Verify UK pension

[elfpattaya]

I would like to extend my retirement visa using by the pension income method. I have been told that my pensions need to be verified. In the past this was done by British Embassy/Consulate, but they no longer do that.

Does anyone know how i can get these pensions verified, and do they still need to be verified.

 

[chickenslegs]

I use the income method. Immigration (Jomtien) require:

1. Proof of source of income (letter from my UK pension provider confirming my annual pension)

2. Letter from my Thai bank, stating that I have an account with them

3. 12 month bank statement, showing regular monthly deposits from abroad - minimum 65,000 baht each month.

4. A second letter from my Thai bank, listing each of the monthly deposits.

5. Copies of every page of my bank book (I don't keep the book up to date, but that doesn't seem to matter)

[DrJack54]

18 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

I would like to extend my retirement visa using by the pension income method.

Which immigration office.. 

Are you currently using money in bank method? 

 

[elfpattaya]

Thanks chickenslegs, so no verification needed, seems to be a lot of bank letters. Lets just hope my bank branch is knowledgeable and helpful.

I have the original letter from the UK DWP for my Government pension, and have monthly statements from my other pension providers.

Any idea of the earliest date this can be done, my present extension ends early September?

[DrJack54]

1 minute ago, elfpattaya said:

Thanks chickenslegs, so no verification needed, seems to be a lot of bank letters. Lets just hope my bank branch is knowledgeable and helpful.

I have the original letter from the UK DWP for my Government pension, and have monthly statements from my other pension providers.

You are not addressing the question. 

Seems you are currently on extensions using (guessing) money in bank method..

To change to income method you would need to show proof of 12 monthly transfers of 65k +

Can you do that? 

[elfpattaya]

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

You are not addressing the question. 

My question was about verification chickenslegs has answered that.

[Tod Daniels]

It appears you  don't understand how the monthly income method works for people who can't get the affidavit of income letter from their embassy. <- which your Brit embassy doesn't issue and hasn't since Dec 2018.

 

In order to use the monthly income method you would have to transfer intoa Thai bank account in your name only a minimum of 65K baht per month, each month, every month, for the previous 12 months before you apply for the new extension. 

 

It goes without saying although I will say it now, if your current extension was based on banked money method you also need to meet the seasoning requirements for the extension you're currently on aa well

[elfpattaya]

29 minutes ago, Tod Daniels said:

In order to use the monthly income method you would have to transfer in toa Thai bank account in your name only a minimum of 65K baht per month, each month, every month, for the previous 12 months before you apply for the new extension. 

I have 3 Pensions from the UK, all three are paid directly into my Bangkok Bank account, and have been for a few years. I think I may have enough for the retirement visa, but if not I may go the marriage way.

I have previously used an agent, but circumstances seem to have changed re agents this year, price increases and passport away for a few weeks.

I have been here a long time and have previously used the income method, with a letter from the British Consulate, combined with monies saved in the bank. I understand that the UK Consulate no longer do the verification.

I'm just looking for alternatives to the agent this year. I shall probably discuss things with the agent and see what they suggest.

What's the earliest I can renew my extension, an agent is 3 months before, but when I did it previously off my own back it was only a month before.

[DrJack54]

13 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

What's the earliest I can renew my extension, an agent is 3 months before, but when I did it previously off my own back it was only a month before.

Yes an agent can obtain an extension up to 3 months early. 

Doing extensions by yourself it's up to 30 days early at most offices and up to 45 at a few large offices such as CM, CW etc. 

 

You now mention that you have been using an agent. 

So in fact most likely not been using income method since the embassy letter option was removed. 

Changing back to DIY and using income method is not simple. 

Most likely you cannot show 65k transfers per month for the previous 12 months. 

Then you casually mention you are married to a Thai national? 

 

Has the agent been using "money in bank method" and assisting with the financial requirements? 

 

Which immigration office do you deal with? 

[Tod Daniels]

30 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

I have previously used an agent

and there in lies the problem. 😮 

IF that agent used "banked money method" and banked the money just long enough to update your bank book, get the bank letter and get you the extension, then even IF you had 12 months of a minimum of 65K baht a month in international transfers coming into your account you couldn't use monthly income method for this upcoming extension 😞 

That's because 

The banked money method seasoning is 800K baht in the bank for 2 months before you apply for the extension, the 800K baht stays in the bank for 3 months after the extension is granted and then the balance can not go below 400K baht the rest of the year <- you meet these requirements in addition to bringing in 65k baht a month each month every month for the previous 12 months for this upcoming extension

When you go to get an extension they will require a year detail transaction report from the bank, that will show the balance every transaction for every day of the previous year
AND
(if the agent banked the money for you) they will see that you didn't meet the requirements for the banked money method and deny the extension  

Just continue using the agent (the prices didn't go up THAT much, I previously saw prices in Pattaya for 14k and now it's like 17k-19k, although bangkok is higher)

[DrJack54]

41 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

I have previously used an agent, but circumstances seem to have changed re agents this year, price increases and passport away for a few weeks.

From your username seems that you most likely located Pattaya. 

Yes prices went up perhaps by 3k. 

However read post from Tod above carefully. 

Changing back to DIY is not simple. 

Most likely require you to "start over" Also to use money in bank method. 

Continue with agent

[elfpattaya]

54 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Most likely you cannot show 65k transfers per month for the previous 12 months. 

My pension Payments all come from abroad every month I get a SMS from Bangkok Bank confirming this, All my pensions go direct to Bangkok Bank and have done for the last 7 years.

My concern about the 65k is the fluctuations in the sterling exchange rate which have ranged between 41 and 47 Baht to the Pound in the past year. I can only check the last 6 months on my phone app.

You are right about the agent price rise, which is not that high, but a little worried that my passport is away for a few weeks. I shall have a word with the agent sometime next week, see what they suggest.

I have not entertained the marriage Visa in the past because I've heard that it is a PITA.

I understand what you say about the seeding.

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

My pension Payments all come from abroad every month I get a SMS from Bangkok Bank confirming this, All my pensions go direct to Bangkok Bank and have done for the last 7 years

You are so missing the point. 

Your monthly income from pensions has (most likely) nothing to do with your extensions. 

 

Almost certainly the agent has been using "money in bank method" and not actually meeting the financial requirements. 

That's one reason why folk use an agent. 

 

In any event you can't just now DIY. 

The financial requirements are checked retrospectively . 

 

You also mention pp "away for a few weeks" 

Where are your stamps being issued. 

So are you in Pattaya? 

Do you attend immigration with the agent? 

[elfpattaya]

I have talked to the agent on the phone and suggested the monthly income to them, they said no problem as long as my pensions are verified, they even said I would not need the 65K ???

Unfortunately, it was on the phone with a few language difficulties, which is why I shall go to see  them next week.

The agent also said they have found a way round the problem with Bangkok Bank for this year but not sure about the future??

If there is a problem with this I shall pay the agent, as I have for the past few years, and let them get on with it. I'm just a little concerned that my passport is away for 2 weeks.

I have lived here permanently for the past 20+ years and they always seem to find a way round these problems, lets hope this carries on.

Anyway I shall let you know what happens.

[DrJack54]

12 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

I have talked to the agent on the phone and suggested the monthly income to them, they said no problem as long as my pensions are verified, they even said I would not need the 65K ???

No idea what that means. 

You either have 12 monthly transfers of 65k + or you don't. 

In any event you don't have an option to do the extension yourself. 

[elfpattaya]

24 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

In any event you don't have an option to do the extension yourself

Who are you, Ubon Joe's replacement, why so much negativity, are you an immigration officer. I have asked a simple question about verification, which was answered by chickenslegs and I have got caught up in a conversation with so called self appointed immigration experts.

Please can you close this topic. I have got the answers I required. 

[Upnotover]

2 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

Who are you, Ubon Joe's replacement, why so much negativity, are you an immigration officer. I have asked a simple question about verification, which was answered by chickenslegs and I have got caught up in a conversation with so called self appointed immigration experts.

Please can you close this topic. I have got the answers I required. 

 

I think it's reality rather than negativity.  Your question about verification was indeed addressed and when you asked it you were hoping to do your own extension based on income.  It seems pretty clear from the advice provided that you are not going to be able to do that and are now back in the hands of your agent, so basically back where you started.  

[elfpattaya]

Please close this Thread,

15 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

It seems pretty clear from the advice provided

Who exactly is giving this advice, what are their credentials. 

Has Drjack54 actually gone through this process, or is it just hearsay

Please close this thread, too many notifications.

 

[mancub]

7 minutes ago, elfpattaya said:

Please close this Thread,

Who exactly is giving this advice, what are their credentials. 

Please close this thread, too many notifications.

Sorry, but you've been given some very sound and helpful advice, which you appear to have responded to with a degree of self-righteousness, and will most likely choose to ignore....at your own cost !

 

[DrJack54]

Thread closed at OP request