Thread: No more Brit Embassy income certification letters!

Originally Posted by jabir

Jomtien IO yesterday, will only accept 800k in bank for the required period, or embassy letter until mid-2019

Established early on. That's it. Anything other is speculation until Immigration states specifically what will be accepted after mid 2019.

This thread is getting way overdone. Be calm and wait.

^^
Verbal, meaningless but scary. Nothing pinned/official as yet, the monkeys are still beating up keyboards trying to make sense of the Joke.

Originally Posted by jabir

trying to make sense of the Joke.

Given the nick name of the no nonsense new immigration chief is "Big Joke" sure there is panic within the ranks.

I went into the Udon Thani immigration office today and filed for a retirement extension. I showed an income affidavit which was accepted and I was in and out in 20 minutes with my one year extension in my passport. While there, the IO told me they would not accept an affidavit next year for my next extension, which I already knew. I asked him if they would accept proof of at least 65,000 THB per month income next year and he said NO! Only 800,000 THB in the bank at least 3 months. I don't really think that was the final word since the Thai government has not made an official announcement to date, so as has been already said, STAY TUNED!!

Originally Posted by Norton

This thread is getting way overdone. Be calm and wait.

https://th.usembassy.gov/wp-content/..._affidavit.pdf

I would urge Americans on this thread to read the PDF link. The American mission in Thailand is working with US Social Security to provide methods that will facilitate proof required by Thai Immigration.

Originally Posted by Humbert

The American mission in Thailand is working with US Social Security to provide methods that will facilitate proof required by Thai Immigration.

...would love to be a fly on the wall during those conversations...

Originally Posted by Humbert

No disrespect intended but if you are so knowledgable and well connected why don't you contact some of the mucky mucks in Thai Immigration and ask them for a timetable concerning how and when they are going to deal with this.

Being knowledgeable and "well known" <- (meaning the officers know me from my many hundreds of trips out there over the years) as I am I DO ask at the immigration office every Thursday when I'm there waiting in line for people, filing 90 day reports, etc.

I go right into the section (L-1) that issues extensions that can use the affidavit of income letter (marriage, raising half-thai kids, retirement) AND ask them IF there is any new policy out about the discontinuing of the consulate notary letters of income.

EVERY week since the consulates announced they're stopping the head immigration officer in that section has said, IF your extension expires within 6 months after the new year GET the embassy notary NOW and use it next year. <- That is the official way they're going to handle it in the beginning AT THIS TIME. By that I mean the police order that says embassy notaries are good for 6 months is still in effect and the letters will be accepted for use during their validity AT THIS TIME <- meaning it could change at any time.

Last week (which was about the 6th time I've checked) when the section chief saw me walking into the back area of section L-1 she shouted out "NO NEW NEWS!" in english. I complimented her on her diction and clarity (because she totally nailed it) and walked out. That's as recent of information as I have and she's as high a person as you can ask at Chaengwattana in that section without going all the way down to the old immigration office where the heads of ALL the divisions of immigration offices in the country have their offices.

I'd say seeing as the bangkok immigration office probably does more extensions based on retirement, marriage, raising half thai kids in a day than most offices do in a week IF anyone is gonna be dialed in to a new policy change it'll be them..

Believe me as soon as there is an official policy change it will sweep the inter-web, or at least sweep the very very tiny part of the inter-web that is concerned about things visa/extension related in this rinky-dink, insignificant, developing third world country.

It's pretty clear that whatever new procedures the Thais adopt they will not be as simple to implement as the embassy letter certification system. My post above referring to the International Direct Deposit program only affects Americans. A procedure that involves variation based on every country's internal bureaucratic processes would be very difficult for Thais to administrate. It is difficult to imagine that the solutions to this problem will not take a very long time and there is little doubt that many people with deep roots in the country will be adversly affected.

Originally Posted by Humbert

It is difficult to imagine that the solutions to this problem will not take a very long time and there is little doubt that many people with deep roots in the country will be adversly affected.

...discovering that, Immigration officials will probably be reduced to tears...

another problem that big j.might chuck in the hat is,the 65k.bht.per month confirmation,what are they going to use as the base,EG.uk.pound 4months ago 65k.bht.was 1,450gbp.today its 1,590gbp.thats a fair leap if they [imm.]base it on todays rate.over 12months that could be around 10%.more.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

Thai Visa forum allowed 26 post's on their thread and
This topic is now closed to further replies.
No explanation as to why.

Probably against some forum rule.

Originally Posted by tomcat

...discovering that, Immigration officials will probably be reduced to tears...

copious quantities of tears of laughter and mirth are resounding throughout the hallowed halls of immigration


On a more serious note, Thai Immigration FAQ says go get an income letter from your Embassy. Some Embassy's say that Thai Immigration wants them to "verify" the income. A task that is beyond their capabilities - just too damn complex.

Easy way out for Thai Immigration is to follow the Embassies lead saying it is just too complex to verify monthly income(s). However, you can still qualify for your annual extension with an aged lump sum deposit.

Sends the ball back into the court of the Embassies that will not issue an income verification document.

The art of finger-pointing, well practiced

Originally Posted by headhunter

another problem that big j.might chuck in the hat is,the 65k.bht.per month confirmation,what are they going to use as the base,EG.uk.pound 4months ago 65k.bht.was 1,450gbp.today its 1,590gbp.thats a fair leap if they [imm.]base it on todays rate.over 12months that could be around 10%.more.

They use a set rate that's periodically adjusted.

Originally Posted by jabir

They use a set rate that's periodically adjusted.

The exchange rate is determined on the day of application, which currently doesn't appear to be stopping the drop. So as normal, plan accordingly

Originally Posted by OhOh

The exchange rate is determined on the day of application, which currently doesn't appear to be stopping the drop. So as normal, plan accordingly

Careful with broad brush statements like that

I was at the immigration office in Bangkok with a friend from the US who was using the affidavit of income from abroad letter as proof of funds for a yearly extension based on being over 50 (retirement). The immigration officer used 30-1 as the exchange rate and when I questioned her she said "Up to me..." (she was a pretentious pig ).

30 must be easier on her calculator than 32.

^

Yes, I should have added, "by the IO, using any method they choose".

Four times in 10 years, on reaching that point in the process, the IO has asked me, “What is the current exchange rate.”?

Roiet use the USD: 50-100 rate on Bangkok Bank site.

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Perso...Exchange-Rates

USD: 50-100

Topic is interesting, both for those impacted, or soon to be impacted and for us “spectators”.

I’m a spectator, got THB 900k nested in a Bangkok Bank savings account in my name, only. Monthly deposits of THB 100k into our joint account. Retirement extensions. 800k lump sum deposits been idle less the THB 15/mo. service charge and the interest deposits. Get a “bank letter” and have never been asked “what I live on”.

I use a real live licensed Thai Attorney for all my stuff. Been using him for years, he’s part of a three-lawyer group of attorneys and financial folk, CPA’s etc. The handle immigration, real estate, investments, taxes, licensing, etc. and cater to foreigners doing business in Thailand.

A few years ago, in preparation of my move we discussed “funds” into Thailand. Discussion came down to “definitions”. His professional opinion, funds from an IRA or 401k would NOT satisfy the Thai definition of a “pension”. (Pragmatic, as shown above, got a runaround on the difference between a “bank” and a “credit union” – again definitions, they are both financial institutions providing the same services, but…)

Visited my Attorney today to sign papers. As I was there, I inquired about his thoughts (not his opinion or work product). So, his thoughts mean nothing. But, the Immigration Attorneys are not flustered, upset, concerned, or even wondering, what the new regulations will be. He did say there will be new regulations, and, basically, I/we will comply with them.

He spun again into the definition of a “pension”. Got a few military friends using military pensions and social security as their “pension” for the monthly deposit, using the “Income Affidavit” from the US Embassy. When I spun into his thoughts on the new regulations, again, he hadn’t given it much, if any, prior thought (hasn’t affected any of his clients). I asked what he believed Immigration will do. He figures they will rely on the “Bank Letter”.

My Attorney had little (or no) interest in the subject at all. In a nutshell – “when the new regulations are provided, we will comply with them”.

Actually, he was pretty straightforward. Whatever Immigration requires, you/we will provide.

Not by choice, by necessity.


My thoughts – Thai Immigration cannot provide income verification services – far too many countries and avenues of revenue. They currently accept “Bank Deposit Guarantee Letters” from a Thai bank and “Income Verification Letters” from Embassies. A “few” Embassies have stated that they will no longer provide “Income Verification Letters”. Citizens of those few countries can still use a “Bank Deposit Guarantee Letter”.


So, this lengthy post contributes nothing of value, other than the fact that I did discuss the issue with a Thai Attorney.

Originally Posted by bowie

this lengthy post contributes nothing of value

...disagree: I now know the name of the document currently accepted by immi is a Bank Deposit Guarantee Letter...and I can get one from Bangkok Bank...thanks!...

Originally Posted by bowie

My Attorney had little (or no) interest in the subject at all. In a nutshell – “when the new regulations are provided, we will comply with them”.

You could have stopped with that statement. and the one where he said there will be new regulations

Originally Posted by toddaniels

and the one where he said there will be new regulations

So now your assertion is that there will be no guidance on this issue from the Thai Immigration authorities?