Renewing My Retirement Extension For The 1st Time

[vagabond48]

I searched TV but didn't find any relevant information that addressed my specific question.

I got my 1st retirement extension last year and I am about to renew my extension.

I just wanted to know if I have to add or can remove anything from my list below when I renew my extension this month.

I kept the list intact so excuse the obvious required stuff.

TM7 extension form

from passport

.copy of photo page

.copy of visa, the extension is based on

.copy of departure card (TM6) (make sure it is dark)

1 photo

embassy proof of income letter

initial all photocopies

1900 baht exact change

Do I need

a copy of the expiring extension?

a copy of the 90 day report receipt which is already attached to my passport?

Just curious, does the 90 day report clock reset when I go for the extension renewal?

I appreciate any information you can give me.

Note of caution for those needing a letter from the US Embassy. I just made an online appointment and was surprised to find the next available date was almost 2 weeks away. Luckily my extension expires Jan 5th so I still have 21 days after my appointment date.

[Lite Beer]

The 90 day report has nothing to do with extension applications. You report 90 days after your last report.

[vagabond48]

The 90 day report has nothing to do with extension applications. You report 90 days after your last report.

Thanks LB, I realize that it doesn't, but I was wondering if by some Thai miracle they also restart the 90 day clock because of my official visit to immigration.

Now for my real important inquiry about the extension................

[lopburi3]

Visa and all entries after that need to be copied.

[thaiphoon]

Depending on the immigration office, a map to you residence might be asked for together with some proof such as rent receipt/lease. Remember if you plan to travel during the period of the new extension you will need to obtain a re-entry permit from immigration to keep your permission to stay alive.

[kikoman]

Depends on what immigration office you go to.

Some require an extra copy of all your paperwork be summitted. (Original and I copy)

TM-7, With required size recent picture.

Copy of income letter from your Embassy.

copy of your letter from Thai bank documenting bank balance.

From your Passport,all signed copies of.

Passport picture page.

Original Non Immigration visa, Stamped USED, and entry stamp.

Departure Card TM-6. front and back.

Retirement visa last issued.

I,900 baht (exact change) fee.

That what was required from me yesterday at the new Nakhon Sawan Immigration office.

It is best to call the office and ask what they require at that office, or have your wife call if you find only Thai speaking staff.

Before last year I was required to take a medical statement that ,I had no speadable desease.

Good Luck

Cheers:

[vagabond48]

Visa and all entries after that need to be copied.

To clarify, assuming the rules don't change, are you saying I will need to show a copy of the original last visa for all future annual extensions?

What do you mean by "all entries after that"?

[lopburi3]

You always have to provide copies of most recent extension of stay but most offices will want all pages with entries after your visa used to start the extension of stay process. As copies only cost 50 stang each if you obtain early; or maybe less if you do yourself, it is best to have the handful ready if needed. If they do not want they will give back and you can have with you again next year if you meet a different officer with an different outlook.

[Guderian]

I went for my third retirement extension yesterday in Jomtien. They also want a copy of your lease if you are renting a property (same for the 90 day reports). In the past, they only seemed to want this to check the address was the same as I had put on the paperwork. This time, the Captain also wanted the page with the rent written on it and the owner's name. She also wrote the rent on the front of the lease. I was curious if this had anything to do with Pattaya City's recent attempts to get (some) landlords to pay 12.5% of their rental income in a property tax?

Ho hum, I have to go back at 1:00 today to pick up the passport and get the re-entry permit.

Oh, one other thing, the Pattaya Immigration office on Soi 5 now appears to have been renamed 'Chon Buri Immigration'. New signs are being put up all over the place.

[gennisis]

I think you have missed out the copy of your last entry stamp.....yes, I know its on the entry card,but at Chiang Mai,they also want a copy of this from your passport page

.

I must also say that at Chiang Mai Immigration they have realy gone to town with their new electric signs above the appropiate desks.....when you enter you go to a machine,select your appropiate visa requirement and recieve a numbered slip. When this number comes up on the main display you look over to the desks to see where this number is being processed and go to it.

All in all,although in the past I have found them very effecient,they now seem to have improved even more,when I read about the problems other immigration offices appear to have

[vagabond48]

I think you have missed out the copy of your last entry stamp.....yes, I know its on the entry card,but at Chiang Mai,they also want a copy of this from your passport page

Thanks, I will include it this time.

My list was made after I made my 1st extension in CM last year and they apparently didn't ask for this.

I will take a copy with me but I normally bring and hold back any copies I don't think they need and wait for them to ask for them. I then update my list for the next time assuming nothing changes.

I hate waste. It may be making another cheap copy of this or that, but IMHO, making unnecessary copies is waste of paper, electricity and this planet's precious resources.

[SurfRider]

"copy of your letter from Thai bank documenting bank balance"

It's astounding that this requirement has only been mentioned once in 11 posts.

Don't know about other Imm. offices, but in Pattaya/Jomtien you'll need a letter from your bank ( cost 200 to 400 Baht ) showing the current balance in your account and the letter must not be more than 7 days old.

You'll also need your bank book, with the balance MATCHING the bank letter, so if you've had any transactions ( ATM withdrawals, etc. ) in the account since procuring the letter, make sure that your bank book HAS NOT been updated.

A copy of the ID page and the current balance page from your bank book ( all signed, of course ) -- sometimes they require copies of all of the pages in the book, apparently at the whim of the Imm. agent.

Simply amazing that this vital requirement was missed by all the pit-bull Visa extension renewal aficionados in this group!

.

[Sophon]

"copy of your letter from Thai bank documenting bank balance"

It's astounding that this requirement has only been mentioned once in 11 posts.

Probably because the OP clearly stated that he would be using embassy letter of income for the extension, so he will not need a letter from the bank confirming bank balance.

Sophon

[SurfRider]

.

"Probably because the OP clearly stated that he would be using embassy letter of income for the extension, so he will not need a letter from the bank confirming bank balance."

NO! -- Two separate issues -- You need the Embassy letter to verify that you have sufficient regular income that exceeds the current minimum threshold.

You ALSO need a local bank account and need to have the bank book there to be examined if requested. Sometimes it is, sometimes not.

Eight days ago on my renewal, the bank book and signed copies were both required. Likewise, a friend who ran the gauntlet a week earlier. On the previous renewal only the copies were required, they didn't check the book.

.

[lopburi3]

When using Embassy letter of income/pension at 65k or above there is no requirement for any letter/bank book or copies. The Embassy letter is all the financial information required. If they have a question on the Embassy letter they could ask for supporting documents but have not heard of anyone being asked for years.

Could you meet an officer thinking otherwise; sure. But it is not likely and does not make it a requirement.

[expatriot]

"copy of your letter from Thai bank documenting bank balance"

It's astounding that this requirement has only been mentioned once in 11 posts.

Don't know about other Imm. offices, but in Pattaya/Jomtien you'll need a letter from your bank ( cost 200 to 400 Baht ) showing the current balance in your account and the letter must not be more than 7 days old.

You'll also need your bank book, with the balance MATCHING the bank letter, so if you've had any transactions ( ATM withdrawals, etc. ) in the account since procuring the letter, make sure that your bank book HAS NOT been updated.

A copy of the ID page and the current balance page from your bank book ( all signed, of course ) -- sometimes they require copies of all of the pages in the book, apparently at the whim of the Imm. agent.

Simply amazing that this vital requirement was missed by all the pit-bull Visa extension renewal aficionados in this group!

.

Do you have the current financial cash income and cash bank deposit requirements acceted facing the declining dollar exchange value?... Is there a pre determined 1 year? 5 year? 10 yer? comfort zone for USD declared assets? interest income? Thank you for all considerations... trying to forecast cash financial retirement declared resident renewal restrictions

[Mario2008]

Do you have the current financial cash income and cash bank deposit requirements acceted facing the declining dollar exchange value?... Is there a pre determined 1 year? 5 year? 10 yer? comfort zone for USD declared assets? interest income? Thank you for all considerations... trying to forecast cash financial retirement declared resident renewal restrictions

The income/money requirements are in Thai baht, there is no consideration for declining exchange values. You either have the requirement or you don't qualify for an extension.

65,000 baht a month

or

800,000 baht in a bankaccount in Thailand

or

a combination of both, totaling 800,000 baht.

[lopburi3]

Requirements have to be met each year. If using bank account it is 800k in account for 3 months for renewals. If using income/pension it is 65k per month based on your Embassies requirements for letter issue.

[vagabond48]

Some require an extra copy of all your paperwork be summitted. (Original and I copy)

I'm not sure what you mean by original, I always assumed you had to bring your passport (original) with required single copies which they keep. Did you perhaps meant 2 copies which was not requested by the CM office the 1st time I made my extension?

[lopburi3]

Two copies are often required if done outside of Bangkok as office keeps one and sends one to there commanding office. In some cases three have been required to serve the chain of command.

[vagabond48]

When using Embassy letter of income/pension at 65k or above there is no requirement for any letter/bank book or copies. The Embassy letter is all the financial information required. If they have a question on the Embassy letter they could ask for supporting documents but have not heard of anyone being asked for years.

Could you meet an officer thinking otherwise; sure. But it is not likely and does not make it a requirement.

Copy of income letter from your Embassy.

copy of your letter from Thai bank documenting bank balance.

Although the above poster didn't mention this, he may have less than the 65k/month income required and needs a supporting bank amount to meet the minimum yearly balance.

[SurfRider]

.

"When using Embassy letter of income/pension at 65k or above there is no requirement for any letter/bank book or copies ... If they have a question on the Embassy letter they could ask for supporting documents but have not heard of anyone being asked for years."

I guess The Pattaya Imm. office never got the directive -- I've needed the passbook and copies for the five years that I've been doing retirement renewals, as have several expat friends.

Here are the requirements as listed on the Pattaya City Expats Club website, clearly referencing the bank passbook.

b. You must have a Thai bank account even if you are using only monthly income certified by your Embassy. An article in Pattaya Today English language newspaper in May 2009 suggests the bank account show at least 1,000 Baht on deposit. However, an expat that recently renewed (June 2009) using only income to qualify reported that the Pattaya Immigration Official told him the next time he renewed he should still have at least 10,000 Baht in the bank..

1. You will need the basic documents for an extension application.

2. Original Letter from your Thai Bank certifying your account and showing your balance (the letter should be dated within the last 7 days most Expats obtain the day before applying).

3. Photocopy of your bank passbook Identity page showing name and account number and page(s) showing the last 3 months activity (it is recommended that you update your passbook on the same day you get your bank letter so that both balances will agree)

4. IF you are using monthly income in total or in part to meet the financial requirements, an original "Embassy Letter" attesting to your monthly income. The letter should not be more than one-year old. Generally, each Embassy has its own form for this letter/certification.

( I believe it is not permissible to post the link to the above information here, but Google should be able to find it for anyone interested )

.

[lopburi3]

Actually it is Chonburi office and they do some unusual things (return of retirement extension next workday for one) but the source of your information is not from that office from your above post.

[darrelmv1]

Actually it is Chonburi office and they do some unusual things (return of retirement extension next workday for one) but the source of your information is not from that office from your above post.

The poster that says Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration office requires a letter from your Thai bank along with photocopies of the bank book (name page and last page with amount on deposit) is correct. Also, they have been known to ask for copies of pages covering up to last 3 months of activity, but that has not been consistent - seems to be the whim of the Immigration Officer. They have been doing this for the past 7 years that I and many of my friends and acquaintances have been renewing our retirement extensions. This is their requirement even when you are using an Embassy income letter to meet the full financial requirement (65,000 Baht or more per month).

I think most of us realize that different Immigration Offices have differing procedures. I have read that Phuket requires a map to your house, but no bank letter requirement unless using money in bank as part of financial requirement. Chonburi ( a recent name change for Pattaya Immigration) does not require such a map. So, if the particular Immigration Office where you will apply will not approve an extension without documents they require, then it is a "requirement" of that Office - try to get the extension at Chonburi Immigration without a bank letter and copy of bank book - you can argue all you want that the only requirement is to have te Embassy letter, but it will not get you an extension.

The British honorary consul that handles Embassy letters needed by UK citizens and other consular activities in Pattaya mentions the bank letter/book requirement in his many presentations to the Expat clubs here. But if one doesn't want to do it and insist that it is not requirement, he also has mentioned that he knows of some individuals that refused to provide Pattaya Immigration with what they wanted. He said they were given 7 day extensions and told to leave the country. I know, I know, it is now Chonburi Immigration, but the events he related were before the name change - same Immigration Officers though, so Chonburi Immigration will probably continue to do the same as Pattaya Immigration.

[kikoman]

Actually it is Chonburi office and they do some unusual things (return of retirement extension next workday for one) but the source of your information is not from that office from your above post.

You questioned my post on another thread, disagreeing with my submitting an Embassy letter, plus a letter from my bank showing my bank balance and monthly deposits.

Since I carry a Thai bank account for the last 7 years.

This was a requirement at the Pattaya Immigration office, on Soi 8, also at the Immigration office in Jontien when the immigration office moved there.

I since move to Nakhon Sawan, and furnished the same paper work Embassy letter and Bank letter for renewal of my Retirement Visa at the Bangkok Immigration Office and now the New Office in Nakhon Sawan.

I will continue to do so, as the process has worked for me!

Others may dispute the requirements with Thai Immigration staff, but it will not be me. My current application paperwork was required in Pattaya and it is no great hardship for me to get the bank letter.

The Embassy letter requires a overnight trip to Bangkok, that is the one that causes the hardship.

Cheers:

[Guderian]

Although a little bit parochial, some people living in Pattaya may find this useful.

I bank with SCB on Beach Road (near Walking Street), even though I now live in Jomtien. I discovered this time that there's no need to go into my own branch to get the letter for Immigration. There is a very small branch of SCB on Jomtien Beach Road at the entrance to Soi 5 where Immigration is located. They can also make the letter for you, which saved me a trip into Pattaya.

For the second year running I used an SCB fixed-interest deposit account to show that I have the 800 K Baht. I just leave the money permanently in the account and let the interest add up (there's not much of that nowadays though ). Pattaya/Chonburi Immigration are evidently happy with this, and I know a number of expats doing the same thing for retirement extensions. Well, back when the fixed-interest account was paying 3% or more, it was much better than using the savings account. There's not a lot of difference nowadays, I suppose, but interest rates will probably go back up again someday, and then it may be worth going this route.