A friend of mine renewed his retirement visa at Nongkai yesterday....all went smooth, but the immigration officer said his embassy letter was only good for 2 years.......he took the original and wrote something on it that, in effect, said it wouldn't be good next year. My friend got his letter in 2006. Last I knew, the embassy letter was good for 5 years. Anyone else aware of ?the latest change?

Also, there's a rumor that AEK immigration has opened again, but only heard that from one individual. Anyone else?

Re the Embassy letter confirming pension income, - I understood it had to be a new one every year, and not more than 1 month old. That's what Phuket insisted on last year.

I tried to use a good quality photocopy, but they were wise to that, insisting on the original which had an embossed stamp.

I do my visa in BK each year with the same agent every year.Last year she made me get a new letter from the embassy!She said''have new boss,give me headache!''

When I went to the embassy,the lady told me that The Thai gov't has been excepting these letters,but the fact was they were affidavits and were only good for 3 months!

Bottomline is that each Immigration officer can request whatever they want and their bosses can demand whatever they want!It is a hit and miss proposition each time you go.Eventually you get what they accept for that day and you get to stay here.The PIA needs to be looked at as a friggin inconvenience and get on with enjoying the good parts of staying here

OK Stan, you lost me. What is PIA?

Pakistan International Airlines....

Person In Authority.....

Pain In Arse...

Same Same

i get a new letter every year, and is usually several, if not 6 months old. they always take a copy and return the original to me. you mean to say, i could of save 30 bucks every other year. mr happy has alway given the original back. think i'll try next year, if convenient. would hate to get a no, then have to make a trip to bkk.

Sadly, Laphanphon, the only way to be sure is to apply and see if they will accept what your offer.

It was my understanding that the income affidavit was only good for one year, but yesterday, my friend also (same friend?) got a surprise when the immigration officer told him that his letter was only good for two years and that he would not accept the same letter next year. Hmmm.....

I think the best approach is to go to immigration and ask them what they want early enough that you won't be in a pinch if you get surprised. The requirements seem to be a little different for me every year.

beer monkey wrote:Pakistan International Airlines....

Person In Authority.....

Pain In Arse...

All of the above

In BK,they insisted on the original!

They always took my original and handed back the color copies, but for two years they did not require me to do 90 day reports and that was nice;o)

Well, just had another friend renew his retirement visa on Tuesday. His embassy letter was 3 years old, but they took it and said to get a new one next year.