sent off my application to the thai consulate in Hull UK as per last year for a non immigrant o visa which i qualify for as i am over 50 years of age.....i got a phone call the next day to say i had to provide proof that i had at least £10,000 in the bank to support my visa application.....i asked why this had changed from last year when i didnt have to provide this evidence only a signed statement that i had the funds to stay there and was told that the new rule is to do with people buying cars and bikes???????

can anyone tell me when the rule came in?

whats behind the "buying cars and bikes" reaon i was given

thanks

As for change in policy believe it was made in September or thereabouts. Believe pension of pounds 900 is accepted. As for cars and bikes don't have a clue.

I'd give Cardiff a ring, lovely Lady there will help/ explain whats what for sure.

Taken from Hull Consulate website

Visiting Thailand as Pensioner

Evidence required:

Copy of Bank Statement showing receipt of State and/or Private Pension.

OR

Visiting Thailand as Retired Person aged 50 years and over

Evidence required:

Copy of Bank Statement showing income of minimum £900 per month.

I think the Thai authorities are getting increasing vexed (to use a term from the UK) with expats who go into hospital and then claim they are too poor to pay the bills. Think about what would happen if you were suddently hospitalized. You need to have some ready funds available. Thailand doesn't provide free health care to non-citizens.

According to the British consul in CM, the Brits are the leading offenders amoung foreigners for getting hospitalized and not having the means to pay their hospital bills.

Edited November 23, 201114 yr by NancyL

Looks like they have different terms for different countries. For people from sweden that is required an income of 800.000 Thb net after taxes or Income + bankaccount should be 800.000 Thb per year. This has been for a couple of years now. So 10.800pounds is not that much, around 580.000 thb i guess.

"Looks like they have different terms for different countries. For people from sweden that is Looks like they have different terms for different countries. For people from sweden that is required an income of 800.000 Thb net after taxes or Income + bankaccount should be 800.000 Thb per year.."

Where is that required? It sounds like you're talking about extensions from immigration, not a visa from a consulate.

If talking about an extension for retirement, I believe the income is gross, not net after taxes.

For immigraioin the income can be gross. Most embassies can only give gross, as the net income is determined by the tax man and that can take a lot of months.

A multi entry non immigrant O visa is not the same as a non immigrant O-A (retirement) visa (which does require the same 800k/65k as immigration extension of stay - except not required to be in Thailand)

"Looks like they have different terms for different countries. For people from sweden that is Looks like they have different terms for different countries. For people from sweden that is required an income of 800.000 Thb net after taxes or Income + bankaccount should be 800.000 Thb per year.."

Where is that required? It sounds like you're talking about extensions from immigration, not a visa from a consulate.

If talking about an extension for retirement, I believe the income is gross, not net after taxes.

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All Thai consulates or embessies that issue visas have the right as an option to specify "other proof required as determined" by that consulate and embessy to isssue ANY visa for entrance to Thailand.

That includes Hull. For many years Hull was considered the "easy" place to get a Non O visa...especially when they allowed that "visiting friends and/or relatives in Thailand" reason for offering a Non O visa. That's how I got mine about 15 months ago.

But now the new boss in Hull has been instructed to crack down and especially to tighten the policy on Non O visas.

Since they assume that by applying for that visa you are coming to Thailand to retire...and to get your retirement extension approved here in Bangkok you must meet the financial requirements...they want to try to insure you have the funds required BEFORE they issue you that visa.

The real reason for those "extra" requirements any Thai consulate or embessy adds on is to insure that an applicant for that particular type of visa...and a Non O is high on that list...is that those who apply actually meet the financial requirements here in Thailand to obtain that "retirement visa", extension of stay by reason of retirement.

By setting the requirements higher at the beginning (as at Hull) they avoid being criticised later by the higher-ups in immigration here in Thailand if their applicants fail more often than other places.

Really, it shouldn't be that hard to understand.

Actually all he needs or wants is a single entry non immigrant O visa for entry if intending to extend in Thailand. Honorary Consulates make money selling visas.

Last year when I applied for a non-o visa to visit friend s the consulate in Portland asked me to send her proof of money in the bank. I think she said I would need to show at least 3 to 4 thousand dollars to support my 90 day stay.