Retirement Visa With Funds In Uk Bank

[Tafia]

Will using cheques show up as deposits from outside Thailand?

[Lite Beer]

Tafia

Please note that the UK embassy require EVIDENCE OF INCOME (& an unfairly large fee) unlike many other embassies.

DAVE

I understand that bit Dave,(any idea how much & is that fee required annually??) its just I see so many posts regarding extension on Marriage that say we need tax papers (proof of payment of tax in LOS). My pension is paid in the UK and taxed there so I will not be taxed in LOS. I take it then that as long as I have evidence and a letter supporting the proof of income, tax papers will not be required for an extension based on marriage??

Yes . If your pension is 40,000 Baht a month or more the Uk Embassy will provide you with a letter that you can show Immigration. The Embassy fee is around 2,500 Baht and has to be renewed every year.

[begsaresponse]

Will using cheques show up as deposits from outside Thailand?

In our pass book for the Bank here it has the same code as a SWIFT transfer.

[lopburi3]

At Bangkok Bank it will have the same "FTT" code as a wire transfer when credited to your account. You also have the bank exchange paperwork that includes a copy of the check.

But believe the total cost is $30. $10 is paid in baht at bank when you deposit check and a 1,000 baht hold is put on your account. Upon payment total seems to be the current TT rate minus $20.

[Tafia]

At Bangkok Bank it will have the same "FTT" code as a wire transfer when credited to your account. You also have the bank exchange paperwork that includes a copy of the check.

Thanks Guys

[WeeGB]

Lopburi 3, Hope you won't mind me posting this here, (your post 28). I think this will finish the topic, rather than start a new one - easier for newbies like myself to follow in future.

Thanks again to one and all for advice given. Trial run of 100 pounds via SWIFT from UK, arrived next day. Unfortunately only got 62.2 Baht to the pound. (Ouch).

[Maestro]

WeeGB, you are forgetting your Thai bank’s fee, which is probably 0.25% of the remitted amount but minimum 200 Baht, maximum 500 Baht.

Therefore, for your 100 pounds you received 64.20 per pound, total 6,420 Baht less 200 Baht fee equals 6,220 Baht.

--

Maestro

[Lite Beer]

WeeGB, you are forgetting your Thai bank’s fee, which is probably 0.25% of the remitted amount but minimum 200 Baht, maximum 500 Baht.

Therefore, for your 100 pounds you received 64.20 per pound, total 6,420 Baht less 200 Baht fee equals 6,220 Baht.

--

Maestro

Plus it cost him a 20 pound swift fee from his bank in UK.

Not Good.

[WeeGB]

Lite Beer, I agree, not good from a financial point of view on such a small amount, but now I know the system works. I had serious doubts about our local branch here, they didn't seem to know about SWIFT transfers at all. Sometimes in life it's worth paying a little for peace of mind - even for a Scotsman!

Maestro, Thanks for the information regarding the Banks charges, seems you know more than our Bank. When we called in they could only tell us the transfer had arrived, and couldn't supply details of charges until the next day. Now I know it's 500 baht maximum, I can finalise other arrangements.

Thanks again for help from everyone, especially Lopburi 3, (a scholar & a gentleman), hopefully this thread will be useful for others in future. There is now a lot of relevant information, regarding what is needed for a retirement visa, and also on the financial side of getting money over here to Thailand, and complying with the relevant rules and regulations.

[tgeezer]

When you get your retirement extension, the same day get a re-entry stamp (they come in single or multiple flavors). This will allow you leave and re-enter Thailand without disturbing the one-year validity of your retirement extension.

This is very good advice, especially for those of us who use the retirement visa as a long-stay visa and have responsibilities at home, a re-entry visa can be got at the airport but if there is an emergency and you need to go it is one less thing to worry about.

[dr_Pat_Pong]

WeeGB, you are forgetting your Thai bank’s fee, which is probably 0.25% of the remitted amount but minimum 200 Baht, maximum 500 Baht.

Therefore, for your 100 pounds you received 64.20 per pound, total 6,420 Baht less 200 Baht fee equals 6,220 Baht.

--

Maestro

Plus it cost him a 20 pound swift fee from his bank in UK.

Not Good.

The bloody banks don't miss you do they

[Lite Beer]

WeeGB, you are forgetting your Thai bank’s fee, which is probably 0.25% of the remitted amount but minimum 200 Baht, maximum 500 Baht.

Therefore, for your 100 pounds you received 64.20 per pound, total 6,420 Baht less 200 Baht fee equals 6,220 Baht.

--

Maestro

Plus it cost him a 20 pound swift fee from his bank in UK.

Not Good.

The bloody banks don't miss you do they

No. My bank in UK charges 25 pounds. Even worse.

[WeeGB]

Sorry to go back to this, but I'm going to BKK next week to try and sort this out. Want to make sure everything is 100% correct.

Money transferred from UK (800,000 Baht), will have been in Bangkok Bank account over 90 days. My 90 day visa will be past the 60th day.

Passport copies - can I do this myself? Copy Photo page and visa entry? Or do I have to fork out the British Embassys extortionate fees to get this.

Arrival card copies, are they available at Immigration? (Have ONE in passport.)

My Bank passbook shows foreign transfers as FTT ( Bangkok Bank). Local branch will give me a letter confirming amount in the account, this will be on Friday, going to Immigration Tuesday (Monday bank Holiday). However, local Bangkok Bank say they can't provide transfer slips - I think due to being provincial branch and not used to dealing with this kind of thing, it seems I'm the first farang to do this in Phetchabon. Is there a Bangkok Bank near Immigration, in case of emergency?

Proof of residence, how do I provide this? Have been staying at my wife's house since October.

Thanks again to all for help - keep your fingers crossed!

[lopburi3]

1. Use any copy maker or make gray scale copies (some object to color). Copy all pages with data/visa/stamps.

2. Copy the card you will have in your passport front and back.

3. Bank passbook with bank letter should be all you need - if required BBL Hqs could probably provide transfer slip copies (they short taxi ride from Immigration) but am sure they will not be. No other Bangkok Bank branch could provide.

4. Not sure any proof of residence will be required (but I changed from marriage so perhaps that is why was never asked). If you staying in private home there should be a blue book (home register) that you could obtain to show with copy; or at least a copy signed/dated by someone on the home register list. Copy of there ID card/signed/dated might also be handy to have.

5. Be sure to have current 4x6cm photo for the TM.7 and 1,900 baht for the fee.

[egg6447]

wow you all seem to make heavy work of the money transfer thing. i have posted this info a few times and serprised brits still dont do this. its like this. i hold a nationwide b/s flexaccount debit card. used it for a long time cant remember how long.ive shifted 6ml bt over here with it not one satang/penny in charges in all that time. apart from the obviouse atm use i walk into a bank and pick up what cash i require over the counter. sums of 400k many times, never been asked any questions ref the use of said cash. at other times ive walked into my thai bank and transfered money into my thai account, scb, and its in my account while i watch, instant. never costs anything either end. cant get my head round all the fees and 6week delays and cheques, and man my brain hurts. give it a try easy peasy.

[prodriver]

wow you all seem to make heavy work of the money transfer thing. i have posted this info a few times and serprised brits still dont do this. its like this. i hold a nationwide b/s flexaccount debit card. used it for a long time cant remember how long.ive shifted 6ml bt over here with it not one satang/penny in charges in all that time. apart from the obviouse atm use i walk into a bank and pick up what cash i require over the counter. sums of 400k many times, never been asked any questions ref the use of said cash. at other times ive walked into my thai bank and transfered money into my thai account, scb, and its in my account while i watch, instant. never costs anything either end. cant get my head round all the fees and 6week delays and cheques, and man my brain hurts. give it a try easy peasy.

I believe one has to be resident in the UK to get this card. They can usually check to see if you're resident by checking to see if you are on the electoral roll. If you're not....then I don't think that you will get the card. If you qualify for the card, I believe that it and any renewals will only be sent to an address in the UK.

Please put me right 'egg6447' if what I say is incorrect as I have tried getting one of these cards on-line but have failed to do so for the afore mentioned reason.

[Dixie]

wow you all seem to make heavy work of the money transfer thing. i have posted this info a few times and serprised brits still dont do this. its like this. i hold a nationwide b/s flexaccount debit card. used it for a long time cant remember how long.ive shifted 6ml bt over here with it not one satang/penny in charges in all that time. apart from the obviouse atm use i walk into a bank and pick up what cash i require over the counter. sums of 400k many times, never been asked any questions ref the use of said cash. at other times ive walked into my thai bank and transfered money into my thai account, scb, and its in my account while i watch, instant. never costs anything either end. cant get my head round all the fees and 6week delays and cheques, and man my brain hurts. give it a try easy peasy.

Hi Egg,

I took your advice and opened a flexaccount with the Nationwide. While I was there I asked what exchange rate they used, i.e. did they use their exchange rate in the UK when making withdrawals in Thailand or was it the exchange rate in Thailand. I was told it would be the exchange rate in the UK. I’ve not had chance to try it yet, as I’m still in the UK.

As you are probably aware if I was to send say a £1000 pound from the UK (and pay £20) and the rate was 62 baht to the pound in Thailand, I would probably only get say 57 in the UK if I transferred Thai baht. That’s a difference of 5000 baht. (only an example)

As you have been doing this for some time have you checked at what exchange rate you’ve been given when making your withdrawals using you Nationwide card. Hope you understand what I’m saying.

If you are getting the same rate as what you would get in Thailand then that’s fine otherwise it could work out quite a bit of difference, especially if you pay £20 for transferring large amounts of money, yet you could be losing allot more than £20 on the exchange rates.

All the best

Dixie

[Dixie]

wow you all seem to make heavy work of the money transfer thing. i have posted this info a few times and serprised brits still dont do this. its like this. i hold a nationwide b/s flexaccount debit card. used it for a long time cant remember how long.ive shifted 6ml bt over here with it not one satang/penny in charges in all that time. apart from the obviouse atm use i walk into a bank and pick up what cash i require over the counter. sums of 400k many times, never been asked any questions ref the use of said cash. at other times ive walked into my thai bank and transfered money into my thai account, scb, and its in my account while i watch, instant. never costs anything either end. cant get my head round all the fees and 6week delays and cheques, and man my brain hurts. give it a try easy peasy.

I believe one has to be resident in the UK to get this card. They can usually check to see if you're resident by checking to see if you are on the electoral roll. If you're not....then I don't think that you will get the card. If you qualify for the card, I believe that it and any renewals will only be sent to an address in the UK.

Please put me right 'egg6447' if what I say is incorrect as I have tried getting one of these cards on-line but have failed to do so for the afore mentioned reason.

Hi provider,

As you can see from above I've just been into the Nationwide to open my Flexaccount. You can only do this if resident in the UK or you are registered at a UK address. If you have family or friends in the UK can't you register with them?

All the Best

Dixie

[prodriver]

wow you all seem to make heavy work of the money transfer thing. i have posted this info a few times and serprised brits still dont do this. its like this. i hold a nationwide b/s flexaccount debit card. used it for a long time cant remember how long.ive shifted 6ml bt over here with it not one satang/penny in charges in all that time. apart from the obviouse atm use i walk into a bank and pick up what cash i require over the counter. sums of 400k many times, never been asked any questions ref the use of said cash. at other times ive walked into my thai bank and transfered money into my thai account, scb, and its in my account while i watch, instant. never costs anything either end. cant get my head round all the fees and 6week delays and cheques, and man my brain hurts. give it a try easy peasy.

I believe one has to be resident in the UK to get this card. They can usually check to see if you're resident by checking to see if you are on the electoral roll. If you're not....then I don't think that you will get the card. If you qualify for the card, I believe that it and any renewals will only be sent to an address in the UK. Please put me right 'egg6447' if what I say is incorrect as I have tried getting one of these cards on-line but have failed to do so for the afore mentioned reason.

Hi provider, As you can see from above I've just been into the Nationwide to open my Flexaccount. You can only do this if resident in the UK or you are registered at a UK address. If you have family or friends in the UK can't you register with them? All the Best Dixie

Thanks Dixie for confirming what I believed was the case. It is therefore not so 'easy peasy' as 'egg6447' states.

I was recorded on the electoral roll as living at my brother's address. That was OK whilst his son and daughter were living there but he now lives on his own which means he's entitled to get a 25% reduction on his council tax. That meant that me supposedly 'living' there prevented him from getting this reduction. Hence, he has knocked my name off his address! Getting this card is OK if you are returning to the UK on occasions. The last time I was in the UK was 1999 and I have no plans to return in the near future. Anyway, I transfer a lump sum once a year into Thailand so it only costs me 20 quid per annum. To return to the UK to get a Nationwide flexi account up and running would cost me around £500 airfare alone. Therefore, it would take me 25 years to break even. I'm 61 now, I don't envisage making it to 86. So I'll continue transferring my money the way I do at £20 a year.....sorry if it hurts your head 'egg6447'

[middelman]

If you use income you will require a letter from your embassy. You should always have a bank passbook and letter from bank of account balance.

For my understanding, if you meet the 65K requirements why should one have ALWAYS a bank passbook?

[lopburi3]

Bangkok seems to accept just the 65k letter but takes copy of bank letter/passbook copies if offered. Other people have reported being asked for bank letter even if using income so believe it is a gray area - the old published rules listed both bank letter and passbook copies as a basic requirement and believe some officers still hold that opinion.

[JohnC]

As you are probably aware if I was to send say a £1000 pound from the UK (and pay £20) and the rate was 62 baht to the pound in Thailand, I would probably only get say 57 in the UK if I transferred Thai baht. That’s a difference of 5000 baht. (only an example)

I too have a Nationwide Flexi Card, as it is a debit card with visa logo you can present it to your bank here and request the amount you wish (e.g. £1000) thye will then tell what exchange rate they offer. There are no charges involved with either bank. I also use one of my daughters as my home address for all my business (Letters, cards etc) but do not register on the electrol roll so not a problem for her.

[Lickey]

WeeGB and others, if you are with Nationwide and there online banking service, you can fill in a swift transfer online, print it, sign it send it, also, last year for retirement visa purposes, i need to show Nong Khia Imm where my money came from, a mail to NW online and 6 days later a letter came showing all my swift transfers to Thailand,

Also my flex/visa card ran out last month, i e-mailed NW and they said they dont post out of UK, will send it to my UK branch, I called my NW branch, and asked them if they would send it to me, they said yes, no prob, do you want the same PIN? i said yes and card was here 6 days after call,

Does anybody know of another UK bank that can beat Nationwide for customer care??

[WeeGB]

Hi, I'm pleased to say I am now the proud owner of both Retirement and Re-Entry stamps.

Thank you to all who posted replies and advice.

Any help for the following would be gratefully appreciated.

My wife (Thai) and I are going back to the UK to basically sell up, before moving here permanently.

Last time we went back, my wife travelled on her Thai passport, (which has a permitted to stay for unlimited duration sticker in it), though she also has a British passport.

At immigration in the UK airport, they gave her a hard time, as we'd been here for over six months. (She'd left her British passport at home in the UK that time - but has it with her this time). To avoid a repetition of this, ( here 7 months this time), as we're travelling through Doha, Qatar, complete with a very long stopover, can she travel Thailand to Qatar on her Thai passport, and then change to her British one for the Doha-UK leg?

She's heard Thai immigration don't like Thai citizens travelling on other countries passports, and is concerned they'll try to take it off her. I'm concerned that even though she has a British passport, that if she travels all of the way on her Thai one, we'll be stuck at the airport, trying to sort it out. Immigration has become more strict recently in the UK, I'm told.

I thought I'd seen a similar question to this, and have looked on the site for over an hour, but can't find anything- maybe I saw it somewhere else?

Sorry if this seems a bit trivial to some, but this is our journey, (Qatar Airways have changed the time of the Doha -UK leg by 5 hours, since we've been here).

Phetchabun-Suvarnabhumi 5 hrs, wait at check in 3 hours, BKK-Doha 7 hrs, wait Doha 7 hrs, Doha-UK 7 hrs. Airport- home 6hrs, all of this not including hold ups. If anyone can arrange for me to win the UK lottery, so I don't have to go, I'd be grateful!

Once again any advice would be welcome. Thank you.

[lopburi3]

Leave Thailand on the Thai passport (as you have entry permission even the normal show of UK passport to check-in desk should not be required). For the rest of the trip use the UK passport. Use Thai passport when you enter Thailand again. Airport immigration is well aware of dual passport use and should not be a problem.

[WeeGB]

Lopburi3, Thank you for this advice, and the other help.