I read in another Forum that Pattaya has modified it's requirements for retirement visa

According to the information, if you are obtaining a retirement visa with use of your embassy's proof-of-income statement, it is no longer necessary to get the letter from the bank and no longer necessary to bring an updated bank passbook with you when applying for the retirement visa or renewing a retirement visa.

Is this information correct ?

If you apply based on income alone, a bank letter is not necesarry. Some immigration offices do want to see an updated bank book with some money in it, to see that you have money to spend. But that is all, no bank letter needed. Always a good idea to take the bank book with you, in case they ask for it.

If you go for the combined option of money in the bank and yearly income, a bank letter might be required.

If you apply based on income alone, a bank letter is not necesarry. Some immigration offices do want to see an updated bank book with some money in it, to see that you have money to spend. But that is all, no bank letter needed. Always a good idea to take the bank book with you, in case they ask for it.

If you go for the combined option of money in the bank and yearly income, a bank letter might be required.

The biggest decision is now, if US citizen, do you want to pay the rip off cost of $50 for a letter from the Consulate or have the money in the bank and pay less for the bank letter.

NongKhai checks your foreign payments in your bankbook(in my case!)

say......your embassy statement = 800.000 year they check how much is coming in per month (in my case!)

Also

NO need to go to MFA to certify the embassy statement.

NO more 4-6 Photo allowed (in my case!)

In my case i asked immigration to keep informing me on time when they decide to change the rules.

It seems in my case that sometimes they need to change their attitude instead of their rules.

But then again in my case i am married to a Lao wife not a Thai.

for sure that makes a difference (i think)

hgma

If you apply based on income alone, a bank letter is not necesarry. Some immigration offices do want to see an updated bank book with some money in it, to see that you have money to spend. But that is all, no bank letter needed. Always a good idea to take the bank book with you, in case they ask for it.

If you go for the combined option of money in the bank and yearly income, a bank letter might be required.