Thread: Extension retirement visa ,bank money

Originally Posted by charleyboy

I think you'll find that O-A visa is a different kettle of fish...You are applying for this in your own country. Just proving to the Thai Embassy that you've got the required funds etc...
When you're applying over here, the monies have to be in a Thai account unless you can prove an income of 65,000 baht or more.

Anyway. Our American friend will be here in a while...

Thank you charleyboy .

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

To the best of my knowledge, that 800K THB has to be in a Thai bank - in your own name too.

That extension based on Marriage is a whole lot more cumbersome. More paperwork and the requirement to show photos of your house, bedroom - all kinds of intrusive stuff.

But despite the extra work ..... is this 400 000 ?

^
Good advice.

Anyone know if Immigration has started to fingerprint farangs yet when conducting any visa business? Read somewhere that plan was in the works.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Anyone know if Immigration has started to fingerprint farangs yet when conducting any visa business? Read somewhere that plan was in the works.

A fair number of years ago in Bangkok at Chaengwattana, they did install and start using a finger print scanner at all the desks and scanned your right index finger when you got extensions of stay. This went on for about 6 months, then the scanner program broke. They left the un-used scanner devices on the desks for an additional 6 months, but now they're gone...

I read about it again but that's another one of those hare-brained scheme spouted out by either that low level publicity grabbing wing-nut immigrations guy in Chiang Mai. He's the one that said (talking out his ass) foreigners would soon be able to do 90 day reporting at 7/11's <-yeah when I start shitting bars of gold..
OR
It was by the head-honcho, yet still a publicity grabbing wing-nut who runs the Southern Division. He's the one who said (talking out his ass too) that foreigners HAD to carry their passports all the time. That was rescinded a day later by the real guy in Bangkok who is the head of ALL the immigrations offices in thailand..

I think this year you're going to see some really significant changes in extensions of stay policy. There are back-channel meetings between the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand, other foreign entities which have clout and immigrations officials at Chaengwattana.. Who knows if any of the suggestions offered out will be adopted or if it's just your typical thai glad-handing, lip-service b/s like always...

If only this top dog could get all his underlings to sing from the same hymn sheet it would be a miracle.

Originally Posted by mykthemin

If only this top dog could get all his underlings to sing from the same hymn sheet it would be a miracle.

If wishes were whores, we'd all ride one every nite!

Whoops, sorry mixed up my sayings.

I meant if wishes were horses, then beggars would ride..

The penchant for any thai with a modicum of power in any governmental agency to "โชว์ พาว" (the thai phrase for "show power" or "flex their muscles") is just too pervasive. Even when the head of immigrations makes a statement that all offices must follow, few actually do take it to heart.

There are some whacked (as in bat-shit crazy) officers in the immigrations offices scattered around this country.. They make up rules on their own, post signage stating stuff that's NOT written into the Police Orders.

No one does anything about it, except whine on english language forums for thailand about the injustice of it all. Few people call the government hotline to complain, even fewer question an immigrations officer to their face while they're sitting in front of 'em.

My advice, man up, grow a pair of balls, and if something's not right question it, push it up the chain 'o command or call the hotline while you're sitting there.

Thaiz will push us as far as we will let them, but thaiz will also back down when they find out we aren't pansy-assed push-overs too..

Anecdotally; I remember a few fair years back in that b/s immigrations office up in Nong Khai when I was accompanying a foreigner for a yearly extension of stay based on being "old" (retirement). One old hag officer was a real cnut. She seemed to make up stuff as we sat there saying, this wasn't right, this was wrong, we had to do this, that and the other thing. I called the hotline right there, got someone from Bangkok to call me back, explained the situation, handed the phone to her, and presto-chango we got the extension. In leaving that officer said to me in engrish "You no need come back here again.." I said to her in thai "Follow the rules and I won't".

Please can I have the hotline number?

can I please have this hotline number/email.

Originally Posted by toddaniels

I'd say, IF you're over 50, fuck the "I'm married to a thai gurl" extension. Just go for the 800K banked here or your embassy's letter, IF your office accepts it and get your extension of stay based on being over 50!
If you're in thailand right now you can go to Savannakhet Lao (across the river from Mukdahan) and get the visa I just mentioned without ANY financial proof AT ALL. It's 5K baht I think..

Thanks for this todd .

It looks nice and clear until you throw a spanner in !!!

I mean ...... I ask and so I do listen .
You advise strongly that there's a lot less hassle if you just have the 800 000 stay in the bank .
But there's a big difference in having 800 000 sat there instead of 400 000 .
Even if you spend some and top it up in time it comes to the same thing of having 800 000 stoney dead in the bank .A lot of money to be sacrificing .

Anyway - I know where I am - that is until you say " 800K banked here or your embassy's letter "
Because my first reading of this Thread said to me that the embassy letter was for applying for the original O-A in your home country .
Now you seem to say to me that it's possible in country to have an Embassy letter accepted instead of having money in the bank .

Am I reading that right ?

Incidentally here .... I'm well over 50 , the Thai base is in Korat , and I'm still in the UK .
I'm trying to get my head crystal clear about what I need to do . In a process with all the clarity of Bisto gravy !

And thanks again .

Originally Posted by Wasp

Anyway - I know where I am - that is until you say " 800K banked here or your embassy's letter "
Because my first reading of this Thread said to me that the embassy letter was for applying for the original O-A in your home country .
Now you seem to say to me that it's possible in country to have an Embassy letter accepted instead of having money in the bank .

Am I reading that right ?

If you apply for the O-A in England you need a letter from your bank proving funds.
Nothing to do with the Embassy whatso ever. Down load the Application and read the requirements.

The good part about this is you can keep your money at home in England earning decent Interest. No need to show shit here.

If you go for the Retirement Extension in Thailand you must show money in the Bank , English cannot gain an Embassy letter unless they show proof of funds to their Embassy in Bangkok.

Australians and Americans can just fill out a stat Dec at their Embassy in Bangkok declaring funds available and the Embassy will accept that without needing proof.

This is the difference, the English must prove to their Embassy they have the money Available.

To by pass this requirement you just bang the money in a Thai bank and get the bank Letter.

Up to you.

Good fun sorting this stuff out innit.

Originally Posted by terry57

The good part about this is you can keep your money at home in England earning decent Interest. No need to show shit here.

Ahem...like what's that decent interest rate back home in OZ or Blighty, K. Terry?

Here, you can get as mentioned, over 4% in say a 11 month time deposit.

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Here, you can get as mentioned, over 4% in say a 11 month time deposit.

Which bank(s) are offering 4% and over please?

Originally Posted by toddaniels

I think this year you're going to see some really significant changes in extensions of stay policy. There are back-channel meetings between the Joint Foreign Chambers of Commerce in Thailand, other foreign entities which have clout and immigrations officials at Chaengwattana.. Who knows if any of the suggestions offered out will be adopted or if it's just your typical thai glad-handing, lip-service b/s like always...

I would be interested to hear your take on the possible changes being discussed

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

K. Wasp

Get your head wrapped around the fact that that money is far from "dead" in the bank. Last time I checked you can get upwards of 3.5 to 4% interest on anything over a mill. What's your bank back home paying on a passbook account these days? Of course you have to deposit those funds in a time account but it there's an emergency, the money is still there for you to withdraw.

OK Boon Mee .

You're quite right about Banks in the UK . 0.5% in an ordinary Account .

I just want to play things out safely and if I have to leave money in a bank then that's what I must do .

But 400 000 .

I just hoped for a moment there that I could produce an Embassy letter instead .

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Originally Posted by Boon Mee

Here, you can get as mentioned, over 4% in say a 11 month time deposit.

Which bank(s) are offering 4% and over please?

Last time I checked, Bangkok Bank was on an eleven month CD. For amounts of a mill and over. This was a few weeks ago but check the various webpages of the bigger banks here in LOS and they can tell you up to the minute what those rates are.

Can we put this fookin' thread to bed?


Next person to add to this thread is the biggest wanker in the world!

Originally Posted by terry57

Originally Posted by Wasp

Anyway - I know where I am - that is until you say " 800K banked here or your embassy's letter "
Because my first reading of this Thread said to me that the embassy letter was for applying for the original O-A in your home country .
Now you seem to say to me that it's possible in country to have an Embassy letter accepted instead of having money in the bank .

Am I reading that right ?

If you apply for the O-A in England you need a letter from your bank proving funds.
Nothing to do with the Embassy whatso ever. Down load the Application and read the requirements.

The good part about this is you can keep your money at home in England earning decent Interest. No need to show shit here.

If you go for the Retirement Extension in Thailand you must show money in the Bank , English cannot gain an Embassy letter unless they show proof of funds to their Embassy in Bangkok.

Australians and Americans can just fill out a stat Dec at their Embassy in Bangkok declaring funds available and the Embassy will accept that without needing proof.

This is the difference, the English must prove to their Embassy they have the money Available.

To by pass this requirement you just bang the money in a Thai bank and get the bank Letter.

Up to you.

Good fun sorting this stuff out innit.

I doubt there are many Banks in the UK paying 2.55% tax free on a 6 month rollover which is what I'm getting at this moment in time with Bangkok bank ,I'd be interested to know which Banks across the pond are paying better

All these will be taxed at source ,hardly awe inspiring are they?UK Bank Account Rates - Compare UK Bank Interest Rates

Originally Posted by toddaniels

In Bangkok you'll need; signed copies of;
picture page of your passport,
the original non-o visa you got which this extension is based on every subsequent yearly extension tied to it
departure card
every page of your bank book
the original letter from the bank stating you have the money in an account in your name etc
completed TM7 form w/a photo attached

Tod,
I agree with all you have posted with the exception of needing to copy every time you renewed your O visa. all I've ever needed was the last one, picture page, arrival card and bank work along with TM-7 and 2 - photos 2 x 2. Maybe different in Bangkok?

I will be going in at the end of February for another "Ret. O," visa. This new one will cover me until 28 Feb. 2016. Since my passport will run out in May of 2017, I suppose that I will need to renew it prior to registration again in February 2016 for 2017 year? Not having 1 year left on my passport after 2016 will prevent me from acquiring another "Ret. O," visa on it even though I still have just a few days shy of 1 year left.

Am correct in this process requirement Tod?

Originally Posted by toddaniels

While only slightly related I thought I'd post this anyway.

The newest province in thailand Bueng Kan (made by splitting Nong Khai province) has its own immigrations office. They are evidently operating under the same criteria as Nong Khai is if you use an embassy letter as proof of income from abroad to garner an extension of stay based on being over 50 (retirement).

The criteria is; you either need to show 65K baht worth of transfers from the bank in your country into your thai bank account OR you need to show 65K baht worth of ATM withdrawal receipts per month from your foreign bank's Visa/MC or what ever card you use..

I just called and spoke to the guy who runs Bueng Kan Immigrations (because I'm nosy, more than any other reason) to check and see if what was reported on another forum was in fact true or if it was just a once off. I mentioned to him that there's no "clause" in the current Police order stating this, and asked in thai "who thought this policy up?". He said he thought it up himself but added that NongKhai does it too and seeing as those workers all used to work in the NongKhai office they kept the policy.

Anyway, just thought people who get their extensions of stay up in that neck of the woodz should know is all.

Oh, incredibly as it seems, (because my thai is coarse, blunt, terse and has a hillbilly Ohio accent) and I was asking him stuff NO thai would have balls enough to ask, the guy said, "For a foreigner you speak pretty clear thai.."

He didn't call me the "thai-F-word" that they use in Bangkok to refer to foreigners; ฝรั่ง instead he used the Isaan term บักสีดา. I answered in a self deprecating way with my limited Isaan-ese, ขอบใจหลายเด้อบอสส์, แม่นแล้วบักสีดานี้ มันวาวไทยได้ "Thanxs a lot boss, Correct! This guava, it can speak thai." He was laughing as he hung up the phone..

Even though I'm an asshole in both english and thai it would appear I am an affable or at least tolerated one..

Sorry Todd, my Thai has degraded but in essence, sounds like these folks were referring to you as a 'Farang Kee Nok'?