'How To' - Requirements for visa extensions etc

[Big Boy]

Not wanting to steal Scouts thunder, but when I am ready to do my visa renewal, I have to get a letter from my bank. I also request a 12 month statement, which my bank attaches to the letter, and certifies it is true. A few years ago, the Immigration officer stated the certified statement was essential, although a few on here challenged that.

The way I see it, I have to get the letter anyway, so attaching a statement certified by the bank does not take much more effort.

[Hahuahin]

Not wanting to steal Scouts thunder, but when I am ready to do my visa renewal, I have to get a letter from my bank. I also request a 12 month statement, which my bank attaches to the letter, and certifies it is true. A few years ago, the Immigration officer stated the certified statement was essential, although a few on here challenged that.

The way I see it, I have to get the letter anyway, so attaching a statement certified by the bank does not take much more effort.

Okay never-ending story , more questions.

1. How long in advance, hours/days /weeks before the day you plan to renew the visa you ask bank for the letter (Btw, what does that letter actually say?)

2. Similar question regarding 12- month statement (As said in previous post, Bangkok Bank always says a week because it has to come from head office in Bangkok) Do you really get 12-month statement on the spot at your bank?

The reason I ask all this question about timing is I use to apply for extension already a month in advance and more or less on the same date +- a couple of days and it have also on occasions happen that the 12-month statement (I use for the calendar year for tax filing) have been delayed from Bangkok and I will try to avoid getting the message from IO that "this is too old" and can't be used even if it's only 2-3 days delay?
Thanks again for all the invaluable info.
hahuahin

[thecolonel]

I'm not sure I'm the same as you(I'm 800k) but I go to bank on the same day as immigration because I'm told it must be same day.

I go to the bank about 1.30 then immigration for about 2.30. They close at 4. Also closed 12 to 1 for lunch

The wait at the bank has been longer than immigration before now but I think that was rare.

Good luck, someone will advise if I'm not like for like and I'm giving you duff info!

Sent from my 2412DPC0AG using Tapatalk

[Big Boy]

Okay never-ending story , more questions.

1. How long in advance, hours/days /weeks before the day you plan to renew the visa you ask bank for the letter (Btw, what does that letter actually say?) I always go on the day, but I know some people who go the day before. No idea what it says because it's in Thai. I think it confirms your name and that the balance shown is correct.

2. Similar question regarding 12- month statement (As said in previous post, Bangkok Bank always says a week because it has to come from head office in Bangkok) Do you really get 12-month statement on the spot at your bank? Yes, definitely printed there while I wait. Same, same when I needed a statement for tax purposes this year. You will definitely need the bank letter, so it should be simple to ask them for a 12 month statement to be attached (I think I pay 200฿ for the statement in addition to the cost of the letter.)

The reason I ask all this question about timing is I use to apply for extension already a month in advance and more or less on the same date +- a couple of days and it have also on occasions happen that the 12-month statement (I use for the calendar year for tax filing) have been delayed from Bangkok and I will try to avoid getting the message from IO that "this is too old" and can't be used even if it's only 2-3 days delay?
Thanks again for all the invaluable info.
hahuahin

[Hahuahin]

Okay never-ending story , more questions.

1. How long in advance, hours/days /weeks before the day you plan to renew the visa you ask bank for the letter (Btw, what does that letter actually say?) I always go on the day, but I know some people who go the day before. No idea what it says because it's in Thai. I think it confirms your name and that the balance shown is correct.

2. Similar question regarding 12- month statement (As said in previous post, Bangkok Bank always says a week because it has to come from head office in Bangkok) Do you really get 12-month statement on the spot at your bank? Yes, definitely printed there while I wait. Same, same when I needed a statement for tax purposes this year. You will definitely need the bank letter, so it should be simple to ask them for a 12 month statement to be attached (I think I pay 200฿ for the statement in addition to the cost of the letter.)

The reason I ask all this question about timing is I use to apply for extension already a month in advance and more or less on the same date +- a couple of days and it have also on occasions happen that the 12-month statement (I use for the calendar year for tax filing) have been delayed from Bangkok and I will try to avoid getting the message from IO that "this is too old" and can't be used even if it's only 2-3 days delay?
Thanks again for all the invaluable info.
hahuahin

Thanks. I think I have to gamble a bit and ask the bank 7-10 days before I plan to apply for the visa renewal, for 12-month statement, and when it comes go to bank, ask for bank letter, updating the bank book, and ask them to sign the credit advice emails that I has been printing out for the past year and then head to immigration.
hahuahin

[Hahuahin]

I'm not sure I'm the same as you(I'm 800k) but I go to bank on the same day as immigration because I'm told it must be same day.

I go to the bank about 1.30 then immigration for about 2.30. They close at 4. Also closed 12 to 1 for lunch

The wait at the bank has been longer than immigration before now but I think that was rare.

Good luck, someone will advise if I'm not like for like and I'm giving you duff info!

Sent from my 2412DPC0AG using Tapatalk

Thank you for replying but I plan to use monthly transfer as financial proof for renewal of visa so that`s some difference but not duff info. 800k is an eventually second choice.
hahuahin

[Big Boy]

The bank letter, whether for monthly transfer, or 800,000฿ is exactly the same.

[lomuamart]

Surely they are not the same.

If doing the extension on income, then the bank letter is just confirming that the account is yours. It doesn't matter how much is in your account at the time.

However, if things are based on the 800K, then that amount needs to be verified left, right and centre.

The letter might say the same thing but what it means for your extension is very different.

[Big Boy]

Yes, of course, but isn't the difference the statement that is attached to the letter. From what I've seen, it is the statement the I/O scrutinises, not the letter. The letter does little more than confirm who you are, and you have an account with the bank.

Having said that, my extension was initially refused last year because the bank forgot to include my name on the letter. It was a quick trip back to Market Village to get them to redo it.

[lomuamart]

As an update to the credit advice situation, I've just spoken to the KBank helpline asking them to send them to me by email. I need a full year's worth and they sent them by email last year OK.

However, I was told that they would only send three months by email. If I needed more then I had to go into the branch and order through them and they would probably be available the next working day.

Obviously, this conflicts with what BB was told. Guess I'll find out soon enough exactly what the situation is.

[Big Boy]

It will be interesting to hear what they say. I always get mine within 2 months anyway, so it was a throw away comment for me. I've mentioned before, I've had a few transactions go astray over the years, which I've had to retrieve from Bangkok Bank, even though the actual money went to Kasikorn. I just fear having to chase shadows if another transaction goes astray.

The comment about 3 months came when I was speaking to head office from my (MV) branch i.e. my branch always contacts head office, and passes the phone to me.

It is probably another case of speaking to the wrong person on a particular day, as often seems to happen in Thailand.

[Big Boy]

However, I was told that they would only send three months by email. If I needed more then I had to go into the branch and order through them and they would probably be available the next working day.

Actually, reading your message again, there is no conflict - we were told exactly the same thing. My branch always phones somebody and puts me on the line (most likely the same helpline).

They said I could only have the last 3 months.

What is strange though is I was physically in my branch, and they didn't even attempt to do the job themselves.

[lomuamart]

I've ordered my credit advices this morning and the situation with KBank seems to be as follows:

You can call the centre in BKK and order up to 3 months of advices to be sent by email. Last year, they sent all 12 months (obviously now stopped) and it was very efficient. I had the advices in about 30 minutes.

If you need more than 3 months, then you have to go into the branch and order through them as I've done today. The advices, together with a 12 month bank statement and letter will be ready for me first thing tomorrow. There was no mention of any charges for the credit advices.

As long as the credit advices don't need to be stamped (and I don't think they have been in the past), I'll try the centre in BKK/email route from now on. I've just got to remember to call them on time!!

On a totally separate issue, I'm been flummoxed by a couple of transactions on my KBank debit card from last month. I just couldn't work out what they were for. One thing that got me is that the date and time of the transactions were on the day I flew back to the UK last month.

Before going to the bank earlier, I looked again and noticed that both transactions were timed at just after 7.45pm, Thai time, on the 15th April. I landed at Stansted at 7pm, Thai time, on that day and whizzed through passport and customs. Now I've got an idea of what they were for.

So, I should stress here that from leaving HH in a taxi to touching down at Stansted via Dubai, I had drunk one glass of wine with a meal. I was not hammered!! But I must have been tired because, of course, the transactions were from Stansted at WH Smiths for a SIM card and a train ticket. I'd used my Thai debit card instead of the UK one. Plonker!!

However, thanks to the patient lady at the call centre, I now know how to get detailed information about transactions off the KBank app. Previously, I just looked at statements and they don't give details of the payee. I learn something new every day!!

I am now having a beer. I think I deserve one bearing in mind I've already done a day's work and I've got Imm to look forward to either tomorrow or Friday. Chok dii.

[Big Boy]

lomu, (genuine question) you used to follow me at Immigration - how have you got ahead of me? You've written here a couple of times saying you've checked my experience prior to doing your extension. The earliest I can do my visa extension is 8th June.

Regarding the 'flummoxed' transactions - if you look at your online statement, you can drill down to find that extra information.

[lomuamart]

Yes, you're correct.

My extension date changed from September to May last year because I needed a new passport.

Can't remember the exact chronology but it was something like my old passport ran out in May last year so at September extension time the year before, I had to decide whether I went the agent route here to get a new one or just suffered the extension being cut short by four months.

Probably due to bone idleness on my part and delaying things, I didn't think I had enough time to get a new passport before that September so just accepted a new date of May and got the new passport fast tracked when next back in the UK.