Timeline Changing "Non Imm O" To "Retirement Extension"

[ThunderDuck]

I will be arriving on a a single entry "Non Imm O" visa and then

applying for "Retirement Extension" using the proof of 65000 baht

per month method (with a stat dec from the Australian embassy).

1) At what point in the 90 days of the "Non Imm O" can I apply for

"Retirement Extension"

2) Does the application require a waiting period ... such as come back

in one weeks time to collect your paperwork ... or just one visit to the

immigration office?

3) Do I need proof of address / residence such as a rental agreement

or utility bills when applying for the "Retirement Extension" (or anything

more than passport, photos, photcopies)?

4) How long does the Embassy letter proof of income(stat dec) remain

valid for this pupose?

Cheers.

[wayned]

1. During the last 30 days

2. No waiting period, the extension, if granted, will be issued on your first visit. But you must go to the immigration office responsible for the area where you live..

3. Yes, proof of address is required

4. Varies from office to office. Usually 30 days, some allow 60. Some offices are now requiring proof of income to back up the letter, but not all.

[IMA_FARANG]

Some offices are now requiring proof of income to back up the letter, but not al

--------------------------------

Here's a thought.

Using the income method you don't need to establish a Thai bank account, but it is probable that you will establish one to get your money transferred to Thailand for your living expenses.

If that is the case make sure that you can show a transfer from your foriegn bank to your Thai bank account.

How you do this is to have the equivalent of 65K baht transferred to your Thai bank account during that period before you apply for your "retirement extension".

Once you know the transfer is completed, and the money is in your Thai bank, just make a small cash withdrawal using your PASSBOOK at the local branch of that bank.

Your passbook will show the date and amount of that cash withdrawal but ,,,more importantly,,,it will also show the date and time of that foriegn currency transfer and the amount.

Just" happen" to have your bankbook with you on your trip to immigration when applying for your retirement extension.

That way if immigration DOES question your income statement you pull out your bankbook, and show them the date, time, and amount of those foriegn currency transfers into Thailand.

That's called "outsmarting the immigration".

[NanLaew]

... Some offices are now requiring proof of income to back up the letter, but not all.

Indeed they wanted copies of my Thai bank passbook at Udon Immigration which they looked at and handed back to me, ie. these were NOT included in the file they assembled to be sent to Bangkok for approval.

[NancyL]

Transferring 65,000 baht into a Thai bank account isn't "outsmarting" immigration; it's just one way to show that you indeed have an income of 65,000 baht/month. They can ask for "proof" to back-up your income letter, but in reality this doesn't happen very often. When they've asked my husband, they've been OK with his answer of "I receive a Social Security and a private pension payment each month; here let me show you the statements" and as he's fumbling around for the paperwork they say "that's OK". They just want to know if you have a plausible story.

I use the 800,000 baht in Thailand method to justify my retirement extension. The money has been in the bank for several years, untouched except for annual passbook updates just before retirement extension time. Last time, the Immigration officer asked me how I have funds to live since I haven't touched that 800,000 baht. I said "my husband has retirement income sufficient to support both of us" and as I was fumbling around for our joint Bangkok Bank passbook, he said "that's OK". Again -- they just want to hear a plausible story.

Who knows what would have happened if we'd been defensive or rudely said something about the consulate letter or updated passbook was sufficient.

Also, they've never asked for any proof of residency, although we do bring a current letter from the condo manager each time we do a retirement extension. We've lived in two places and, in each, the condo manager could whip up a form letter on their computer that looked really official and had our name, address and passport number in all the right places.

[Bpuumike]

Some offices are now requiring proof of income to back up the letter, but not al

--------------------------------

Here's a thought.

Using the income method you don't need to establish a Thai bank account, but it is probable that you will establish one to get your money transferred to Thailand for your living expenses.

If that is the case make sure that you can show a transfer from your foriegn bank to your Thai bank account.

How you do this is to have the equivalent of 65K baht transferred to your Thai bank account during that period before you apply for your "retirement extension".

Once you know the transfer is completed, and the money is in your Thai bank, just make a small cash withdrawal using your PASSBOOK at the local branch of that bank.

Your passbook will show the date and amount of that cash withdrawal but ,,,more importantly,,,it will also show the date and time of that foriegn currency transfer and the amount.

Just" happen" to have your bankbook with you on your trip to immigration when applying for your retirement extension.

That way if immigration DOES question your income statement you pull out your bankbook, and show them the date, time, and amount of those foriegn currency transfers into Thailand.

That's called "outsmarting the immigration".

Not if they're reading this forum it ain't??

[ThunderDuck]

1. During the last 30 days

2. No waiting period, the extension, if granted, will be issued on your first visit.  But you must go to the immigration office responsible for the area where you live..

3. Yes, proof of address is required

4.  Varies from office to office.  Usually 30 days, some allow 60.  Some offices are now requiring proof of income to back up the letter, but not all.

Thanks Wayned  ... excellent info.

[craigt3365]

Transferring 65,000 baht into a Thai bank account isn't "outsmarting" immigration; it's just one way to show that you indeed have an income of 65,000 baht/month. They can ask for "proof" to back-up your income letter, but in reality this doesn't happen very often. When they've asked my husband, they've been OK with his answer of "I receive a Social Security and a private pension payment each month; here let me show you the statements" and as he's fumbling around for the paperwork they say "that's OK". They just want to know if you have a plausible story.

I use the 800,000 baht in Thailand method to justify my retirement extension. The money has been in the bank for several years, untouched except for annual passbook updates just before retirement extension time. Last time, the Immigration officer asked me how I have funds to live since I haven't touched that 800,000 baht. I said "my husband has retirement income sufficient to support both of us" and as I was fumbling around for our joint Bangkok Bank passbook, he said "that's OK". Again -- they just want to hear a plausible story.

Who knows what would have happened if we'd been defensive or rudely said something about the consulate letter or updated passbook was sufficient.

Also, they've never asked for any proof of residency, although we do bring a current letter from the condo manager each time we do a retirement extension. We've lived in two places and, in each, the condo manager could whip up a form letter on their computer that looked really official and had our name, address and passport number in all the right places.

Great info. Here in Jomtien, you have to show proof of residency, as well as a letter from the bank if using the income verification method. At least that was last year. Who knows about this year! I'm going tomorrow.

[true blue]

Some offices are now requiring proof of income to back up the letter, but not al

--------------------------------

Here's a thought.

Using the income method you don't need to establish a Thai bank account, but it is probable that you will establish one to get your money transferred to Thailand for your living expenses.

If that is the case make sure that you can show a transfer from your foriegn bank to your Thai bank account.

How you do this is to have the equivalent of 65K baht transferred to your Thai bank account during that period before you apply for your "retirement extension".

Once you know the transfer is completed, and the money is in your Thai bank, just make a small cash withdrawal using your PASSBOOK at the local branch of that bank.

Your passbook will show the date and amount of that cash withdrawal but ,,,more importantly,,,it will also show the date and time of that foriegn currency transfer and the amount.

Just" happen" to have your bankbook with you on your trip to immigration when applying for your retirement extension.

That way if immigration DOES question your income statement you pull out your bankbook, and show them the date, time, and amount of those foriegn currency transfers into Thailand.

That's called "outsmarting the immigration".

can not get my head round that one, prove of income is 12 month in arrears,how is transfering in one months income of a benifit,may be a good idea,but i still dont get it.

[moe666]

Just got my extension in Chiang Mai last week. No request to prove income on letter nor proof of address. It varies from location to location, they did my extension 2 weeks in advance a fella I know went a few days later and they refused to do his 6 days early, come back next week please we do then. So you just never know what they are going to do or not.

[lopburi3]

Was this other a one year extension or perhaps just a 7 day extension (where it would start from date of application)? Or did he have an appointment?