Retirement extension in Phuket

[phuketrichard]

Visited the us consolor outreach, got my letter of income

went to bank and got bank letter ( i do the combo method)

off to Immigration, no one else there so submitted all my papers,

• Letter from Embassy,
• Copies of ALL pages in passport with thai entries/extensions,
• Letter from my US bank,
• copy atm card,
• copies of every page of bank book,
• 1 photo
• 1,900 baht an 10 minutes later had my 1 year extensions.

over to the other desk, copies, passport an 3,800 and had my mutil rentry permit

time in office 15 minutes max and only reason that long is the lady that had to sign the extension had to take a phone call,

time waiting to get my us letter 1 hour ( lots of people renewing passports)

Phuket immigration gets better and better each year, Good english and was joking with them while i waited on signature

[merijn]

Good to hear that it is getting better at Phuket Immigration office.

I have the same experience during the last few years.

[jrtmedic]

I have lived on Phuket for a number of years.

I have always found the Immigration Officers to be courteous , helpful and efficient.

[keeniau96]

Will be there in a few minutes for my 11th consecutive extension. While not really a pleasure it has never been a hassle, always efficient.

[phuketjock]

I have lived on Phuket for a number of years.

I have always found the Immigration Officers to be courteous , helpful and efficient.

Same here.

[phuketrichard]

Will be there in a few minutes for my 11th consecutive extension. While not really a pleasure it has never been a hassle, always efficient.

maybe not as pleasurable as a nice swim or...

still its only a once/year visit!!!

[Pinot]

I'd really like to know how you get a letter from an American bank and what it says? What exactly did you ask the bank for? My bank (Schwab) isn't going to send me a letter saying I draw XXX amount every month.

Last year was the first time they pulled the letter from a bank thing. Let's just say I solved the problem of a letter creatively.

[phuketrichard]

I'd really like to know how you get a letter from an American bank and what it says? What exactly did you ask the bank for? My bank (Schwab) isn't going to send me a letter saying I draw XXX amount every month.

Last year was the first time they pulled the letter from a bank thing. Let's just say I solved the problem of a letter creatively.

as did I :-)

I also gave them the letter i received from ss showing how much i receive

[Pinot]

I'd really like to know how you get a letter from an American bank and what it says? What exactly did you ask the bank for? My bank (Schwab) isn't going to send me a letter saying I draw XXX amount every month.

Last year was the first time they pulled the letter from a bank thing. Let's just say I solved the problem of a letter creatively.

as did I :-)

I also gave them the letter i received from ss showing how much i receive

I did a post on TV when I went through this in December. At that time, other offices around Thailand weren't requiring the bank letter. For my first two years the Embassy letter was enough. Imagine having to give THEM a copy of your credit card? That's just ridiculous! They have all your personal information and your credit card. oyyyy

[jrtmedic]

I have never experience any problem with submitting my British Embassy "income" letter to the Thai Immigration officials.

Maybe the officials are aware that before the British Embassy will issue a letter, PROOF of income has to be provided !

[merijn]

I have never experience any problem with submitting my British Embassy "income" letter to the Thai Immigration officials.

Maybe the officials are aware that before the British Embassy will issue a letter, PROOF of income has to be provided !

That's the whole pint, Most of the embassy's require proof about the income before they issue the declaration.

The American embassy (and some others ) does not require this proof as you only certify verbally about your income.

Therefore this is not a verified letter as you can provide any income you wish and the Thai immigration knows this.

Unfortunately to many people where abusing this loophole and the Thai immigration is trying to stop this.

In my opinion this is a correct situation because if too many people are abusing the system this could have a negative affect on all of us in the future.

[lopburi3]

Actually it is the American and Oz and many others that use the legal notary type system - which makes you libel to your home country laws for the figure you state on that paper rather than accepting paperwork (that may or may not be valid) at face value as done by some. The idea that one is more 'real' than another is really not true in my mind and I have never been asked to provide more than my Embassy letter (American). The argument that Embassies require "proof" is just not true as they, with only a handful of exceptions, do not check this any more than the countries that use the notary system.

[ubonjoe]

I'd really like to know how you get a letter from an American bank and what it says? What exactly did you ask the bank for? My bank (Schwab) isn't going to send me a letter saying I draw XXX amount every month.

Last year was the first time they pulled the letter from a bank thing. Let's just say I solved the problem of a letter creatively.

as did I :-)

I also gave them the letter i received from ss showing how much i receive

Having to get a letter from your bank in th states is way over the top as far requirements go.

I would expect that if your SS payments are enough for your extension and you had the full amount transferred into a local bank they would accept copies of your bank book showing the transfers.

I don't use a US bank for anything. My SS payments are direct deposited into my account at Bangkok Bank via their NY branch. On the 3rd of the month I get an SMS informing me that the SSA has deposited $xxxx ($5 less than actual payment for fee) into my account and gives the exchange rate and the amount in Baht minus the 200 baht fee. Works great for me.

Lucky for me that my local immigration office has never wanted anything other than my income affidavit for the past five extensions and I expect the same thing this year.

[Pinot]

I'd really like to know how you get a letter from an American bank and what it says? What exactly did you ask the bank for? My bank (Schwab) isn't going to send me a letter saying I draw XXX amount every month.

Last year was the first time they pulled the letter from a bank thing. Let's just say I solved the problem of a letter creatively.

as did I :-)

I also gave them the letter i received from ss showing how much i receive

Having to get a letter from your bank in th states is way over the top as far requirements go.

I would expect that if your SS payments are enough for your extension and you had the full amount transferred into a local bank they would accept copies of your bank book showing the transfers.

I don't use a US bank for anything. My SS payments are direct deposited into my account at Bangkok Bank via their NY branch. On the 3rd of the month I get an SMS informing me that the SSA has deposited $xxxx ($5 less than actual payment for fee) into my account and gives the exchange rate and the amount in Baht minus the 200 baht fee. Works great for me.

Lucky for me that my local immigration office has never wanted anything other than my income affidavit for the past five extensions and I expect the same thing this year.

It may be way over the top, but that's the way it is in Phuket. It may be the only office requiring it.

Charles Schwab bank is the way to go for me with their full refund policy on bank fees. I have a Thai bank account but use it sparingly. The safety of Thai banks is for another thread but imagine trying to straighten out your Thai bank account when a thief down at the immigration office starts using your credit card, that they have a copy of? Good luck with that very real possibility.

[ubonjoe]

Why would immigration have a copy of your credit card. I have not seen that mentioned as a requirement for any immigration office.

I think the problems with Thai banks have been overly exaggerated by many. I have never had a problem.

With the costs associated with using an ATM card from a bank in the US or having them transfer funds to here the direct deposit to my account saves me a lot of money and hassles.

[Pinot]

They're requiring a copy of the credit card and the letter from that bank saying your pulling the same amount as you say you are in the embassy letter. That's what the discussion has been about. Phuket immigration is making you prove your embassy letter income amount and how you get that money (a copy of your credit card).

If you have a dispute with a merchant anywhere in the world with an American bank or a theft from the account, they will straighten it out. A Thai bank won't usually do that. There are NO costs associated with my credit card and any ATM charges are refunded.

[phuketrichard]

PHUKET!!!!

they require a copy of ur ATM card from the bank u receive the money into

NOT a credit card.

You do NOT need to import 800,000 baht ./year, only receive that amount in pensions or.....if doing the combo method or getting ur extension on income. If ur doing the full 800,000 and no letter ( which we are not talking about here) than it has to be in the bank

My SS direct deposits go into my US bank, I have no problem giving them a copy of my US atm card and they asked 2 others while i was there for copies as well.

IF you do not want to give them what they asked for ur free to go elsewhere>> Seems the ONLY people that have troubles at Phuket immigration are those that don't want to give them what they ask for..

It really doesn't matter if its required at Pattaya, Bangkok or Ubon or not, it is required at Phuket

[merijn]

PHUKET!!!!

they require a copy of ur ATM card from the bank u receive the money into

NOT a credit card.

You do NOT need to import 800,000 baht ./year, only receive that amount in pensions or.....if doing the combo method or getting ur extension on income. If ur doing the full 800,000 and no letter ( which we are not talking about here) than it has to be in the bank

My SS direct deposits go into my US bank, I have no problem giving them a copy of my US atm card and they asked 2 others while i was there for copies as well.

IF you do not want to give them what they asked for ur free to go elsewhere>> Seems the ONLY people that have troubles at Phuket immigration are those that don't want to give them what they ask for..

It really doesn't matter if its required at Pattaya, Bangkok or Ubon or not, it is required at Phuket

PHUKET:

As mentioned you only have to show 800.000 Baht in Thai bank account (with 2/3 month seasoning) if using the bank option.

Nobody requires you to import 800.000 Baht a year.

If you use the bank option they will require the copy of a ATM card (frontside only) to show them that you are using the bank account for your daily expenses. (Thai logic i guess) and the rest of the required papers off-course.

When using the American (or other country) income statement they CAN require a extra proof that you really receive that money, which papers you use to do this is up to you. I saw people using bank transfer statements, SS statements etc. It's up to the officer if he requires this and which of proof is accepted.

I believe most immigration offices require extra proof when using a American income letter.

[ubonjoe]

They're requiring a copy of the credit card and the letter from that bank saying your pulling the same amount as you say you are in the embassy letter. That's what the discussion has been about. Phuket immigration is making you prove your embassy letter income amount and how you get that money (a copy of your credit card).

If you have a dispute with a merchant anywhere in the world with an American bank or a theft from the account, they will straighten it out. A Thai bank won't usually do that. There are NO costs associated with my credit card and any ATM charges are refunded.

It appears to me that the letter from the US bank and copy ATM/Debit or credit would only be needed if you are using the card to get your money.

If you were to have a problem getting the bank letter the best option would be to do transfers to a Thai bank and show the bank book as proof. To save costs some people only transfer their money into their accounts every few months instead of monthly.

Thai banks will refund your money if your ATM/Debit card is scammed. This has been reported in several news stories about card skimmers being installed on ATM machines.

As far as dealing with merchants that is typically handled by the credit card company.

In reply to another post.

I never said you had to bring all your income into the country. In reality it would be 780K baht total if you just brought 65K a month into the country.

[lopburi3]

Thai banks will refund your money if your ATM/Debit card is scammed.

Not willingly from any report I have seen.

[ubonjoe]

They have gotten a bit more willing after being sued over not refunding the money and loosing.

There have also been cases where banks were a little slow in paying in the US also.

[merijn]

They're requiring a copy of the credit card and the letter from that bank saying your pulling the same amount as you say you are in the embassy letter. That's what the discussion has been about. Phuket immigration is making you prove your embassy letter income amount and how you get that money (a copy of your credit card).

If you have a dispute with a merchant anywhere in the world with an American bank or a theft from the account, they will straighten it out. A Thai bank won't usually do that. There are NO costs associated with my credit card and any ATM charges are refunded.

Thai banks will refund your money if your ATM/Debit card is scammed.

Good luck with that, Look at all the stories when card was skimmed and the Thai bank refused to pay anything.