Answered9 years ago
Can I obtain a proof of income affidavit for a Thai retirement visa from an embassy in Thailand if I live in Japan and have US citizenship?
Regarding the proof of income affidavit required for a retirement visa, is it possible to obtain this from an embassy in Thailand? If so, which embassy would I go to if citizenship (USA) and residence (Japan) are two different countries? Finally, what proof of income is needed (bank statements, tax filing, etc.) to show monthly income? Thanks!!
Answer summary
To obtain a proof of income affidavit necessary for a retirement visa in Thailand, U.S. citizens should visit the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok or Chiang Mai for the document. If your income comes exclusively from foreign sources, the Thai immigration office may still accept the affidavit as long as it specifies your monthly income. Additionally, other acceptable financial proof includes having at least 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account. Note that the Japanese Embassy does not provide affidavits for private income; they only issue them for public pensions. It’s vital to ensure that the affidavit accurately reflects your situation to meet the requirements for the retirement visa application.
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Tod *********
@Su***
, seeing as you don't have enough time on your current stamp why not get the income verification notary from the US consulate, then go to a thai consulate in a neighboring country and apply for a 90 day single entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on being over 50.Then you'd get stamped in for 90 days when you come back (and you'd cut TWO visits to immigrations out of the plan because you already have the Non-O visa). You'd get stamped in, wait until you have 45 days or less left on that 90 day stamp and go get the year extension at the immigration office..
That's what I'd do anyway...
Susan *********
OP@Tod ********
, will do!Tod *********
@Susan ********
Do report back once you go so we all will know what Penang wants for that visa okay?Susan *********
OP@Tod ********
no problem! Thought it was worth a try to ask. :-) It's been difficult tracking down exact information on what's needed for the Non-O (lots around for the SETV), and as you say it varies from place to place. Will try to be as prepared as possible and hope for the best.Tod *********
@Su***
, I do not know the exact requirements to get a 90 day Non-O from that consulate based on being over 50. Each consulate is different and requires different documentation. You'd have to either look on their website OR talk to an agent down there once you arrive in Penang to see what's really required sorry.Susan *********
OP@Tod ********
Thanks! Trying to be as prepared as possible, and to not miss anything. :-) So, I just need the paper I get from the embassy. Also wondering about proof of residence...I currently share an apartment in Thailand with a foreigner, and my name is not on the lease. I can try to get my name added. Would that be the best plan?Tod *********
@Su***
, what you really read was that a few thai immigration offices in the country were making people who used the income affidavits from their consulate go to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and get them stamped before the immigration office would accept them. It's just a couple immigration offices and NO thai consulates currently require that MFA stamp on the income affidavit from your consulate
Susan *********
OP@Tod ********
I've seen a few threads mention getting the proof of income affidavit from the US embassy stamped by Thai immigration. Do I need to get this done before bringing the paper to Penang (to apply for the Non-immigrant O visa)?Susan *********
OPCannot thank you enough! Really glad for the help.
Tod *********
Good Luck, if you have more questions, ask away it's what the group is for (y)
Susan *********
OPThanks! :-) Will check transport and accommodation costs. That will likely decide which.
Tod *********
@Susan ********
Penang or Vientiane are the closest and it just depends on if you wanna travel north or south.Susan *********
OPI'm in Bangkok now.
Tod *********
@Susan ********
How about saying where you are in thailand so I could recommend a consulate?Susan *********
OPWanting to work out the easiest, but not so pricey plan, and want to be prepared as best possible in advance.
Susan *********
OP@Tod ********
SO very helpful!!!Tod *********
I don't even see that the thai consulate in Singapore offers the 90 day single entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa for the reason of being over 50. Only for marriage to a thai national.
I'd pick a different consulate. Penang Malaysia, Vientiane Lao, etc.
I'd pick a different consulate. Penang Malaysia, Vientiane Lao, etc.
Tod *********
@Susan ********
the thai consulate in Singapore does ONLINE paperwork submission and approvals. They don't take walk up people. You'd have to look on their website to see their requirements. You email your documentation to them and they tell you when you can come in and apply for the visa. Most thai consulates in the area run where you turn in your paperwork in the morning one day and you pick up your passport with the visa in it the afternoon of the next business day.
I would say there are far more user friendly consulates than the one in Singapore.
Susan *********
OPThanks, that's what I was wondering. :-)All of this information is very helpful! If I can bug you a bit further, how long might it take to obtain the 90 day single entry Non-Immigrant Type O visa based on being over 50 from a neighboring country? Will I only need the income verification paper from the US consulate? Is one country easier for this than another? I'm considering Singapore, because I might have a place to stay with a friend.
Susan *********
OPFrom the US Embassy site: "The Thai government requires all U.S. citizens with Thai retirement visas to verify their income when they renew their retirement visa annually." They then provide one form which states: "I also affirm that I receive a monthly income of $____________________ from sources in the United States." Does this mean that if I receive monthly income only from sources outside the United States, I am ineligible for a Thai retirement visa?
Susan *********
OPUnfortunately, I don't have the 15 days left. My current extension expires on March 25. So, I'll need to leave the country regardless. This is my second time entering on a tourist visa, with extension, since November 2017. I spent a month in Vietnam between the two times. Does it make sense to just exit and enter the country on the 25th and then work on the Thai retirement visa here? Or since I have to leave the country anyway, better to apply somewhere else?
Tod *********
@Susan ********
, that is totally going to depend on the requirements at the thai consulate you're applying at.Where would you be applying?
IF you have 15 days or more left on your current entry you can go to the immigration office in Bangkok with that affidavit of income letter from the US consulate here and apply for a 90 day Non-Immigrant Type O visa. It would go under review for 14 days then you'd go back and get the Non-O visa and the new 90 day stamp inked into your passport. After you got that you'd wait a month or so and then you could apply for a year extension based on being over 50 (retirement).
Susan *********
OPThanks,
@Tod ********
! If the US Embassy doesn't check the actual income, it seems worth going and getting the form. I worried about signing something that wasn't accurate. So, I can get this while in Thailand (I'm here now), and then would use the form at a Thai embassy outside of Thailand to apply for the first step in the Retirement visa?Tod *********
You are reading WAY to much into the letter. It's a form letter that's used by americans who use the income from abroad notary letter from their consulate to meet the financial requirements for an extension of stay in thailand no matter if you get your money inside the US or outside the US.
it means if you have an issue using that letter you have no other avenue open to you but the banked money method
it means if you have an issue using that letter you have no other avenue open to you but the banked money method
Tod *********
Actually there are 3 ways to meet the financial requirements for a yearly extension based on being over 50 (retirement)
bank 800K baht in a thai bank account the requisite amount of time before your application for extension
notarized affidavit from your consulate stating you get at least 65K baht a month in income from abroad
a combination of banked money and the income from abroad that totals 800K baht in a year.
bank 800K baht in a thai bank account the requisite amount of time before your application for extension
notarized affidavit from your consulate stating you get at least 65K baht a month in income from abroad
a combination of banked money and the income from abroad that totals 800K baht in a year.
Tod *********
Unfortunately what you believe the form states (and what it may indeed state) has no bearing on anything in regards to the immigration office here in thailand.
If you want to use proof of income from abroad to meet the financial requirements and are an American that is the only document accepted by the immigration office.
Other than that you can use banked money of 800K baht in a thai bank the requisite time before your application.
If you want to use proof of income from abroad to meet the financial requirements and are an American that is the only document accepted by the immigration office.
Other than that you can use banked money of 800K baht in a thai bank the requisite time before your application.
Tod *********
you bank 800Kbaht in a thai bank account for 60 days prior to you apply for a yearly extension of stay
and if you use banked money you don't use the consulate affidavit of income letter.
and if you use banked money you don't use the consulate affidavit of income letter.
Susan *********
OPThanks! Can you tell me what the requisite time before and after application that the 800K would need to be in the account? And, in that case, would I not need the affidavit from the US embassy?
Tod *********
@Susan ********
, you apply for the affidavit of income from the countries consulate your passport is issued from.Being American (no matter where you used to live) means you use the US consulate here in Bangkok or Chiang Mai to get the income letter
Susan *********
OPBut, I think the form states that I am agreeing the income was earned in the USA...will check wording again. Or, maybe there is a separate form for US citizens residing in other countries?
Tod *********
@Su***
, It is a just a form you fill out, the consulate is NOT notarizing what you put on the form is correct, they are notarizing your name is at the top and you signed it in front of them.Tod *********
At the US consulate you don't prove the amount you are putting on the document, you write down the amount you get and you swear it's correct.
Susan *********
OPIn looking at the form it states that the income is earned within the US. I've lived in Japan for over 20 years, so very far removed from any US income.
Susan *********
OPI have no proof of income within the US. How would that work?
Stephen *******
What passport did you arrive on? That's where you need to go.
Andrew ********
Make an appointment from the US embassy website.
Need Passport only.
Print and fill out the form from online, or pick one up at the US embassy.
Turn in your passport, letter(affidavit) completely filled out.
Wait 10-15 mins
Raise your right hand...finished
Need Passport only.
Print and fill out the form from online, or pick one up at the US embassy.
Turn in your passport, letter(affidavit) completely filled out.
Wait 10-15 mins
Raise your right hand...finished
Alan *******
The American Embassy doesn’t require any information about the source of your income. So no problem.
Susan *********
OP@Ellie ******
thanks for that info!
Ellie *******
@Su***
, unfortunately, there is no service that issuing affidavit about private income for anyone at Japanese Embassy. They issue only affidavit for Japanese public pension regarding income.Susan *********
OPThanks! Since my income is through Japan, not the States, it seems like I would need to go to the Japanese embassy.
Andrew ********
...as for being in Japan, I’m not really sure. There are many others here with more experience than I.
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