Hi all

Went to apply to CM immigration for an extension to my Non O retirement
There was a slight issue with the 12 month bank statement ( it is missing 2 weeks )
It could not be made available today either by bank app or at the branch ( over 12 months needs to be ordered etc )

I was leaving CM for Phuket tomorrow ( visa expires 26 Sept )

The CM IO said I could apply for my extension in Phuket

Is that possible - with a local tm30 and rental agreement etc ?

The other issue that then crops up is the bank 800 k letter

My current bank letter is valid until Monday

But Bkk bank has frozen those funds - so any new letter only shows the available balance ( and something at the bottom of the letter saying that the 800000 is frozen for 4 months )

Are immigration officers accepting this style letter as proof of funds ( 800k method ) ??

Or am I better to cancel my flight and just do my visa at CM on Monday
Will they even accept the original bank deposit letter that dated 14th tho ?

Such a mess 😊😊

Don't want to kick someone when down but for others... Don't leave extension till last minute.

As soon as window opens do it.

OP is the start date of Phuket trip important. I would be inclined to push trip back. Don't think much of trying to do extension in Phuket

14 minutes ago, MikaQ5 said:

Are immigration officers accepting this style letter as proof of funds ( 800k method ) ??

Best to have 3 things for immigration re banking.

1: 12 month statement

2: Bank Letter

3: update bank book on day of application.

IMO push the Phuket thing and sort out your extension

58 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Don't want to kick someone when down but for others... Don't leave extension till last minute.

As soon as window opens do it.

OP is the start date of Phuket trip important. I would be inclined to push trip back. Don't think much of trying to do extension in Phuket

Best to have 3 things for immigration re banking.

1: 12 month statement

2: Bank Letter

3: update bank book on day of application.

IMO push the Phuket thing and sort out your extension

Done all the above - looking for any specific insight to this bank letter thanks

10 minutes ago, MikaQ5 said:

looking for any specific insight to this bank letter

Obviously the first thing to do would go to BBL branch and point out the issue with bank letter.

It's BBL that is freezing the funds.

No other bank is.

BBL take up to a week to produce 12onth bank statement.

Other banks are on the spot.

You state "done all the above"

Suggest applying for extension days prior to flight to Phuket and permission of stay expiring in a week is poor planning

21 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Obviously the first thing to do would go to BBL branch and point out the issue with bank letter.

It's BBL that is freezing the funds.

No other bank is.

BBL take up to a week to produce 12onth bank statement.

Other banks are on the spot.

You state "done all the above"

Suggest applying for extension days prior to flight to Phuket and permission of stay expiring in a week is poor planning

I get what you say dad

I was at immigration on Tuesday afternoon - they checked my paperwork and gave me appointment slot for Thursday morning which went into afternoon ( it’s so busy etc ) at which point the discrepancy was picked up inside

I was already at Bkk bank - this is their policy now ( whether we like it or not unfortunately)

It’s Immigrations reaction to this is what I’m trying to glean this evening - if possible

Before i am back there at 8 am

Thanks for the help

2 minutes ago, MikaQ5 said:

It’s Immigrations reaction to this is what I’m trying to glean this evening - if possible

Well I hope they accept existing Bank Letter (you posted) .

Bank statements etc are valid for 7 days so hopefully they will be tad flexible.

3 hours ago, MikaQ5 said:

I was already at Bkk bank - this is their policy now ( whether we like it or not unfortunately)

There policy is that funds must be held in the account for a period of 4 months before requesting the confirmation letter to prevent the funds being frozen.

The options are to sign an agreement to the funds being frozen in order to receive the confirmation letter, which you obviously did.
Or open an account elsewhere and transfer the funds to that account.
Get statements from both banks, but request the letter from the alternative bank that doesn't freeze your funds.

3 hours ago, MikaQ5 said:

It’s Immigrations reaction to this is what I’m trying to glean this evening - if possible

From some previous reports, IO's have refused the proof of finances as the funds are now frozen and they must be available at all times.

8 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Or open an account elsewhere and transfer the funds to that account.
Get statements from both banks, but request the letter from the alternative bank that doesn't freeze your funds.

Just in case the bank-to-bank transfer does not happen same day it is recommended that you do the bank-to-bank transfers during the period when only 400,000 is needed in the account and transfer the 800,000 in 2x400,000 tranches. Make the second transfer AFTER the first transfer is shown in the new bank account. On completion get a statement for that month from both banks.

I know the above is a bit belt and braces plus, but we all know how pernickety Thai IO can be.

OP, suggest you do not transfer funds to another account at this time.

2 hours ago, scottiejohn said:

Just in case the bank-to-bank transfer does not happen same day

Bank to bank transfers are instant.

6 minutes ago, Liquorice said:

Bank to bank transfers are instant.

Please note where I said, "just in case".

Except when on the odd occasion that the computers are down, a clerk or the sender inputs a wrong number etc. You are free to tx as you wish. I have just offered a suggestion to mitigate against that 1 in a ???? chance of error. T.I.T.S.!

Edited 7 hours ago7 hr by scottiejohn

2 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, suggest you do not transfer funds to another account at this time.

He can't now, they're frozen.

7 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Except when on the odd occasion that the computers are down, a clerk or the sender inputs a wrong didget etc. You are free to tx as you wish. I have just offered a suggestion for that 1 in a ???? chance of error. T.I.T.S.!

Never known that happen in over 12 years of banking and making transfers.
SMS enabled gives instant notification.

1 hour ago, Liquorice said:

3 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

OP, suggest you do not transfer funds to another account at this time.

He can't now, they're frozen.

You posted earlier....

"Or open an account elsewhere and transfer the funds to that account.
Get statements from both banks, but request the letter from the alternative bank that doesn't freeze your funds."

That won't work.

13 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Or open an account elsewhere and transfer the funds to that account.

Easier said than done these days, unfortunately, thanks to the requirement for proof of a home country address/ID, which Thai banks now insist on in the case of foreigners wishing to open new accounts with them, as ordained by the Bank Of Thailand as banking regulator.

Looks like Bangkok Bank have got him by the short and curlies with his frozen account. As they now have with others in a similar position.

Edited 4 hours ago4 hr by OJAS

3 minutes ago, OJAS said:

Easier said than done these days, unfortunately, thanks to the requirement for proof of a home country address/ID, which Thai banks now insist on in the case of foreigners wishing to open new accounts with them, as ordained by the Bank Of Thailand as banking regulator.

You've posted this a zillion times already, but refuse to try at another branch.
Indeed I recently opened two new accounts with Kasikorn. They only required the name of the last town/city I previously resided in the UK, without any documental evidence.

1 hour ago, DrJack54 said:

You posted earlier....

"Or open an account elsewhere and transfer the funds to that account.
Get statements from both banks, but request the letter from the alternative bank that doesn't freeze your funds."

That won't work.

From experience, It does, it has.

Statement from Bangkok bank evidences the 800K was in a Thai account for 3 months after the previous extension was approved, then never fell below 400K for the remaining 7 months, then 800K for a period just short of 2 months, or 800K for the whole period, then transferred to another Thai bank account, (instant, funds have remained in a Thai bank account) with a very short statement and letter confirming those account details with a balance of 800K +.

Explain why you think it won't work?

3 hours ago, Liquorice said:

Explain why you think it won't work?

It won't. It's obvious.

You posted earlier the 800k cannot be transferred to "new account" because it's frozen by BBL.

Still don't understand how that's remotely legal.

The OP seems will be attending immigration Monday.

The current BBL bank letter by then will be over 7 days old.

Don't understand the two week gap in his 12 month bank statement.

Making it worse is BBL take days to produce 12 month bank statement.

7 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Making it worse is BBL take days to produce 12 month bank statement.

Minimum of 5 working days in CM Big branch!

9 minutes ago, scottiejohn said:

Minimum of 5 working days in CM Big branch!

Will be interesting. The Bank Letter and 12 month Bank Statement may not be acceptable to CM immigration when he applies.

To make it worse think current extension expires 27th.

@MikaQ5 might update after dealing with immigration Monday.

4 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Will be interesting. The Bank Letter and 12 month Bank Statement may not be acceptable to CM immigration when he applies.

To make it worse think current extension expires 27th.

@MikaQ5 might update after dealing with immigration Monday.

Depending on the dates of the annual statement/normal monthly statements I also get a statement dated on the day I pick up the annual statement. I have been caught out before when they did not overlap. luckily had I had time to fix it!!

CM can be very picky!

PS; That is why I now use an agent in CM to hand hold!!