I am sure that I know the answer but need reassuring.

In the past I have gained my extension using 800k Baht in the bank (once) and by income and money in the bank mix(twice).

This time I am going on purely income per month. It is high enough to meet the required amount.

The question is, do I need a letter from my bank showing I actually have a balance in Thailand or is presentation of my bankbook and copy of same enough? I feel it would be prudent of me to pay the 200 baht and take a bank letter also. I know I should not have to show my bank balance but T I T.

As I rent my house will a copy of my lease (4.5 years old now) be sufficient to prove I actually live in Udon?

Thanks

John

When I renewed mine based on income alone, yes I did give them a letter from my bank and copies of the pages signed by the bank, and they did keep the lot.

They will also keep them if presented in Bangkok; but they do not require them. As Nong Khai is often, in the past, somewhat different believe I would have the letter and bank book/copies but only present if asked. Be sure you are using a new photo (this was checked very closely in Bangkok last year). Bangkok has never required proof of address but believe lease, letter addressed to you or anything of that nature should be all that is required. The fact you have been doing for some time should be enough.

John I have done all different ways,but in Bangkok!A couple of times I did income letter with a small amount in the Thai bank account,60-70K!I always took a letter stating my balance in Kasikorn bank,100B!The last time,in Bangkok, she said I didn't need the bank letter or the health cert.

But last time I did it in NK with the 800K in the bank.Took a health cert(didn't need),bank letter,bank book with copies of all pages and had to get the landlord ID card on paper with his signature for proof of residence(not needed in Bangkok),copies of all pages in my passport signed by me!

I would take the bank letter to NK just to be sure!No telling what they will come up with if you don't!Question is,what type of bank letter do they need,simple or one showing deposits that match the minimum monthly required income from outside the country!

In Bangkok,with an income letter from the Embassy,the bank letter only needed to say I had an account since.....and state the balance which would match the bank book balance!I'm not sure if NK will except that simple bank letter with the income letter or not as they do with the 800K balance.

They might want to see that income was brought into the country and deposited in the account!I don't know!
I noticed Arjays post mentioned signed pages which does not sound like a simple bank letter!

Well have just done a 90 day, the last before my annual retirement visa expires . So wifey asked our "friend' whether
A) The embassy letter showing annual income in excess of 800k, even at todays exchange rate would be acceptable. Answer , Yes, even though it was issued three years ago.Plus.
B)Bank letter. Showing at least a 300k balance plus a certified letter showing all receipts throughout the year, with copies of each page signed by the individual.Plus.
C) Yellow tabien barn book.
Now I have no idea if these are minimum requirements, just simply what I will have to hand.The answer, No problem.So make your own mind up what is really the minimum acceptable.

I have all this Visa problem to come in a few years but I have a general question.
Why do you married Guys go for a Retirement Visa for 800,000 when you can get a Married Visa for 400000?

valiant wrote:I have all this Visa problem to come in a few years but I have a general question.
Why do you married Guys go for a Retirement Visa for 800,000 when you can get a Married Visa for 400000?

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just a guess if things go sour they still can remain in the country. / the other reason is you have to bring in 40 K every month where as a retirement visa that not a requirement. you can bring it as much as you like. as long as you have either 800k deposit in a thai bank or letter proving you get 65K + a month pension. correct me if my guess is wrong

Because it is just money and we spend it anyhow. Also it is easier as you do not have to have 30 days (or more) under consideration (return) - one trip a year and you are in and out. Also you do not need to have the wife with you so that also makes it easier for some. last year you could not get a marriage extension for 400k unless you had been doing it previously.

Edit: It is not a requirement, except for some officials, that any fixed amount be transferred into Thailand in any set period for either extension of stay. But the marriage is normally more closely checked.

aznyron wrote:

valiant wrote:I have all this Visa problem to come in a few years but I have a general question.
Why do you married Guys go for a Retirement Visa for 800,000 when you can get a Married Visa for 400000?

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just a guess if things go sour they still can remain in the country. / the other reason is you have to bring in 40 K every month where as a retirement visa that not a requirement. you can bring it as much as you like. as long as you have either 800k deposit in a thai bank or letter proving you get 65K + a month pension. correct me if my guess is wrong

What my thoughts are is that I would open a Thai Deposit account for 400000 and just leave it there and just live
off my state pension and Works pension that would be approx 35000 per month would that be ok?

Most would want you to show that money in some way to satisfy them that you were indeed supporting your wife with outside income (and not working illegally in Thailand) - best to transfer into the account and remove when needed with local atm card. You kind of have to do what the local office/officer wants (at least in the past). Hopefully with the new system all will read from the same play book- but expect it may take some time.

^
What new system?

I put 2 1/2 M in the bank 12 years ago and for 7 years never touched it,just used my ATM card as needed for living expenses.I later used some of the money to buy property about 5 years ago,eventually using most of it.Then I started using an income statement from the embassy without any concern for a large balance in my account.

Since then ,I have transfered money into the bank and started using it as my main source of income while allowing my monthly income to accumulate in the USA.

Last year ,I had more than the required amount in the bank,so although I had reservations to go Bangkok where I always do my extension,I thought I would drop into the NK office an see if I could do my extension here as I had heard all the horror stories about inconsistent requests etc.

Sure enough,I was asked for a ''proof of residence'',which i didn't have as it was not required in Bangkok.Thinking that it might be a requirement for marriage visa,not retirement extension that I was applying for,I asked Mr.Happy why I needed it ,when for 12 years I did not need it in Bangkok?

''So i can find you',must have!''

I said OK thank you and started gathering up my papers that he had started processing!He said''no problem just get landlord ID card on paper with his signature and come back,no problem!''

I scooped everything up,left with every intention of completing the process in bangkok as I was going there anyway!

As I got home,my landlord was standing in front of my house.So I asked for the papers with his ID card,he already had some in his TH,which I got and took back to the office!

When Mr.Happy was coming back from lunch,I stopped him,showed him the paper asking if this was what he wanted.

''Yes,good'',told me to follow him,went into the building to his desk,he stamped everything,handed it back to me saying''see no problem !''

I am still wondering about what the bank letter has to say if you use the income statement from the embassy at NK immigration?

What I do Stan is have the bank list each monthly deposit that matches the bank book, never had a problem nor have ever had 800K I be poor dude.

The other aspect yellow house book solves that one.

They are really not that bad if you follow their directions just different then Bangkok. Which is well within Thai Law. (Officers discreation)

BKKSTAN wrote:I am still wondering about what the bank letter has to say if you use the income statement from the embassy at NK immigration?

I'm an a marriage extension and use the monthly income. The bank letters I've submitted only state the amount I have in my account. Although, there's a board member here that posted his experience of getting the run around from NK because the "they" required more info on his bank letter, I think it was something to the effect that the money is transferred from abroad, not sure.

Anyway, here are copies of the letters I submitted as an example. They're in Thai and I don't remember exactly what's said, but I believe it only indicates the amount I currently had at the time my account was verified. They were accepted with out question.

valiant wrote:

aznyron wrote:

valiant wrote:I have all this Visa problem to come in a few years but I have a general question.
Why do you married Guys go for a Retirement Visa for 800,000 when you can get a Married Visa for 400000?

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just a guess if things go sour they still can remain in the country. / the other reason is you have to bring in 40 K every month where as a retirement visa that not a requirement. you can bring it as much as you like. as long as you have either 800k deposit in a thai bank or letter proving you get 65K + a month pension. correct me if my guess is wrong

What my thoughts are is that I would open a Thai Deposit account for 400000 and just leave it there and just live
off my state pension and Works pension that would be approx 35000 per month would that be ok?

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Val you can put 400 k in a thai bank that means you only have to show income of 33K a month which is sufficient
but you can not spend that 400 k it must remain the Thai bank account. that the way I understand it that was the way it was written on embassy web site