Buriram Expats
Buriram Province - General Category => Isaan Thai Visa => Topic started by: Mikeh on November 24, 2012, 08:34:33 AM
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Hi i receive a pension from UK and (1)want to get letter of confirmation to add to my bank balance as confirmation i have the required amount of funds for renewal of my 1 year retirement visa (2)Do I have to go to the British consulate in Bangkok to get letter or is there another option. At the moment the pension is being paid into my hong Kong bank. (3) Would it be advisable to transfer pension to My Thai bank.. My visa is up for renewal in April next year
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Thai bank account + Letter from British consulate to add up to 800K Bht.
No seasoning of money required.
Your pension can be paid into any account. Your letter from consulate is confirming your earnings only.
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Thanks I am married to Thai so the limit is 400K. I think Ill transfer pension to Thai bank. I just want to free up some of my funds
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Mikeh. In your OP you mentioned "for renewal of my 1 year retirement visa"
Thus my figure of 800K Bht.
If your reason to remain in Thailand for a further 1 year is "Married to Thai National" then you are correct ... 400K Bht
Again, No seasoning of the moneies if using Consulate letter + Thai bank.
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Thanks didnt mean to cause confusion The only other thing is do I have to go to consulate in Bangkok to get letter. Can you clarify Seasoning Sorry Im new to thois game but learning quickly That its not what you know but who you Know
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Thanks didnt mean to cause confusion The only other thing is do I have to go to consulate in Bangkok to get letter. Can you clarify Seasoning Sorry Im new to thois game but learning quickly That its not what you know but who you Know
Are you going to extend your visa because of 1)married to a Thai or 2) Retirement as different rules apply. If you are going down the 1) route you cannot use a combination of income AND money in Thai Bank. Its one or the other.
Also worth noting is UK Embassy can issue an Income letter by post and payment by C Card.
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Seasoning of money in bank for further stay ... The requirement is two months for first application when only using money in your Thai bank account. Three months thereafter.
Using the combination method, No seasoning required ...... but have a look at this..... http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/599471-extension-of-stay-based-on-retirement-problem/ Not all immigration offices follow the rules.
I am assuming you are here on a Non-O Visa Mike?
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Thanks didnt mean to cause confusion The only other thing is do I have to go to consulate in Bangkok to get letter. Can you clarify Seasoning Sorry Im new to thois game but learning quickly That its not what you know but who you Know
Are you going to extend your visa because of 1)married to a Thai or 2) Retirement as different rules apply. If you are going down the 1) route you cannot use a combination of income AND money in Thai Bank. Its one or the other.
Also worth noting is UK Embassy can issue an Income letter by post and payment by C Card.
Is this a new rule Nobby ?
About 5 years ago I used that method without problem.
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Yes I have A non O vIsa The only reason I meantioned married because it means you have to have 400k as opposed to 800k if not married Thanks to all very useful
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Further to my last My pension is approx 384K per year So if I pay into Thai bank that should with existing bank balnce cover the money requirements Am i correct in this understanding of the "rules" I say that because they seem to change or have different knowledge at different offices
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Yes I have A non O vIsa The only reason I meantioned married because it means you have to have 400k as opposed to 800k if not married Thanks to all very useful
Can be married and still get Retirement extension no problems.
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Further to my last My pension is approx 384K per year So if I pay into Thai bank that should with existing bank balnce cover the money requirements Am i correct in this understanding of the "rules" I say that because they seem to change or have different knowledge at different offices
Correct Mike, as long as the total amount of 400K Bht is in the bank for 2 months prior to your application.
Have heard reports of people dipping below the 400K bht and then topping back up to over 400K Bht being denied:(
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Not questioning your knowledge but are you sure it is 2 months and not three because that clears my problem I can deposit said amount before my application in April
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Sometimes Mike, its my lack of knowledge that's dangerous :biggrin:
But this below explains the "offical" rule. Pretty sure it is the latest and most up to date order.
ORDER OF THE ROYAL THAI POLICE BUREAU No. 777/2551 Re: Criteria and Conditions for Consideration of an Alien’s Application for a Temporary Stay in the Kingdom of Thailand
Reasons of Necessity
2.18
(6) In the case of marriage to a Thai woman, the alien husband must earn an average annual income of no less than Baht 40,000 per month or must have no less than Baht 400,000 in a bank account in Thailand for the past two months to cover expenses for one year.
The following year it is 3 months lead in time.
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I just took proof of my earnings, a letter from contractors abroad, to the UK Embassy and they gave me a letter which confirmed this. I took this to Surin Immigration and renewed my retirement visa. I didn't show my bank book or get a letter from the bank.
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Just been informed by a reliable source that for the above ^ it is 2 months each year not 3 months.
Sorry about mis information
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Nothing changed. An extention to a visa because of married to Thai, you Cannot use
a combination of income and money in Bank
(400,000b). With a retirement ext you Can
Use 1) money in Bank(800,000) 2) income (65,000b per month) or
3) a combination of 1) and 2) totalling 800,000b
Hope this helps clear the murky world of Immigration rules!! 555
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This my second renewal Its just tha I wanted to clarify seasoning period becuae I have had to dip into my bank account. I think that if I get my pension paid into thai bank it should aleviate prob Is that correct If means just over 32k per month depending on rate of exchange
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Nothing changed. An extention to a visa because of married to Thai, you Cannot use
a combination of income and money in Bank
(400,000b). With a retirement ext you Can
Use 1) money in Bank(800,000) 2) income (65,000b per month) or
3) a combination of 1) and 2) totalling 800,000b
Hope this helps clear the murky world of Immigration rules!! 555
Damn I was lucky that time then Nobby :biggrin:
Now on the retirement extension. Oh so much easier thumbup
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This my second renewal Its just tha I wanted to clarify seasoning period becuae I have had to dip into my bank account. I think that if I get my pension paid into thai bank it should aleviate prob Is that correct If means just over 32k per month depending on rate of exchange
By the letter of the law as previously posted, and what Nobby is saying (which IS correct)
If your income is 32K Bht / month you would not qualify if that was all you were showing immigration.
If your 32K bht a month + money in your Thai bank totaled more than 400K Bht AND was seasoned for 2 months prior to application, you would be fine :)
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Thanks you guys I owe you a berr
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My computer fingers cant spell I mean a beer
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If you are extending for reason of marriage then the seasoning requirement is 2 month for everytime. You must have 400k in the bank. You cannot use a combination of money in bank and earnings. The bank account must be in your own sole name.
If you are extending for retirement then it is possible to use a combination. The combination method does not require seasoning, although it is advisable to have the money in the bank for sometime before extending. If you are using money in the bank then it is 60 days for first extension and the 3 months for subsequent years.
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Thanks for response
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A number of folk here in Prakhonchai, married or otherwise just have a non-immigrant O visa and do a visa run across the Cambodian border to obtain another 90 days. Only costs are getting to the border and the Cambodian visa at $20.
An alternative is the Laos border near Ubon or Mukdahan, but the Laos visa here is $35.
No need to lock away 400K or 800K baht
Some having crossed the border have a 2/3 night holiday in Siem Reap or Savannaket for just the cost of onward travel and a hotel.
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A number of folk here in Prakhonchai, married or otherwise just have a non-immigrant O visa and do a visa run across the Cambodian border to obtain another 90 days. Only costs are getting to the border and the Cambodian visa at $20.
An alternative is the Laos border near Ubon or Mukdahan, but the Laos visa here is $35.
No need to lock away 400K or 800K baht
Some having crossed the border have a 2/3 night holiday in Siem Reap or Savannaket for just the cost of onward travel and a hotel.
Thats OK if you leave the country each year and get a new Visa, but its far easier to get an extension to your existing Visa then your 90day address reports(TM47) cost nothing and no other costs during the duration of your extension. That way if you want a holiday, you can then go anywhere!
Another option is to use a reputable Visa Agent who can provide a Marriage/Retirement extension without money in Bank.
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A number of folk here in Prakhonchai, married or otherwise just have a non-immigrant O visa and do a visa run across the Cambodian border to obtain another 90 days. Only costs are getting to the border and the Cambodian visa at $20.
An alternative is the Laos border near Ubon or Mukdahan, but the Laos visa here is $35.
No need to lock away 400K or 800K baht
Some having crossed the border have a 2/3 night holiday in Siem Reap or Savannaket for just the cost of onward travel and a hotel.
Thats OK if you leave the country each year and get a new Visa, but its far easier to get an extension to your existing Visa then your 90day address reports(TM47) cost nothing and no other costs during the duration of your extension. That way if you want a holiday, you can then go anywhere!
Another option is to use a reputable Visa Agent who can provide a Marriage/Retirement extension without money in Bank.
It all depends I suppose if the 400/800K is readily available.
Not quite sure I would call any visa agent "reputable" that is able to arrange a visa without cash in the bank!
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It all depends I suppose if the 400/800K is readily available.
Not quite sure I would call any visa agent "reputable" that is able to arrange a visa without cash in the bank!
Fair comment.
I only trust first hand experience or that from a very very reliable source (eg;well known friend)
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The visa situation does seem hideously complex. It seems we have a wealth of experience on this site which is helpful but still slightly contradictory. I now have a retirement visa as I'm 57 and have a high income as I work abroad. I've quit work and will now settle down, despite having a house built here 6 years ago the longest I've lived in it is 3 consecutive months which is now. I've never really looked at the visa situation seriously until now but I believe things will change and become more difficult.
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The visa situation does seem hideously complex. It seems we have a wealth of experience on this site which is helpful but still slightly contradictory. I now have a retirement visa as I'm 57 and have a high income as I work abroad. I've quit work and will now settle down, despite having a house built here 6 years ago the longest I've lived in it is 3 consecutive months which is now. I've never really looked at the visa situation seriously until now but I believe things will change and become more difficult.
You are not wrong Jamaw. It is not at all effecient, effective or uniform, but you will get used to the crazyness. The plusses outways the negative stuff otherwise we all wouldnt be here.
I hope your fellow BE members can help and advise you.
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Yes, Nobby, the more I look the more confused I get. I'm not too bothered at the moment as I have substantial savings but as time passes our concerns may grow. I've quit a very highly paid job to settle down here as I don't want another divorce!
I have options here and will look at them but until then it's copious amounts of relaxing liquid.