Retirement Visa Extension 2013

[esbkk]

I have lived in Thailand for more than 20 years on a Retirement Visa Extension based on the Baht 65,000 per months rule. At the last renewal at Suan Phlu – when we were told to deal in future with our local offices - it was written into my passport that from my next renewal onwards, I would also need Baht 200,000 being seasoned for three months.

Today at my local immigration I supplied, what I have given them for the past twenty years, a letter from the bank listing the monthly deposits with photocopies of these monthly deposits showing in my account. Plus an updated Savings Account Book with the three months seasoned amount. I was surprised that the bank letter showing the monthly deposits and all the photocopies was given back to me – not needed – but was asked to go back to the bank obtaining a letter for the three months seasoned amount.

This just didn’t make any sense – I have been here all this time and renewed the extensions according to the Baht 65,000 rule.

I asked also whether they would in future accept the Baht 200,000 in a fixed account, after a Swiss gent told me and showed me his fixed term savings account book, but I was told: NO!

I cannot find any info regarding the abolition of the Baht 65,000 per months rule and wonder whether this is generally known?

By the way, it was the same officer who didn’t’ know a few years back about the Baht 65,000 rule …

[lopburi3]

There seems to be some confusion as 20 years ago there was no 65k income rule - that is only since about 15 years ago - as you mention 200k bank the income requirement would have been 20k (not 65k) and if you have continued without interruption on retirement they would not have changed for you. If you use bank deposit method you must always provide a letter of account balance - this has always been the requirement - statements/passbooks may be reviewed but it is the letter of current balance that is required.

The requirement is 200k seasoned for three months or embassy letter of 20k per month income. Below is the police order 777/2551 clause for those grandfathered - for those not the requirement is either 800k in bank 3 months or 65k embassy letter of income or a combination to meet 800k per year.

(6) For an alien who entered Thailand before October 21,

1998 and continuously allowed to stay in the Kingdom as a

retiree, the following shall apply:

(a) He/she must be 60 years of age or over and has regular

income. His/her bank account deposit shall not be less than Baht

200,000 a year and evidence of the account deposit for the

previous 3 months must be shown; or he/she has a monthly

income of not less than Baht 20,000.

(b If he/she is under 60 years of age but not less than 55,

the alien shall have regular income with a bank account deposit

of not less than Baht 500,000 a year and evidence of the

account deposit for the previous 3 months must beshown, or

he/she has a monthly income of not less than 50,000 baht

[esbkk]

Very interesting … but why did immigration asked me initially to have a bank letter stating that baht 65,000 are deposited monthly?

[lopburi3]

I am sure that they did not tell you that 20 years ago so it would help if you can say when/where this request was made and had you been on unbroken extensions at all times (never late to extend)? If you are grandfathered the 65k does not apply to you. Although after the change in 1998 someone could have provided you incorrect information.

So have you been providing 200k in bank three months plus 65k income proof for extensions? Since when if you remember? If you are not grandfathered there is no need for any bank information if you can show 65k letter (although they could ask to see that you have an account of some type - no requirement for any funds or seasoning).

[Pib]

The Bangkok Bank bank letter I get and use each year to renew my retirement extension of stay basically just states I indeed do have a bank account with X-amount in it on the date of the letter. In my case Bt800K is needed. The letter is only about two sentences long. It does not address anything regarding "seasoning" of money like including a statement that at least X-amount was in the account for at least the last X-months. Whether you meet the seasoning requirement "time-wise" is purely based on passbook entries, with a copy of the passbook attached to the letter.

Did your letter reflect the "total" amount in your account on the date of the letter or did it just reflect a bunch of monthly deposits? Your posts implies the letter reflected monthly deposits. If it did only reflect monthly deposits I wondering if the immigration office expects you to provide an income letter from your home country embassy to prove the minimum monthly income if the "total" seasoned amount is not met (i.e., Bt200K, Bt800K, etc).

[NancyL]

It seems that the OP is confused and thinks that bank deposits of 65.000 baht/month can be used to prove income. Not so, a letter from an Embassy/Consulate is what is required to show INCOME. All the bank letter does is to show an account BALANCE and apparently the OP is grandfathered under a rule where he only needed to show 200,000 baht in a Thai bank. The amount of inflow into that account, and the timing, is irrelevant, just so he can show 200,000 baht that has been touched in that Thai bank account (only in his name, not a joint account) for 90 days.

The OP seems to be mixing apples and oranges and also invoking special rules because he's had 20 years of (presumably)unbroken retirement extensions.

[Nowhereman60]

I just did my extension of stay for retirement today at Nakhon Pathom Immigrations. I was asked for nothing other than the TM7 with photo, copy of my passport pages along with departure card, income verification letter from my embassy and of course 1,900 baht. In and out in 40 minutes along with a reentry permit.