Am I Going To Jail Over Renewal Of O Visa?

[The_Moog]

Fearful that Doc Patpong will soon be visiting me in Klong Prem with a cake containing a file.

I got my marital O visa last October - with THB400,000 brought in from abroad.

Now its time to renew.

I haven't brought in any new money from abroad, and the balance is now THB 800,000

...because I did some consultancy work last winter (no work permit)

NOW!

Is Immigration at Suan Plu going to say -

'what are these three deposits you've made?'

Or do they not analyse the payments and receipts..

(I could always just say it was cash that i'd drawn from another foreign account)

Your thoughts would be much appreciated !

Moog

[huski]

Fearful that Doc Patpong will soon be visiting me in Klong Prem with a cake containing a file.

I got my marital O visa last October - with THB400,000 brought in from abroad.

Now its time to renew.

I haven't brought in any new money from abroad, and the balance is now THB 800,000

...because I did some consultancy work last winter (no work permit)

NOW!

Is Immigration at Suan Plu going to say -

'what are these three deposits you've made?'

Or do they not analyse the payments and receipts..

(I could always just say it was cash that i'd drawn from another foreign account)

Your thoughts would be much appreciated !

Moog

it really depends on what you say in your interview. i have always deposited cash into my account and have had no problem.

there is a requirement that the funds come from out of the country. however, if the funds were withdrawn from another account and then deposited into a thai bank, it only shows up in your passbook as cash. the letters i have had from bangkok bank have never mentioned any more than a balance on a specific date.

how did you make these 3 deposits ?

[The_Moog]

I paid in cheques.

I shan't say 'I was working'. I'll just say I paid in money.

Immigration might want evidence of the origin of the money - in which case , i'm stuck, I'll then have to bring in another THB400,000.

Hopefully they'll just see a healthy balance and shut-up.

I also have a Channot in my name, from an apartment I've bought, so that might qualify me for something.

[rocky]

with THB400,000 brought in from abroad.

Now its time to renew.

I haven't brought in any new money from abroad, and the balance is now THB 800,000

Just idea's,

(1) Can you wire the money back to your home country and back to thailand ?

(2) Open another bank account in thailand and transfer the money into this account. This account will only show one input, when they ask where this is from , it is from another account you hold.

Though if you do open a second account, use the cash card to withdraw many many small sums of money, then update the pass book, this will show account used many times with the correct amount of money. I am not sure if the advice I have given will help, it is only a suggestion.

Goodluck...

[astral]

You won't go to Klong Prem,

it will the the IDC at Suan Plu!!!!!!!!!

I would try Rocky's suggestion with the second account, then get the letter from the bank confirming the balance. They may not ask to see the passbook, but even if they do you can say the money just came in and the bank has not given you the exchange slip yet.

Why did you need 400K last year? The amount only went up from 200K to 400K in the middle of this year.

Edited October 8, 2004 by astral

[The_Moog]

Thanks everyone.

I'm a great believer in letting people know 'how the problem was resolved'... in that way, our knowledge base increases.

...well, I just got back...

They simply didn't ask about where this year's income came from. They noted there was enough cash in there and checked the bank letter.

Something important to tell you though.....the letter from your bank that confirms the balance has to be less than 7 days old. (So don't get the letter and put it aside for a month)

Moog

[Bangkok Black Cat]

Give me the excess 400,000 baht and all your problems will evaporate

[jackr]

Why didn't you just pay the cheques into another account in the first place, Moog.

Without opening a new thread; anyone know what the average bank charges to wire 400k, from UK?

[aqua4]

You lent money to friends and they have now paid you back. Simply answers are the best.

[Richard W]

Why didn't you just pay the cheques into another account in the first place, Moog.

Without opening a new thread; anyone know what the average bank charges to wire 400k, from UK?

I thnk it's roughly £15 plus Thai bank's charges - not sure what they are. The cheapest option seems to be to say the recipient will pay the charges at the Thai end - the UK bank makes an arbitrary charge to cover the Thai bank's costs, which seems to be more than the Thai bank charges.

The NatWest charges for a 'standard transfer' recently went up from £14 to £18. There ought to be a point at which the cost switches to a percentage cost, but I think you're below that point. The NatWest web site doesn't mention such a point, just a flat fee.

Send pounds not baht. The bank's advice that it is better to send foreign currency is 180° off from reality.

You could also consider a banker's draft - NatWest would charge £18 and there's supposed to be no charge at the other end - but I wouldn't bet on it.

[jackr]

Thanks for that Richard. I transfered some over a couple of years back, via the HSBC, and they charged about the amount you're talking for a measly £200 transfer.

Anybody ever dealt with the likes of XE currency exchange brokers? Supposed to be commision and maintenance free, but you have to pay to join.

[Simbo]

Why not withdraw 400,000, leaving the original 400,000. Get the letter off the bank with that amount showing. They don't require your bank book, just the bank letter will suffice. They never asked me for mine when renewing my retirement visa. just the letter.