I renewed my retirement visa last month in Nonghkai, this was my 2nd renewal there, 4 previous renewals were done in Pattaya.

Not many hurdles this time my Embassy letter which was 1 year old was accepted but I was told that I would need a new one next year.

I have always used the mixture of pension income and savings and for the past 2 years have made sure my savings were on deposit for at least three months.

I have always transferred the savings in one lump sum from my bank in the U.K.

The officer who processed my application said this was not going to be satisfactory next year and he wanted to see 60.000 Baht transferred to my Thai account monthly!

This would work out at 720.000 Baht over a year a sum that with my modest life style I would rarely use! Also the fact of incurring monthly transfer charges of 20 pounds sterling! as opposed to my present 1 off 20 pounds.

There would not seem to be any great advantage in this method as opposed to showing 800.000 Baht savings although I did not enquire as to how he might want to see that 800 K transferred

Is this policy unique to Nongkhai or is it going to be enforced nationwide in 2009?

It sounds like more Nong Khai nonsense to me.

It sounds like more Nong Khai nonsense to me.

Yes. Go there again at your peril

It sounds like more Nong Khai nonsense to me.

Yes. Go there again at your peril

Last year in an attempt to bypass this rather unpleasant officer I flew from Udon to Bangkok waited in Suan Phlu from 10 am

untll 2pm only to be politely told that I must apply at my local office which then was based in Aek Udon hospital.

So short of me complying with his whim,moving from Udon or he getting transferred I guess Im stuck