Proof Of 800k Thb In Thai Bank

[OriginalPoster]

When applying for a "retirement" visa for the first time, what sort of documentation is needed to prove that you have wired at least 800k THB from a foreign bank to a Thai bank and that the money has been sitting in the Thai account for the required amount of time? Are bank statements from the foreign bank and the Thai bank sufficient or is it required to obtain some additional documentation from the Thai bank? If the latter, how would one get that?

[Jingthing]

Generally, retirees have passbook accounts. So a photocopy of your updated passbook. The passbook will have a code showing the inward transfers. Also an official letter from the Thai bank stating your balance obtained just before you go into immigration for your application. Nothing needed from your foreign bank.

[binnsy]

you will need a letter from you Thai bank stating that you have X amount in there it has to have been in there for 3 months.

also you will need to take along you Thai bank account book.

[Jingthing]

For FIRST time extensions, the money only needs to be in for TWO months, not three. It is THREE months for subsequent applications.

[thaiphoon]

Yes, 2 months for first application, 3 months for subsequent renewals.

Letter from bank dated just before you go to immigration with balance to agree with passbook.

There is no longer immigration requirement to show the funds came in from abroad.

You will also need to take completed application form TM7, recent passport sized photo, copy of bank passbook and copy of passport. A map to you residence might be asked for together with some proof such as rent receipt/lease but that should be all. Fee 1,900 baht. Remember if you plan to travel abroad during the period of the extension you will need to obtain a re-entry permit from immigration to keep your permission to stay alive. Fee 1000 baht single entry; 3800 baht multi entry.

http://www.immigration.go.th/nov2004/download/tm7.doc

(print the two-sided form on a single sheet of A4 paper or obtain/complete at immigration)

[OriginalPoster]

Generally, retirees have passbook accounts. So a photocopy of your updated passbook. The passbook will have a code showing the inward transfers. Also an official letter from the Thai bank stating your balance obtained just before you go into immigration for your application. Nothing needed from your foreign bank.

Is it generally possible to get that "official letter" from the Thai bank without being physically present in Thailand? I'm planning to file my application at the Thai Embassy in Singapore (where I am presently living) and wouldn't want to make a special trip up to Thailand just to obtain such a letter. I've already wired my 800k into a Kasikorn passbook account and would be filing my visa application in the middle of May with the intention of actually moving to Thailand around the beginning of July.

[Jingthing]

Generally, retirees have passbook accounts. So a photocopy of your updated passbook. The passbook will have a code showing the inward transfers. Also an official letter from the Thai bank stating your balance obtained just before you go into immigration for your application. Nothing needed from your foreign bank.

Is it generally possible to get that "official letter" from the Thai bank without being physically present in Thailand? I'm planning to file my application at the Thai Embassy in Singapore (where I am presently living) and wouldn't want to make a special trip up to Thailand just to obtain such a letter. I've already wired my 800k into a Kasikorn passbook account and would be filing my visa application in the middle of May with the intention of actually moving to Thailand around the beginning of July.

You sound a bit confused. You don't get retirement extensions OUTSIDE of Thailand. You can get O-A visas (retirement visas) in your home country. Is Singapore your home country? If so, ask them is they do O-A visas, not all embassies do. Assuming you are not Singaporean, all you may get in Singapore is a single entry O visa and with that you do the annual extension based on retirement IN Thailand. In case you can't get an O visa in Singapore, let us know, there are other options ...

[Mario2008]

For the visa the money doesn't have to be in a bankaccount in Thailand. Only for the extension of stay from immigration do you need to have the money in a bankaccount in Thailand.

You will probably all right if you cna show some money in a bankaccount in Singapore. I'm not sure how much they would like to see.

[Jingthing]

That is correct. For an O visa from outside Thailand, the money doesn't need to be in Thailand. Only for the extensions. Best bet is to ask Singapore embassy about their specific requirements. These details vary greatly with embassies and consulates globally. When I got my single entry O from a consulate in the US they only wanted me to show 500 dollars in a US bank. The visa (O) application and the extension application in Thailand are totally different things.

[metisdead]

For FIRST time extensions, the money only needs to be in for TWO months, not three. It is THREE months for subsequent applications.

I renewed my retired extension last Thursday, the last form I signed was an affidavit stating that I had fulfilled the 800K baht requirement, she used whiteout and changed it to read that the money had been above 800K for 2 months. I too thought it needed to be seasoned for 3 months.

[thaiphoon]

Should be 3 months for renewals : From Police Order 777/2551:

2.22 In the case of a retiree: Permission will be granted for a period of not more than 1 year at a time.

(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

[OriginalPoster]

Generally, retirees have passbook accounts. So a photocopy of your updated passbook. The passbook will have a code showing the inward transfers. Also an official letter from the Thai bank stating your balance obtained just before you go into immigration for your application. Nothing needed from your foreign bank.

Is it generally possible to get that "official letter" from the Thai bank without being physically present in Thailand? I'm planning to file my application at the Thai Embassy in Singapore (where I am presently living) and wouldn't want to make a special trip up to Thailand just to obtain such a letter. I've already wired my 800k into a Kasikorn passbook account and would be filing my visa application in the middle of May with the intention of actually moving to Thailand around the beginning of July.

You sound a bit confused. You don't get retirement extensions OUTSIDE of Thailand. You can get O-A visas (retirement visas) in your home country. Is Singapore your home country? If so, ask them is they do O-A visas, not all embassies do. Assuming you are not Singaporean, all you may get in Singapore is a single entry O visa and with that you do the annual extension based on retirement IN Thailand. In case you can't get an O visa in Singapore, let us know, there are other options ...

Who said anything about an extension? This is first time application and I am looking for an OA visa which they do issue at the Thai embassy in Singapore. I’m a Singapore PR but nowhere on the Thai-Singapore embassy’s web site does it say you need to be a Singapore PR or a citizen to take advantage of their services.

[Jingthing]

Look, lets get some things straight here. You asked about money seasoning and you asked about your money IN Thailand. You didn't mention your nationality. There is no money seasoning needed for O-A visa applications and there is no need for any money to be IN Thailand for O-A applications. So yes, I was confused because you asked questions that NORMALLY people asking about EXTENSIONS would ask. Yes I know you said retirement visa (which is an O-A) but it is very common for people to incorrectly call extensions based on retirement, retirement visa. Please excuse me, only trying to help.

Generally, it is my understanding that O-A retirement visa applications must be done in your home country. In other words, Americans do these in the US, Brits in the UK, etc. Now if you are permanent resident of Singapore and Singapore does O-A visas (they are NOT offered in all countries) then you need to ask them if you are OK applying as a permanent resident. I have no idea what they will say.

If you can't get an O-A in Singapore, actually you really don't need any O-A. There are other ways to do this without an O-A. I feel most people retiring here never get an O-A but that is just my subjective impression. The O-A is a fine way to do it if that is your choice. Again, you don't need any money seasoning or any money in Thailand for an O-A visa. Singapore will tell you their specific requirements for the O-A as far as finance. Otherwise I assume you will need the police report and also the medical form (which the embassy should supply). Details can vary embassy to embassy.

One other comment, it sounds like you are ready to do a retirement extension application in Thailand and don't need an O-A. Retirement extensions are easier to apply for than O-As (no need for a police report or medical form). You can even fly into Thailand on a 30 day stamp and begin the process (better a tourist visa, and best a single entry O). Probably the biggest advantage of the O-A over the other common method (not starting with an O-A) is that with the O-A you do NOT need your money to be IN Thailand for two years. It sounds as if your 800K is already there, so I do wonder why you want to bother with an O-A in the first place.

[ignis]

I asked out of interest this month in Australia..

The 800,000 baht can be anywhere in the world + in any currency.. In this case if the money is not in Australia then the copy of the Bank book/statement needs to be notarized, the money can go into any account just days before + you will also need a medical certificate..

With this A-0 Visa you will need to do a boarder run a day or 2 before the expire date to get another full 1yr entry.. So making the Visa A-0 good to stay in Thailand for 2 years…….. She at the Thai Consulate said many people do this + the 1st year is Multi Entry, but the 2nd year you will need a re-entry permit if you want to go out of Thailand and come back in this 2nd year.

[lopburi3]

But that second year is only available if you get a multi entry OA visa - they also have a single entry that could not be so used.

[ignis]

But that second year is only available if you get a multi entry OA visa - they also have a single entry that could not be so used.

No idea, she only told me what I stated above.. she said many use this root, as they do not have the correct account in Thailand, or have the money offshore, or in accounts paying much more than the very low rates from the past year or so in Thailand.

[Jingthing]

Yes that is correct. For the O-A to be used for two years, it must be a multiple entry. Visa holders then leave and reenter Thailand near the end of the first year, and get a second year. After that, they usually do retirement extensions in Thailand. It is a way to delay having to have your 800K in a Thai bank for two years for those using the bank account method to qualify.

I think I recall reports that some embassies do NOT offer multiple entry O-As though. As always, details of what is available and what is required to get it can vary between embassies.