Do monthly deposits for a Thai non-O retirement visa extension need to come from a pension?

It was a few years ago for me but after 1 year of Wise transfers not showing as international transfers, the following year Wise transfers to Bangkok Bank showed up as international transfers. Most months I had way over the 65,000 but one month it was 200 baht less. I had to talk to a supervisor at immigration and it finally got passed but barely. The year before when they didn't show us international they wouldn't do it.

First re Wise. I had enormous issues with my extension of stay last month due to using Wise (basically they had changed banking partner without any communication to customers) and the nee partner, Kasikorn, showed the transfers on my SCB bank statements as domestic not international. And, like you i found it impossible to get a confirmation letter of International transfer. I eventually found a way to cobble together an audit trail using UK bank statements, Wise transfer receipts and SCB statements with notes. But Immigration said they would accept that audit trail on that occasion only, because i was able to prove that Wise and Kasikorn had caused the issues not me. But, they made it very clear that I needed to have my bank statements sorted for my next extension. So I no longer use Wise now for my monthly transfer and simply do an international transfer with my UK bank. Costs a bit more and takes a bit longer, but it is safe and reliable.

Re your other question on pension v other sources. I am not aware of any formal notification along the lines you mention. However I havr noticed an increasing interest from Immigration in my pensions, sp I would not be at all surprised if they are now asking for pension sources. The best thing to do is simply go to your local IO and ask them. If they say they only want pensions as sources then point out that the current rules only ask for you to meet the over 50 limit and the financial requirements and you do not have pensions. Put the ball in their court.

That's why it's far easier just to set up the B0 once and not have to deal with trying to do something 12 times perfectly.

With wise if you put the reason for the transaction is to purchase property then it will go through as a international transaction

Every immigration officer has different rules and own rules. So better you ask other visa agents. Probably, the immigration officer who your visa agent is connected required this. Just ask other visa agents in your place. If they all say the same, surely, your local immigration has a new rule or required it.

As for coming from a pension, it depends on the office. I was asked if my income was from a pension, but was not asked to show pension documents. Clear it with your office.

As others have said, income-method transactions do need to be coded as from a foreign source. That's true in all offices that I know of. And yes, sometimes Wise is not successful at doing that. The best way forward is to read a few threads here and figure out if that's going to affect you.

In some offices, I've heard if you explain it to them, show them the transfer from your bank, show it hitting Wise, show it leaving Wise and then hitting your That bank account, that will be enough. You can ask and if they say no, go get the following.

You can always go to the local receiving bank (the first Thai bank that gets your money from Wise to transfer it to your bank) and get documentation that it was an international transfer. It's a pain, but not a disaster.

Or do straight international bank transfers, which tend to be more expensive but are coded correctly.

If you are intending to switch to the income method later.. you will need to evidence the necessary level of deposits to your Thai bank account.. for an extension based on retirement this means credits totalling a minimum of 65,000 baht every calendar month for a period of 12 months.. you cannot miss a month and double up another month.. or make any shortfalls up along the way.. on the assumption that the aggregate deposits over the year will still total 780,000.. furthermore you need to start the deposits 2 months before you apply for your last extension using the capital method.. so they are active and clearly visible at least 1-month before the date of your extension.. this is necessary because you will normally want to apply for your next extension 1-month prior to the expiry of your current stamp.. and if your deposits commenced in the month following the last extension you will only achieve 11 credits prior to your next renewal.. and if your immigration office allows an earlier application.. such as 45-days prior as is the case in CM.. then you may only have 10 credits to your bank account depending on what time of the month your transfers are made.. so if you want to keep all your options open you should begin making monthly transfers 2-month's prior to your most recent extension.. but as an absolute minimum 1-month prior.. hope that helps 👍

Following

All Wise transfers into Thai Bank accounts now come through Kasikorn bank.. so upon reaching the destination account held with another bank they are recorded by the receiving bank as an in-country transfer.. instead of being recorded as coming from overseas.. so if you don't bank with Kasikorn there are hoops to jump through to obtain proof of the true origin.. so it makes sense to have a Kasikorn account (or at least a secondary account with them) if you favour Wise for your money transfers.. but it's not necessary to prove incoming transfers are funded by an active overseas pension at all.. so if transfers are coming out of savings rather than from a pension it's irrelevant from immigration's perspective.. either you consulted a very naive agent.. or more likely one that fully understands the rules and simply wanted to generate fear to get some business.. either way they are not worthy and should be avoided 👍

If this is indeed "printed in the Royal Gazette" it can be counted as a step backward for the retirement visa. Why should they care whether your income deposits are from a pension, rentals, dividends or a forken circus?! What could be the motivation for this change?

this kind of things can happen at any time regarding immigration specially. No one can guarantee. That is a good reason of why I always hire an agent. An immigration officer's power is very big in Thailand. If they need something from you, you must bring it to them if you want an extension. You agent should know that immigration officer. So that is why agent. All agents have connection with Immigration officers. And, i think putting 800,000 THB in a thai bank can become a trend that all immigration officers require. Many other countries already required such conditions. Putting considerable money in the bank and not touchable as long as you stay there.

if so, what about people who can not receive pension yet? and, some people after retired withdrew all at once. They can not go to monthly method?

Needs to show up in your statement as a foreign transaction not a local one

Udon Thani Immigration told me that to accept the 12 monthly 65 000bht deposit they must come from international transfer and I also need a letter from my source of pension confirming the amount received(before taxes), not from savings.

In Hua Hin immi they told me same. Or 65k+ per month and 400k in bank

With regards to Wise transfers if they don't show as international transfers in your bank you have to determine which was the 1st bank in Thailand the transfer went through and it is this bank you need to request the proof of international transfer from. There's a comprehensive FAQ on the Wise website covering Thai baht transfers

Only requirement is that the funds be foreign. If you've waited to start deposits until now, you're too late for your next extension. You need 12 consecutive months BEFORE you're application for extension . If you'd have asked here instead of your "agent", we could have advised you and saved you a year.

Depending on your immigration office, they may accept bank statements that list the deposits as foreign funds or they may require a credit deposit receipt for each deposit.

I see people suggesting asking agents for advice on visa matters and this is exactly why it's not a good idea! The money does not have to come from a pension.

Agent is incorrect, immigration only require that it comes from overseas.

Your agent is talking horseshit. Immigration are only concerned with the funds coming from overseas not the source of the funds. Ditch the agent and do the application yourself, very easy.

My funds are transferred to BBL via Wise every month and show as an International Transfer. Ask the Bank for a Credit Advice to confirm this.