4 hours ago, daejung said:

I normally stay in Thailand for 5 to 6 months each year, but on my next trip I will only be staying for 89 days. I usually rent an Airbnb, so any lease agreement

Some folk have tried to post advice.

After 4 months you post questions.

Seems previously you were using French embassy letter and in reality perhaps not doing monthly transfers. That equated to 800k.

For others esp snowbirds in future 12 month bank statement may be required showing 12 transfers of min 65k.

It's not clear what you currently have in pp.

Hopefully a 12 month extension with reentry permit.

Details are important.

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Some folk have tried to post advice.

After 4 months you post questions.

Seems previously you were using French embassy letter and in reality perhaps not doing monthly transfers. That equated to 800k.

For others esp snowbirds in future 12 month bank statement may be required showing 12 transfers of min 65k.

It's not clear what you currently have in pp.

Hopefully a 12 month extension with reentry permit.

Details are important.

Perhaps I didn't explain my situation clearly.

I am currently using the income verification letter from the French Embassy, which has always been accepted for my annual extensions.

Since this option may no longer be available in the future, I am simply trying to understand how the 800,000 THB method works before deciding whether I will continue applying for extensions at all.

My questions are therefore purely about the mechanics of the 800,000 THB method, not about my current extension.

11 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

2 months.

Before answering your other questions, clarify exactly what is your status currently.

Meaning you have current extension (permission of stay) ?

Yes, I currently have a retirement extension of stay.

Until now, my extensions have been based on the income verification letter issued by the French Embassy. I have never used the monthly transfer method, and Immigration accepted the embassy letter without requiring monthly transfers.

Since Immigration no longer accepts this arrangement, I am considering switching to the 800,000 THB method for my next extension.

When you say "2 months", does that also apply in my situation, i.e. when switching from the embassy income letter to the 800,000 THB method for the first time?

10 hours ago, Upnotover said:

Will start whenever the balance of your existing account exceeds 800k. You are probably well advised to wait until after the extension is granted before moving funds into the new account, and then probably best to wait until you are in the 400k period. Makes life easier all round.

They don't. Overseas income proof is only required for monthly deposits (as you are currently on) or for an initial non-O visa issued in country.

Thank you.

Just to clarify, I am not currently using the monthly deposit method. My annual extensions have so far been based on the income verification letter issued by the French Embassy, without any monthly transfers, and Immigration has accepted that.

Since this option is no longer accepted, I am considering switching to the 800,000 THB method for my next extension.

DrJack54 mentioned that the funds only need to be in the account for 2 months before applying for the extension. If that is correct, my original concern about having to use my current account first may no longer be relevant, as I should have enough time to open a second savings account after arriving in Thailand and transfer the funds there directly from France.

Thank you also for confirming that, in your experience, Immigration does not require the 800,000 THB to be shown as having come directly from overseas.

1 hour ago, daejung said:

When you say "2 months", does that also apply in my situation, i.e. when switching from the embassy income letter to the 800,000 THB method for the first time?

Yes. You get your extension based on your income letter, and that gives you permission to stay for the following year. In order to qualify based on banked money the following year, you must show that you have 800,000 in your Thai bank account for 2 full months at the time you are applying for the extension.

Moving forward you will have specific requirements related to that extension. The bank account must remain at 800,000 for 3 months after you receive your extension, and can never drop below 400,000. It would then need to be brought back up to 800,000 a full 2 months before applying for each subsequent extension, and remain at 800,000 for 3 months after receiving it. They will retroactively check that you continued to meet the previous year's requirements by looking at your 12 month bank statement at each extension.

3 hours ago, daejung said:

Since Immigration no longer accepts this arrangement, I am considering switching to the 800,000 THB method for my next extension.

Now, I understand. So you have a permission of stay stamp and reentry permit.

The issue for you is for next extension to use money in bank method... Will immigration allow you to just auto switch to money in bank without retrospective check you complied with income method.

By way of example I'm currently using income method (retirement) but my embassy does not provide embassy letter (Oz).

For me to switch to money in bank method at next extension I would need to show compliance to both income method and have the two month seasoning of 800k for money in bank method.

This is a big deal, especially for those only wanting to spent say 5 months in Thailand each year.

Previously the embassy letter was a Trump card.

Forothers using embassy income letter it's possible that immigration may in future want to see 12 month bank statement to actually verify the monthly transfers occur.

The alternative money in bank basically ties up 800k in Thai bank account and that's a very unattractive option for many.

The money in bank requirements are explained in Brandon post above. IMO for your next extension immigration will just require you to show the 800k seasoned in Thai bank for 2 months. Don't muck around with new bank account at that time.

You can consider changing banks when the 400k widow opens which is 3 months after extension granted.

Monthly transfers is fine if you are living in Thailand.

Not so nice if it's for stays of 5 months etc

5 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

The issue for you is for next extension to use money in bank method... Will immigration allow you to just auto switch to money in bank without retrospective check you complied with income method.

Yes.

5 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

For me to switch to money in bank method at next extension I would need to show compliance to both income method and have the two month seasoning of 800k for money in bank method.

I disagree. When switching from income to funds in the bank method, there is no requirement to show compliance with both income and funds.

Extensions based on income must provide evidence of the preceding 12 months income transfers for the extension to be granted for a further year.

If the OP's current extension from 2025 to 2026 was based on income, that proof of income came from the previous period 2024 - 2025.

Extension based on income are granted showing evidence of the previous years income.
Extensions based on funds are granted showing evidence from only the 2 previous months, then for the following 10 months.

Granted when switching from funds method to income method you need to provide financial evidence of meeting both the financial requirements.

10 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Extension based on income are granted showing evidence of the previous years income.
Extensions based on funds are granted showing evidence from only the 2 previous months, then for the following 10 months.

Disagree completely.

For money in bank method I provided 12 month bank statement for previous year showing compliance.

The requirements are checked retroactively.

For Income metod in my case with no embassy letter again I will need to provide 12 month bank certificate and again my compliance using income method the bank statement is for previous year.

The check is retrospective.

5 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Disagree completely.

You are correct.

2 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Disagree completely.

For an extension due Oct 2026, using the income method, you have to provide income evidence from Oct 2025 to October 2026.
12 x 65K monthly overseas transfers. (12 months previous evidence)
The extension would be valid from Oct 2026 to Oct 2027.

For an extension due Oct 2026, using the funds method, 800K,you have to provide evidence from Aug 2026 of 800K. (2 months previous evidence)
The extension would be valid from Oct 2026 to Oct 2027
For the following extension based on funds, due Oct 2027, you'd have to provide evidence of 800K from Oct 2026 to Jan 2027, then 400K from Jan 2027 to Aug 2027.

What is there to disagree with?

19 minutes ago, Jingthing said:

You are correct.

You are incorrect.

25 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

For an extension due Oct 2026, using the funds method, 800K,you have to provide evidence from Aug 2026 of 800K. (2 months previous evidence)
The extension would be valid from Oct 2026 to Oct 2027

It would be dangerously foolish to rely on that. When you're switching, they can very well treat your extension as a consecutive one, not as the initial one, and ask to see evidence of prior compliance.

38 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Disagree completely.

For money in bank method I provided 12 month bank statement for previous year showing compliance.

The requirements are checked retroactively.

For Income metod in my case with no embassy letter again I will need to provide 12 month bank certificate and again my compliance using income method the bank statement is for previous year.

The check is retrospective.

You just switched from funds to income method.
Correctly, you had to provide evidence of compliance with both the funds and income method.

That is not disputed.

However when changing from the income method to the funds method, only proof of 2 months funds are required.
There is no requirement to provide evidence of both funds for 2 months, and income for the previous 12 months.

I've had enough experience of these extensions switching from income to funds.

2 minutes ago, Caldera said:

It would be dangerously foolish to rely on that. When you're switching, they can very well treat your extension as a consecutive one, not as the initial one, and ask to see evidence of prior compliance.

The compliance using the income method has already been met in order to grant the extension.

An extension granted 2025, valid until 2026, the financial evidence came from 2024 to 2025.

12 previous transfers of 65K.

In the case of an extension based on funds, the requirement is 800K prior to the date of submitting the application, then the extension is granted under the condition the 800K must be kept for 3 months thereafter, then 400K for the remaining 7 months.

One extension is granted with financial evidence of the previous 12 months prior to the date of application.
The other is granted with financial evidence of the previous 2 months prior to the date of application, and the agreement to comply with the financial requirements for the following 10 months after the extension is granted.

OP, assume you are not currently in Thailand.

It may be possible that after return to Thailand next extension will accept 800k seasoned for two months. However maybe not attractive to you given those requirements as outlined by others.

The io you spoke to is concern in stating next extension requires proof of monthly transfers.

Something you have not done.

I'm not a fan of AI... However this is there reply...

"An embassy income verification letter serves as proof of your income for the past year (proving you have an established history of earning that money) rather than guaranteeing your income for the future. Thai immigration requires this to ensure you currently possess the consistent means to support yourself"

Seems your embassy no longer provides this letter

6 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Seems your embassy no longer provides this letter

Thank you all for your comments.

I think there is one important point that may have caused some confusion.

My current extension was not based on the monthly transfer method.

It was based on the income verification letter issued by the French Embassy. My Immigration office accepted that letter without requiring evidence of monthly transfers.

The French Embassy still issues these income verification letters.

However, when my current extension was granted, the Immigration officer told me that, for my next extension, I would have to provide evidence of monthly transfers. At that time, no alternative based on the 800,000 THB bank deposit was mentioned.

As a result, I have not made any monthly transfers during my current extension.

My concern is therefore the following.

If I now decide to switch to the 800,000 THB bank method and comply with the requirement of keeping the funds in my Thai bank account for at least two months before applying, could Immigration nevertheless refuse my application because I cannot show monthly transfers from February 2026 to January 2027?

If that is the case, I would transfer and tie up 800,000 THB for nothing.

Has anyone had first-hand experience of switching specifically from an extension based solely on an embassy income verification letter (without monthly transfers) to the 800,000 THB bank method?

3 hours ago, daejung said:

If I now decide to switch to the 800,000 THB bank method and comply with the requirement of keeping the funds in my Thai bank account for at least two months before applying, could Immigration nevertheless refuse my application because I cannot show monthly transfers from February 2026 to January 2027?

More than one experienced poster has suggested that you should be fine. After all your embassy still issues the verification letter.

Different to some that have recently stopped eg Canada.

In hindsight would be great to have asked the io would switch to funds in bank be sufficient with the 800k in bank for 2 months without any check on monthly transfers for previous 12 months.

On 7/5/2026 at 1:35 AM, DrJack54 said:

More than one experienced poster has suggested that you should be fine. After all your embassy still issues the verification letter.

Different to some that have recently stopped eg Canada.

In hindsight would be great to have asked the io would switch to funds in bank be sufficient with the 800k in bank for 2 months without any check on monthly transfers for previous 12 months.

Yes, unfortunately I was caught completely off guard by what the IO told me. I was even rather shocked, because until then the embassy letter had always been accepted without any issue.

At that moment I wasn't thinking of all the implications, so it never occurred to me to ask whether switching to the 800,000 THB method would avoid any retrospective check of monthly transfers.

I also don't know whether, if I switch to the 800,000 THB method, I should still provide the French Embassy income verification letter for the previous year. Obtaining that letter would not be a problem if it could help.

Perhaps the best approach will be to go back to Immigration as soon as I return to Bangkok and ask for clarification before transferring the 800,000 THB.

However, I don't think it is possible to book an appointment simply to ask for advice, and I doubt that the staff at the information desk would be able to answer such a specific question.

10 minutes ago, daejung said:

However, I don't think it is possible to book an appointment simply to ask for advice, and I doubt that the staff at the information desk would be able to answer such a specific question

First up.. So like your attitude and see the dilemma.

In your thread two switched on posters have stated you won't have an issue.

You need plan B if immigration give you grief.

Worst case would require bounce for visa except entry to move to Non O

Remind me immigration office.

1 hour ago, daejung said:

Perhaps the best approach will be to go back to Immigration as soon as I return to Bangkok and ask for clarification before transferring the 800,000 THB.

By your own admission you have not made any monthly transfers, so if you want to continue obtaining extensions to remain in Thailand, regardless of whats said, you have to transfer that 800K.

1 hour ago, daejung said:

I also don't know whether, if I switch to the 800,000 THB method, I should still provide the French Embassy income verification letter for the previous year. Obtaining that letter would not be a problem if it could help.

As you've been requested to provide evidence of making those monthly transfers, and you haven't, then obtaining a further Embassy income letter will not help.

For reason of retirement, there are 4 methods by which you can show compliance with meeting the financial requirements.

1. Embassy Income letter, OR

2. Evidence of 12 x 65K monthly overseas transfers, OR

3. 800K deposited in a Thai bank account for 2 months prior to the date of application, OR

4. Combination of funds and monthly transfers totalling 800K for the year.

1,2 and 4 are now not possible, given your Immigration office will no longer accept an Embassy Income letter without evidence of actually making those monthly transfer.

17 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

First up.. So like your attitude and see the dilemma.

In your thread two switched on posters have stated you won't have an issue.

You need plan B if immigration give you grief.

Worst case would require bounce for visa except entry to move to Non O

Remind me immigration office.

Thanks for the suggestion.

My Immigration office is Chaeng Wattana.

I arrive in Thailand at the beginning of November and leave again at the beginning of February, about a week before my current extension expires on 11 February.

That means I probably won't know Immigration's final position until I actually apply for my next extension, around 11 or 12 January.

If they refuse the switch and I then do a border bounce, re-enter visa exempt and apply for a new Non-O, I would only be able to apply for a one-year extension about two months later. By then I will already have left Thailand.

So, if it comes to that, Plan B would probably be to wait until my next stay in Thailand in November 2027 and start a completely new Non-O/extension cycle then.

Hopefully it won't come to that.

Edited July 7Jul 7 by daejung

16 hours ago, Liquorice said:

By your own admission you have not made any monthly transfers, so if you want to continue obtaining extensions to remain in Thailand, regardless of whats said, you have to transfer that 800K.

As you've been requested to provide evidence of making those monthly transfers, and you haven't, then obtaining a further Embassy income letter will not help.

For reason of retirement, there are 4 methods by which you can show compliance with meeting the financial requirements.

1. Embassy Income letter, OR

2. Evidence of 12 x 65K monthly overseas transfers, OR

3. 800K deposited in a Thai bank account for 2 months prior to the date of application, OR

4. Combination of funds and monthly transfers totalling 800K for the year.

1,2 and 4 are now not possible, given your Immigration office will no longer accept an Embassy Income letter without evidence of actually making those monthly transfer.

I think there may be a misunderstanding.

I am not considering using the Embassy income letter as the financial basis for my next extension.

If I decide to proceed, my next application will be based on the 800,000 THB bank method.

My only question is whether Immigration might nevertheless ask to see the Embassy income verification letter relating to my current extension, since that is the basis on which my present permission to stay was granted, but this is not an issue, I can get it easily

In other words, I am wondering whether, during the transition from one method to the other, they might ask for the documents relating to the previous extension as well.

41 minutes ago, daejung said:

So, if it comes to that, Plan B would probably be to wait until my next stay in Thailand in November 2027 and start a completely new Non-O/extension cycle then.

That is your fall back plan.

If there are issues for next application ~jan 12 and they refuse application then no problem you still have valid permission of stay.

Just exit and start over.

New Non O using money in bank method

3 hours ago, daejung said:

My only question is whether Immigration might nevertheless ask to see the Embassy income verification letter relating to my current extension, since that is the basis on which my present permission to stay was granted, but this is not an issue, I can get it easily

No, they already have the Embassy Income letter relating to your current extension.

Any further Embassy Income letters are pointless as CW have already informed you they also want evidence of monthly transferring the income to a Thai bank.

Your only option now is using the 800K method.

4 hours ago, daejung said:

Thanks for the suggestion.

My Immigration office is Chaeng Wattana.

I arrive in Thailand at the beginning of November and leave again at the beginning of February, about a week before my current extension expires on 11 February.

That means I probably won't know Immigration's final position until I actually apply for my next extension, around 11 or 12 January.

If they refuse the switch and I then do a border bounce, re-enter visa exempt and apply for a new Non-O, I would only be able to apply for a one-year extension about two months later. By then I will already have left Thailand.

Am I to understand you only stay in Thailand for 3 months of the year, beginning of Nov, to beginning of Feb?
If so, why are you even applying for annual extensions, when a TV + 30 day extension would suffice each year.

Hmm, I wonder whether what we might be seeing here are the birth cries of some overall initiative on the Immigration Bureau's part to phase out entirely what remaining embassy income confirmation services still exist as a means of compliance with monthly income requirements for both retirement and marriage extensions. In an ideal world they should, of course, promulgate such a shift in policy through a revised Police Order, but, as I recall, they certainly didn't bust their gut in issuing any new Police Order in the immediate aftermath of the original decisions by the British and American embassies to discontinue their income confirmation services. As a result there was much uncertainty for a few months as to whether the alternative arrangements for monthly bank transfers, which had apparently been sanctioned by the top brass in the Immigration Bureau, would actually be honoured by individual offices.

Edited July 7Jul 7 by OJAS

12 hours ago, OJAS said:

Hmm, I wonder whether what we might be seeing here are the birth cries of some overall initiative on the Immigration Bureau's part to phase out entirely what remaining embassy income confirmation services still exist as a means of compliance with monthly income requirements for both retirement and marriage extensions.

For a long time, just as Immigration assumed Embassies were verifying income, they've also assumed those obtaining the Income letter were also transferring said incomes to cover living expenses, which is not the case in many situations. It's good that Immigration are now checking these claimed incomes are actually being transferred, but agree it then makes the requirement for Embassy income letters obsolete.

12 hours ago, OJAS said:

In an ideal world they should, of course, promulgate such a shift in policy through a revised Police Order, but, as I recall, they certainly didn't bust their gut in issuing any new Police Order in the immediate aftermath of the original decisions by the British and American embassies to discontinue their income confirmation services. As a result there was much uncertainty for a few months as to whether the alternative arrangements for monthly bank transfers, which had apparently been sanctioned by the top brass in the Immigration Bureau, would actually be honoured by individual offices.

I can't agree with that part of your statement.

The British, US and Australian Embassies all gave prior notice of cessation of the service from Jan 2019.

Immigration issued an urgent memorandum (SorTorMor). Very Urgent No. 0029.173/Wor 4950 dated 21 December 2018, in relation to acceptance of an alternative method of proof of income by way way of monthly overseas transfers to a Thai bank, effectively updating order 138/2557.

Then on 26th Dec 2018, Immigration released another urgent memorandum to Immigration divisions, relating to the previous urgent memorandum 0029.173/Wor to allow leniency in 2019 for those affected by the cessation of Embassy Income letters.

That indeed suggests Immigration did bust a gut to inform all Immigration divisions prior to reopening after the 2018/2019 New Year shutdown.

2 hours ago, Liquorice said:

For a long time, just as Immigration assumed Embassies were verifying income, they've also assumed those obtaining the Income letter were also transferring said incomes to cover living expenses, which is not the case in many situations. It's good that Immigration are now checking these claimed incomes are actually being transferred, but agree it then makes the requirement for Embassy income letters obsolete.

I can't agree with that part of your statement.

The British, US and Australian Embassies all gave prior notice of cessation of the service from Jan 2019.

Immigration issued an urgent memorandum (SorTorMor). Very Urgent No. 0029.173/Wor 4950 dated 21 December 2018, in relation to acceptance of an alternative method of proof of income by way way of monthly overseas transfers to a Thai bank, effectively updating order 138/2557.

Then on 26th Dec 2018, Immigration released another urgent memorandum to Immigration divisions, relating to the previous urgent memorandum 0029.173/Wor to allow leniency in 2019 for those affected by the cessation of Embassy Income letters.

That indeed suggests Immigration did bust a gut to inform all Immigration divisions prior to reopening after the 2018/2019 New Year shutdown.

Am I wrong in thinking that the cessation followed a request/requirement from Thai Immigration for the embassies to 'guarantee' income - rather than accept self certiifed figures.

25 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Am I wrong in thinking that the cessation followed a request/requirement from Thai Immigration for the embassies to 'guarantee' income - rather than accept self certiifed figures.

The cessations followed the incorrect assumption by Immigration that the Embassies were 'verifying' the incomes, which they couldn't do due to Data Protection Acts.
The British Embassy decided to cease the service rather than deceive Immigration they were in fact 'verifying' the incomes.

On 7/7/2026 at 11:36 AM, DrJack54 said:

That is your fall back plan.

If there are issues for next application ~jan 12 and they refuse application then no problem you still have valid permission of stay.

Just exit and start over.

New Non O using money in bank method

https://aseannow.com/topic/1400055-starting-over-with-a-new-non-immigrant-o-visa/#findComment-20662077

On 7/10/2026 at 12:28 PM, DrJack54 said:

The thing is that if Non O is obtained inside Thailand from tourist visa or visa exempt. Normally the funds would need to be shown as funds from abroad.

However seems your money has been in bank for some time so that's not required.

Forget the freezing of the funds by BBL.

That is just BBL specific nonsense.

They are refusing to provide bank letter if funds have not been in account for 4 months.

Dr Jack,

I noticed your comment in another thread that Bangkok Bank may refuse to issue the bank letter if the funds have not been in the account for at least four months, even though Immigration only requires two months of seasoning.

I'm with Bangkok Bank. In my case, I was planning to open a second savings account dedicated exclusively to the 800,000 THB. However, I can only open that account once I am back in Bangkok, so the earliest I could transfer the funds into it would be about two months before applying for my extension.

If I do that, could Bangkok Bank refuse to issue the bank letter because the funds have only been in that account for two months? Is that what you meant?

Could you also clarify exactly which banking documents Chaeng Wattana normally requires for a retirement extension?

• the bank letter,

• the updated passbook,

• a bank statement,

• or all of them?

If a bank statement is required, could an updated passbook be accepted instead when the account is used exclusively for the retirement funds? My intention is to open a dedicated savings account with almost no activity apart from the initial deposit and the transfer of the 800,000 THB.

Finally, can the required bank letter (and, if necessary, the bank statement) be obtained from the Bangkok Bank branch inside the Chaeng Wattana Immigration complex, or must they be issued by the branch where the account is held?