Thai Immigration Tightens Requirements For Retirement Visa Extensions

[Thaddeus]

Unfortunately the exchange rate has hit many people as well as inflation both a double slap.But eventually it will swing back and the baht will lose value and the dollar, pound,euro will regain there strength.

When I went in to do my extension on Thursday (Chonburi Office) with an "income letter" from the Australian Embassy the officer checking my letter used the USD exchange rate instead of the AUD exchange rate to calculate my monthly income in baht. This resulted in her marking an income of 6,000 baht less than it actually was.

I was still way over so I didn't bother correcting her, but if a person is close to the 65,000 limit it could be a problem.

This happened to a friend of mine a few weeks back, he gets his pension in GBP, his wife (the financial wizz) was chatting to the immigration officer (in Thai of course) and told them he got Euros, luckily he had enough in the bank to make up the difference, but he didn't find out until later how the discrepancy happened.

He will not be taking his wife next time.

[tropo]

Unfortunately the exchange rate has hit many people as well as inflation both a double slap.But eventually it will swing back and the baht will lose value and the dollar, pound,euro will regain there strength.

When I went in to do my extension on Thursday (Chonburi Office) with an "income letter" from the Australian Embassy the officer checking my letter used the USD exchange rate instead of the AUD exchange rate to calculate my monthly income in baht. This resulted in her marking an income of 6,000 baht less than it actually was.

I was still way over so I didn't bother correcting her, but if a person is close to the 65,000 limit it could be a problem.

This happened to a friend of mine a few weeks back, he gets his pension in GBP, his wife (the financial wizz) was chatting to the immigration officer (in Thai of course) and told them he got Euros, luckily he had enough in the bank to make up the difference, but he didn't find out until later how the discrepancy happened.

He will not be taking his wife next time.

Definitely something to watch out for.

When I sat at the desk I saw her circle my AUD amount, use the calculator to work out how many baht, then write the baht amount. I knew from the calculation she had used the USD exchange rate.

[phuketrichard]

Update on Retirement extension for PHUKET

I just got back and did the combination method;

Had my letter from the us embassy stating a monthly income

Letter from the bank showing i had xxx amount

both totaled over 900,000

NOTE NONE of the deposits in my bank book were overseas wires.

Took my passport and copies of bank book and relevant pages

2 photos, (one for extension one for re entry)

showed up at about 11:15 and they rushed me thru it, never checked the paper or asked for an atm card or any receipts, never asked for any proof where i lived ( never have)

in fact when i sat down all they said was 1,900 baht

While he was finishing up my extension, started the re-entry and they didn't even let me finish filling it up before they took my passport and paper and entered the re entry permit and said thanks

Total time (which included two trips downstairs to have copies made) less than 15 minutes

:jap:

[phuketrichard]

Once again to apply the FIRST post in this thread,

Don't always believe what the lawyers say,

It has been reported that along with the statement the applicant has made at their embassy stating their monthly income, for the past month the Immigration Bureau has asked to see proof of at least two months of pension income. This requirement is not just for new applications but renewals as well", says Sunn Justubavornchai, legal advisor at Sunbelt Asia Co., Ltd.

[tropo]

in fact when i sat down all they said was 1,900 baht

While he was finishing up my extension, started the re-entry and they didn't even let me finish filling it up before they took my passport and paper and entered the re entry permit and said thanks

Didn't they charge you for the re-entry permit?

[phuketrichard]

in fact when i sat down all they said was 1,900 baht

While he was finishing up my extension, started the re-entry and they didn't even let me finish filling it up before they took my passport and paper and entered the re entry permit and said thanks

Didn't they charge you for the re-entry permit?

When i first sat down, they didn't know a at that time wanted a re entry

[moe666]

Unfortunately the exchange rate has hit many people as well as inflation both a double slap.But eventually it will swing back and the baht will lose value and the dollar, pound,euro will regain there strength.

When I went in to do my extension on Thursday (Chonburi Office) with an "income letter" from the Australian Embassy the officer checking my letter used the USD exchange rate instead of the AUD exchange rate to calculate my monthly income in baht. This resulted in her marking an income of 6,000 baht less than it actually was.

I was still way over so I didn't bother correcting her, but if a person is close to the 65,000 limit it could be a problem.

When I did my extension earlier this year she asked me what the exchange rate was. I just threw out 30 to the dollar and that is what she used.

[tropo]

in fact when i sat down all they said was 1,900 baht

While he was finishing up my extension, started the re-entry and they didn't even let me finish filling it up before they took my passport and paper and entered the re entry permit and said thanks

Didn't they charge you for the re-entry permit?

When i first sat down, they didn't know a at that time wanted a re entry

It's still not clear whether you paid for it or not.

[chaihot]

It's totally crazy that the average Thai earns about 8000 baht a month, but they expect farangs to have pension incomes of 65,000 baht a month to live there.

It's easy to understand. They know that so many farlangs are losing all there money by spending it in bars and cars and motorbikes for the wife and the whole family.

They think for their own people............:jap:

And they want you to leave when you have lost all your money. Pretty simple actually.

[phuketrichard]

in fact when i sat down all they said was 1,900 baht

While he was finishing up my extension, started the re-entry and they didn't even let me finish filling it up before they took my passport and paper and entered the re entry permit and said thanks

Didn't they charge you for the re-entry permit?

When i first sat down, they didn't know a at that time wanted a re entry

It's still not clear whether you paid for it or not.

Yes i did, but thats not the point of my post, The point is they didn't ask for proof of anything that this whole thread was started on and none of my money in my bank has ever been wired in from outside Thailand in the past 10 years i have had an extension.

Never been asked to show proof where i lived.

I think its up to each Office but it seems phuket is laid back

Edited June 29, 2011 by phuketrichard

[ramrod711]

This is only Bangkok immigration?? I assume the marriage extension of 40,000 a month pension is not under scrutiny ???

the canadian consulate in chiang mai requires proof of income before they issue a letter. every year i supply my income tax return, 2 months bank statements (canadian bank) and a letter from my pension fund.

[SurfRider]

.

Excerpts from last Sunday's meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club. (from the PCEC newsletter)

Members and guests received an update on the goings on at Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration at their regular Sunday meeting on June 26. Barry Kenyon, the former British Honorary Consul who assists at the Immigration Office in Pattaya on a regular basis was the main speaker.

Barry started by pointing out that ... The current chief of Chonburi Immigration Police, Colonel Chusak Amporn. Col. Chusak, is working toward making the Immigration Office more friendly and efficient. He has instituted some changes in the operation including reduced paperwork for retirees applying for or to renew their extension of stay (often referred to as a retirement visa).

Barry said that people should not assume that all foreigners are treated alike. He pointed out that most from western countries are visa exempt and receive either a 30 day (entering at airport) or 15 day (entering at a land border) permission to stay stamp. However, citizens of Mexico or Brazil, for example, are also visa exempt, but receive a 90 permission to stay on arrival. This is because of how those countries treat Thai citizens that enter their country.

He also pointed out that getting repeat tourist visas from neighboring countries is getting more difficult-- as is getting a non-immigrant visa. Barry felt that you had a better chance getting a non-immigrant visa in your own country even though they too have become more strict on issuing such visas.

All in all, the retirement visa (extension based on retirement) is easiest to get and it has gotten a bit easier. Col. Chusak did away with the requirement that retirees using only an Embassy income letter having to also bring in a letter from their Thai bank and provide copies of their savings account passbook-- Unless they are using money on deposit in a Thai bank for all or part of the 800,000 Baht financial requirement, they no longer need the bank letter or passbook copies.

He said he was aware of some recent Internet postings claiming Immigration will now want to see back up documentation for citizens of certain countries using the Embassy letter regarding income. Barry said that is not the case, at least not at Chonburi Immigration. He also said Col. Chusak and the two officers that regularly process retirement extensions were not aware of any such requirement. They said the Embassy letter is all that they require.

Barry concluded his talk and opened it up for questions from the audience; there were several. One question was whether a spouse of someone applying for a retirement extension had to also meet the 800,000 Baht financial requirement. Barry said that only one spouse had to meet the requirement; however, the spouse of the applicant must have entered Thailand using a non-immigrant visa.

.

[CRUNCHER]

Thanks SurfRider. Very informative.

Edited June 30, 2011 by CRUNCHER

[KimoMax]

Another Nail in the Coffin from the Op saying Money has to be shown transferred in Thailand regrardless of which Money method is used.

Myth Busters score again... No change, No Money shown transferred to Thailand required.

Edited June 30, 2011 by KimoMax

[moe666]

.

Excerpts from last Sunday's meeting of the Pattaya City Expats Club. (from the PCEC newsletter)

Members and guests received an update on the goings on at Chonburi (Pattaya) Immigration at their regular Sunday meeting on June 26. Barry Kenyon, the former British Honorary Consul who assists at the Immigration Office in Pattaya on a regular basis was the main speaker.

Barry started by pointing out that ... The current chief of Chonburi Immigration Police, Colonel Chusak Amporn. Col. Chusak, is working toward making the Immigration Office more friendly and efficient. He has instituted some changes in the operation including reduced paperwork for retirees applying for or to renew their extension of stay (often referred to as a retirement visa).

Barry said that people should not assume that all foreigners are treated alike. He pointed out that most from western countries are visa exempt and receive either a 30 day (entering at airport) or 15 day (entering at a land border) permission to stay stamp. However, citizens of Mexico or Brazil, for example, are also visa exempt, but receive a 90 permission to stay on arrival. This is because of how those countries treat Thai citizens that enter their country.

He also pointed out that getting repeat tourist visas from neighboring countries is getting more difficult-- as is getting a non-immigrant visa. Barry felt that you had a better chance getting a non-immigrant visa in your own country even though they too have become more strict on issuing such visas.

All in all, the retirement visa (extension based on retirement) is easiest to get and it has gotten a bit easier. Col. Chusak did away with the requirement that retirees using only an Embassy income letter having to also bring in a letter from their Thai bank and provide copies of their savings account passbook-- Unless they are using money on deposit in a Thai bank for all or part of the 800,000 Baht financial requirement, they no longer need the bank letter or passbook copies.

He said he was aware of some recent Internet postings claiming Immigration will now want to see back up documentation for citizens of certain countries using the Embassy letter regarding income. Barry said that is not the case, at least not at Chonburi Immigration. He also said Col. Chusak and the two officers that regularly process retirement extensions were not aware of any such requirement. They said the Embassy letter is all that they require.

Barry concluded his talk and opened it up for questions from the audience; there were several. One question was whether a spouse of someone applying for a retirement extension had to also meet the 800,000 Baht financial requirement. Barry said that only one spouse had to meet the requirement; however, the spouse of the applicant must have entered Thailand using a non-immigrant visa.

.

That was pretty much from the horses mouth, no change, other than less paper work. How many more reports from immigration will Jing need after this.

[Prajak]

KimoMax, this is from the latest letter from Nongkhai Immigration...

6. The Bank must issue a letter of verification stating the currect balance ....etc

And at the end : (Note: money must be in a Thai Bank and transfered into the account from abroad.)

So, it is not a general rule what you said; it could be the rule in some immigration offices. Forttunately you are living in a region where things go nicely. Lucky you !

Edited July 1, 2011 by Prajak