I went to a Bangkok Chaeng Watthana Immigration last week to renew my O Retirement by myself, no agent. I relocated from Pattaya where I used an agent and that seemed to trigger extra scrutiny. 

 

I was told by a woman assisting the immigration officer in the L section that I needed to return in one week after updating my bank book the same day. She said very clearly that I could just come up to the immigration officer's desk next time without a queue ticket.

 

Is that safe to do or do you think I'd better get a queue ticket anyway?

 

Backgound: Even though I used an agent last time, I self-funded the 800k deposit and provided a one-year bank statement and updated bank book to prove it. I assume the reason they're having me come back and show my bank book a second time a week later is to just confirm that there is no agent involved. 

 

P.S. Decided to do it myself after being quoted 35K for the renewal from multiple agents for in-Bangkok renewal, even though I have the 800k deposit. I'm all for convenience but $1,000 for a couple of days work seems kind of over the top for me.

It certainly could raise suspicions seeing is the immigration office down in Pattaya is known for the many many agent gotten extensions they crank out

A lot of it would come down to when you moved up to bangkok, if you had a TM30 filed, shortly after you moved up here, if you'd been doing 90-day reports up here at your Bangkok address for a period of time, or if you just moved here before your next extension was due 😕 

They totally just want see that your funds are still in the bank, meaning that there is no agent in the picture (because no agent in Thailand will bank the money for you that long) 😉 🙂

Update your bank book go in and go right to the desk of the officer that issued you your extension. Or look for that one heavy set girl who wears the black clothes, she usually checks documents or hands back passports in section L-1. She'll know where to send you

You'll be fine

7 hours ago, InlandSea said:

I was told by a woman assisting the immigration officer in the L section that I needed to return in one week after updating my bank book the same day. She said very clearly that I could just come up to the immigration officer's desk next time without a queue ticket.

Just to be clear... Did you actually end up face to face with immigration officer. Not just the lady that does Doc check at L1. 

What banking docs did you have. 

A 12 month bank statement is best option however often just bank book and photocopies sufficient. 

You also require Bank Letter and finally update on day of application. 

For the update I prefer to make small 100b deposit. 

The Letter and Statement need to obtained no more than a week prior to date of application.

Suggest you again go first to Document Lady at L1. 

If there is a que approach her and point out you were here a week ago and told to update a/c.

 

What did you provide to confirm address. Just a TM30? 

 

I will add, that this is not an unusual request for someone who moved to Bangkok close to when their yearly extension comes up with an out of province stamp especially from a "well known" immigration office. 

I have seen the officers ask the person to write down their previous address in the other province to try to weed out if it was agent gotten or not 😮 

4 hours ago, Tod Daniels said:

I will add, that this is not an unusual request for someone who moved to Bangkok close to when their yearly extension comes up with an out of province stamp especially from a "week known" immigration office. 

I have seen the officers ask the person to write down their previous address in the other province to try to weed out if it was agent gotten or not 😮 

You're very knowledgeable, this matches closely 

 

EDIT: If it's approved, I'll probably move to Hua Hin next year. How is getting renewals down there without an agent?

3 hours ago, InlandSea said:

How is getting renewals down there without an agent?

File a TM 30 as soon as you move showing you're registered as staying at an address in their jurisdiction, do your 90 day reporting at that office too. Keep a copy of your old lease showing your Bangkok address.  In short, do everything you can to keep things on the up and up. 

 

Moving when you have a few 90 day reports to do before the next extension helps as you're doing them using the new address. 

 

Just be ready to be questioned, have your year detail transaction report showing you banked the funds for the required time, etc. 

 

Report back on how it went when you showed up with the updated bank book (should be in and out pretty fast).. 

 

Best of luck with it..

Follow-up:

 

I went back today and, without needing to get another queue ticket, the staff person and the IO both recognized me from last week and promptly reviewed my updated bank book. They'd held onto my application packet from the initial visit.

 

I think the only things of note to others that are also new to doing this by themselves are:

 

1. I needed to provide both the property owner's ID and deed for the address used when I got the initial visa last year - not just my current address in Bangkok.

 

2. They had me come back one week later showing my bank book updated that same day (even though I also provided that at the initial visit). I think this is just to make sure that I still had the 800k in my account.

 

Also...not sure if the map-to-residence I provided was necessary, but they kept it. 

 

So pretty much went like I outlined. 

Next year you shouldn't have that (if you get your extension at C/W again) because you will have a year of 90 day reporting under your belt with them and the extension from this year from them too 

Thanx for taking time to update the group, glad it was painless and easy, 

48 minutes ago, InlandSea said:

Also...not sure if the map-to-residence I provided was necessary, but they kept it. 

Great you got the extension sorted. 

Ta for update. 

Yes provide a hand drawn map (CW thing) only needs to be from residence to nearest main road.