Pattaya Immigration Office, Retirement Visa

[vertigo4u]

I have a Retirement Visa based on a 800.000 Baht, and in 4 Months, I will have to renew it.

Some Folks have told me now, that the Pattaya Immigration Office is asking for a 1.000.000 Baht on your Bank - is this the Truth?

Can one Immigration Office change the Rules by themselves?

Thanks in advance for any Answer.

[Jingthing]

No. No they can't. I think I know where this rumor started though. The general rule is that the 800K needs to be in your bank account 3 months before your renewal appointment. So, for people spending down their account to live on, which is common and typical, they might top off the account to 1 million three months prior to the appointment, depending on their spending needs, this allows people to still have the needed 800K at the time of the meeting. To add further confusion, Jomtien officers SOMETIMES tell people (including moi) that you do DO NOT need to have the 800K in your account three months prior for SUBSEQUENT extensions, but you do need for the first extension. So in that sense enforcement between offices does vary. Good luck.

[naka]

Jingthing's theory makes a lot of sense. Anyway it's still 800k at time of renewal.

Naka.

[jstumbo]

No. No they can't. I think I know where this rumor started though. The general rule is that the 800K needs to be in your bank account 3 months before your renewal appointment. So, for people spending down their account to live on, which is common and typical, they might top off the account to 1 million three months prior to the appointment, depending on their spending needs, this allows people to still have the needed 800K at the time of the meeting. To add further confusion, Jomtien officers SOMETIMES tell people (including moi) that you do DO NOT need to have the 800K in your account three months prior for SUBSEQUENT extensions, but you do need for the first extension. So in that sense enforcement between offices does vary. Good luck.

Immigration cannot change the rules by themselves if they want? You have been around long enough to know that they change the rules all the time and every office seems to have its own rules. It even is different between different immigration officers at the same office. Even different with the same immigration officer from one visit to another. But it is only 800K, never heard of them changing that.

If I was here on a retirement extension, I don't think I would trust that they would not require seasoning of the money in the bank for subsequent extensions. I would really hate to show up to immigration and have them decide that it had to be there 3 months in advance.

[lopburi3]

In the case of 800k the regulation would seem set in stone (or as much as anything is) - excepting the first year where exceptions were allowed under Section 13.

(4) Account deposit with a bank in

Thailand of not less than Baht

800,000 as shown in bank

account transactions for the

past 3 months

[Jingthing]

In the case of 800k the regulation would seem set in stone (or as much as anything is) - excepting the first year where exceptions were allowed under Section 13.

(4) Account deposit with a bank in

Thailand of not less than Baht

800,000 as shown in bank

account transactions for the

past 3 months

Do you seriously, really, think that is clear English? No, it is not clear English. It could easily mean just show us a copy of your bank book going back three months. I know what I was told in clear English by a live officer.

Immigration cannot change the rules by themselves if they want?

Fair enough. I think they can change nuances of enforcement, but I do not think they can change something as big as the required amount, as the post suggests they made up a figure of one million for one office, I do not believe it, it is a definite false rumor.