 

Sorry. I missed any reference to US Social Security.

 

@bamnutsak's comment from the above thread:

 

Social Security payments could suffer interruption soon as DOGE causes ‘system collapse,’ former commissioner warns—‘start saving now’

 

https://fortune.com/2025/03/03/social-security-payments-benefits-interruption-doge-cuts-system-collapse-retirement-disability/

 

 

Social Security has never missed a payment. DOGE actions threaten ‘interruption of benefits,’ ex-agency head says

 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/03/01/doge-actions-may-cause-social-security-benefit-interruption-ex-agency-head.html

[jaideedave]

9 hours ago, scubascuba3 said:

Further proof you can move from Agent method to own funding method without getting a new non imm O, I'm not even sure the stamps are any different when using an agent, i read they are signed by the same person

Correct scuba..I've had my extension done with and without agents before and compared the signatures and are exactly the same ..

I can even point him out to you(won't) at Jomtien...he now sits at the back and plays on his phone and acts as a supervisor.

[brianburi]

23 hours ago, jaideedave said:

Dr Jack,my experience at Jomtien to for 1 yr extension using monthly income vs agent last year. Luckily I had an example sheet to show Kbank desk Pattaya Klang. I hadn't updated my passbook for over 2 years.They went ahead and printed every transaction for that time period.(50 pages plus++) I also received the foriegn deposits for the past 12 months.Average 70k/mom.

At Immigration the IO looked that over with a fine tooth comb.Ruler and highlight pen in hand. He really took his time and found nothing out of order. No mention was made about previous agent stamps etc. I took my wife and they chatted the whole time and I was the invisible man.happily. He only acknowledged me when he said stand up for the pic and 1900b request. A real big sigh of relief from me.

So in my opinion if a persons foreign deposits are correct they should be okay.

 I take it your previous stamp was from Chonburi Immigration?

For those who live in other provinces that also have the Chonburi stamp in passport courtesy of the ''agents'' it is unlikely this would work.  The advice when I enquired at my IO last year was to leave Thailand and start over.

If I am incorrect please can  forum members post their experience's.........

[WDSmart]

19 hours ago, samtam said:

 

What about tax? 5% on THB780K after TEDA of THB500K is THB14,000 - or less, if you have insurance exemption.

I have no idea what you're talkin about... 

[DrJack54]

Trolling post removed 

[sandyf]

On 3/3/2025 at 9:38 AM, scubascuba3 said:

Most posts on this forum are hearsay or anecdotal, you can piece a lot together based on that. Certainly Jomtien has been ify with the income method, i for one was told cannot, of course this can change

Jomtien probably has the worst clientele of any immigration office in the country and cannot be taken as a benchmark. I am in the same province but use a different office and the difference is quite substantial.

The combo requires the income and funds to be presented in a recognised manner, something that some seem to find difficult which in turn frustrates the IO.

[scubascuba3]

8 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Jomtien probably has the worst clientele of any immigration office in the country and cannot be taken as a benchmark. I am in the same province but use a different office and the difference is quite substantial.

The combo requires the income and funds to be presented in a recognised manner, something that some seem to find difficult which in turn frustrates the IO.

There is a nazi woman on desk 7, full nazi uniform,  both me and a friend had a similar experience with her, you'd have to experience it to understand 

[SAFETY FIRST]

38 minutes ago, sandyf said:

Jomtien probably has the worst clientele of any immigration office in the country and cannot be taken as a benchmark

I go there occasionally, I get so disappointed in mankind, some of the trashy people these poor immigration officers have to put up with.