Please check the sub-heading of the Regional news forum

[THAIPHUKET]

Different immigrations apply different rules. Prompted by

it makes sense to explore the question related to Chiang Mai only.

Any experiences?

[worgeordie]

Hi Thaiphuket, I have been getting my retirement extensions for

several years ,with money in a fixed term account,no problem

for me,

regards Worgeordie

[thaimiller]

Different Visa, but same principle, I have my marriage visa funds in a long term fixed deposit account and no problems with that for the past two years.

[NancyL]

We should probably clarify what's meant by a "fixed depost". I've had no problems in Chiang Mai using a fixed deposit from Bangkok Bank with an orange passbook. Immigration really likes to see passbooks.

Does anyone have experience with some of the foreign banks with Thai offices that don't use passbooks? I understand that HSBC just has monthly statements and no passbooks.

[chiang mai]

We should probably clarify what's meant by a "fixed depost". I've had no problems in Chiang Mai using a fixed deposit from Bangkok Bank with an orange passbook. Immigration really likes to see passbooks.

Does anyone have experience with some of the foreign banks with Thai offices that don't use passbooks? I understand that HSBC just has monthly statements and no passbooks.

I've been using HSBC statements for my visa renewals for the past seven years and I've never had a problem. Phuket Immigration tried to scare me two years ago by suggesting that HSBC wasn't a Thai bank therefore in future years my funds might not qualify unless I changed banks, I simply told him that idea was never going to fly so don't even go there, he'd already stamped my visa at that point so he simply gave me back my passport and I left, have heard nothing more since. As far as CM Immigration is concerned: I've never had a problem with HSBC statements when used for visa renewal purposes.

Also, on the subject of deposits: I have three different currency accounts on the same HSBC statement, THB, GBP and SGD, I'm sure that the Immigration guys don't understand all the detail so HSBC produces the required letter each year and shows an overall balance as THB equivalent, even though the funds are held otherwise. That has never been a problem and some of the funds are held on Time Deposits although you'd be hard pressed to tell that from the statement, especially if you were Thai.

Edited December 18, 2011 by chiang mai