Proof of "Pension" for US Citizen on Retirement Visa

[wilinusa]

I will be converting an 90-Day Visa to a "Retirement Visa".   I have the initial 800,000 Baht requirement.

My question is this.  The pension requirement.  My situation is I have an online company for an income.

 

I know that technically that may be considered "work" by the Thai government requiring a work permit.

 

Setting that aside.  If funds are transferred into my Thai Bank Account under my company name, will that meet the required 65,000 baht requirement?

 

Thanks

[Upnotover]

If you have 800K in the bank then you don't need to worry about the income. 

 

If you do need to worry about income then all you need is an affidavit from your embassy, that doesn't require any proof of anything. 

 

There is no requirement to have a pension, just an income.

[Jingthing]

The 800K is enough. It needs to be seasoned two months for the first time extension application.

No income letter needed. Don't even mention income to the officer. 

Edited June 22, 2017 by Jingthing

[PoorSucker]

Only thing Thai Immigration accepts when income from abroad is an embassy letter confirming your income.

 

 

[Rhys]

800k  does it....

[YetAnother]

1 hour ago, Upnotover said:

then all you need is an affidavit from your embassy, that doesn't require any proof of anything. 

you are of course correct; it just seems so odd that there is a 'hard' threshold of 800,000 complete with updated passbook and bank letter 

and then on the other hand , the income requirement can be satisfied on ' the honor system'; no one checks.....

[wilinusa]

If you have 800K in the bank then you don't need to worry about the income. 
 
If you do need to worry about income then all you need is an affidavit from your embassy, that doesn't require any proof of anything. 
 
There is no requirement to have a pension, just an income.

So that I understand this correctly. The affidavit confirms the required minimum of 65,000 baht income per month are funds held in any account Thai or American? But the 800,000 has to be in a Thai bank account?


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[IMA_FARANG]

No comment required.

Retirement visa/extension annually?

Been there and done that.

Income declaration at U.S embassy and U.S. Social Security pension, but never asked for Proof.

 

 

[Mattd]

8 hours ago, wilinusa said:

So that I understand this correctly. The affidavit confirms the required minimum of 65,000 baht income per month are funds held in any account Thai or American? But the 800,000 has to be in a Thai bank account?

You initially said that you have the 800,000 THB required?

1. Is this deposited in to a Thai bank, if it is not, then yes it must be in a Thai bank and been there for a minimum of 60 days prior to applying for the extension of stay.

2. The Income for the declaration can come from any means, as far as I know the US Embassy takes your word for issuing the declaration that is accepted by Thai immigration for the retirement extension.

3. You do not need both, one or the other is adequate to apply for the extension, if you have the 800,000 THB in a Thai bank for the 60 days prior to applying, then it is probably easier to use this.

[hawker9000]

I'm pretty sure that if you go the "proof of income route", no involvement by a Thai bank is needed. It used to be that for US citizens, only the embassy declaration was needed, and getting that was just a matter of signing a statement. Now I believe the immigration authorities want pension documentation as well, though like everything else this reqt undoubtedly varies from one place to another.

[gk10002000]

22 minutes ago, hawker9000 said:

I'm pretty sure that if you go the "proof of income route", no involvement by a Thai bank is needed. It used to be that for US citizens, only the embassy declaration was needed, and getting that was just a matter of signing a statement. Now I believe the immigration authorities want pension documentation as well, though like everything else this reqt undoubtedly varies from one place to another.

Yeah well, I don't have a pension but I have a lot of dividend and interest income.  I can printout the portfolio and Etrade's income estimator, and Etrade told me they would issue a letter asserting what the estimated dividend and interest amounts would be for a year.  And I do mean regular dividend and interest income from bonds, Funds, Stocks etc.  I don't mean I would be selling assets to come up with the 65k each month

[wilinusa]

You initially said that you have the 800,000 THB required?
1. Is this deposited in to a Thai bank, if it is not, then yes it must be in a Thai bank and been there for a minimum of 60 days prior to applying for the extension of stay.
2. The Income for the declaration can come from any means, as far as I know the US Embassy takes your word for issuing the declaration that is accepted by Thai immigration for the retirement extension.
3. You do not need both, one or the other is adequate to apply for the extension, if you have the 800,000 THB in a Thai bank for the 60 days prior to applying, then it is probably easier to use this.

Yeah, I will have 800,000 baht transferred to a Thai Bank once I arrive in Thailand on a 90-Day visa and convert to Retirement visa once the 60 day deposit requirement is met. I was just trying to understand my options after that and maybe doing the 65,000 baht income route in the event I want to use the 800,000 baht to use towards buying a home


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[wilinusa]

Verify 65,000 baht monthly income to renew O-A Visa.

In October I will be renewing my O-A Visa for the first time. I will be using my income for financial proof of eligibility. What document(s) are needed for proof?


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[ubonjoe]

44 minutes ago, wilinusa said:

Verify 65,000 baht monthly income to renew O-A Visa.
In October I will be renewing my O-A Visa for the first time. I will be using my income for financial proof of eligibility. What document(s) are needed for proof?

You cannot renew your OA visa here in the country. You can only apply for a new one where your obtained your previous one.

You can apply for a one year extension of stay based upon retirement at a immigration office during the the last 30 days of your current one year entry from your OA visa. To apply for the extension you will need proof of 65k baht income by way of a income document from your embassy.

Edit; In your case you will do a income affidavit at the US embassy in Bangkok or the consulate in Chiang Mai. Info here: https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/local-resources-of-u-s-citizens/notaries-public/income-affidavit/  You will have to make an appointment to get it. https://th.usembassy.gov/u-s-citizen-services/acsappointment/

[wilinusa]

You cannot renew your OA visa here in the country. You can only apply for a new one where your obtained your previous one.
You can apply for a one year extension of stay based upon retirement at a immigration office during the the last 30 days of your current one year entry from your OA visa. To apply for the extension you will need proof of 65k baht income by way of a income document from your embassy.

Do you know what type of proof the US Embassy accepts. I have read in other forums you need a Bank Statement showing deposits and others say that your word is enough.


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[ubonjoe]

2 minutes ago, wilinusa said:

Do you know what type of proof the US Embassy accepts. I have read in other forums you need a Bank Statement showing deposits and others say that your word is enough.

You do not need a proof of your income to do the affidavit. You swear an oath that is is true and correct in front of a consular officer when you signed it (more info in an edit I did of my post).

[wilinusa]

You do not need a proof of your income to do the affidavit. You swear an oath that is is true and correct in front of a consular officer when you signed it (more info in an edit I did of my post).

Thanks for your help!! Greatly appreciated


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[lopburi3]

You sign document under oath before a Consular Officer stating your income - if statement is false it would be a Federal offense so best to keep it real.  Other countries may do it the same way or require presentation of various supporting documents prior to letter issue.  Immigration could also request supporting documents.

[Langsuan Man]

1 hour ago, wilinusa said:

Do you know what type of proof the US Embassy accepts.

They don't require any proof, just your affirmation, that you have an income equivalent to 65 K THB per month 

[wilinusa]

If I need to renew my yearly O-A in October, when is the earliest and latest I can renew?


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[lopburi3]

If you are talking about immigration in Thailand you extend your stay - you do not renew your O-A visa.  In Bangkok you can apply up to 45 days prior to expiration of current stay but some other offices want it done no earlier than 30 days.  You can safely apply up to the time you are required to leave.

[ballbreaker]

Wilinusa it sounds like you are still in the US so why don't you just obtain the Non-Immigrant O-A visa before you leave the US.  When you land in Thailand you get 1 year permission to stay stamp so you will have a whole year to understand the in/outs of applying for extension.

[onera1961]

On 6/23/2017 at 12:27 PM, wilinusa said:

_{Yeah, I will have 800,000 baht transferred to a Thai Ban}

 

On 6/23/2017 at 12:27 PM, wilinusa said:

once I arrive in Thailand on a 90-Day visa

If you don't mind, can you please post what is the 90-day visa? Is it based on Thai family (Non O)?

[wilinusa]

If you don't mind, can you please post what is the 90-day visa? Is it based on Thai family (Non O)?

I have a Non O-A (1 year Visa) aka Retirement Visa


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[onera1961]

1 minute ago, wilinusa said:

I have a Non O-A (1 year Visa) aka Retirement Visa

Was curious because you mentioned entering Thailand on a 90-day visa. For one-year Non O-A, you can time it to stay in Thailand for almost two years. Here is a strategy I am using on Non O-A visa. every month, I transfer $2,500 to my Bangkok bank account from USA for monthly expenses. If you don't want to spend the entire amount, you can open a recurring saving deposit and save a portion every month. 

After two years, go to the US embassy and get an income certificate of $2500/month and apply for extension based on income. If immigration ever asks you for your income, you can always show them your Bangkok bank account for monthly deposit for almost two years. 

If you need to do any consulting work for a few months, go out of Thailand, finish your work and come back. 

[wilinusa]

Was curious because you mentioned entering Thailand on a 90-day visa. For one-year Non O-A, you can time it to stay in Thailand for almost two years. Here is a strategy I am using on Non O-A visa. every month, I transfer $2,500 to my Bangkok bank account from USA for monthly expenses. If you don't want to spend the entire amount, you can open a recurring saving deposit and save a portion every month. 

After two years, go to the US embassy and get an income certificate of $2500/month and apply for extension based on income. If immigration ever asks you for your income, you can always show them your Bangkok bank account for monthly deposit for almost two years. 

If you need to do any consulting work for a few months, go out of Thailand, finish your work and come back. 

Yes, I entered Thailand with a 90 Day Visa this give me time to to have the required 800,000 baht for 60 Days to meet the Non O-A Visa. I will provide a “Proof of income”. From the American Embassy for the “Monthly” income going forward. My understanding is you just state that you receive the required “income” each month. I understand you don’t have to provide any documentation except the sworn statement from Embassy https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/90/2017/05/income-verification-affidavit-bkk-0517.pdf



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[onera1961]

11 minutes ago, wilinusa said:

Yes, I entered Thailand with a 90 Day Visa this give me time to to have the required 800,000 baht for 60 Days to meet the Non O-A Visa.

I was curious to know what kind of 90-day visa? Can you be more specific. Immigration inside Thailand does not issue non O-A visa. Non O-A visa can only be obtained from Thai embassy in Washington DC, and consular offices at LA, Chicago, and New York. You don't need money in Thai bank. You can show your savings (possibly 401K and Roth or other trading accounts) in any US bank. I obtained mine by showing money in Ally Bank. 

 

US embassy does not require proof of income. You'll be taking an oath (under penalty of perjury) in front of a consular official. So, lying is not recommended. Moreover, if you don't have $2500/month, you should not be living in Thailand. If you have a house in the US, most places in the US are cheap to live. 

Edited May 1, 2018 by onera1961

[wilinusa]

I was curious to know what kind of 90-day visa? Can you be more specific. Immigration inside Thailand does not issue non O-A visa. Non O-A visa can only be obtained from Thai embassy in Washington DC, and consular offices at LA, Chicago, and New York. You don't need money in Thai bank. You can show your savings (possibly 401K and Roth or other trading accounts) in any US bank. I obtained mine by showing money in Ally Bank. 
 
US embassy does not require proof of income. You'll be taking an oath (under penalty of perjury) in front of a consular official. So, lying is not recommended. Moreover, if you don't have $2500/month, you should not be living in Thailand. If you have a house in the US, most places in the US are cheap to live. 

Agree, I have the required monthly income. I am as just saying you don’t have to provide any documentation


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[lopburi3]

You did not have an O-A visa as the 800k in bank for 60 days would be an extension of stay from a normal non immigrant visa entry  (the "A" is an 'approved' in advance one year entry issued outside Thailand).

 

The US Embassy can not verify pension income so it is up to you to provide the amount.  Additional evidence of this income may be requested by Thai immigration (but normally is not).

[wilinusa]

If you are talking about immigration in Thailand you extend your stay - you do not renew your O-A visa.  In Bangkok you can apply up to 45 days prior to expiration of current stay but some other offices want it done no earlier than 30 days.  You can safely apply up to the time you are required to leave.

Thanks, Extend is the correct term.


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