Non OA Extension Renewal - Issue with BKK Bank re 3 month statement

[thailoneus]

I am in the process of getting the docs together to visit Immig this week for my 6th extension.

The issue I am faced with, is "specifically", about the 3 Month Bank Statement for my Savings account which holds the 800k for 3 months.

(My funds are at this specific branch.)

Recent TVF threads on the subject quote that this statement must be printed on bank letterhead, and "stamped and signed" by the bank.

I was dealing with the manager of the BKK Bank branch at the big Lotus i.e. opposite the Billion Plaza.

She gave me a 3 month statement on letterhead, but absolutely refused to stamp and sign the statement. She said "this is bank policy" and that if I want a signed statement I need to apply for it and it gets done at the Head office in BKK and it requires 7 work days!

So, contrary to what I have read on TVF about this being a simple process, this bank branch is certainly not in agreement with Immigration's requirements.

In my opinion, this manager has no knowledge/ understanding of new immigration rules nor of the seriousness of the deadlines/ timeframes for processing an Extension.

Help please!!

[KarenBravo]

This is simply untrue.

I have held a bank account with Bangkok Bank in Phang-nga road for years.

When I asked them about letter and statement, they asked if this was for immigration.

When I told them yes, they knew exactly what was needed and gave me a three month statement, signed and stamped every page, plus a letter stating how much was in the account at that time, also stamped and signed.

It took twenty minutes and cost 300 Bt.

Edited June 8, 2015 by KarenBravo

[lopburi3]

A "Lotus" convenience office is likely not a real branch and do not have the authority of a normal full branch. I would try going to the actual branch that office is attached to. This is a paid service, the letter of account balance, and will be signed by branch manager.

[thailoneus]

Lop, KB, Thanks for the comments.

I will do as you say and visit them this am.

Does anyone here know what 'main bank" the Lotus branch is attached to?

[KarenBravo]

I believe the most senior Bangkok Bank in Phuket is the one in Phang-nga road as it was the first branch in Phuket (that I know of).

Give them a try first. They will at least know what you should do and where to go.

[lopburi3]

I would do as above - the first 3 digits of your account is your branch but not sure if the small places have different or not as do not have any account from such.

[thailoneus]

Mod...you might consider closing this trail and moving all the posts to the other very recent long trail on the topic. Will leave that decision to you.

Folks,

Here is what transpired. Sorry for the detail, but maybe others might find the info relevant.

My OP was after I visited the BBK branch on Sunday 7th.

What I didn't mention originally....

About 6 months ago, i decided that I wanted to have a backup plan in case my main 800k in the BKK bank was drained in an unauthorized manner. So I put in 800k into a savings ac at the SCB in the same location. i.e. Lotus. When I had the issue with the BKKB on Sun, I also went to the SCB to get the reqd 2 docs. No Issue at all. Gave me both. 100b for the letter and 200b for the 3 month statement. As a result, my anxiety re BKKB and Immig. was eliminated.

Monday 8th.

Went to the BKKB to follow up on KB and LOP3 input. Found that the person I dealt with on Sunday is the asst. mgr. But today the Mgr. was also present. They said, they are not affiliated to any other 'main' bank in Phuket. That they are an independent branch. So, quoting KB, I asked that the Manager please call the Mgr of the Phang Nga branch. She did and the answer was, they didn't know anything about it! Got the same story..."This is BKKB policy. We can give you a statement on BKKB letterhead and the Bank stamp, but we cannot sign it!"

Finally I asked them to call Phuket Immig. Between themselves, they agreed that it was ok if the statement was not signed by BKKB. And I was given the title of the Immig officer.

While I had no plans to visit Immig on a Monday, I thought...I better go anyway to at least check whether all my documentation was in order for the Extension app. This was a 1pm visit. There were about 10 people. May be coz of the rain?

The Volunteer officer checked my docs. (Since the doc requirements are detailed well in another thread, I am only reporting the exceptions here).

He removed...

1. the copy of the face of the ATM card related to my savings account. Not reqd.

2. Copies of the detail pages of my passbook. Only the face page was reqd.This, to establish my name and sole ownership.

By now most of the Immig officers knew about my BKKB issue. So I filed the app.

Tuesday 9th

Recd my passport back and completed the Single Entry stamp.

All in order for another year.

Summary

The BKKB at Lotus failed me completely. They did not understand that the funds were there purely for Immig purposes. Their policy may have resulted in the continuation of my extension to be voided and my having to go to Australia for a new app! I will be moving my funds out of this branch for sure.

I now have my Extension. So am not motivated to pursue this further.

KB, Lop3...any comments?

Many Thanks to all who responded to my issue.

[thailoneus]

Mod,

This is the thread I referred to in my last post.

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/806725-extension-of-stay-renewal-for-non-imm-o-requirements/

[KarenBravo]

All I can say is what I said before.

No problems whatsoever in getting the stamped and signed paperwork at the Bangkok Bank branch in Phang-Nga road.

They actually asked me if it was for immigration. They knew all about what was required.

[lopburi3]

Tesco Lotus Phuket 104 Mu 5, Chalerm Prakiat Road, Ratsada, Muang, Phuket 83000 0-7625-5128-9 0-7625-5130

If this is the office you are talking about it was not a branch office in annual report of 2008 - it was a micro-branch and services in these are limited. I have not had such a letter for a decade but they indeed were signed by branch managers at that time and believe they still are. Although the first time I asked they insisted it had to be obtained from head office so had to make a second trip - I knew better the next year and it was not a problem after that.

One thing is they could require the amount be for the previous day or put a hold on your account if current day as there signature indicates the amount at end of day (at least that was a concern a decade ago).

http://www.bangkokbank.com/download/annual2008/annrep08_21_en.pdf

[eisfeld]

Banks are extremely inconsistent here, even between branches of the same bank. You were wise to have two bank accounts at different banks.

Now you found that this BKK branch failed you. As you already said, move your money out of there and make sure they know why.

Then, when opening any other bank account, ask the manager beforehand if they can provide you with the required signatures etc.

Rinse & repeat until you find a branch that does what you need. There are plenty around.

But keep it spread over 2 or more banks as policies/managers change all the time and most have no clue about anything.

[thailoneus]

Thanks all.

I have one query.

Surely I can't be the only one in Phuket who used this branch for my Extension funds!

I would like to hear from anyone who is using this branch.

[JetsetBkk]

All I can say is what I said before.

No problems whatsoever in getting the stamped and signed paperwork at the Bangkok Bank branch in Phang-Nga road.

They actually asked me if it was for immigration. They knew all about what was required.

My bank is Krung Thai in Phang Nga road.

The only trouble I had with them was to get the letter showing the balance in Thai baht. They had "changed the system". Now, no one could write a simple letter and print it out like they used to, they had no access to all the previous letters they had printed out for me, and no one knew how to get the system to print out a document showing the balance other than in dollars or pounds, because of my "profile".

I insisted it had to be in baht for immigration and after several people had a go and phone calls were made someone worked out how to print both dollars and baht on the same document. I've got the woman's name card in case I have the same problem next year.

The only good thing was that the cost of the letter and all three pages that made up the 3 months of statements was only 100 baht. I think they made a mistake, but I wasn't going to argue.

[wazzadg44]

I have an account at Kasikorn Bank.I went there 2 weeks ago for letter/statement for Immigration re extension.The lady there(Jung Ceylon branch downstairs) was very good-did 3 month statement (no cost) and she stamped/signed it herself (not manager),gave me letter,same signed/stamped by her and cost 100 baht.Ten minutes,no dramas and helpful to the limit.Great service.Try it!!!

[partington]

Just to correct an misunderstanding- the bank letter is not a "3-month statement", it simply tells immigration the total in your account, now, on the day you get the letter.

The three-month proof is supplied by the photocopies of your bank book showing deposits and withdrawals for the last three months.

Even if you don't read Thai, you can tell this because 1. the letter has a single sum on it in baht, and it is not exactly 800,000 baht, but your total on the day you got the letter, and 2. there are no dates on it other than the date you got the letter, so it cannot be telling the length of time this sum has been on deposit (and in any case if you are using the account the sum will have changed periodically through this entire 3-month period)

Of course I could be wrong for other banks, but for the last 4 extensions I did at Chaengwattana, my letters from Kasikorn Bank contained only this information, and were accepted by Immigration.

Edited June 15, 2015 by partington

[thailoneus]

Hi all,

I thought I'd stop replying on this thread coz the whole thing is a bit frustrating and I am over the issue anyway. But as a respect to new posters, here is an update. Note that it is an update of my experience. Not a whinge.I have accepted the ineptitude and moved on.

KB,

I went to the Phang Nga branch to verify this for next year. Manager not present. However, an English speaking teller (teller position 1) knew the whole story well.

My first q to her was "Do you know what is reqd by Immig for a 1 year retirement extension?" She answered perfectly as the 2 docs in question. She went on to say the same thing I was told by my Tesco branch. "As bank policy we don't sign the 3 month statement. But if the customer insists, then the manager has instructed us to issue it .Normal process for a 3 month statement is "apply to BKK. It takes 7 days to get it". Well that was not heart warming to me.

JetsetBkk,

Good for you. Just don't presume that the same lady will be there next year.

Partington,

This info is for Phuket Immig. You are also not current in your info.This requirement in Phuket was introduced recently. Req is for a 3 month statement signed and issued by the bank . Not a copy of the passbook pages (which I included and were discarded from my app by the Volunteer Officer). There is a more detailed recent thread on the topic which you might refer to.

Interesting that per my post #12, no one has replied saying they use the Tesco branch!

[partington]

Partington,

This info is for Phuket Immig. You are also not current in your info.This requirement in Phuket was introduced recently. Req is for a 3 month statement signed and issued by the bank . Not a copy of the passbook pages (which I included and were discarded from my app by the Volunteer Officer). There is a more detailed recent thread on the topic which you might refer to.

Sorry, I stand corrected - I'm not familiar with Phuket requirements at all, as you say.

[madmitch]

Got my statement today from SCB. When I got back I noted it had my old address on which does not match the address now on file with immigration. My fault, never got round to changing it. Of course the old bank book copies didn't contain an address.

I went back this afternoon and changed my address with the bank, who said that it will be changed in the system by tomorrow and they'll issue me a new statement (stamped and signed, of course) tomorrow.

I have no idea whether this would cause a problem with immigration but better to be safe and delay by a day rather than risk my documentation being refused after waiting an age to be seen.

I'm sure I'm not alone in having not informed my bank about a new address, so with this new requirement, it's probably worth thinking about.

[merijn]

Just for your information.

Phuket immigration will accept copies from the bankbook pages with the transactions as long they are stamped and signed by the bank.

There is no special requirement to have this printed on separate bank letter head.

Also BKKB told me that the bank statement will only be done by the branch of where the account is registered.

As i don't have first hand experience with this can somebody confirm this.