Thread: Visa, Extension, Permission to Stay. Explained.

Best just to ask them, Robby.

Originally Posted by birding

Hi Todd

I have been in TL for 10 years on an AO retirement and have always had 800k in the bank matured for the required period but this year due to things beyond my control I will not be able to mature the 800K so i will use the combination of income and money in the Thai acc.

Question that I have been unable to find an answer to ; does the money in the Thai bank have to be matured when using the combination method.

Lop Buri Office who are usually very good.

Robby.

Okay, I know this reply will sound overly pedantic BUT
You most certainly haven't been in thailand on Non-Immigrant Type O-A (longstay) visas.. <- That type of visa can ONLY be had in your home country and is the one that requires the police background check and medical certificate..

What you have been doing is getting a "yearly extension of stay" based on
A) having previously held a Non-Immigrant Type-O (or O-A) visa
B) being over 50 y/o
C) by meeting the criteria of either 800K banked in a thai bank for 3 months before you apply, using a letter from your embassy stating you have 65K baht a month income from abroad OR by using a combination of the two..

I went round and round with the section head out at Chaengwattana about the thai wording of the rule outlining the "combination method". My argument was as it's written that clause DOESN'T say the money in the bank needs to be "seasoned" even for a single day.

Her counter to me was; because there is a "seasoning period" written in the clause about using banked money, that seasoning also applies to using the combination method too.

Just to check what's what up in your neck of the woods, I just called the Lop Buri Immigration office at 03-642-4686.

The officer said you can use the combination method BUT any banked money you're using has to be seasoned for 3 months..

FWIW: you're right, that officer was one of the nicest immigration officials I've EVER spoken to on the phone. She totally understood my Ohio hill-billy accented thai (which is sometimes a tough row to hoe for thais on the phone)..

That's all I got man.. Hope it helps...

First off I did get my first OA on the basis of retirement (over 50 etc) in my home country and I have been extending it every year since, first in Hua Hin and now in Lop Buri with 800kb matured in a Thai bank acc

Next thanks for your trouble in answering and calling Lop Buri.

I have a 90 day report coming up so will ask about the seasoning of what I will need to have in my Thai bank ACC. Still have time to get it there for the 3 month period if needed.

Thanks again.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

either 800K banked in a thai bank for 3 months before you apply, using a letter from your embassy stating you have 65K baht a month income from abroad OR by using a combination of the two

No intent to be pedantic but believe it's 85k baht a month.

birding;
Just as I said in my post, you have been getting "yearly extensions of stay" based on previously holding a Non-Immigrant Type O-A. You're NOT extending that visa, not at all. It ran out years and years ago.

However we're just splitting hares (and as I have nothing against rabbits) you can call it what you want.

Also like I said in my post, IF you are using the combination method, what ever money you're showing as banked has to be seasoned the full 3 months.

By that I mean NO matter what your balance is now, they're only gonna take what the balance was 3 months BEFORE the day you apply for this yearly extension. That would be all the money that has "seasoned" the full 3 months.

You'll need to make up the rest with your embassy letter.

As an example the immigration officer told me, "If you came today to do your yearly extension and 3 months ago your balance was 400K, even if you had 1 million baht in your account now, all we will count is the amount that's seasoned the full 3 months. You need your embassy letter to show the rest of the money to hit the 800K threshold amount.

Ask when you do your 90 day report if you want, but I think what I'm telling you is what it is up there.

Good luck. Report back and let us know how it goes..

Norton;
It is definitely 65K baht per month
Here's the thai

it says "evidence of money not less than 65K baht per month"
FWIW: ๖๕ <- is 65 in thai and 'evidence' is the embassy letter..

Originally Posted by toddaniels

However we're just splitting hares (and as I have nothing against rabbits) you can call it what you want.

The expression is " splitting hairs".

Originally Posted by toddaniels

It is definitely 65K baht per month

Tis indeed. I humbly stand corrected. Brain fart. Essentially 800k divided by 12 months.

Have to do my extension July 15 at the new Roiet office. Just spoke with the boss. Here's what she said I need. Passport, income verification from embassy, med cert from a hospital not a clinic and the usual forms with photos. All done in about 30 mins. No need to go in the AM and return in the PM to pick up passport as you pointed out for Bangkok.

Originally Posted by can123

The expression is " splitting hairs".

the expression is whooooooooooooooooooooooooooossssh

Originally Posted by toddaniels

birding;
Just as I said in my post, you have been getting "yearly extensions of stay" based on previously holding a Non-Immigrant Type O-A. You're NOT extending that visa, not at all. It ran out years and years ago.

However we're just splitting hares (and as I have nothing against rabbits) you can call it what you want.

Also like I said in my post, IF you are using the combination method, what ever money you're showing as banked has to be seasoned the full 3 months.

By that I mean NO matter what your balance is now, they're only gonna take what the balance was 3 months BEFORE the day you apply for this yearly extension. That would be all the money that has "seasoned" the full 3 months.

You'll need to make up the rest with your embassy letter.

As an example the immigration officer told me, "If you came today to do your yearly extension and 3 months ago your balance was 400K, even if you had 1 million baht in your account now, all we will count is the amount that's seasoned the full 3 months. You need your embassy letter to show the rest of the money to hit the 800K threshold amount.

Ask when you do your 90 day report if you want, but I think what I'm telling you is what it is up there.

Good luck. Report back and let us know how it goes..

Seriously considered reporting to the animal activists for what you are doing to the hares, however I will overlook it this time.

I do know all the other bits as I have been here a while the only thing that is new to me is the combo method of showing finance. I have proof of income to take to the embassy for a letter so no problem there and again no problem to mature the balance in my Thai bank acc for 3 months now that I know thats whats needed.

But I will still ask when I do my 90 day report in a couple of weeks and post the result here.

Cheers

Originally Posted by birding

I will still ask when I do my 90 day report in a couple of weeks

Don't you report online?

Quote from Birding on another forum.

My next 90-day report is due on May 30. I've tried again, for the nth time, to do it on the internet, but failed.

Birding are you leaving your online reporting too close to your actual report date? If you leave it until about 7 days or less before it auto rejects it, so I've found. My advice would be to do it 12 to 9 days before your due date.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Quote from Birding on another forum.

My next 90-day report is due on May 30. I've tried again, for the nth time, to do it on the internet, but failed.

Birding are you leaving your online reporting too close to your actual report date? If you leave it until about 7 days or less before it auto rejects it, so I've found. My advice would be to do it 12 to 9 days before your due date.

Normally I have no need or wish to report online as it is an easy trip to Lop Buri and no problem as they are very good there, usually in and out in 10 minutes.

The one time I tried was when I may have been in a different part of the country at the next report time so i did a test to see if it worked.

Just got back from doing my 90 day Report and can confirm that they want the balance of money in a Thai bank matured for 3 months when using the combo income plus money in a Thai bank for extension to stay, same as if it were 800kb alone.

I was told that there is now a Singburi Immigration office at Wat Pra Non Jaksi
(Moo 15) went and had a look but couldnt find it but I do have phone numbers so will call before I have to report again.

Numbers are ; 036 424 686 and 082-1911178

Quick update on my 1 year extension to stay and 90 day today at Amnat Charoen.

Med Cert from local (roiet) hospital.
Proof of income from US Embassy.
2 recent photos.
Copies of relevant passport pages.
Wife and her blue book.
1900 baht.

That's it. Nothing else asked for. No request for bank account number, bank account details or internet sites I belong to.

Did have a form I had not seen before. Had to put my name, local address, passport number and address in US. Told them had no US address. Told me no problem.

In and out in 35 mins.

Status of the opening of Roiet office:

Opening delayed from planned mid July to mid Aug due to delay in rental agreement with property owner.

Will be located in the OTOP building within the tessaban complex. I will find and post specific address next time in Roiet city.

The office will only service Roiet province.

Most staff will be transfers from Udon immigration. Only one from Amnat.

I have been here for years, never been asked for medical certificate and only 1 photo stuck on application form, just shows the total inconsistencies from office to office, and embassy letter only good for 1 month, but some others 6 months and many want back up proof for american ones as are far too easy to get with no proof what so ever

Originally Posted by mykthemin

I have been here for years, never been asked for medical certificate and only 1 photo stuck on application form, just shows the total inconsistencies from office to office, and embassy letter only good for 1 month, but some others 6 months and many want back up proof for american ones as are far too easy to get with no proof what so ever

the med cert requirement is not consistent.

my manager (who is also Australian) does his extension and work permit renewal same day I do at One Stop.

He is required to provide a med cert, Iam not.

We all know required docs differ from office to office. Shouldn't but they do. That's why important to report on experience at your specific office which as we also know changes without notification year to year.

Originally Posted by Fondles

He is required to provide a med cert, Iam not.

Maybe he's sickly looking and you are a hansum man.

Med Cert requirement popped up at Amnat as requirement only last year. Prior to that only proof of income needed.

Interested in the embassy letter with some offices requiring it be no more than 1 month old others 6 months. I will have to call and find out about that one for I only get a proof of income document once a year in April after 31 March, this I will take to the embassy as proof, should be no problem with that as it is only the embassy that has to accept that proof.

I have to go to the embassy in September on other business and was intending to get proof of income letter then, as my date for extension of stay is in December if the local office will only accept 1 month then I would have to make another trip to BKK.

Will give them a call soon.

Originally Posted by Norton

We all know required docs differ from office to office. Shouldn't but they do. That's why important to report on experience at your specific office which as we also know changes without notification year to year.

Originally Posted by Fondles

He is required to provide a med cert, Iam not.

Maybe he's sickly looking and you are a hansum man.

iam older, fatter than him and ive just had a stroke. from alll the tests just done I also have diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol

iam defo the sick one out of the 2 of us.

Originally Posted by Fondles

Originally Posted by mykthemin

I have been here for years, never been asked for medical certificate and only 1 photo stuck on application form, just shows the total inconsistencies from office to office, and embassy letter only good for 1 month, but some others 6 months and many want back up proof for american ones as are far too easy to get with no proof what so ever

the med cert requirement is not consistent.

my manager (who is also Australian) does his extension and work permit renewal same day I do at One Stop.

He is required to provide a med cert, Iam not.

I believe (though could be wrong) that a medical certificate is only required for Work Permits.

Just did my ninth retirement extension last week. The first 5 I got a proof of income letter from the UK Honorary Consul in Phuket, however from 4 years ago they could only be issued by the Embassy in BKK. This you can do by post, though a bit of a pain but it works. Did that for my sixth extension, but for the last three I've used an income letter from the Irish Honorary Consul near where I live, with no problem at all.

Variances this year that I knew about was they wanted a copy of the first page of a Thai bank book ( instead of a copy of a Thai ATM card). However they now also want a copy of your last balance page, which would seem irrelevant if going the proof of income route, but there you are.

Originally Posted by PAG

However they now also want a copy of your last balance page, which would seem irrelevant if going the proof of income route, but there you are.

Technically, if you went the proof of income route it would not be necessary to have a Thai bank account...Why would they want to see a bankbook?

Originally Posted by charleyboy

Originally Posted by PAG

However they now also want a copy of your last balance page, which would seem irrelevant if going the proof of income route, but there you are.

Technically, if you went the proof of income route it would not be necessary to have a Thai bank account...Why would they want to see a bankbook?

At least in Phuket, for the last few years they want a copy of a Thai ATM card. It was a new requirement this week that they wanted a copy of the last balance page also, though the actual balance was immaterial when going the income route. As ever, "technically" has to be balanced with the whims of local offices. When I asked why the balance page also, the reply was that 'we need to know you have money in Thailand'.

Ironically, my balance was much more than I'd needed for lump sum route, as I'd done some.exchange rate hedging before the recent UK Brexit referendum.

Originally Posted by birding

Will give them a call soon.

Wise move. I always call before going in to make sure what is required this year.