Certificate of Income British Embassy BKK

[Bpuumike]

I decided to set things in motion for an early application for my annual Non-O retirement extension this year.

I emailed the British Embassy in BKK for an appointment for a Certificate of Income. Having not received any reply I phoned the Consular Section this morning and was categorically told that Certificates of Income can no longer be issued in person and can only be applied for by post. I did point out that having to go to Nana Post Office for a money order, it's just as easy to go to the Embassy, but no luck.

I have time to change tack and go the 'Thb800K funds in the bank' route but have read a couple of conflicting posts recently (which I can't find) on the seasoning period of 2 months, or whether it needs to be seasoned at all?

When asking my bank for a letter confirming the funds, do they need to specifically state that the funds on deposit are immediately available and will the Bangkok Bank CW branch normally issue the letter on the day of application?

I make my extension applications at Chaeng Wattanna Immigration and always find them efficient and helpful, a sad contrast with the British Embassy.

[Lite Beer]

The bank letter will verify the balance.

The bank book will verify how long the money has been in the bank.

2 months for first application and 3 months from then on.

The bank letter should be issued on the spot.

[ubonjoe]

The embassy has been doing the income letter only by post for some time now . See here for info on doing it by post: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/440413/Pension_01.07.15._Master.pdf

[billd766]

Up until this year I used to come down to BKK and have a 3 or 4 day minibreak and go to the embassy first thing Monday morning with my paperwork and collect the letter between 2 and 3 pm.

This year I had to send it by EMS with the money order. I tracked MY EMS post to the embassy where it was collected between 9 am and noon on Monday morning. It is now after lunch on Friday and no sign of my return EMS from the embassy.

It strikes me that by doing it this way it now takes at least 5 working days just to process something that only used to take about 5 hours. I assume that this is some sort of progress by the embassy and offering us, the customer, a better service. OTOH perhaps not.

[prodriver]

Due to health reasons I find it very difficult for me to physically travel to Bangkok these days. I am therefore extremely glad that I can obtain the income letter from the Embassy done entirely by post. I have found that usually I receive it in less than 10 days from applying which is perfectly acceptable to me.

[billd766]

My certificate of income arrived by the Thai postie at about 5 pm this afternoon.

The details are correct but my only gripe is that while it was sent by EMS I also put in a letter to them with my name, address and email address so that they could send me an email that I could track their letter.

They did not send the EMS tracking number.

I have back tracked the EMS number and it was accepted at Nana post office on July 1st at 13:09:55 and arrived at my local post office on July 3rd at 07:44:38.

[chiang mai]

I don't use the Embassy for proof of income but I'm shocked to see the cost of their letter, it's extortion of soft targets and is scandalous, ney outrageous.

[mikebell]

I don't use the Embassy for proof of income but I'm shocked to see the cost of their letter, it's extortion of soft targets and is scandalous, ney outrageous.

I totally agree with you. OAPs ARE soft targets and the UK Gov care little for their pensioners at home let alone those ex-pats on a frozen pension in Thailand. If I had my time over again, I would lie about my whereabouts thus gaining a cost of living rise + cold weather payments. It's a terrible thing to regret being honest.

[mikebell]

Regarding the exorbitant price of the letter, I fail to see how they can justify printing off a generalised one page document, personalised only by inserting a name. I fail to see the necessity of annual applications when a simple database could be constructed with records of monthly pensions which vary only by FOREX rates. The documents could be automated annually paid for by a standing order at the bank.

[chiang mai]

+1

[Bpuumike]

 

The embassy has been doing the income letter only by post for some time now . See here for info on doing it by post: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/440413/Pension_01.07.15._Master.pdf

Thanks LB and UbonJoe.

I was under the impression that the mail service was an optional alternative to a personal visit.

No problem, as they say around here, I'm on the right track now.

PS: I never seem to have much luck searching the forums.

[OJAS]

Due to health reasons I find it very difficult for me to physically travel to Bangkok these days. I am therefore extremely glad that I can obtain the income letter from the Embassy done entirely by post. I have found that usually I receive it in less than 10 days from applying which is perfectly acceptable to me.

Now if only we didn't have to make 2 trips to that hell-hole called Bangkok every 10 years at passport renewal time!

As regards the cost of the Embassy letter, I always find it curious that those who complain vociferously about the (current) 2,440 THB cost of a full-page A4 letter never seem also to complain on here about being ripped-off by Immigration to the tune of 1,900 THB for a measly half-page extension stamp in their passport! It is certainly clear to me which represents the better value for money!