So, I had heard some stories in the Hua Hin area about Immigration asking that Embassy notarized statements of income for extension of stay having to be taken to the Department of Foreign Affairs in Chaeng Wattana to get stamped as legitimate.

Since I had already gone to Bangkok to get my notarized letter for my extension application next month, I decided it would be prudent to check with HH Immigration today.

Basically, I got told that this year's application would be OK without the stamp from the DFA ( I was shown the stamp they use).

However, starting with next year's application all income statements would need to be stamped.

I was told that some people had been forging their embassy's stamp so now they needed to be verified.

As a follow up, I asked the lady if it would be possible to mail the letter to Bangkok and get it stamped and returned by mail.

She didn't think this was likely.

Sorry, I forgot to ask if this was a new national policy, or just a local HH one.

It certainly sounds like it might be nation wide.

It sounds like a local policy or misinformation.

If they thought the letter was bogus they could always ask for back up proof of the income. Perhaps a bank book showing the funds coming into the country.

I hope you're right UbonJoe.

The guy I first heard this from said he was asked, went to Chaeng Wattana and had to pay extra for express, same day device. Otherwise 2 days or more.

And this would be only the beginning.

If all the foreigners who use income verification need to do this it is going to be a nightmare, especially if they have to start showing up in person.

I will try to find out more when I go and hand in my extension of stay application in a few weeks.

I did, however, get the same information from two Immigration officers.

And I don't really see the point if it is just local as someone withe a visa based on retirement (rather than marriage) could simply relocate, at least temporarily to another province.

As I mentioned before, if this is, in fact, the new criteria they might as well skip the Embassy letter and do what you suggest...offer proof of income at a local level.