I started getting ready for my Non O reason Marriage last week I ordered the 12 monthly statement on my account.

Yesterday we rang and it was ready, went down to get it and everything was fine until I asked for the verification letter, which I usually get for 300 baht, was told they dont issue as the statement is good enough( actually it is but, the police order still states they need a letter) they then stated that they only give a verification letter for 400,000 baht held for 4 months were they plucked that from only knows, I said thats fine but I was never told this at anytime even when they had me in to do the over the top person verification and they kept parroting the 400,000 baht bit, all well and good but I brought the money in in good faith and now you wont verify it.

Sure enough lob at immigration this afternoon and was told I need a letter, I said they wont  give one, I even said ok I will get copies of transfer from my bank to wise then transfer by wise to Bangkok bank, nope, he even tried Korat and Surin and they have the same problem the officer was very very helpful he tried his best, its stupid for a bank to change the rule and not tell its customers but then its Thailand, they should have covered this year and then told cant do next year.

What are my optoins, I have until the 21st of September

1 Go back to Australia and start all over again, Definitely not a preferred option.

2 Find an agent to handle this for me.

3 Find a lawyer to do it for me

4 Start a class action suit against Bangkok bank( there will be more than just little old me caught in this, if in another country would be my preferred option.

Sorry it is so long but hell Im so frustrated

 

Option 1 or 2

 

Option 2   plus   move to another bank  but keep the original account open as a backup  with minimal funds

as the tables may well turn again in the future.

It's almost as if they are trying to push expats towards visa agents..

26 minutes ago, BillyBloggs said:

they then stated that they only give a verification letter for 400,000 baht held for 4 months were they plucked that from only knows,

You're far from the first person to bring this issue up with their bangkok bank account trying to get the correct documentation so they can get an extension. Other people have faced it and you either sign the paper saying you'll let them freeze the 400K for 4 months (where you can see it in your total account balance but it's not in your "available balance" 😕 or you don't get the letter 
 
Do you have an issue keeping the 400K baht in the bank for 4 months? 
 

 

27 minutes ago, BillyBloggs said:

Sure enough lob at immigration this afternoon and was told I need a letter

wasn't really a "lob" at immigrations, having the bank letter has been a requirement for years now 😕 and just because a bank changed their policy doesn't mean immigrations would change theirs 😞 

I would say you have limited options. 

Wouldn't matter if you went back to Oz or to a thai consulate in a nearby country and got a new Non-O 90 day visa, you'd still need the bank letter, statement and bank book updated to get the first year extension from that so you'd be right back where you are now 

You could sign the paper, freeze the funds, get the extension, and during the interim try to open an account at another bank

Or you could use an agent/agency to 'push paper' for you <- which is probably the most viable option doesn't require freezing the funds and once you get the extension you can start looking for another bank ASAP
 

41 minutes ago, BillyBloggs said:

they only give a verification letter for 400,000 baht held for 4 months were they plucked that from only knows, I said thats fine but I was never told this at anytime even when they had me in to do the over the top person verification and they kept parroting the 400,000 baht bit, all well and good but I brought the money in in good faith and now you wont verify it.

Your OP is bit all over the shop. 

You require 2 things 

1. 12 month bank statement that you obtained. 200b 

2. Bank Letter. That's a simple statement that confirms you as sole owner of the account and balance in day of issue. 100b 

 

Now in reference to #2 BBL have gone into maniac mode and requiring you to sign a bank (made up) form that you agree not to withdraw funds for 4 months from date that was in the bank. 

 

Just do it and move on. 

After extension is granted suggest you change banks. 

 

The start over options etc you mention are pretty much crazy so would avoid that

 

Do you have a different branch nearby?

1 minute ago, PoorSucker said:

Do you have a different branch nearby?

That will not work

4 minutes ago, Tod Daniels said:

You're far from the first person to bring this issue up with their bangkok bank

This stems from a case in Pattaya, bank staff  taken into custody for

"dubious activities"   now everyone reaps the results with harsh conditions.

Move funds to another bank/s.

Instead of going back to Australia you can also make a short one day visa run to Laos. As far as I know they don`t require any verification letter for Non-O based on marriage.

15 minutes ago, zmisha said:

Instead of going back to Australia you can also make a short one day visa run to Laos. As far as I know they don`t require any verification letter for Non-O based on marriage.

He has a best option already posted. 

That being accept the funds are locked up for extra couple of months extra and look at changing banks after upcoming extension is granted. 

20 minutes ago, johng said:

This stems from a case in Pattaya, bank staff  taken into custody for

"dubious activities"  

Can you post link to this claim. 

 

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Can you post link to this claim. 

 

It's somewhere in the Pattaya news or Pattaya forum

a couple of months ago from memory  Ill try to find it for you.

3 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Can you post link to this claim. 

Bangkok Post - Bank employees in Pattaya charged with helping Chinese scammers

27 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Your OP is bit all over the shop. 

You require 2 things 

1. 12 month bank statement that you obtained. 200b 

2. Bank Letter. That's a simple statement that confirms you as sole owner of the account and balance in day of issue. 100b 

 

Now in reference to #2 BBL have gone into maniac mode and requiring you to sign a bank (made up) form that you agree not to withdraw funds for 4 months from date that was in the bank. 

 

Just do it and move on. 

After extension is granted suggest you change banks. 

 

The start over options etc you mention are pretty much crazy so would avoid that

 

I always thought that the letter was a verification for the transfers and immigration didnt straighten me out on that, so I will try the verification of my account and my post was all over the place as I had so much going on in my head

Thanks @Madgee

20 minutes ago, BillyBloggs said:

I always thought that the letter was a verification for the transfers and immigration didnt straighten me out on that, so I will try the verification of my account and my post was all over the place as I had so much going on in my head

The bank letter is just confirmation you hold and account on the day of the letter and its balance on that day. Any transfers are not mentioned in the letter, they are in the bank book or statements.

Is the 400,000Baht deal the only thing that BKKBk is being difficult on? 

 

I shall be fronting up here in Surin in 4 or 5 weeks using the monthly 65KBaht minimum method for O/A-derived extension. I'm not expecting any difficulty and will be asking for the usual covering letter that says I am the proud owner of this fine account and have been since the beginning of time etc etc. Or should I be getting anxious and contemplating fleeing to another refuge?

10 minutes ago, mfd101 said:

Or should I be getting anxious and contemplating fleeing to another refuge?

Always good to have other options.

 

O/A  is retirement ?  I think   you need  800,000 at time of renewal and  400,000 minimum at other times,  as far as I know  that's the same for all banks...BKK/L have added some extra requirement it seems...the keeping of funds in the bank for 4 months.

52 minutes ago, johng said:

It's somewhere in the Pattaya news or Pattaya forum

Thanks, and I see @Madgee posted the link.

I asked for this as many think this bank issue is down to agent activities for non O + extensions. 

In reality it was all about bank accounts opened for scams from certain nationalities. 

1 hour ago, chang50 said:

It's almost as if they are trying to push expats towards visa agents..

Now why on Earth would they do that??😅

1 hour ago, johng said:

O/A  is retirement ?  I think   you need  800,000 at time of renewal and  400,000 minimum at other times,  as far as I know  that's the same for all banks...BKK/L have added some extra requirement it seems...the keeping of funds in the bank for 4 months.

As mentioned by me above, the O/A-derived annual renewal of stay has an alternative option which many members adopt, namely bring in a minimum of 65K฿ every month of the previous 12 months. But even when you use that method - which I have done for some years - you still need the covering letter from the bank to say that this really is your account and it currently (on the day) has X฿ in it.

3 hours ago, PoorSucker said:

Do you have a different branch nearby?

That's what I was thinking.. just try another branch. I have SCB and got both statement and letter from a branch that was not my own. I did have to insist a bit, but they did it.

50 minutes ago, ronnie50 said:

That's what I was thinking.. just try another branch. I have SCB and got both statement and letter from a branch that was not my own. I did have to insist a bit, but they did it.

This really isn't subject of this thread which is BBL specific new requirement to sign "lock funds" bank form. 

No other bank is currently doing this. 

As for your post.. Yes any branch can provide bank letter etc. 

1 hour ago, mfd101 said:

As mentioned by me above, the O/A-derived annual renewal of stay has an alternative option which many members adopt, namely bring in a minimum of 65K฿ every month of the previous 12 months

And you opt to do that? 

Requires insurance. Most avoid that option. 

Not difficult to kill off the Non O-A and obtain a Non O

Would require an exit from Thailand. 

4 hours ago, BillyBloggs said:

I started getting ready for my Non O reason Marriage last week I ordered the 12 monthly statement on my account.

Yesterday we rang and it was ready, went down to get it and everything was fine until I asked for the verification letter, which I usually get for 300 baht, was told they dont issue as the statement is good enough( actually it is but, the police order still states they need a letter) they then stated that they only give a verification letter for 400,000 baht held for 4 months were they plucked that from only knows, I said thats fine but I was never told this at anytime even when they had me in to do the over the top person verification and they kept parroting the 400,000 baht bit, all well and good but I brought the money in in good faith and now you wont verify it.

Sure enough lob at immigration this afternoon and was told I need a letter, I said they wont  give one, I even said ok I will get copies of transfer from my bank to wise then transfer by wise to Bangkok bank, nope, he even tried Korat and Surin and they have the same problem the officer was very very helpful he tried his best, its stupid for a bank to change the rule and not tell its customers but then its Thailand, they should have covered this year and then told cant do next year.

What are my optoins, I have until the 21st of September

1 Go back to Australia and start all over again, Definitely not a preferred option.

2 Find an agent to handle this for me.

3 Find a lawyer to do it for me

4 Start a class action suit against Bangkok bank( there will be more than just little old me caught in this, if in another country would be my preferred option.

Sorry it is so long but hell Im so frustrated

 

 

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And you opt to do that? 

Requires insurance. Most avoid that option. 

Not difficult to kill off the Non O-A and obtain a Non O

Would require an exit from Thailand. 

Mate, believe me I'm an expat from Melbourne Australia. I've lived in Thailand with my Thai wife for the past 25 years and I got fed up with this visa bull <deleted>. So I used an agent 10 years ago and I've never had a problem since. If you're in Pattaya check online or just go for a walk around the Soi Buakhaow area and check their fees.

I took some money out of my BKK bank account and put it back but I think that's shy of 4 months and I was expecting it to be 2 months like last year. Should I expect to not be able to renew the visa? This is in Chiang Mai.

 

People always say use an agent. How is this even done?

4 minutes ago, Mason45 said:

So I used an agent 10 years ago and I've never had a problem since. If you're in Pattaya check online or just go for a walk around the Soi Buakhaow area and check their fees.

That's fine. Also a good option to use agent even more so if located in Pattaya. 

 

I don't need to check online. 

I pretty much know most agents in Pattaya. 

 

Your first post indicated extensions from a Non O-A. 

Guessing your agent facilities insurance. 

As per my previous post.. You would have been best off to kill off the Non O-A. 

Note for others... If you had a Non O-A and are married to a Thai then extensions based on marriage do not require insurance. 

Based on retirement then yes insurance is required. 

 

 

23 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

And you opt to do that? 

Requires insurance. Most avoid that option. 

Not difficult to kill off the Non O-A and obtain a Non O

Would require an exit from Thailand. 

Well this is off the subject of this thread (which is what the BKKBk will or won't do for you when you need their little assurance letter for annual renewal of stay), but - anyway - yes I do stay with O/A. No reason not to. The insurance requirement (400K฿ or 3M฿ depending on who you last talked to) isn't a problem for me: at age 76 & healthy I need good health insurance but keep it cheapish by maximizing the deductible.

4 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

I took some money out of my BKK bank account and put it back but I think that's shy of 4 months and I was expecting it to be 2 months like last year. Should I expect to not be able to renew the visa? This is in Chiang Mai.

Just to be clear. 

Immigration require 400k in bank for two months prior to application for extension. 

The BBL nonsense is bank driven. 

It's a form to lock access to the 400k for 4 months. 

Have you maintained 400k for 2 months priir prior to application for extension?