I attended CW earlier today to renew my Non O based on retirement (my 5th year in a row). I'm traveling on a New Zealand passport so had a income affidavit that I got from the Embassy last week. I'd an appointment booked at CW, so no waiting around and at the first stage L1, a document checker called me in to check all my documents. She said I needed a bank statement to 'guarantee the income on my income affidavit. I explained that this is not necessary with a NZ passport hence why we pay ฿2,000 for an income affidavit, and I've never needed it before. She kept repeating 'need bank guarantee, and 'this is Thailand'. Was she just incompetent, and new to the job or is this a genuine rule change?

I must emphasize she was a document check in civilian clothes and not actually a IO officer. Anyway I drove home as there was a massive queue in Bangkok Bank downstairs and I didn't have my bank book with me, so wasn't sure they would give me the printout.

Has anyone else experienced this.  Ive got until the 30th to renew my visa so will try again next week and hope I get someone else who knows what there doing, but I'll get the printout just in case.

Please let me know if anyone else has had this experience..

 

4 minutes ago, London Boy said:

She said I needed a bank statement to 'guarantee the income on my income affidavit

Just thinking of way round this. 

Do you actually do monthly transfers from abroad (min 65k)? 

Also is the document check girl you referred to a large lady. She has been there for years. 

So to be clear you didn't even get past doc check. 

Of course you had the "Bank Leter" listing you as the owner of the account? 

Just now, DrJack54 said:

Just thinking of way round this. 

Do you actually do monthly transfers from abroad (min 65k)? 

Also is the document check girl you referred to a large lady. She has been there for years. 

So to be clear you didn't even get past doc check. 

Of course you had the "Bank Leter" listing you as the owner of the account? 

Yes she was a very large lady. So you've had experience with her before? I do do monthly transfers, but there not uniform as in the same amount at the same time every month. Also sometimes I do a deal with a mate who is working here and needs to send money to the UK and i buy Bhatt off him so we both save on transfer fees. Do you think this will be a problem? Whats the point of an income affidavit if it isn't to buy that expereince.

I can get a bank letter with my name on it.

 

10 minutes ago, London Boy said:

So you've had experience with her before?

My point in asking is that she is not a newbie. Has been there for years. 

12 minutes ago, London Boy said:

Do you think this will be a problem? Whats the point of an income affidavit if it isn't to buy that expereince

Im not exactly sure what "letter" from bank you are referring to. 

 

Somewhat related, I suggest that anyone using income method actually do the required monthly transfers. 

In that way you don't even need the embassy letter the 12 month bank statement will show the required transfers from abroad. 

 

9 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

My point in asking is that she is not a newbie. Has been there for years. 

Im not exactly sure what "letter" from bank you are referring to. 

 

Somewhat related, I suggest that anyone using income method actually do the required monthly transfers. 

In that way you don't even need the embassy letter the 12 month bank statement will show the required transfers from abroad. 

 

Its a good point, its just I've never been asked for the 12 month bank statement letter. The whole point of the Income Affidavit is not to be constrained with clockwork money transfers but as and when I need money. 

46 minutes ago, London Boy said:

I'd an appointment booked at CW,

 

You didn't hang around to ask the IO?

 

1 minute ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

You didn't hang around to ask the IO?

 

Place was pandemonium and I was seriously angry. As my Mrs actually works for Bangkok Bank I knew they wouldn't issue me a bank statement without my bank book so didn't want to waste time hanging around trying to meet her unreasonable demands.

2 minutes ago, London Boy said:

I knew they wouldn't issue me a bank statement without my bank book so didn't want to waste time hanging around trying to meet her unreasonable demands

I'm not getting clarity here. 

Granted there can be lost in translation (often) 

You stated..... "She said I needed a bank statement to 'guarantee the income on my income affidavit" 

 

What do you think she was asking for. 

Simply a 12 month bank statement that would show the required transfers or something else?  

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

I'm not getting clarity here. 

Granted there can be lost in translation (often) 

You stated..... "She said I needed a bank statement to 'guarantee the income on my income affidavit" 

 

What do you think she was asking for. 

Simply a 12 month bank statement that would show the required transfers or something else?  

You are correct, but it was my understanding you need to present your bank book (to Bangkok Bank) for them to issue the 12 month Bank Statement. Am I wrong in this assumption?

3 minutes ago, London Boy said:

You are correct, but it was my understanding you need to present your bank book (to Bangkok Bank) for them to issue the 12 month Bank Statement. Am I wrong in this assumption?

Yes you would attend bank with pp and bank book + passport and pay 200b for 12 month bank statement. 

Most banks do this on the spot. 

Unfortunately BBL do not. 

I believe you order it online and pick up from bank. 

That takes 3-5 days 

 

Being Oz, I cannot use embassy statutory declaration. 

I did my extension on Wed (income method) 

Important to note that all they wanted to see was the international transfers every month. 

No proof of "Pension" etc

In my earlier post I was eluding to folk using embassy letter should (IMO) start actually doing monthly transfees min 65k.

We have seen recently Canadian embassy stop providing the letter. 

Amazed NZ still provides it. 

Not worth the paper it's written on. 

 

27 minutes ago, London Boy said:

Place was pandemonium and I was seriously angry. As my Mrs actually works for Bangkok Bank I knew they wouldn't issue me a bank statement without my bank book so didn't want to waste time hanging around trying to meet her unreasonable demands.

 

And are there still appointment slots available this month, or will you have to walk in and deal with the pandemonium?

15 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

And are there still appointment slots available this month, or will you have to walk in and deal with the pandemonium?

Two slots available on Oct 22. 

For newbies:

 

Prior to 2019, Thai immigration would accept letters from an ex-pat's embassy stating that the ex-pat had retirement income >= 65,000 baht per month.  These letters might be in the form of an affadavit (US Embassy) or StatDec (Australian Embassy), etc.

 

At that time, the embassy letter would suffice to meet the Thai Immo requirement for an extension on the basis of retirement using the income method.  That is, no Thai bank information need to be provided.  Indeed, no documentation of that retirement income was required by Immo/Thai.

 

However, in/around 2019, the US, UK, Australian (and later Danish) Embassies stopped issuing these letters of so-called retirement income verification. 

 

Apparently, in the years prior to 2019, an increasing number (?) of ex-pats (age 50+ years) who were caught for non-Immo crimes were found to not have the required 65,000 baht/month retirement income that would validate their retirement extension.  And, thus, invalidate their permission to stay.

 

To flush out any remaining 'dacoits,' Immo/Thailand issued an order to foreign embassies (and others who were issuing income affadavits) that they had to legally guarantee the income statement to be true. 

 

That was something that none of those 4 embassies (cited above) were willing or able to do. 

 

Hence, the discontinuation of the Embassy letter as documentation for a retirement extension.

 

Nevertheless, there have been no reports (until now) that Immo/Thailand does not accept the embassy affadavit as proof of retirement income. 

 

So, if this has become current practice, that is problemmatic for those using the embassy-letter method who do not have the ability to transfer 65K baht/month into a Thai bank, or do not want to do so.

 

Have I missed anything?

 

That is indeed a strange tale, because for the people from countries whose embassies here still issue the income affidavit notary letter there is no bank letter, there is no year detail transaction report, there isn't even a requirement to update your bank book on the day you apply. 

 

You're not obligated to bank even a single baht inside the country, you're using your Embassy affidavit to show that you meet the proof of funds in your country.

 

There's no requirement to bring that money in at all.

 

The proof of funds by monthly income method via transfer are for the countries whose embassies no longer issue the income affidavit. 

 

That is very unusual the big girl who wears the black clothes wasn't dialed in on that, she's been there years and years and knows what's what.. over spoken to her many many times when I've had questions. 

 

Strange indeed 

 

 

 

 

Requirements change frequently at CW. Reading advice online frequently turned out to be old advice, as rules have since changed. I also question how much one can trust the "document check" person from my own experience where she sent me on my way, only for the IO to request a copy of the chanote from my condo owner, which the document check lady didn't ask for. Good luck at CW. It has never been a pleasant experience. I suggest next time you continue on to the IO and see what happens there.

15 hours ago, scoutman360 said:

Requirements change frequently at CW

careful, your ignorance is showing 😮

The requirements change at a snails pace out at Chaengwattana and I can't even remember the last major policy change out there since the embassies for some countries stopped issuing affidavits of income notaries and they amended the rules to show you could do monthly transfer method to meet proof of funds  

These broad brush mis-statements have been parroted so much they're taken as gospel.. 😞 
 

Thumbz down for your comment  👎

5 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

careful, your ignorance is showing 😮

The requirements change at a snails pace out at Chaengwattana and I can't even remember the last major policy change out there since the embassies for some countries stopped issuing affidavits of income notaries and they amended the rules to show you could do monthly transfer method to meet proof of funds  

These broad brush mis-statements have been parroted so much they're taken as gospel.. 😞 
 

Thumbz down for your comment  👎

 

On 10/10/2025 at 6:46 PM, Tod Daniels said:

That is indeed a strange tale, because for the people from countries whose embassies here still issue the income affidavit notary letter there is no bank letter, there is no year detail transaction report, there isn't even a requirement to update your bank book on the day you apply. 

 

You're not obligated to bank even a single baht inside the country, you're using your Embassy affidavit to show that you meet the proof of funds in your country.

 

There's no requirement to bring that money in at all.

 

The proof of funds by monthly income method via transfer are for the countries whose embassies no longer issue the income affidavit. 

 

That is very unusual the big girl who wears the black clothes wasn't dialed in on that, she's been there years and years and knows what's what.. over spoken to her many many times when I've had questions. 

 

Strange indeed 

 

 

 

 

 

Correct, I have used Embassy income letter for nearly 20 year and never been asked for any other proof of financial verification.

Felt

18 minutes ago, Felt 35 said:

 

 

Correct, I have used Embassy income letter for nearly 20 year and never been asked for any other proof of financial verification.

It seems that the OP basically left after issue with document check lady. 

Even the io that sits at that desk is doc check 

The OP should have insisted on seeing the io in L32 area. 

At very least he would have received clear instructions of what he needs to provide. 

It can be done in polite way. 

14 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

It seems that the OP basically left after issue with document check lady. 

Even the io that sits at that desk is doc check 

The OP should have insisted on seeing the io in L32 area. 

At very least he would have received clear instructions of what he needs to provide. 

It can be done in polite way. 

You're right. I should of, but my anger got the better of me. I just checked the Immigration website and didn't see any spare appointments. I will go back week after next with a bank statement, just in case. Hopefully it will be on a day where the big girl has her day off.

7 minutes ago, London Boy said:

I just checked the Immigration website and didn't see any spare appointments. I will go back week after next with a bank statement, just in case.

Regards the appointment try Monday am. After midnight tonight even better. You might find a spot. 

Obviously depends when your permission of stay expires. 

12 month bank statement can be obtained days early. 

May as well get a bank letter also. 

200b and 100b respectively

27 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Regards the appointment try Monday am. After midnight tonight even better. You might find a spot. 

Obviously depends when your permission of stay expires. 

12 month bank statement can be obtained days early. 

May as well get a bank letter also. 

200b and 100b respectively

Thanks for the tip. I'll try to get an appointment early tmrw morning. I've got until the 31st October so still a bit of time. My wife works at Bangkok Bank head office in China Town, and said her colleague can organize the letter for me FOC,

14 minutes ago, London Boy said:

I'll try to get an appointment early tmrw morning. I've got until the 31st October so still a bit of time

You misunderstood the tip or perhaps I wasn't clear. 

The appointment window is one month in advance. 

So eg currently there are no slots however after midnight one day is added. 

However that's past you Oct 31 p.o.s

If it can be afforded the 800k baht method is far less hassle.

Dude there never was a 12 months statement proof required, 6 months only and make sure it comes out of only one account!

 

 

18 minutes ago, Snowbird 7 said:

Dude there never was a 12 months statement proof required, 6 months only and make sure it comes out of only one account!

 

 

Without an embassy "income letter" a 12 month bank statement is required if using income method (monthly transfers) 

I wanted to update you all on my above dilemma. I managed to get another appointment (this morning at 9am, thanks to a cancellation). I was at the document checking station at 8:45am. I got an IO officer this time and tick off all my documents without bringing up the bank statements. I quietly breathed a sign of relief and then took them to the next station for the extension stamp, and as I put down my bundle at the IO's desk the long arm of the big girl came out of nowhere, picked them up and she said I need to check them all. I did explain they'd already been checked but it fell on deaf ears.

After a 10 minute wait, I was absolutely dumbfounded that she remembered me from two weeks ago and said "I told you I need to see your bank statement". Fortunately I had obtained one from my local branch on the 17th, and then she meticulously went through all 46 pages. 

I suspected she was checking if I had been working and where my transfers had come from. After a very nervous 15 minutes wait, she came outside and told me she'll do it for me this time, but I need to transfer ฿65,000 every month from my home country next year. And made me write on the TM7 promising to do that next year, and signing my statement.

I asked her why since I had a income affidavit and she said it was to do with a line within the income affidavit that read "This letter is written at the request of London Boy". The big girl said other embassy's don't include that line so she had to check my income. I've since checked previous years Affidavits and the wording of the NZ affidavit hasn't changed in the 5 years I've been using it.

Hardly seems worth using the affidavit next year and I'll just go down the income route, and save myself ฿2000.

Hope the above helps, expect the unexpected at CW.

21 minutes ago, London Boy said:

And made me write on the TM7 promising to do that next year, and signing my statement.

This is exactly what occurred to me at CW two weeks ago. (Oz pp) 

 

21 minutes ago, London Boy said:

Hardly seems worth using the affidavit next year and I'll just go down the income route, and save myself ฿2000.

Thats exactly what you should do. Transfers of 65k per month is not excessive. 

Also bullet proof. Wouldn't be surprised if NZ government also stops providing embassy letter as Canada did recently. 

IMO not worth the paper it's written on. 

 

Great you got the extension. 

15 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

37 minutes ago, London Boy said:

And made me write on the TM7 promising to do that next year, and signing my statement.

This is exactly what occurred to me at CW two weeks ago. (Oz pp) 

 

37 minutes ago, London Boy said:

Hardly seems worth using the affidavit next year and I'll just go down the income route, and save myself ฿2000.

Thats exactly what you should do. Transfers of 65k per month is not excessive. 

Also bullet proof. Wouldn't be surprised if NZ government also stops providing embassy letter as Canada did recently. 

IMO not worth the paper it's written on. 

 

Great you got the extension. 

Just curious. Is the NZ embassy actually verifying & certifying one's income as legit? Or, are they doing the same as the US embassy was doing, by issuing an affidavit based on a person's word only? Same questions for the Canada embassy who stopped providing affidavits. Thanks...

2 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

Just curious. Is the NZ embassy actually verifying & certifying one's income as legit? Or, are they doing the same as the US embassy was doing, by issuing an affidavit based on a person's word only? Same questions for the Canada embassy who stopped providing affidavits. Thanks...

From my own experience I would end send my Tax Computation (SA302) from the UK. All my income comes from rental properties in London.

14 minutes ago, London Boy said:

From my own experience I would end send my Tax Computation (SA302) from the UK. All my income comes from rental properties in London.

It sounds like the NZ embassy is not actually verifying your income with other agencies, only taking a look at the docs you bring in. The US embassy was doing the same for me with my pension docs, but they were not actually verifying my income with my company or any other gov't agencies. So, they stopped issuing the affidavits.