Gaybutton Posted June 14, 2008 Author Posted June 14, 2008 Renewing in Bangkok last February, the officer paid close attention to the date of payment of the Bt. 800,000. I got the impression the 3 months is mandatory for renewals as well as the initial visa. I would not dispute what the British Consul says, but apparently, based on what you are saying, it applies only in Pattaya. However, if it was me, then despite what the Consul is saying about Pattaya, I still would not want to be the one experimenting to find out if he's right. As far as I know, no matter what the policy is in Pattaya, the rule does state that the money is to be in the account for at least three months. If that is correct, then Pattaya is looking the other way at that rule. If Pattaya is looking the other way, do you really want to risk that they'll be looking the other way the day you apply for your visa renewal? In any case, I would think if a person is wealthy enough to have 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account at all, then he probably has a lot more than that in his account for a lot longer than three months anyway. Of course, there is always the proof-of-income statement. Getting the proof-of-income statement is certainly simple enough for Americans. Apparently it is also simple enough to get one no matter which country you come from. I have neither read nor even heard any stories of anybody having any difficulty obtaining a proof-of-income statement from his embassy. Quote
Guest Astrrro Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 My question is whether any Thai bank passbook is OK? Does my CD which comes with a passbook or my K-Treasury account which comes with a passbook count? I prefer to have my money in a higher yielding account. Right now, my plan for next year is to keep my money is the higher yielding account and switch it to lower yielding a week or so before renewal but bring all 3 passbooks. If that doesn't work, I can fall back on a trip to Bangkok for a notarized proof of income statement. Quote
Gaybutton Posted June 15, 2008 Author Posted June 15, 2008 My question is whether any Thai bank passbook is OK? To the best of my knowledge, any bank passbook will do, but it must be from the bank at which the "Letter for Immigration" is generated. Quote
Zyxel Posted June 20, 2008 Posted June 20, 2008 On Tuesday 17 June I went to renew my retirement visa at the immigration office in Suan Plu in Bangkok. Everything went smoothly except this time I was asked to photocopy my passport pages with the previous visa stamps from 2004, 2005, 2006. I used to photocopy the page of the current visa before and no problem but not this time. When I went to the desk of the "boss" to have the visa signed I asked her about the 30 days limit for renewal before expiry and she confirmed it and also added that I must have the 800 000 TB in my account 3 months before renewal. So different offices, different rules. Quote
Guest gwm4sian Posted July 3, 2008 Posted July 3, 2008 I just checked with Barry Kenyon, and he told me that Pattaya will allow you to renew retirement up to 90 days before expiry, for no other reason other than "i want to" the new visa will expire 1 year on from the expiry date of the old one Renewal earlier than 90 days in advance is apparently possible in certain circumstances, but then you loose time - ie your new visa will expire 1 year plus 90days from when you renew it. Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 29, 2008 Author Posted July 29, 2008 Today I helped another friend obtain his retirement visa. He too had entered on only the 30 day privilege and also had no Thai bank account. Siam Commercial Bank let him open a bank account, but since I already hold a retirement visa and have a permanent address in Pattaya, they only would open the account if I was willing to guarantee his address. Of course I was readily able to make that guarantee, so now he has a bank account. Today we went to the USA Embassy, got his proof-of-income statement, and got back to Immigration. He still has two days left on his 30 days. We discovered something new. Immigration is still perfectly willing to convert the 30 days to a Type "O" visa, and then to the retirement visa, for 1900 baht each. However they told him he also has to pay for a 7 day extension on his 30 days. We pointed out that he still has two days left. They said sorry, but you have to have at least 5 days left or you have to get the extension. The extension was another 1900 baht and more copies of the paperwork. If you wish to enter Thailand on the 30 days, then make sure you act quickly to convert to the retirement visa in order to avoid being forced to purchase an extension. Quote
Guest manfarang Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 As one contemplating a retirement visa, I'd be grateful if you could tell me what sort of documentation the US Embassy requires for it to issue a proof-of-income statement. Quote
Guest gwm4sian Posted July 31, 2008 Posted July 31, 2008 I thought I would test out the information, so tried to renew my retirement visa 2 months early. No questions asked, sailed throught the process in 10 minutes and then 15 minutes (including queueing) to get a re-renty permit. Both new visa and re-entry permit expire 1 year from expiryof last one (ie they are valid for 14months) As an aside, there is a notice on display at the retirement processing desk ( pointing out that anyone with a 30 day stamp must have at least 7 days left for conversion to retirement. Quote
Gaybutton Posted July 31, 2008 Author Posted July 31, 2008 As one contemplating a retirement visa, I'd be grateful if you could tell me what sort of documentation the US Embassy requires for it to issue a proof-of-income statement. That's the easiest part of the entire process. The only documentation you need is your passport. You need absolutely nothing else and you will not be asked to provide any documentation of any kind at all. When you go to the American Citizens Services window, tell them you need a proof-of-income statement. They will hand you a form to fill out, on which you state your monthly income. It's a very short form. Then you go to the cashier's window and pay the 1020 baht fee. You take the receipt, the form, and your passport back to the services window and hand them over. About ten or fifteen minutes later they will call your name. A notary will ask you if the information you provided is true and correct. Assuming you say yes, they will now give you back your passport, a receipt, and the proof-of-income statement with the notary seal embossed. At that point you say thank you and leave. That's all there is to it. Quote
Guest manfarang Posted August 4, 2008 Posted August 4, 2008 That's the easiest part of the entire process. The only documentation you need is your passport. You need absolutely nothing else and you will not be asked to provide any documentation of any kind at all. Well, can't get much simpler than that! Thank you. Quote
Guest GaySacGuy Posted December 6, 2008 Posted December 6, 2008 I obtained my Retirement Visa at an Immigration office about 40 kilometers east of Ubon Ratchathani on thursday. I had the appropriate forms and letters, and had no porblem is renewing my visa origionally obtained in Pattaya. However, a small twist...they creat an information sheet (my boyfriend says that Thailand has these for all Thais) including my parents names, and birthplaces, former occupation, and other basic information. The officer that typed it into the computer didn't speak English and it was time consumming. But, it is on file now, so I don't have to do that again. A local came in for a renewal while I was there, and he was in and out within about 10 minutes. The retirement visa cost 1900 baht, and I obtained a multiple reentry permit for 3800 baht at the same time. Quote
