Ok, Now I know this has been posted somewhere else, maybe more than once but well, I just can't find the answer..

I was about to apply for a yrs extension to my Non Imm "O" visa but now I'm told that the 400,000 bht I had transfered into my BKK bank in November 06 is no longer valid.

Now I'm told (I must admit by a falang) I need proof of 40,000 bht a month only...whether its from me, my wife or a combination of both.....

Is this correct? ............. No I don't have 40,000 bht a month coming in. Will I be wasting my time applying for the extension?

Would like it if someone could just give me an answer, I've already spent too much time reading old threads....

If it is your first extention then you need 40,000 income.

If you have extended previously prior to October 2006 then the old system still apllies and 400,000 cash in the bank is ok.

I always wonder how you provide proof of a constant income stream when ones income is from sales and dividends from investments etc. I just draw from my OS bank when I need it. While my income from investments is in excess of 40 K PCM its going to be difficult to prove except maybe to an accountant. There is no tax liability because of the location of my investment company so can't prove from tax records.

My one-year extension to my Non O visa was due to expire early march and I am going back to Australia 27 Feb for a few weeks so it was renewal time.

I thought Monday last was a holiday so I went to AEK mainly to read the instructions on the window. I had already planned to go to Nong Khai today so I only wanted information.

I arrived there a little after noon, found the office open, took a number and waited. Just before my number was called two falang and their Thai partners arrived with queue cards 15 numbers lower than mine and lined up at the door. When challenged the Thai partners went a bit ballistic shouting that they were there before. Acceptable behavior for Thais but surely the falang should have realized that if their paperwork was not up to standard and they had to leave to fix it they should have gone to the end of the queue. Breeding shows I suppose.

That

businessman wrote:If it is your first extention then you need 40,000 income.

If you have extended previously prior to October 2006 then the old system still apllies and 400,000 cash in the bank is ok.

I have had one previous extension but that was 3 or so years ago and since then I have been returning to the UK for new Non Imm "O" visa's. If I remember rightly the extension was on my old Non Imm "B" when I had a company here.

Do you think I qualify for another extension?

Now If I was to sail a boat to pattaya from OZ, get off, dont go through immigration, how long would it be before I got caught, if GF owned house, and I used my ATM.

I would persume if I never had a accident, kept passport up to date, kept international drivers lic, I could never have to go to immagration ever.

As long as you kept a low profile you should be able to stay till you die

Recently a chineese man was found 57 years old who entered Australia in 1976, and never left, His body was found in his rented appartment, 31 years later after his first arrival, he had been living happly here till his heart attack.

None of his friends and neighbours had ever thought he was here illegally.

Meet a german guy back in 86 in western Queensland, after 3 month working together on construction sites he took me to his old sailing boat, in Townsville, we went sailing to Green island, for the day, he told me he never went through immagration and arrived here in 82, he was getting ready to leave for NZ in a few months, with no intension of telling immigration, as they never new he was here, same as NZ got a christmass card that year, 5 months after he left OZ, he was enjoying New Zealand, and never worry about immigration

So could live here in Udon with out the trouble of go to immagration every 90 days, as long as you had the cash to bribe any police who might come accross you in one of those road side pullovers, stayed out of trouble, I think it possible

It is, theres an old guy, not sure from which country but scandinavian anyway, lives about 20 kms further out of Udon than we do who claims to have been here for 15 yrs and only ever had one visa.

He's in his 70's now, keeps himself to himself in his village, has income from a small rubber plantation (don't know how small) and some rice fields plus has his small pension and bingo....he's happy.

Says this is where he's going to die so why bother with all the paperwork and trips back and forth to immigration......

Me, I still like to go back to see the family from time to time....

Do you think I qualify for another extension?

No,you do not qualify.Only those who already had a valid extention last October qualify.One from three years ago does not count as you let it expire.

Kudjap or Bust wrote: Will I be wasting my time applying for the extension?

No


Just stop by, will take 10 mins, and get the answer from the horse' mouth You just might be very surprised.

Thanks Dakoda, actually my wife suggested the same.......... and you're both right of course, I should go ask the people in the Immigration office.

Will the ladies in the AEK office be able to help do you think, easier than going to Nong Khai thats for sure..

You just might be very surprised.

I will be very very surprised and Wickder will be livid as he was at Nong Khai immigration on Tuesday and was refused a first extention based on 400,000 in the bank.

The money has to be in the bank for at least 3 months prior to the application for extention!

Stan, I've had the money in the bank since October/November 06... I transfered specifically for the extension criteria, now I find it's useless and I need to prove 40k a month. As a freelance writer thats not an option.

I've had one previous extension but it was not valid last October as businessman explains.

I will indeed drop into the Immigration offie and have a chat with them but I'm not going to hold my breath on this one.... Think I'll get ready to transfer the cash back where it came from. A little loss on the echange system but hey ho, thats life and I should have understood the rules before moving it over...

Kudjap or Bust wrote:Thanks Dakoda, actually my wife suggested the same.......... and you're both right of course, I should go ask the people in the Immigration office.

Will the ladies in the AEK office be able to help do you think, easier than going to Nong Khai thats for sure..

yes, I would go to AEK, Monday or Friday (seems slow just before or after lunch). I talk to a gentleman, very friendly and helpful, can't speak for the women. If I was you, I would ask them what are their requirements!

Good luck

PS: just got a call from a friend in NK, he said; "things seem to be getting easier".

Thanks again Dakoda.
I've been looking at the income into my UK bank and it does cover the 40k + per month over the last 6 months but this is not guaranteed as there could be a month whereby I don't get anything (i.e.done no work).
Do you know what Immigration need as proof of 40k per month? If its a bank statement then OK a definite can do, if its a letter from an employer or pension company then its a definite no-go....

Any ideas?