Retirement Visa Extension

[WilliamIV]

My Experience ...

Part of the extension process ...

The Immigration Officer Completes a

"Statement Form" in Thai for you to sign ...

One of the items on the Form is his/her calculation

of the Baht equivalent of your Foreign Currency

Pension.

In 2004 The Officer converted my Sterling Pension

at the rate of £1 = Bht 60 .... at a time when it was

ABOUT Bht 70

I pointed this out but she smiled demurely

and said 60 is the rate we use in Immigration ...

OK - so the rate COULD change - so she was being cautious?

But this could have an effect on border line cases...

However THIS year the Lady used the DOLLAR rate of 39

to convert my Sterling Pension.

Anyway - I signed the Form FIRST and then pointed out that

Sterling was 75 not 39 - upon which she recalculated using 75

blancoed and over wrote the amount.

(When I returned home I found the Sterling rate to be nearer 73.5 ....)

Bill

[tonyevans]

My Experience ...

Part of the extension process ...

The Immigration Officer Completes a

"Statement Form" in Thai for you to sign ...

One of the items on the Form is his/her calculation

of the Baht equivalent of your Foreign Currency

Pension.

In 2004 The Officer converted my Sterling Pension

at the rate of £1 = Bht 60 .... at a time when it was

ABOUT Bht 70

I pointed this out but she smiled demurely

and said 60 is the rate we use in Immigration ...

OK - so the rate COULD change - so she was being cautious?

But this could have an effect on border line cases...

However THIS year the Lady used the DOLLAR rate of 39

to convert my Sterling Pension.

Anyway - I signed the Form FIRST and then pointed out that

Sterling was 75 not 39 - upon which she recalculated using 75

blancoed and over wrote the amount.

(When I returned home I found the Sterling rate to be nearer 73.5 ....)

Bill

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[tonyevans]

Many thanks for sharing your experiences with us.

One question for you though.

I travel to Bangkok from the Chonburi area to renew my retirement visa and usually get my bank letter a few days before I go to the Immigration in Bangkok.

I recently saw advice in the Pattaya Mail that stated that the bank letter confirming your balance must be dated the same day as your application. I have been going to Bangkok Immigration since 1997 and have supplied the bank letter about 3 or 4 days old.

You mentioned before that the letter should be within a few days of the application.

Is a few days accepted at Bangkok Immigration as far as you know as that would help me considerably.

I also will be faxing the British Embassy to get my letter this year with one visit rather than the usual two.

Again many thanks for the information.

Sorry everyone I have just noticed I pressed the wrong button a few minutes ago and submitted without comment

Tony

[lopburi3]

The bank letter can be up to a week old with no problem. In my case get it the same say but bank dates it the day before so funds do not have to be frozen.

[tonyevans]

Thanks for information lopburi3 that helps my travel planning.

Tony

[WilliamIV]

Hi Tony

Lopburi is the expert !

I would add for general info

that my Bank & probably others -

like to get an overnight Computer Report

before giving such Certificates

even when their Customers' accounts are

on-line and updated real time ...

So nobody should expect to get

such letters same day.

The British Embassy has several direct lines

and Fax Machines for its various Departments.

These are the Direct Lines for the Consular Section

Phone - 02 305 8278

Fax - 02 255 6051

To assist the Embassy - When Faxing them I quote their Ref from

their Previous letters which I assume is my File number.

For ease of reference of new veiwers !

My Main Post on Extension of Retirement Visa is at:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=34136

Bill