Went to NK yesterday to extend my non imm O-A visa and this is a recap. NOT HOW IT IS, but how it went for me.
First off I took way to much paperwork. They only took 1 copy of TM-7, 1 copy of bank letter, 1 copy financial affidavit from Embassy, and 1 copy of Passport pages (3 ea). I had heard that med ck. was not necessary anymore and they confermed this.
Now for the sticking points.
As I have stated before I use the ATM to bring all my money to Thailand simply because there is no fee for my withdrawals. This past year I made many more individual withdrawals and subsequent deposits into my SCB account because I would hope that next week the baht would weaken. This was a losing tactic financially and SCB in their infinite wisdom did nor want to make a long letter showing ALL deposits, so they only showed 795,000 baht (actual deposits were about twice that amount). The officer said not enough money, must be 800,000 baht. I thought it was all over at that point, so in low voice showing much respect I said I understand that 66,000 bt/mo or 800,000bt on deposit. Even-though they let this slide I got the impression they don't like my ATM method of bringing in the money. I need to visit SCB and tell them if they don't wan to help me even if it means a little extra effort that I will have to find another bank that will. Yah, I here ya, good luck;o)
Okay next problem area. When the US Embassy people visited Udon on 6 Oct. 2006, I paid my 1200bt and got my financial affidavit, but Immigration folks did not like the fact that it was 4 months old. I have read many times that this document can be used over and over, and I had copies of this but they kept the original (embossed) document and said that have to get a new one every year. I really don't care if I have to get a new one each year but I don't want to go to BKK to get it. Anyway they eventually stamped my passport and I'm good for 1 more year;o)).

I have stated before on this board that I have not been doing 90 day reports. They didn't bring this up and neither did I, so not sure wether these are necessary or not.

Left Immigration and had the big all day breakfast at Tony's, very good 160bt. Went to falang food place by bridge bought some things and got home and wife noticed they forgot to charge me for the big red ball of cheese I bought, wife says good deal, I said cannot I don't feel good. If some one posts their ph. no. I'll call and see if we can make it right.

Finished the day at Vicky's bar to celebrate, think another board member was sippen suds next door cause I saw a big bike V535 or something like that. All in all another wonderful day in LOS;o)

Nope just parked there when I went bowling. For what it's worth Bangkok bank will prepare the letter the way you want it. But you do have to to remind them. I've keep my original copy from the first year and they duplicate the same info changing only the monthy deposits. That is the reason I have stuck with them for four years.

You might try speaking to the branch manager at SCB and see if she will get yuo what you want, next year. There just taking the easy way out it's not that hard and I assume you pay for the letter. I know each year I have to pay for it.

Bangkok Bank didn't do the letter correctly one year and I had above the minimum in the account. I was sent back to get another. I didn't pay for the second letter. I have no idea what is right or wrong only know what works for me.

I had an account with Bangkok Bank and they are a class act, my only complaint was they are to popular therefore always crowded. SCB no waiting so I hope they will come to the party and work with me. And yes it was 200bt for the not to good letter.

Jetdoc, Could your bank not have just given totals for the transactions in and the withdrawals out? Though I suppose that wouldn't have been acceptable to Nong Khai Immigration (though it probably would have been at any other Immigration office. ) Incidentally, I too use SCB.

Also, I come back to my bone of contention here, - that IF you are receiving a monthly pension of at least 65K baht, then that is the requirement fulfilled. You do not have to have 12 x 65K = 800K baht transferred into your bank here over the course of the year, as well.

The 12 x 65k over the year, is an alternative requirement, IF your monthly pension income is less than 65K baht, which NK seem to want to apply in conjunction with the income calculation.

It is clear on the copy guidelines that Nong Khai hand out, should they choose to read it!!!! It uses the word "OR" at the end of each of the three options,...... well at the end of the first two then!!

Basically Arjay that is what my letter does, but it also names an account and bank in America where the money comes from. I usa a ATM from that bank so everything is the truth. Just formed to make them happy.

You are rihgt thye are very busy so I time my visits on the off business hours, you know no Mondays or Fridays about 2:00 P.M.. Leave it one day pick it up the next.

jetdoc wrote:,
I have stated before on this board that I have not been doing 90 day reports. They didn't bring this up and neither did I, so not sure wether these are necessary or not.

I also have an O-A. I went up with another board member at 90 days and was told reporting was not necessary. This confused my friend as he had an O-A and was reporting every 90 days the year prior.
With all the changes, I decided to go up and check again. I recieved a bit of flack for not having it stamped at the first 90 days and was told I was overdue. My friend's wife (Thai) was asked which clerk told us that I did not have to report. She tactfully told him she did not recognize him there even though he was sitting next to the person who questioned about me not checking in. So they stamped it and thankfully did not fine me. But I am due again in 90 days if I am still in the country.

arjay wrote:Jetdoc, Could your bank not have just given totals for the transactions in and the withdrawals out? Though I suppose that wouldn't have been acceptable to Nong Khai Immigration (though it probably would have been at any other Immigration office. ) Incidentally, I too use SCB.

Also, I come back to my bone of contention here, - that IF you are receiving a monthly pension of at least 65K baht, then that is the requirement fulfilled. You do not have to have 12 x 65K = 800K baht transferred into your bank here over the course of the year, as well.

The 12 x 65k over the year, is an alternative requirement, IF your monthly pension income is less than 65K baht, which NK seem to want to apply in conjunction with the income calculation.

It is clear on the copy guidelines that Nong Khai hand out, should they choose to read it!!!! It uses the word "OR" at the end of each of the three options,...... well at the end of the first two then!! :wink:

The third option is probably beyond the comprehension level of the NK Immigration or purposely ignored.

http://www.thaiembdc.org/index.htm
2.4 A copy of a bank statement showing a deposit at the amount equal to no less than 800,000 Baht, or an income certificate (an original copy) with a monthly salary of no less than 65,000 Baht, or a deposit account plus a monthly income of no less than 800,000 Baht a year.

Well if you really need to push it you can and will probably will win, I know I've done it. I didn't have the 800K on my first visa they demanded you have both. I had no choice couldn't do both and got it appoaved on the monthly and it has been approaved every year since based on that.

I think the question is do you really need to do it, or do you just want to make a point. If you need to then by all means do what you need to do. If it's a once a year frustration is it worth it to prove a point, to me it's not.

In the end they will have to follow the law. But when that happen lets say something happens at home and yuo don't meet the letter of the law. At this point they have descretion, IE no fine for missing the 90 day it's happened to me once I just forgot. Yes I got yelled at but not fined. Letter of the law I should have been fined.

There is always two sides to most issues.

muscle, Are you in the first year of your A-O visa? I think but not sure, that on the initial year the visa is extended for a max of 90 days at a time. After the first year the A-O is extended for one year intervals.

It is the first year but it is listed as one year on the O-A visa, by the dates. It came from the Thai Embassy in DC, I hand carried my passport there. They told me and gave me a handout stating that it did not have to be renewed until a year was up, but that I did need to report in every 90 days.
Not that it really makes any difference except for the next reporting date. We will either be in Laos or I will be somewhere else. This beauty school scam has reached it's peak. I will detail this in another post once I have all the details, but in the meantime, farang, beware of of the beauty school trap. The one here that we are dealing with just missed another set date for handing out the license (yesterday) and I am waiting for another fee to be charged that is beyond the original price that was quoted for the full class.
So far, costs have run 4 times what was first quoted. I am looking for a lawyer now.

So far everything I have seen seems to point to the best business here is retirement. Theres always something nailing you one way or another.

Good luck hope things work out for you, I think the only thing that maintain sanity for me is to relaize that Thai's do it to Thai's not just farrangs.

I am set for retirement in Laos. My younger wife still has a full career span ahead of her and no chance she will become a hi-so kuhn poo ying off what I bring in. She needs the schooling and the career. Too much time on her hands is not a good thing.
Thais do it to other Thais also. I have watched how this school has squeezed some of these poor folks for more and more money with no end in sight. It appears most leave with no license and work for peanuts someplace. Or they get a farang to set them up in business. One new place that we just watched start-up by a classmate, went to short-time as soon as one of the several farang boyfriends headed back to his home country to earn some more money. I'm sure trying to do anything legal is also a waste of money. When we asked for a written price quote and sylibus at the start, we recieved a hand-written sheet from someone who no longer works there. There is an easy out. Should the school not be able to produice a license in a short amount of time, I will hit all the various farang forum boards with a scam alert.

did my renewal for retirement today at aek udon hosp, let's just say, efficiently processed. arrived promptly after 8, knowing they don't open till 9 ish. upstairs for health check up, still have a pulse, 100 baht thank you, a 66 % increase from last year mere 60 baht. doc doesn't arrive till 8:30, so no need to be earlier, had time to fill out TM7. still the only one there, then about 7 others show up, one group of a few. promptly at 9 personel arrive, take passport from 'someone' just showing up, then brings queque numbers out as i was awaiting for that #1, in true thai fashion, local rushs up to take first 4 numbers, i commented how considerate that was, overheard by farang, possibly in his group, but maybe not. pointed out obviously i've been there for some time, and we exchanged, thank you Chuck, a very pleasant me, as we spoke a bit.

the rest, fast, as paperwork was in order, with too many copies, except for the one of the first retirement visa. Ree off to make copy, money paid, i stand to leave, strange look, i say, take someone else, i'm done when she returns with copies. hmm, thinking ahead, #2 arrives with a stack of stuff. copies return, but no return of passport as i entered. wait outside, hmm, done, copies, stamped, paid, hmmm.
about 10 min later, fax comes off machine, and passport return, thank you.

apparently, guessing and hoping correct, they did a police check and waiting for fax conformation. something not done with initial or 1st renewal. so good till next year.