Retirement Renewal - Documentation

[scudman]

I am due to renew my retirement extension. When I got it last year, I used the statement of monthly income and not the 800K in the bank.

Do I need to get a new income statement again at the Consulate or will the statement they already have on file suffice?

Anything else besides the renewal fee?

[lopburi3]

You need a statement each time you extend and the normal copies of passport/arrival card/extensions of stay/visa.

You may need supporting documents for Embassy letter of income, or of residence address, or map to residence, or show of local account/how you support your stay.

[DNPBC0]

Scudman, there have been reports of farangs being told that they can use their certificate of income on more than one occasion, but this appears to vary over time, from one office to another, and within offices depending on the immigration officer involved. It is very risky indeed to rely on re-using your certificate if you haven't had 800,000 baht in your bank account for the requisite time period.

As for the supplementary documentation required (eg map of residence), this also seems to vary between offices. My advice is to call at your local office a few days before you present your application for your visa extension and politely seek their advice on what exactly you will need to provide. I take my Thai wife, and she talks with an officer on my behalf telling them I am very a careful man who wants to show respect by supplying them with the right information. She then writes down what they say. On my return to make the application we approach the officer that we'd had spoken to earlier.

Best wishes for your next year here.

[scudman]

I am currently in the US, so I guess I should go to the consulate in BKK on my way back to Phuket and pick up another certificate of income. It is going to be a drag to have to go to BKK yearly for that document. Thanks for the advice DNPBC0.

I think I will have the wife call Immigration in Phuket and ask some questions as well.

[jfchandler]

Generally, the guidance is to get a new embassy income letter each year with your new extension application. Some immigration offices/officers might allow re-use, but I think those are the exception, not the rule.

[lopburi3]

The OP does not have the letter it appears and asked if the previous years held by Immigration could be used. I have never seen any report that such was accepted. If they do not take the original and accept a copy they may allow the original to be used several times - but the applicant must have an original letter.

[TerryLH]

"It is going to be a drag to have to go to BKK yearly for that document."

Doesn't the US Embassy do an outreach visit to Phuket?

You could check with ACS.

[jfchandler]

Since ostensibly the point of the income letter is to certify you had sufficient income for the most recent past year, it would seem normal Thai immigration would want a certification for the most recent year... not one from two or three years back.... since that isn't the period on which you're qualifying for the latest extension.

[longball53098]

I was under the impression that when they changed the rules a few years back that the income letter was to be used once and the originals were kept by IM. I was also under the impression that the income letter was good for one year from the date of issue and could only be used once.

Last year I got my letter from the US Consulate outreach visit to Pattaya and I did not use the letter until my application for extension 3 months later. No questions at IM and they kept that original letter as they always do. I must get a new letter again this year.

[gamini]

If possible, I try to avoid the 'income' route for a retirement visa. Immigration always seem to make problems this way. One time they even insisted that I have some money in the bank as well, 400k they said. so I had to get this money somehow and go back again. On the other hand since using the 800k in the bank route I have never had the slightest problem. Also remember that the Embassy letter now costs Bt2500 and last time I produced an old letter and they said I had to have a new one every year.

[tropo]

Also remember that the Embassy letter now costs Bt2500 and last time I produced an old letter and they said I had to have a new one every year.

For Australians only:

Statutory Declaration "letter" cost 590 baht last month at the Australian Embassy. This will vary slightly depending on the foreign exchange rate. Download their form and fill it out (don't sign it) before you go. Takes 5 minutes.

[Pattaya46]

Also remember that the Embassy letter now costs Bt2500

For French only :

Statutory Declaration "letter" is FREE

and is send to you by post mail after a simple request by email