Proof of funds for US social security income for Visa

[ubonjoe]

14 minutes ago, Kim1950 said:

I am assuming I can setup the account in the US. Then wire money into the account. Then if I am in Thailand I have access to the account and also have money being seasoned in the same account for Visa Requirements. Maybe not. Though that would be a good service.

You have to open the account here. It is not possible to do it in New York.

[Tanoshi]

2 minutes ago, Kim1950 said:

I am assuming I can setup the account in the US. Then wire money into the account. Then if I am in Thailand I have access to the account and also have money being seasoned in the same account for Visa Requirements.

The money must be seasoned in a Thai bank account.

You cannot set up a Thai bank account from the US.

 

Bangkok bank have branches in NYC and London. They do not set up personal accounts, just act as an intermediary branch through which you can transfer funds to your Thai bank account.

Read this page;

http://www.bangkokbank.com/BangkokBank/PersonalBanking/DailyBanking/TransferingFunds/TransferringIntoThailand/ReceivingFundsfromUSA/Pages/ReceivingFundsfromUSA.aspx   

Holders of US bank accounts can save on fees for international funds transfers by transferring funds from the United States to Thailand via the US Automated Clearing House system (US ACH) and Bangkok Bank's New York branch.

By stipulating the 9-digit routing number for Bangkok Bank's New York branch (026008691) in your US transfer instruction, the funds will be transferred via the US ACH system directly to the receiver's Bangkok Bank account in Thailand, for a lower fee than most other international wire transfer services.

[Tanoshi]

2 hours ago, Kim1950 said:

Seems I can't find a this 90 day single entry non-o visa for being 50 or retirement being offered in the US. One's for volunteering or journalism. Then those visas begin once they are issued. Then you would have 30 days to season any necessary money for 60 days to then apply for an extension that's a tight scheduling window for  committing to airfare, travel, and preparation. I have read some Thai Banks have offices in the US. Could you set this up in advance of travel?

Agreed it appears a little daunting, but with adequate planning, very possible.

 

I entered on a Non Imm O SE Visa (90 days).

I booked my flight 3 month beforehand to get a good price.

I applied in person for my Visa one week before the date of travel.

Upon entering Thailand I opened a Savings account at Bangkok bank the same day as arrival.

The following day I completed an online transfer through the Bangkok branch in the UK to my newly opened Thai bank account.

The funds reached my Thai bank account the very next day.

 

I applied for my retirement extension as soon as the funds had been held in my Thai bank account for 2 months.

I still had 18 days left on my 90 day permission to stay from the Non Imm O Visa.

It is very doable. 

[YetAnother]

On 6/22/2017 at 5:58 PM, ubonjoe said:

To prove you SS income you will need to a income affidavit at the US consulate in Chiang Mai.

the form there is near the exit door on a 'form rack'; they ask you for 'notary fee'; usually 50 $USD to stamp/sign it; likely have to make an appointment online ahead of time; one appointment / topic

[ubonjoe]

8 minutes ago, YetAnother said:

the form there is near the exit door on a 'form rack'; they ask you for 'notary fee'; usually 50 $USD to stamp/sign it; likely have to make an appointment online ahead of time; one appointment / topic

Why not complete it online and print it out. See: https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/income-affidavit/

[lopburi3]

6 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

Why not complete it online and print it out. See: https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/income-affidavit/

As of June this year Embassy Consular Officer required my name to be written -first-middle-last rather than as instructed on form (as on passport which is Last-First-Middle) claiming this was now immigration requirement.  

[ubonjoe]

3 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

As of June this year Embassy Consular Officer required my name to be written -first-middle-last rather than as instructed on form (as on passport which is Last-First-Middle) claiming this was now immigration requirement.  

On the Bangkok form it has this under the line for your name. (Name listed on passport / i.e., John James Smith). I think they mean it has to be your full name as shown on the passport. Not just first and last name or vice versa.

[lopburi3]

Just now, ubonjoe said:

On the Bangkok form it has this under the line for your name. (Name listed on passport / i.e., John James Smith). I think they mean it has to be your full name as shown on the passport. Not just first and last name or vice versa.

That appears to be a new form since mid June - old one did not have that example on it.  Other point was not to cross out anything (just leave visa/extension as it is).

[ubonjoe]

23 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

That appears to be a new form since mid June - old one did not have that example on it.  Other point was not to cross out anything (just leave visa/extension as it is).

When I was there in early June they were telling people to fill out a new form because they had a old one or it was completed wrong. Another change on the form is under the date stating that it will be stamped by the embassy,

Just looked at the form I completed online (printed to PDF)  in late May and it is the same as the one shown on the website now.

I have always completed the form as first, middle and last name.

[lopburi3]

Suspect I may have used old form in that case and just changed the pay amount - as have copy on computer.  So indeed was old format and needed to be changed.  Previously had always listed last name first (which is the standard TM.7 immigration format) and how it is written in passport. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

The PDF form that Joe linked to above -- the income affidavit form to download from the U.S. Consulate in BKK -- has a file name ending with the number 05 and 17. So I'd presume, they updated the form somewhere around that time. And it is a new form, totally different format/look from the one used in past years.

 

[YetAnother]

As to that direct deposit bank account here in Thailand ,I set mine up about six to nine months ago and it was a bit of a hassle

it is a special account with added restrictions and fees

Fact is that the Bangkok Bank branch that I was using had never done it before and were quite puzzled and the whole thing took about 4 weeks

It works just fine now and the deposits arrive from Baltimore Social Security on the 3rd or 4th day of every month

The social security policy has an oddity where for example if your birthday is on September five they discount the month of September , so that the first deposit you will get would be approximately November 4th

The Social Security authorities located in Manila in the Philippines were actually quite professional and quite good

[lopburi3]

23 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

The PDF form that Joe linked to above -- the income affidavit form to download from the U.S. Consulate in BKK -- has a file name ending with the number 05 and 17. So I'd presume, they updated the form somewhere around that time. And it is a new form, totally different format/look from the one used in past years.

 

That was probably what happened then - I had made it out when I made appointment which was a few weeks early so would have been done in May - am sure I had downloaded current form or at least confirmed old was the same.