'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

[Big Boy]

This year, because I changed to using Wise, with the Long Stay option checked, I will take the relevant UK bank statements showing the amount leaving my UK account.

I've used the 65k paid into a Thai bank account system since it started, and have used Wise from the start (never had the long stay option in the beginning ). The first year I took the UK bank statements, and they specifically told me to never take the UK statements again. They have no interest in them.

All they are interested in is the monthly Credit Advices.

[caller]

The first year I took the UK bank statements, and they specifically told me to never take the UK statements again. They have no interest in them.

All they are interested in is the monthly Credit Advices.

Thanks for that BB - that makes life easier. I won't bother with the UK bank statements after all!

[Big Boy]

Yes, I was really worried the first time with the new system (only had 7 month's Credit Advices), even though they said they would be lenient. I went to that visa extension truly belt and braces. Now don't get me wrong as I've never had a really bad experience with Immigration (I accept many have), that first time they were good to their word, and extremely helpful. I think we were all learning. It was then that they told me never take the UK statements again.

[Scout]

Assuming you are talking the income method via monthly transfer of funds, it would be interesting to know what proof you are providing. Maybe your Embassy is still producing letters, in which case, yes, it would all be irrelevant to you.

Yes, I do the monthly transfer method. The financial section of my extension package consists of the bank account certification letter (always with balance much less than 800,000 baht), 12 months of credit advice receipts and photocopy of the previous 12 months of my bank book (with foreign transfers highlighted). I also bring my bank book (with foreign transfers highlighted), sometimes they ask to briefly look at it but most times recently it is not requested.

[Big Boy]

Fair enough, you've got away with it so far - long may that last . The law (or whatever they called it) does state proof of income, which is more than just transferring money from your home country. That proof can take many forms of which a pension letter is one.

[handdrummer]

I have a marriage visa and take everything that is listed on the form for renewing a marriage visa. The IMO can take whatever he wants.
Last year, for the first time, there was a request for a photo of my wife and me in our bedroom. The IMO said, he didn't need that. (FYI, we were fully clothed and standing.)

[buksida]

Last year, for the first time, there was a request for a photo of my wife and me in our bedroom. The IMO said, he didn't need that. (FYI, we were fully clothed and standing.)

I've had to submit photos like that (and outside the house) every year for the past five.

[handdrummer]

Last year, for the first time, there was a request for a photo of my wife and me in our bedroom. The IMO said, he didn't need that. (FYI, we were fully clothed and standing.)

I've had to submit photos like that (and outside the house) every year for the past five.

Yes, those are on the list.

The most annoying request is for a witness. I guess they need someone to say you are you, even though you've been you for the past 8 yrs., and have seen the same IMO each year, and you're passport says that you are you. It's just something else to add to my Thai Stupid list.

[buksida]

The agent route negates the need for a witness, worth a few baht to eliminate a lot of the hassles and unknowns too.

[Nereus]

Fair enough, you've got away with it so far - long may that last . The law (or whatever they called it) does state proof of income, which is more than just transferring money from your home country. That proof can take many forms of which a pension letter is one.

The “proof of income” is incoming foreign credit advice notes, plus a Thai bank account in your name that shows the same thing that complies with the attached.

Immigration has no interest, AND no right to ask, where your funds originate in your home country. The funds could be the proceeds of drug dealing, from gambling, from your aunt Molly, or any other source. They are only interested in funds that arrive in Thailand into YOUR bank account.

That point is made clear in your own posts where you have been advised by Immigration NOT to present UK bank statements. If they wanted to know where the funds transferred originated, then they would ask for UK bank statements.

It is the same case with using the 800k in the bank method. They are only interested in the amount of the funds, and that the balance complies with the rules. There is no requirement to prove the source of the funds.

visa extension.jpg (89.49 KiB) Viewed 760 times

[Big Boy]

Thank you for digging out the instruction.

We'll have to agree to disagree on that point, and certainly 'some' I/Os would probably disagree also. Maybe I was picked up by the old brigade, and the newbies who seem to sit behind the desks these days don't care any more. The statement says:

Must have evidence of an income of no less than 65,000.

A bank transfer each month is evidence of movement of money, and not evidence of income. I have certainly been at the end of an I/O insisting that I prove my income before I could move upstairs.

It makes no difference to me. My income details are provided to me each year, and a simple copy and handover to the I/O follows. It is the same information I used to provide to the British Embassy. I guess it all comes down to the definition of Income.

Going back to sateeb's point, I prefer the easy life, and will continue to provide the information.

[handdrummer]

The agent route negates the need for a witness, worth a few baht to eliminate a lot of the hassles and unknowns too.

I never like to pay someone to do something that I can do myself. At the moment, I have more time than money.

There haven't been any unknowns. I follow the rules and my visa is renewed for another year.

If I have to see a different officer, then things may change, but until then..............

[caller]

Must have evidence of an income of no less than 65,000.

I think this is just badly worded, but agree it is the usual Thai ambiguity. It should, in my opinion, read as 'must have evidence of an income paid into the aliens Thai bank account, of no less than 65k baht'. And it should add the all important, 'monthly' somewhere. Which is actually missing from the rules.

As I recall, this was sort of rushed out because of the confusion at the time, when some Embassies couldn't or weren't prepared to comply with the new income requirements. It seemed as if someone high up in the Thai pecking order, simply asked, why do we need all this information, all we want is the money? Which is where we are at now, basically. The end result, although unintended, made it a much simpler process than before.

Certainly, although I take the evidence of the source of my income, in the form of a monthly pension statement (as I don't have anything else), they have either passed it back without viewing, or as last year, it was removed by the people downstairs from the pack that was subsequntly passed to the IO.

[Big Boy]

Yes, this is the inconsistency of Hua Hin Immigration. I was actually blocked from moving upstairs until I produced the evidence. However, as I've mentioned, it depends who you speak to on the day, and the staff seem to have changed recently, except for handdrummer who has kept his I/O locked in a cupboard for the last 8 years

[handdrummer]

Yes, this is the inconsistency of Hua Hin Immigration. I was actually blocked from moving upstairs until I produced the evidence. However, as I've mentioned, it depends who you speak to on the day, and the staff seem to have changed recently, except for handdrummer who has kept his I/O locked in a cupboard for the last 8 years

He's the head officer and sits around the corner, to the, your left, of the ones in front.
I won't know if he's still there until I return in Nov.
If worst come to worst, my landlady, who knows everyone, will come with me and sort out whatever needs sorting.