Retirement Extension Income Declaration

[tutsiwarrior]

my retirement extension needs to be renewed in December.

I'm presently on medical leave from my job and don't expect to be back at work until after my present extension expires.

For purposes of the income declaration at the US embassy I plan to declare that the monthly average for my income in the 12 months previous to my application for a new extension is greater than the thb65000 per month as required by thai immigration which I can document with bank statements from the previous 12 months. There shall be no income for the months October thru December.

Put another way, I can show that my income in the 12 months prior to the extension is greater than thb800000. My offshore bank balance of course has always been greater than thb800000 but my thai bank balance has been less.

I've seen elsewhere in this forum that this arrangement, ie., average monthly income equal or greater than thb65000 is allowed by the rules. Has anyone ever tried it succesfully? Can we expect all immigration offices to accept this arrangement or should I expect a less than 50% chance of success at my provincial (but close to BKK) immigration office?

thanks in advance...

[lopburi3]

Do not believe it would be an issue even if you are asked to show supporting documents as you have proof of average income at the required level.

[InterestedObserver]

The US Embassy only certifies your signature on the income affidavit, not the actual figures. Immigration is where you may have to backup the affidavit with proof, depending on the mood of the immigration officer.

[tutsiwarrior]

The US Embassy only certifies your signature on the income affidavit, not the actual figures. Immigration is where you may have to backup the affidavit with proof, depending on the mood of the immigration officer.

to re-phrase the question: 'how likely is it that thai immigration will accept a declaration of income from the US embassy based upon an average monthly income rather than a statement of actual monthly income for purposes of a retirement extension application?...'

one hesitates to approach the consular officer with inaccurate or false information...

[InterestedObserver]

The US Embassy only certifies your signature on the income affidavit, not the actual figures. Immigration is where you may have to backup the affidavit with proof, depending on the mood of the immigration officer.

to re-phrase the question: 'how likely is it that thai immigration will accept a declaration of income from the US embassy based upon an average monthly income rather than a statement of actual monthly income for purposes of a retirement extension application?...'

one hesitates to approach the consular officer with inaccurate or false information...

If you can swear under oath that your monthly income is XXXX then you are good to go. The affidavit says nothing about average monthly income. Don't you have a Thai bank account to make up the difference as allowed by the immigration rules.

[tutsiwarrior]

The US Embassy only certifies your signature on the income affidavit, not the actual figures. Immigration is where you may have to backup the affidavit with proof, depending on the mood of the immigration officer.

to re-phrase the question: 'how likely is it that thai immigration will accept a declaration of income from the US embassy based upon an average monthly income rather than a statement of actual monthly income for purposes of a retirement extension application?...'

one hesitates to approach the consular officer with inaccurate or false information...

If you can swear under oath that your monthly income is XXXX then you are good to go. The affidavit says nothing about average monthly income. Don't you have a Thai bank account to make up the difference as allowed by the immigration rules.

hmmm...seems to me that one would have to indicate on the affidavit that the declared monthly income is in fact yearly income/12 months otherwise how does one explain no income for Oct - Dec to the immigration officer when asked for supporting documentation?

AFAIK the declared monthly income does not have to be paid into a thai bank account and that an offshore bank for this purpose is OK...

[Lefty]

The US Embassy only certifies your signature on the income affidavit, not the actual figures. Immigration is where you may have to backup the affidavit with proof, depending on the mood of the immigration officer.

to re-phrase the question: 'how likely is it that thai immigration will accept a declaration of income from the US embassy based upon an average monthly income rather than a statement of actual monthly income for purposes of a retirement extension application?...'

one hesitates to approach the consular officer with inaccurate or false information...

The U.S. Embassy has its own form for stating income relating to retirement extension(see embassy website) it only asks for amount of income per month.They only certify your signiture not the amount entered on the form.

I just went thru this process in Korat a few weeks ago;they barely looked at the income letter,certinly no questions relating to the amount stated or anything else relating source of income

Other offices may have different rules.

Good luck.

Lefty

[tutsiwarrior]

well, last year I applied for my first retirement extension and on the embassy affidavit entered the amount of my monthly salary as it appeared on my contract of employment...not that I actually received that amount every month (not paid for leave taken, etc) but it seemed accurate enough at the time...

I'm mostly worried about stating a monthly figure and then not being able to demonstrate to the immigration officer that income was received for Oct to Dec...

[BuckarooBanzai]

well, last year I applied for my first retirement extension and on the embassy affidavit entered the amount of my monthly salary as it appeared on my contract of employment...not that I actually received that amount every month (not paid for leave taken, etc) but it seemed accurate enough at the time...

I'm mostly worried about stating a monthly figure and then not being able to demonstrate to the immigration officer that income was received for Oct to Dec...

I have been doing this for a decade and every time the officer multiplies the stated monthly income by 12 and then figures the Thai Baht equivalent. The Thais only care about yearly income. IMO just take the full years worth of your income and divide by 12 as the number to put on your proof of income form.

[tutsiwarrior]

well, last year I applied for my first retirement extension and on the embassy affidavit entered the amount of my monthly salary as it appeared on my contract of employment...not that I actually received that amount every month (not paid for leave taken, etc) but it seemed accurate enough at the time...

I'm mostly worried about stating a monthly figure and then not being able to demonstrate to the immigration officer that income was received for Oct to Dec...

I have been doing this for a decade and every time the officer multiplies the stated monthly income by 12 and then figures the Thai Baht equivalent. The Thais only care about yearly income. IMO just take the full years worth of your income and divide by 12 as the number to put on your proof of income form.

great, that's what I wanted to hear...do you report to the BKK main immigration office or to one in the provinces?

[BuckarooBanzai]

well, last year I applied for my first retirement extension and on the embassy affidavit entered the amount of my monthly salary as it appeared on my contract of employment...not that I actually received that amount every month (not paid for leave taken, etc) but it seemed accurate enough at the time...

I'm mostly worried about stating a monthly figure and then not being able to demonstrate to the immigration officer that income was received for Oct to Dec...

I have been doing this for a decade and every time the officer multiplies the stated monthly income by 12 and then figures the Thai Baht equivalent. The Thais only care about yearly income. IMO just take the full years worth of your income and divide by 12 as the number to put on your proof of income form.

great, that's what I wanted to hear...do you report to the BKK main immigration office or to one in the provinces?

Several years at the old Bangkok unit and the rest in the Surin area, one on the way to Chong Chom which they regretfully closed and the new one by Korat.

[tutsiwarrior]

^ thanks so much for your information...

[Tatsujin]

Slightly off-topic . . . but when you have to show proof of income, does this have to be a Thai bank account for example, or an overseas account? And do you need to show copies of the account book?

[tutsiwarrior]

Slightly off-topic . . . but when you have to show proof of income, does this have to be a Thai bank account for example, or an overseas account? And do you need to show copies of the account book?

I'll let the mods answer that one...lop?...lite beer?

[lopburi3]

There is no set policy on what would be accepted - basically that is why your Embassy letter is the requirement. If more is asked it would not have anything to do with accounts in Thailand (unless that happens to be where yours are) as the requirement is income not spending or local accounts. Tax returns might be accepted. Bank statements might be accepted. Retirement or employment papers might be accepted. Rental/lease payments might be accepted. And 'might' probably means 'would' in most cases. If you honestly have the funds for retirement do not believe there will be an issue proving it when/if it is ever required.

[Tatsujin]

Thanks lopburi . . . I was of the (mistaken) understanding that proof of income had to be from 'within' Thailand if that makes sense.

[lopburi3]

If you were employed in Thailand then it would need to be within Thailand but those employed or on pensions from other countries it does not. When using a bank account deposit for extensions from Immigration inside Thailand funds would have to be in Thailand.

[Tatsujin]

@Lopburi - sorry, just want to clarify something you said . . .

When using a bank account deposit for extensions from Immigration inside Thailand funds would have to be in Thailand.

So, does this mean that for a retirement visa, if you are either applying for this visa for the 1st time or if you are applying for an extension of the retirement visa and you are residing within Thailand, then the bank account DOES need to be a Thai Bank Account to show 'income'?

[lopburi3]

No to show deposit. There are two options for retirement or a combination. If using income it is an Embassy letter. As employment is not normally allowed on a retirement extension of stay there should not be any local income (but there are a few exceptions). If using the 800k in bank method the money must be in Thailand except for the Consulate provided non immigrant O-A long stay visa.

[Tatsujin]

Got it! Thank you. I'd assumed that BOTH ways would need the money to be shown in a Thai Bank Account.

[BuckarooBanzai]

Got it! Thank you. I'd assumed that BOTH ways would need the money to be shown in a Thai Bank Account.

Not to confuse matters but I have always used yearly income and have never used bank funds for my visa extension. "They" have always required a copy of a Thailand bank account to go along with it though - I have no idea why. In my case I always use a joint account with my wife. I believe it is just to ensure deposits are being made but again see nowhere in the rules why this should be a requirement. So if you are using yearly income as your preferred method take along a bankbook as well just to be on the safe side. Balances are not of importance but proof of deposits I would guess may be.

Edit - I am NOT implying deposits need to reflect yearly income, usually my book is only undated at the bank a few days before extending my visa so only one or two months worth of records are included in the book - just enough to show one or two deposits.