Thread: No more Brit Embassy income certification letters!

Originally Posted by Switch

I’m pretty sure the British Embassy used a disclaimer when providing the letters to applicants in support of their extension application.
From what I have seen, the Thai immigration will only accept the supporting letter if the Embassy can verify it.
The Embassy is unwilling or unable to staff such verification, and have therefore withdrawn the service.

Over to the new chief of immigration, Big joke. He can back down and accept the present form of letter, (unlikely) or sit it out and see what happens next year.

This was covered in a similar thread, the Brit Embassy attest only that they have seen 'evidence' to support the itemised amount/s. When Pattaya was graced with a consulate, a key person witihn the establishment made no secret of the fact that anyone with a computer could produce an acceptable tenancy agreement as proof of income, and one could surmise that many did.

Originally Posted by PAG

however this is something specific to the British Embassy

I believe the US embassy has stopped the letter as well.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

I believe the US embassy has stopped the letter as well

...if they have, it's still a secret...

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

I believe the US embassy has stopped the letter as well.

They haven't and have no intent to do so.

...that was the impression I got from a visit last Wednesday...

Originally Posted by tomcat

.if they have, it's still a secret..

You need to get out more.

Asked if they were aware of action by other embassies the British Embassy Bangkok said:
“Yes we are aware that the US embassy will also be stopping their notarised income letter. Please contact them directly for further information”.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national...income-letters

...I wonder how the Brit spokesman became aware of such info?...

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

You need to get out more.

https://thethaiger.com/news/national...income-letters

The BE have been very clever about this. They were told by Thai immigration that all proof of income had to be verified. Seeing an opportunity to shed costs, and staff, they jumped in with both feet.
The ball is now with Thai immigration. No idea what, if anything they will do about it, but if other embassy’s have been told the same, perhaps they will realise sooner or later, the cost and legal implications for them will be significant.
Apparently there is no legal requirement for the embassy to provide this service.
Wait and see.

Originally Posted by Norton

They haven't and have no intent to do so.

Yep.
That's the understood standing update.

Originally Posted by Pragmatic

You need to get out more.

Expect some friendly fire

Originally Posted by tomcat

I wonder how the Brit spokesman became aware of such info?..

I'd guess they probably socialise at the kind of restaurants you patronize at around 11am when they've finished work for the day

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Expect some friendly fire

Blue on blue is common practice for Americans.

First off, I’m on the so called “retirement” extension, lump sum THB 800k deposited at Bangkok Bank, so an “income verification letter” is of no consequence to me.

The US Embassy provides affidavits – notarization of statements sworn by their citizens. The affidavits are sworn statements of “facts”. The only thing the US Embassy provides is notarization that a US Citizen swore under oath that the information contained in the affidavit is true. The US Citizen is under “penalty of perjury” if the statement(s) is/are false. Perjury is a felony and should not be taken lightly.

From the US Embassy Website: Services we CAN provide: Affidavits

Please note the Embassy and Consulate CAN notarize an affidavit which may or may not satisfy the Thai requirement for “certification.”

An affidavit is a sworn statement of facts, made voluntarily, and confirmed by the oath or affirmation of the person making it. Please note that the Embassy and Consulate assume no responsibility for the truth or falsity of the representations that appear in the affidavit. Only the identity of the individual making the statement is validated.

Please see our commonly requested affidavits below and confirm in advance if the end recipient will accept an affidavit.
· Income Affidavit: (Attestation of monthly income, often required by Thai immigration)

From the affidavit form:
I also affirm that I receive a monthly income of $____________________ from sources in the United States. I am applying for a Thai visa/extension of a current Thai visa, and any assistance you can provide in this request will be greatly appreciated. The U.S. Embassy does not guarantee the contents of my own sworn statement. Under penalty of perjury, I assume full and complete responsibility for the veracity of the claims herein.


I don't know for sure but assume the British Embassy takes a similar stance with their citizens. New rules, concerns, complaints, hoops-to-jump-through, all part of the game of being an expat. The British Embassy has announced that they intend to stop providing "Income Verification Letters", their business and up to them. I doubt the US Embassy will stop providing the "Income Affidavit". Up to the Thai Government if they will, or will not, accept an "Income Affidavit" from the US Embassy as an acceptable form for "proof of income".

I doubt the US Embassy will change their operations in any way regardless of how loudly the Thai Government or the US Citizens whine and complain.

Think people may as well give up on this embassy letters for income, sooner or later, evil things called computers have arrived, even in Thailand.

Immigration can run a check, world wide on credit.

I know, that the UK, OZ and NZ welfare [pensions] and travel are all hooked up by computer, don't know how many other countries are in the scheme, but Thailand could be going on line with them.

Probably no real benefit to Thailand money wise, but to other Governments declaring income that you don't have is a crime and declaring income that you do have, that is not taxed is a crime.

Death and taxes, you can't get away from them, if you are legal there is no problem.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Immigration can run a check, world wide on credit.

...*cough*...and how exactly would they do that?...ffs, I still have to hand draw a map to my condo for them...

Originally Posted by Norton

I am not a Brit so for the time being not my concern.

Then why have you chose for your username the name of famous British motorbikes and a camp Irish chat show host?

^
Maybe Mr Norton uses his surname as his forum name?

Norton is a surname with origin from the basic Early English norþ

+ tun

, meaning North settlement. There are many English villages called Norton or including Norton as part of the name, e.g. Midsomer Norton, Chipping Norton, Brize Norton etc. When surnames started to be used in the Middle Ages, a man from such a village might have the name

added e.g. Tom of Norton. Alternatively a man from the north side of any village might be given the name Tom Norton to distinguish him from a Tom from the south side. A secondary source for the surname is from the anglicisation of Celtic surnames. To confuse the situation further it is also sometimes found as a Jewish surname. The famous "Emperor Norton" in San Francisco was of Jewish origin from a South African settler family.

Originally Posted by tomcat

...*cough*...and how exactly would they do that?...ffs, I still have to hand draw a map to my condo for them...

Call BS on that, you have a condo, but don't know the address, how would you catch a bus. taxi if you don't know where.

Been here a long time, come and gone, back and forward and never heard of anyone drawing a map, Thais can't read a map to start with.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Thais can't read a map to start with.

I agree Thais can't read a map, but one of the conditions of a 'Marriage Extension' is you have to supply a hand drawn map of where you live relative to the immigration office. Yeah I know it's bollix but true.

Originally Posted by jabir

This was covered in a similar thread, the Brit Embassy attest only that they have seen 'evidence' to support the itemised amount/s. When Pattaya was graced with a consulate, a key person witihn the establishment made no secret of the fact that anyone with a computer could produce an acceptable tenancy agreement as proof of income, and one could surmise that many did.

Drivel. If a corresponding amount is not seen passing through their UK/Thai bank account on a monthly basis then a blind spasticated gerbil could twig it was bollocks.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

You don't need to transfer any money to Thailand, simply get your retirement processed in the Thai Embassy in the UK, good for near on 2 years.

Indeed, I rather think that may well prove a sensible course...........provided it is still available.

Originally Posted by jamescollister

Been here a long time, come and gone, back and forward and never heard of anyone drawing a map

...CW, last Thursday: required to draw a map to my condo to complete my retirement visa extension...I suspect there may be many other such events in all your comings and goings that you've not experienced...

Sadly, the FCO and the Embassy no longer have classically trained civil servants who can speak for hours without saying anything relevant or even vaguely scandalous. (Seeking ass is retired). Contemporary Public relations and media types have a lot to answer for when it comes to depth of perception. That’s how David Cameron started his silky ride to the top.

The BE spokesperson implicated the US consular services, little realizing that nations all have different ways and means of doing things. I’m really surprised that Seeking ass hasn’t issued a verbose response. He must be like a stunned mullet over this BE faux pas.

Originally Posted by Dillinger

Expect some friendly fire

Thais excel at that.