was at Immigration Bangkok today to do my first retirement extension. the funds had been transferred into new account 4 months ago, had photocopy of the passbook and letter from bank stating balance (done yesterday)

officer told me I had to go to the bank and get passbook updated, I said passbook was up-to-date, no other transactions, balance in passbook matches bank letter

officer said bank letter re balance OK but they need to see proof that passbook is up to date, I said the bank checked the passbook yesterday

officer sent me to supervisor who said I had to go to the bank and make a deposit or withdrawal so there was a recent transaction to show the passbook was up-to-date

I went to the bank, made the deposit and came back, officer then said the photocopy of the passbook now not correct and sent me out to do another copy but the bank letter was OK because it showed the balance for yesterday which agreed with the passbook for yesterday

when getting final signature from supervisor I asked why this requirement for recent passbook transaction when the bank letter certified the balance - she said was a new regulation from 25 November, I said this was not on the Immigration web site and asked where this had been announced and how was I supposed to know, she said is new and I know now for next year. when I (politely) pointed out that I had been sitting waiting for 4 hours but if someone had told me of the new regulations when I first got the queue ticket I could have got the new paperwork before getting to the officer and wasting further officer, supervisor and my time, she just said was new regulation .....

bkkguy

I have never had this requirement foisted on me in four annual renewals one in BKK and 3 in CM) I doubt it is a statutory/regulatory requirement, but a nuance imposed by the local staff who for some reason must have doubted the authenticity of your bank letter...or perhaps have been scammed by some other applicant and have become wary. I'll be interested in what our TV subject matter experts say about this.

Don't feel bad, I had the same problem with last years extension. Not only that but I had a new passbook and had to dig the old one out and make copies of that too. They wanted to see a full year of history plus the letter and passbook dated the same day. This year I did that and had no problem.

(4) Account deposit with a bank in Thailand of not less than 800,000 Baht as shown in the bank account for the past 3 months at the filing date of the application. For the first year, the applicant should have that amount in his bank account for not less than 60 days or

I think somebody is using the above words in bold and interpreting it to mean you need a passbook update on the day you apply. Or they could even say you need the letter dated that day.

Edited December 17, 200817 yr by ubonjoe

...officer sent me to supervisor who said I had to go to the bank and make a deposit or withdrawal so there was a recent transaction to show the passbook was up-to-date

I had exactly the same when I renewes my 'retirement' visa at CM.....last entry in passbook was 25 Nov bank letter of confirmation was 11 Dec.....same totals in both,

The officer was not happy with this but accepted my reasoning that I had not withdrawn since Nov and that the Bank letter was OK.

Next year I will make a 100 baht withdrawl before asking for the letter.

Why not just stick the book in the machine for update without making any withdrawals or does that not work? I will try it later when I go out .

Why not just stick the book in the machine for update without making any withdrawals or does that not work? I will try it later when I go out .

I suspect that won't work, since if there are no new transactions, no entry is made in the passbook. i.e. The passbook comes out of the machine with the same last entry as when it was inserted.