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Do I need to have my Social Security income deposited in a Thai bank to qualify for a retirement visa?

US EmbassySocial SecurityRetirement VisaThai Visa RulesIncome CertificationExpat Advice
September 28, 2021
3 years ago
Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
I was told today by a Visa agent that if I get a “certificate” from the US Embassy showing my income from Social Security, I don’t need to have my SSI deposited in my Thai bank account to meet the financial qualifications for a retirement visa. Just curious if anyone in this group has ever gotten such a certificate from the US Embassy in Bangkok or the Philippines, or knows the procedure for doing so?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user inquired about using a certificate from the US Embassy to prove income from Social Security for a retirement visa in Thailand, rather than depositing the funds in a Thai bank account. Comments revealed that the US Embassy stopped issuing such certificates years ago and that current requirements mandate showing either 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account or consistent monthly transfers from abroad. Responses also emphasized the importance of finding a knowledgeable visa agent and understanding the regulations around income proof for visa extensions.
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Michael **************
You can go online and print it Just go to SSA website
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Michael Ganzermiller. You need a sworn affidavit from your country's embassy. The US embassy will not provide this. Printing an unverified statement off the internet means absolutely zero. Anyone with average computer skills can knock up a fake document!
3 years ago
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Michael **************
@Bobby *******
Not to tell you are wrong but that’s what I did and they were fine with it.
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Michael Ganzermiller. Which immigration office did you use?
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael *************
 unfortunately immigration won’t accept just the statement from SSA. They want something from the US Embassy as well.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
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Philip **********
I got one from the Canadian Embassy.
3 years ago
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James ********
@Philip *********
 they still provide income affidavits
3 years ago
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James ********
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Tom *********
The Thai Embassy in Washington DC accepted my Social Security statement that I downloaded from my Social Security account as evidence of my income. I have the OA non-immigrant retirement one year visa.
3 years ago
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George *******
@Tom ********
 Did you use your a copy of your 1099 statement ??
3 years ago
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Tom *********
@George ******
 No, I uploaded my annual statement of benefits letter. I also showed a lot of money in my US bank statements for two months.
3 years ago
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George *******
@Tom ********
 👍
3 years ago
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George *******
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John ********
Unfortunately not at Thai immigration.
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Tom Hawkins. That's a different issue. This thread is about extending a visa whilst in Thailand.
3 years ago
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Tom *********
@Bobby *******
 So they wouldn’t accept that statement of benefit income as evidence of income?
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Tom Hawkins. Not in Thailand. You either have to show 800,000 Baht in a Thai bank account, or 12 monthly transfers from overseas of 65,000 Baht each
3 years ago
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James ********
@Tom ********
 not accepted for extension inside Thailand for Americans
3 years ago
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Tom *********
@James *******
 Thanks, good to know.
3 years ago
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Tom *********
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Kev **********
Visa agent must of been on yaba
3 years ago
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Ray *********
Find another agent.
3 years ago
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Alain ***************
Isn’t the Bank book showing 65k/month income from abroad evidence enough?
3 years ago
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Kev **********
@Alain **************
 but what if it’s only been going in for that last 2 month and u draw it all out straight away
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Kev El Chino Isaac. Has to be 12 months worth of 65k transfers. Yes, you can withdraw it as soon as it hits your account.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
 can you just transfer in the equivalent of 12 months at 65k or do you have to show a history of 12 independent monthly deposits of 65k? If you can just transfer in the lump sum, that's almost the 800k lump sum you aren't supposed to touch once you deposit it, isn't?
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Margarita L Houston. Has to be 12 Calendar month transfers. If you want to do the lump sum 800k, you can't touch it, whereas the 65k each month you can spend every single baht
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bobby *******
 Okay, that's what I thought. Thanks.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
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Bobby ********
Alain Alä Pfaeffli. Yes it is
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
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John ********
Just contact Social Security in Manila by email and have your benefit sent to a Thai bank.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 Don't I have to contact Social Security directly for that?
3 years ago
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John ********
@Margarita ***********
 if youre located in Thailand you contact Social Security located in Manila at the US Embassy.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 Thanks. From what I hear, you risk loosing your Medicare benefits if you have SS direct deposit into your Thai bank account.
3 years ago
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John ********
@Margarita ***********
 you cant use Medicare out of the USA.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 I understand that. However, if I had a long term illness, I might want to return to the US for treatment where there is family to help care for me. I understand that if you give it up, you won't necessarily get it back if you do return to the US.
3 years ago
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John ********
@Margarita ***********
 You never lose it.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 Okay. I just confirmed that you don't lose Part A, and you can opt to keep Part B if you want the expense. Thanks.
3 years ago
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John ********
@Margarita ***********
 Ah, the part b dilemna, at $149 per month and a $200 deductible adds up to $1985 annual expense, that same money can buy a good medical plan in Thailand . Also if you opt out of part b and re enroll in the future a penalty will be added monthly. But you can call Soc Sec foriegn payment division in Baltimore and ask for a technical specialist and apply for a exemption based on living in a foreign country.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
@John *******
 oh wow! Great information to have. Thanks!
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
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Joseph *********
You really need to find another agent.
3 years ago
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Margarita ************
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks everyone for your input. I’ll let the visa agent know.
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Margarita L Houston. I'd suggest you get a new agent, or e'en better, do it yourself!
3 years ago
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Mark ********
@Margarita ***********
 It's not your job to tell your agent how to do things. If they don't know about this, what else don't they know about
3 years ago
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Mark ********
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Bobby ********
As I understand it, the Australian Embassy stopped completing the affidavits because they were signing a legal document which they could not actually verify was genuine. Too many smart computer operators were falsifying documents which embassies did not have the authority to verify. I'd assume the US embassy faced the same problem. However, the current system for US, Australia and UK is more helpful for retirees receiving money from from other sources, such as stock market and property when the pension amount is insufficient. The 65k/month can come from any sources.
3 years ago
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Stephen *******
@Bobby *******
 Sorry, but they were just witnessing a Stat Dec and you needed to sign it in front of them. No witness to a Stat Dec needs to verify its content. It's up to the person signing to make a truthful statement.
3 years ago
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Hugh **********
@Stephen ******
 correct
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Stephen Woods. It's not a Stat Dec, it's an affidavit, and they sign to verify the authenticity of the document. That's why they stopped doing it. Sorry
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Sid *******
@Bobby *******
 As a Canadian I still file taxes every year on Pension income earned in Canada. I just give them a copy of my tax returns taken from Government Website with my SIN number. (gov. Issued ID number) Then with my permission they go to Government Website online verify and issue the letter. Very simple only takes them a few minutes. I don’t understand why the U.S. and the other countries can’t do the same.
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Sid Humby. It's only US, Australia and UK that are different. But it suits people whose income comes from a variety of sources, such as stocks, property etc. Their pension income may be below the 65k/month
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
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Mark ********
@Bobby *******
 So the question remains how and/or why are all the other Embassies still managing to issue these certificates....I can't believe that there wasn't something that could be done on one or both sides to sort the situation out🤔
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
Mark Barron. I don't think it's a big enough issue. Other embassies are probably comfortable with signing the affidavit. It wouldn't surprise me in the future if the 65k/month is extended to all countries
3 years ago
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Bobby ********
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James ********
That Agent does not know what is correct. The US Embassy in Bangkok stopped issuing affidavits of income several years ago.
3 years ago
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Ross ********
The US embassy stopped issuing that certificate years ago
3 years ago
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Ross ********
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Thai Visa Advice and Everything Else
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