O-a Visa Income Letter (retirement)

[likite]

In the past I have used the 800,000 baht method to apply, but this year I am thinking of using the income method (65,000 baht). I am unsure how it works:-

1. When is the letter issued - meaning can it be issued 1 month/1 week before the expiry of the old visa?

2. How is the conversion of the foriegn income calculated? Is it calculated on the day of the letter or when you come to apply for the new visa at immigration?

Thanks.

[Macclad]

1.I applied for my retirement extension on 4th August and got my letter from the British Embassy at the end of June because I happened to be in Bangkok at the time.Immigration accepted this,no problem,so I think if it is a recent letter you should be okay....say within 3 months of your application.

2.The Embassy calculates your income on the actual day you go there.They use the current bank exchange rates,I believe.So if you get only 60 baht to the pound on that day and it goes up to 65 a few days later then thats too bad.....but can work both ways,of course.

Hope this helps.

[JohnC]

Interesting, in Pattaya the consul ( British) just provides a letter confirming the amount in sterling it's the immigration officer that does the conversion and I am not sure what rate they use. One year I noticed it was 83 baht to the £ yes 83! do not know where that came from, this year it was the low 60s. The plus side (for me anyway) is that they show the gross income and not the net which makes a difference if you are paying tax in your home country.

[WilliamIV]

In my Experience>

- The British Embassy in Bangkok certify the Sterling Amount.

- Immigration officers in previous years had their own lower exchange rates.

(for example if the rate for British Pounds was 70 - they would use 65)

This year the helpful Lady Officer at Suan Phlu asked me what the rate was - and used that.

To avoid visiting the Embassy twice - I always Fax them with the details and then Phone them to check

everything is in order.

I then collect the letter on the way to Suan Phlu to apply for the Retirement Extension.

Whilst this for me saves a separate trip to Bangkok but can result in a longer wait at Immigration.

Others recommend getting up before sunrise to be at Suan Phlu early (I prefer to stay in Bed)

Bill

[Macclad]

Sorry,you are quite right.....the Embassy letter does certify the sterling amount and Immigration do the conversion to baht.

In my defence,the young lady at the Embassy quoted me the equivalent baht on the day I applied for my letter.

[likite]

Sorry,you are quite right.....the Embassy letter does certify the sterling amount and Immigration do the conversion to baht.

In my defence,the young lady at the Embassy quoted me the equivalent baht on the day I applied for my letter.

Does anyone know if because of the conversion rate the income doe not reach 65,000 baht what happens then? Thats assuming that there are other funds to take into consideration ie money in a thai bank. Would the application for the visa be turned down?

[Krub]

Sorry,you are quite right.....the Embassy letter does certify the sterling amount and Immigration do the conversion to baht.

In my defence,the young lady at the Embassy quoted me the equivalent baht on the day I applied for my letter.

Does anyone know if because of the conversion rate the income doe not reach 65,000 baht what happens then? Thats assuming that there are other funds to take into consideration ie money in a thai bank. Would the application for the visa be turned down?

In the case of 'extra' money in the bank, yes it will be considered but you then need copies of your bank book and a statement letter from the bank stating the balance which should match your bank book.

BTW my income is in Yen and the UK Embassy in BKK states my income amount (I suggest them the baht equivalent) in baht making it easy and stress free at immigration as no conversion applies there.

[likite]

Sorry,you are quite right.....the Embassy letter does certify the sterling amount and Immigration do the conversion to baht.

In my defence,the young lady at the Embassy quoted me the equivalent baht on the day I applied for my letter.

Does anyone know if because of the conversion rate the income doe not reach 65,000 baht what happens then? Thats assuming that there are other funds to take into consideration ie money in a thai bank. Would the application for the visa be turned down?

In the case of 'extra' money in the bank, yes it will be considered but you then need copies of your bank book and a statement letter from the bank stating the balance which should match your bank book.

BTW my income is in Yen and the UK Embassy in BKK states my income amount (I suggest them the baht equivalent) in baht making it easy and stress free at immigration as no conversion applies there.

Sorry Krub I made an error in my last posting :-

'Thats assuming that there are other funds to take into consideration ie money in a thai bank. Would the application for the visa be turned down?'

That should have read ---- 'there are no other funds'.

My concern obviously with the questions is I do not want to have an application turned down.

Lastly if for example 100,000 baht was in a Thai bank how do Immigration convert this sum to an annual income for the 65,000 baht rule??

Thanks for the replies so far.

[Lite Beer]

Sorry Krub I made an error in my last posting :-

'Thats assuming that there are other funds to take into consideration ie money in a thai bank. Would the application for the visa be turned down?'

That should have read ---- 'there are no other funds'.

My concern obviously with the questions is I do not want to have an application turned down.

Lastly if for example 100,000 baht was in a Thai bank how do Immigration convert this sum to an annual income for the 65,000 baht rule??

Thanks for the replies so far.

If you do not have the 65,000 income then it would be turned down.

100,000 / 12 = 8333 Baht a month.

[Sophon]

If you do not have the 65,000 income then it would be turned down.

100,000 / 12 = 8333 Baht a month.

But note that if you use a combination of income and bank deposit the goal is no longer THB 65,000 per month but THB 800,000 per year.

It can make a difference as if you have income of THB 57,000 per month then the THB 8,333 per month quoted by Lite Beer would be enough to reach THB 65,000 per month. But the actual calculations would be:

Income: 12 x 57,000 = THB 684,000

Deposit: THB 100,000

Total: THB 784,000

So you would still be THB 16,000 short of meeting the requirement of THB 800,000 combined income and deposit.

Sophon