Up to date procedure for application for an extension of stay based on retirement

[tlcwaterfall]

Could some knowledgeable board member please give me the current procedure to apply for an extension of stay based on retirement.

I normally go to my Australian embassy in Bangkok each year and fill out a statutory declaration stating I receive 65000 baht per month.

1. Should this stat. dec. have the monthly amount in baht or my native currency.

2. I am hearing reports on various boards that there are new procedures to follow. Such as having to produce bank statements for 3 months of your overseas bank account.

3. Some offices are taking your documents and applying an "under consideration'stamp to the passport and ask that you come back in one month.

Any helpful replies are much needed and appreciated.

[ubonjoe]

1. In your case the statutory declaration would be done in Australian dollars. Immigration will do the conversion to baht when you apply for the extension.

2, There might be one or two offices asking for that.

3. About the same as 2.

What office will you be applying at.

[tlcwaterfall]

1. In your case the statutory declaration would be done in Australian dollars. Immigration will do the conversion to baht when you apply for the extension.

2, There might be one or two offices asking for that.

3. About the same as 2.

What office will you be applying at.

Thank you for your advice.

I will be applying at Kap Choeng office.

[ubonjoe]

I feel sorry for you having to use that office. They have come out with some strange requirements from what I have read in some posts.

The most recent was doing the under consideration stamp and doing a home visit to confirm that is where you are living.

Not sure they are still wanting the 3 months showing money into a bank account. I only recall one post about that.

I think you may of done your topic based upon what you had read about them.

[mxyzptlk]

I know 2 guys who have recently been given the "under consideration" stamp (I've seen the stamp in their passports) when applying for an extension based on retirement @ Kap Choeng and are awaiting a home visit. I have also personally witnessed a guy being asked for bank statements when using the Embassy Income Letter method at the same office.

[khwaibah]

I know 2 guys who have recently been given the "under consideration" stamp (I've seen the stamp in their passports) when applying for an extension based on retirement @ Kap Choeng and are awaiting a home visit. I have also personally witnessed a guy being asked for bank statements when using the Embassy Income Letter method at the same office.

I stoped counting at 15. You can add Udon and Rayong to this list.

[sgtsabai]

Udon definitely gives you the under consideration stamp. I was not asked to show money in a Thai bank account. I've got a whole 500 baht if the bank hasn't canceled for inactivity and kept the money. The US Embassy Income Statement was sufficient. I do not use wire transfer for my money because I need it when it is deposited in my US Credit Union. At 50 USD a month to wire transfer it is cheaper to just use ATM. I do keep the ATM receipts but I have heard that may not be good enough.

[charliebadenhop]

Double knucklehead here.....

So I got my Non-O about a week ago in Vientiane.

Now what will I have to do to get it extended due to "Retirement".

I have 800K in the bank, will I need to show it has been there for a minimum of 3 months?

Will I need to show that the money came from overseas (letter from my bank)?

What else please...

[Jingthing]

Double knucklehead here.....

So I got my Non-O about a week ago in Vientiane.

Now what will I have to do to get it extended due to "Retirement".

I have 800K in the bank, will I need to show it has been there for a minimum of 3 months?

Will I need to show that the money came from overseas (letter from my bank)?

What else please...

Apply for your retirement extension during the last 30 days of your 90 day stay on your O visa.

Some offices allow 45 days but all will allow 30 days early.

There is no cost to applying early as the extension begins starting with the end of your current 90 days.

As this is your FIRST extension on your new O visa, the money needs seasoning for only two months, not three.

All later extensions will require three months.

The money seasoning rules are based on the date of your application at immigration ... so you will need the money there for two months before you show up at immigration.

The funds do not need to be imported.

Get your bank letter (ask for "immigration letter") either the same day (some offices require, most don't) or the previous day and the balance in the letter should match the balance in your savings passbook.

Some allow older letters, like a week, but generally make it as fresh as you can.

The bank will know what to put in the letter. Don't worry.

You will need a copy of your passbook for the either the last three months or year (some offices) and also of course the front I.D. page with name and account number.

The account can't under 800K even one baht during the seasoning period.

SOME banks will need you to go the your home branch for your letter.

Check that out now if that is going to a problem for you.

Good luck.

[johnno2]

I got my extension done about 3 months ago. I also had read about needing local bank account statements. I had my statements from DVA, DFRDB and my superannuation accounts. Oz embassy didn't look at them, I just stated that I receive XXXXX Baht per month.

I live in Bangkok so my extension was done at Chaeng Wattana. All they did was look at the Declaration that Oz Embassy had stamped, looked at my Thai wifes ID etc, had a quick glance over the other docs that are required and that was that. I had my Australian bank statements showing that I withdraw XXXXX baht per month, but they didn't ask to see it so I didn't show it. Very easy.

[Liquorice]

Double knucklehead here.....

So I got my Non-O about a week ago in Vientiane.

Now what will I have to do to get it extended due to "Retirement".

I have 800K in the bank, will I need to show it has been there for a minimum of 3 months?

Will I need to show that the money came from overseas (letter from my bank)?

What else please...

This is what I take:

1. Completed Form TM 7

2. Passport + Copies of Homepage showing given names / Passport number / Hologram or Photo, and;

- Current Visa or

- Current Extension and

- Last Entry Stamp

3. Proof of Address

- Copy of House owners Tabian Ban (Wife/Landlord) and

- Copy of House owners ID card. (Wife/Landlord) and

- Rental Agreement + Copy (If rented) or

- Tabian Baan (If you possess one)

4. Map pinpointing and detailing Address (Google maps)

5. Medical Certificate.

6. Proof of sufficient funds.

- Updated Passbook + Copy and

- Letter from the Thai Bank confirming funds. (Must match funds in Passbook)

7. Letter from your Embassy confirming Income. (If using the monthly income method)

8. Passport photo (attached to TM 7 Form)

9. Copy of both front and back of your TM 6 Departure Card.

All photocopies should be signed.

Passbook update and Bank letter should be dated the same day as your visit to Immigration (although some offices will accept the previous days date)

I did my extension 10 days ago and there was no mention of bank statements. Completed in 20 minutes.

[ubonjoe]

A medical certificate is only needed at 2 rogue offices as far as I know.

[Jingthing]

Medical form definitely not needed!

As above excepting rare offices.

[OJAS]

I know 2 guys who have recently been given the "under consideration" stamp (I've seen the stamp in their passports) when applying for an extension based on retirement @ Kap Choeng and are awaiting a home visit. I have also personally witnessed a guy being asked for bank statements when using the Embassy Income Letter method at the same office.

I stoped counting at 15. You can add Udon and Rayong to this list.

I was most certainly NOT given an "under consideration" stamp when I applied for my latest extension based on retirement at Rayong last Tuesday (14th). Neither was I asked for bank statements in support of my Embassy income confirmation letter. May I suggest that you check your facts before posting inaccurate information of this nature.

[Slickrick]

Udon definitely gives you the under consideration stamp. I was not asked to show money in a Thai bank account. I've got a whole 500 baht if the bank hasn't canceled for inactivity and kept the money. The US Embassy Income Statement was sufficient. I do not use wire transfer for my money because I need it when it is deposited in my US Credit Union. At 50 USD a month to wire transfer it is cheaper to just use ATM. I do keep the ATM receipts but I have heard that may not be good enough.

Did I read this right. Is this for one wire transfer. My TX credit union charges $15.

[Jingthing]

Wire fees vary widely. 50 dollars isn't unusual. Rip off? Why yes!

[mxyzptlk]

My UK bank is HSBC. It only costs me £4 to transfer up to £50,000 to my SCB account.

[Liquorice]

A medical certificate is only needed at 2 rogue offices as far as I know.

Which ones Joe?

[ubonjoe]

A medical certificate is only needed at 2 rogue offices as far as I know.

Which ones Joe?

Yours in Amnat Charon and Sri Racha as far I know. At one time Sisaket wanted one but I think the officer wanting it moved to Amnat.

[louse1953]

I feel sorry for you having to use that office. They have come out with some strange requirements from what I have read in some posts.

The most recent was doing the under consideration stamp and doing a home visit to confirm that is where you are living.

Not sure they are still wanting the 3 months showing money into a bank account. I only recall one post about that.

I think you may of done your topic based upon what you had read about them.

Joe,don't believe everything you read about Kap Choen.I have seen plenty of people wanting something that is not available at immi.They have been more than helpful to me and 1 woman,near the top has given me her personal phone number,if I need help.As usual,it depends what day you go in,but also,how you react with them.

[ubonjoe]

I don't believe everything I have read. But I have read enough first hand accounts of problems people have had because of outlandish and inconsistent requirements.

The most recent was wanting a yellow book in order to do 90 day reporting and to apply for an extension of stay. One person that had problems with them just went to Savannakhet to get a multiple entry non-o visa because of not being able to get his extension there.

[tlcwaterfall]

I feel sorry for you having to use that office. They have come out with some strange requirements from what I have read in some posts.

The most recent was doing the under consideration stamp and doing a home visit to confirm that is where you are living.

Not sure they are still wanting the 3 months showing money into a bank account. I only recall one post about that.

I think you may of done your topic based upon what you had read about them.

Joe,don't believe everything you read about Kap Choen.I have seen plenty of people wanting something that is not available at immi.They have been more than helpful to me and 1 woman,near the top has given me her personal phone number,if I need help.As usual,it depends what day you go in,but also,how you react with them.

Service levels at Kap Choeng vary from barely average to very poor even dismissive of you being there.

Contrast this to Korat who are pleasant and efficient and will do their best to help you.

[OJAS]

My UK bank is HSBC. It only costs me £4 to transfer up to £50,000 to my SCB account.

But how much do SCB charge at the Thai end?

[jmcet]

Udon definitely gives you the under consideration stamp. I was not asked to show money in a Thai bank account. I've got a whole 500 baht if the bank hasn't canceled for inactivity and kept the money. The US Embassy Income Statement was sufficient. I do not use wire transfer for my money because I need it when it is deposited in my US Credit Union. At 50 USD a month to wire transfer it is cheaper to just use ATM. I do keep the ATM receipts but I have heard that may not be good enough.

Did I read this right. Is this for one wire transfer. My TX credit union charges $15.

Try Bangkok bank. From the states you can use "pop money" to transfer to BKK Bank NYC free. BKK bank New York then transfers to your local account for $5. Takes about 5 days

[mxyzptlk]

My UK bank is HSBC. It only costs me £4 to transfer up to £50,000 to my SCB account.

But how much do SCB charge at the Thai end?

Nothing. There is an option in the transfer at the HSBC end that the sender pays all fees, so no charge by SCB, and there was no extra charge above the standard £4 by HSBC.

[sandyf]

A medical certificate is only needed at 2 rogue offices as far as I know.

Which ones Joe?

Yours in Amnat Charon and Sri Racha as far I know. At one time Sisaket wanted one but I think the officer wanting it moved to Amnat.

I did a retirement extension at Sri Ratcha last week and no medical certificate was required.

Contrary to what someone else has posted my extension started the day of application. Lost 10 days on previous permission to stay.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Try Bangkok bank. From the states you can use "pop money" to transfer to BKK Bank NYC free. BKK bank New York then transfers to your local account for $5. Takes about 5 days

It's not quite that simple...

BKK Bank NY charges a sliding scale fee based on the amount you've sent, not only a flat $5 fee you suggest. Larger fees for larger transfers.

Also, on the Thailand end, your local BKK Bank also will charge a commission of 0.25 percent, capped at between 200 and 500 baht, though they don't detail that very well in the info they provide.

It's a perfectly good way to send funds from the U.S. to a BKK Bank account in Thailand, and usually lower cost than a traditional wire transfer. Just not with the fee structure you posted.

[ubonjoe]

Yours in Amnat Charon and Sri Racha as far I know. At one time Sisaket wanted one but I think the officer wanting it moved to Amnat.

I did a retirement extension at Sri Ratcha last week and no medical certificate was required.

Contrary to what someone else has posted my extension started the day of application. Lost 10 days on previous permission to stay.

Perhaps they have changed their policy or you were just lucky they didn't ask for the medical certificate.

You should go back to immigration and have the 10 day error corrected. It has to be an error because myself and hundreds of others have done their extensions early and the new one started from the date their existing extension ended.

Would you please post your extension stamps.

[sandyf]

Yours in Amnat Charon and Sri Racha as far I know. At one time Sisaket wanted one but I think the officer wanting it moved to Amnat.

I did a retirement extension at Sri Ratcha last week and no medical certificate was required.

Contrary to what someone else has posted my extension started the day of application. Lost 10 days on previous permission to stay.

Perhaps they have changed their policy or you were just lucky they didn't ask for the medical certificate.

You should go back to immigration and have the 10 day error corrected. It has to be an error because myself and hundreds of others have done their extensions early and the new one started from the date their existing extension ended.

Would you please post your extension stamps.

With all the luck and errors around it really is a hit and miss scenario.

Even if they have made an error I am certainly not going to waste another day in immigration for the sake of 10 days. I may well come back next July on a Non O.

[watso63]

It seems the problem at KC is the boss there. I tried to renew my retirement extension 30 days early. All the staff were very helpful and they checked all my documentation. My gf drew a map of where our house is. Even though I had the required 800K they still wanted to know where my income for my living expenses came from. I provided my savings (current account) passbook showing payments coming in from the UK which they photocopied, no more questions. Even though everything complied with the rules I was turned away as I was applying too early (according to he who must be obeyed) and was told about a week early would be accepted. So a wasted journey plus I had to get another confirmation letter from my bank when I returned. I too was told to expect a visit (still waiting 3 weeks later), but was not given an under consideration stamp (maybe for people that use a foreign visa card at a Thai ATM to draw cash for living expenses and why not?), but the full monty.

I have been trying to get a yellow tabien ban too but my local amphur nazi's having none of it. Lazy, incompetent toerag comes up with a different excuse everytime I go there??? Can anyone give any advice as to who it's worth"complaining" to? ie an official government department??? I know, I know TIT???