Retirement visa but moving house

[franckchiangmai]

Hi,

I am moving tomorrow from Chanthaburi to Pattaya.

I have to renew my one year visa in September but I have already deposited 800.000 baht in my bank account at Chanthaburi in last June.

Will the Pattaya immigration accept to renew my visa or will I have to come to Chanthaburi ?

Thanks for replies.

[crazygreg44]

the question is rather, will you have the bank's statement ready to show at the Pattaya Immigration ? The bank usually does not send the statements by post. The statement must be applied in person, at the bank's branch, and written onto the bank's original letterhead on top of the listing of funds showing they have matured for 3 months. Also, most immigrations demand a rather 'new' bank statement, not one that's two weeks old, or older. . . . it is up to the immigration officer to decide that.

You will have to travel to Chantaburi for getting/ applying the statement, then go back to Pattaya and for the Visa extension. If you rented a place, you need the rental contract plus the landlord filling out the TM form that registers you with his residence ( I think it's TM 40, anyone here to correct me if not). Immigration will want to see you registered in this place officially before handing out an extension of stay.

I am not sure about the bank's policies in case you close the Chantaburi account and have the funds transferred to a new bankbook registered with a Pattaya branch of same bank. Thailand's banks can in some ways complicate matters. So just in case you transfer the 80K now, by September the Pattaya branch may refuse you the statement that the money was in their accounts for 3 months, just because it had not been in theirs but in a different branch ! Beware, Thailand is an ideal playground for such surprises.

I would go to a Pattaya branch and ask them if they take over your existing bank book as is, and register you under the new residence. And if the record on how long the funds were on the account, will count from day one you owned this bankbook. Only then you can be sure the bank statement in september will be ok. You could also firstly ask the Pattaya branch if THEY will issue the statement you need for visa extension, using the bankbook of the Chantaburi branch, but which I doubt because I experienced a similar situation negatively before ( one of the things I never understand with Thai banks).

It seems much more safe to use the Chantaburi bank for the statement,and transfer funds to a Pattaya branch after the extension has been received.

Myself, I still have my funds upcountry, despite residing in Pattaya. For extensions, I always still use the countryside branch, their statement, my GF's statement that she hosts me, my registration at her house. I visit the nearest immigration ( not the Pattaya immigration). I never thought of changing the bank because I spend a considerable time upcountry.

If you still are registered in the Chantaburi province, then why not consider doing both the banks statement AND the extension in the old place ? This of course only if you have not registered yourself in Pattaya yet.

The new immigration rules and proof of ID rules do not say anything about dual residency. I am hanging loose in there at the moment. I guess I have been an illegal in Pattaya just because I always was registered at our countryside house.

The new rules are confusing me, too, in such an extent I now need a beer to get rid of the headache !!

[franckchiangmai]

My wife owns a house in Pattaya and I have already asked the 3BB connection under my name.

Anyway, thank you for your reply.

I will go to the bank to see what they will say about the statement.

[ubonjoe]

Most banks will allow you get the letter you need for your extension at any branch. I suggest you go to one of the larger branches of your bank about getting the letter.

Do not do anything that could cause the balance in your account below 800k baht for even for a second, Changing accounts would result in you starting all over again for the 90 days.

[Hornell]

I moved from Prachuap to Korat in Sep last year and had absolutely no trouble in renewing my retirement visa the following March at Korat Immigration. As long as your bank statement (which BAY will send you by the way) or your Embassy letter of income are not more than a couple of weeks old and you have reported your change of address, I don't see you should have a problem either.

[MichaelJohn]

My bank is in Bangkok and I live near Korat. The local branch produces my annual letter/statement of funds (even though the funds are in BKK) without any problem or delay. I usually order it the day before, collect at 9am and drive to immigration .......... I have just dropped in the bank and asked for the statement and received it there and then (well, 15 minutes).