Income Letter From Us Embassy

[fred110]

My one year retirement gets renewed Feb 25, how soon can I get the letter stating I have retirement income? Thanks.

[ubonjoe]

You can get it from it from the consulate at any time.

But I suggest getting it no more than a week or so before you apply for the extension.

Their is no fixed rule on this from immigration. In Thailand any document such as this is considered stale dated if it is more than 30 days old.

[MeetJohnDoe]

I assume you obtained the embassy "income" letter once already and it is the same procedure again. However, a couple of notes:

(1) You may be able to save a trip to Bangkok if you so wish by obtaining the letter when the embassy visits on one of their consular visits to Pattaya. Call the American Citizen Services office at the embassy to see when their next visit will take place. To avoid any problems, the letter should be dated close to when you plan to when you plan to extend your visa. I would say if it's dated within 60-days of when you renew (after January 09) it should be ok. In the alternative, see if they will allow you to leave the date blank or post-date it to a date in February.

(2) You may not need to get a "new" letter this year. For all my renewals, I have always been allowed to use each letter for 2 consecutive years (most recently in September). On the 3rd year, a new letter has been required. It may save you time/money to check with the Jomtien office to see if this is still the case. If you can, I would check directly with Mr. "Somchai" at desk # 5, who is the one who processes the retirement extension visas...as it's likely the gay fella at the information counter won't know about this "courtesy" and just tell you you need a new letter each year.

[Wash]

I used the same letter from the embassy for 8 years without getting a new one. At that point I was asked by Immigration office to get a new one for next year's application, but they did accept the same one for last year.

When processing the two copies of the forms required for application for extension I have the original letter from emabssy in a seperate folder and only use copies of the letter to file with the application.

So from my experience you can get the letter from the embassy any time it is convenient for you to do so and use it year after year until Immigration asks you to get a new one

[RPCVguy]

I used the same letter from the embassy for 8 years without getting a new one. At that point I was asked by Immigration office to get a new one for next year's application, but they did accept the same one for last year.

When processing the two copies of the forms required for application for extension I have the original letter from emabssy in a seperate folder and only use copies of the letter to file with the application.

So from my experience you can get the letter from the embassy any time it is convenient for you to do so and use it year after year until Immigration asks you to get a new one

Thanks for the info. Does it change the process/ consideration any for people on pensions and SSA? Once mine start in a year, they will be for the balance of my life. By then I'll also qualify for residence permit, but for THB 95,000 it seems pricey (yes, I married here) vs. annual renewals. Comments?

[MeetJohnDoe]

By then I'll also qualify for residence permit, but for THB 95,000 it seems pricey vs. annual renewals.

Not sure what you are referring to re a residency permit for 95K?

The basic options for living in Thailand for someone in your situation (over 50 and married to a Thai) are extensions of a non-immigrant visa based on either having a pension of a certain amount or one based on marriage. The financial qualifications are less for the marriage extension but the paperwork much more extensive and intrusive.

Most people, even married ones, choose to use the retirement extension due to it's simplicity. If you meet the financials for the retirement extension, the only cost is the B1900 fee, $30 for the embassy letter, and a few baht for photos and copies. As has be said, the embassy letter can sometimes be used for several years in a row saving on this expense.

[Maestro]

Not sure what you are referring to re a residency permit for 95K?

The Residence certificate (TM. 16) for a foreigner married to a Thai national:

Residence certificate (TM. 16)

• For shared investment or special investment: 191,400.- Baht

• For employment or expert: 191,400.- Baht

• For foreigner married to Thai national: 95,700.- Baht

• For foreign head of family taking care of children of Thai nationality: 95,700.- Baht

• For spouse of foreign resident in the Kingdom: 95,700.- Baht

• For children of foreign resident in the Kingdom or of Thai nationals:

o Underage: 95,700.- Baht

o Adult: 191,400.- Baht

• For non-quota immigrants (original resident): 95,700.- Baht

Source: www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/en/base.php?page=fee

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Maestro