Nong Khai Immigration Warning

[LoveDaBlues]

Nong Khai Immigration is being VERY STRICT with a 'rule' they seem to have created some years back. This pertains to those seeking the retirement visa.

IN ADDITION to the 'Letter of Certification' they want to see monthly deposits in a Thai bank account and also a letter from the bank verifying same. ***Note: this only applies to those using the option of 65,000 baht per month income AND NOT those who deposit the 400k/800k.

On a good note.....they will accept the 'Letter of Certification' (of income) from the US Embassy in Laos. They keep the original so you have to get a new one each year. This was very helpful for me as I didn't want to travel to Bangkok or Chiang Mai to get the 'Letter of Certification'.

It is my understanding from reading posts on this forum that NO OTHER immigration office is making people show the 65,000 baht monthly deposit history with bank letter.

LDB

Edit: I hope my wording doesn't confuse anyone BUT on the 400k/800k deposit you must also have the bank letter confirming same.

[chownah]

I'm going with the deposit option so this is not an issue for me but I'd like to report that in MaeSai when discussing the retirement visa option over the phone they were talking like they wanted alot of documentation for the monthly payment option.....letter from bank, bank book for examination and copies of pages for them to keep, and some documentation from the entity that is sending the money. I have found however that when I showed up in person they were much more lenient in their requirements....possibly because my wife and I were neatly groomed and dressed and very polite.

Chownah

[macb]

I never have a problem. It is deposit or proof of income (but then I am from UK) 1st year I used deposit in bank (pattaya immigration) and as you say got letter from bank, but for two years I have got letter of guarantee from the British consulate for my pension.

My pension is index linked so it rises each year so it is greater than my original forcast so last year the consulate worked the annual amount out based on a salary slip I sent them. My money is paid into a UK bank not Thailand , I have not seen a rule that says it has to be paid into Thai account.

macb