Answered2 months ago
How was your experience at Surin immigration for a retirement visa application?
I want to share a story. Right now I'm in Surin immigration. I walked in at .. 3:50pm. No one here, I'm the only one. The staff could not be nicer helping me gather the forms and get them in order. ( I declare the 65000 Bhat monthly method) I did stop by the local Bangkok Bank and picked up the account verification letter. So I had everything including the monthly statements I downloaded from the Bangkok Bank mobile app. My point is with all the bellyaching around immigration this could not be easier. It's 4:11 and I'm getting my passport right now with my new retirement visa stamp.
Answer summary
The user shared a positive experience at Surin immigration when applying for a retirement visa, highlighting the helpfulness of the staff and the ease of the process. They mentioned using bank statements downloaded from the Bangkok Bank mobile app without needing stamped documents, which sparked a discussion among commenters regarding the varying experiences at different immigration offices in Thailand.
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Pino ********
Now try Pattaya
Don **********
OPPino Soccio I did for 5 years.. it was of course nothing like this. I'd get there at 7:30 -8 :00 am just to get a number to get in line.
Gray *******
Many get treated completely different. They attempted to turn me around for not having an updated marriage document.
Graeme *******
Mine is the same, guess those that chose to live in city areas or tommy tourist areas, have the long wait.
Gregory ********
Isan
Alan **********
Just to be clear, you were already ON the 65K per month method and renewing ?
Or were you just now switching from the 800K balance TO the 65K per month method ?
TIA
Or were you just now switching from the 800K balance TO the 65K per month method ?
TIA
Don **********
OPAlan Rothwell yes been on 65k for 5 years buy, there has been a lot of talk about Bangkok Bank not furnishing the 12 overseas remittance advice and other things. Mine said Bhatnet on their statement which only indicates transfer but they accepted it with my Social Security statement of income.
Henrik ****
Retirement Extension is quite easy. You should try Marriage Extension....
Don **********
OPThank you. It was a non stressful time
Herve *********
Surin is not Pattaya
Eric *******
Encouraging. I’m about to go through this and I’m happy to see some offices are easy and seamless.
Don **********
OPNope never been an issue for me
Nongnuch ********
I can't almost believe that you were allowed to print out the 12-months account statements from the App and present to your Immigration without the original letterhead from the bank, their stamp and their signature. Reports throughout all other groups indicate that Immigration offices do not accept such App printouts
Don **********
OPNongnuch Kamdee and they say Bhatnet. I found out that the US government sends your Social Security through Bangkok Bank in NYC and then on to Thailand. So I did not even need a statement showing international transfers.. just my Uas social security statement
Nongnuch ********
Don Crawford Amazing, truly amazing. In Bangkok, Immigration would refuse to service you if you didn't show up with a bank statement on their original paper with their letterhead. Some provincial Immigrations are indeed very relaxed. Myself I use Sisaket Immigration since 18 years. They fill out all the forms for me, I just have to sign
Don **********
OPNongnuch Kamdee lol.. yes I forgot a few forms which they filled out and had me sign.
Don **********
OPNongnuch Kamdee yep. Exactly what I did. And I printed August statement today. So my story is exactly true
Gray *******
Don Crawford Did you have an account verification letter from the bank?
Allan ********
Good on you my imagination is the same just walk in any time never busy last marriage renewal in and out under 1 hr hope you're having great day 😀.
Martin ********
There’s a trade off for living in a big city and that is at least a full day at CW.
Kevin *******
Martin Drazen 😆 🤣 😂
Kevin *******
1 swallow doesn't make a summer !
Alan *********
Kevin Dunne but makes a great night out...
Tom *********
Shouldn't this story begin with Once Upon A Time
On ******
Any proof of the source of the foreign mthly 65k .. ie. Social Welfare letter confirmation of pension pmts, required?
Peter *******
On Edge Don't need
Don **********
OPOn Edge I used US Social Security statement print out. From my account.
Jonathan **********
And you are in a small town in Isan, if it were any other way I would be surprised. You might consider not assuming everyone’s experience is the same as yours.
Don **********
OPJonathan Seraphim I didn't. I lived in Pattaya for 5 years and spent lots of time in Jomtium immigration office. My point is that it's not always a bad experience
Jonathan **********
Don Crawford Yeah, I’ve walked into the old 90 day check-in at Changwattana at 4:00 in the afternoon and walked straight up to the counter. It can happen…
Alan **********
Don Crawford Your use of "bellyaching" does not convey "Just my experience", or "Not always bad",,,,,,,, imo
Don **********
OPAlan Rothwell in that regard.. I hear mostly bad experiences.. I wanted to convey a good experience. But some people like you obviously will probably never have a good experience
On ******
Jonathan Seraphim Exactly. Jomtien are tired angry over worked public servants
Jonathan **********
On Edge yeah, it really bugs me when people say this or that was their experience and expect everyone else to agree. Reality, especially in Thailand, just doesn’t work that way. I could say I haven’t waited more than a few minutes to do my 90-day in the last couple of years and I wouldn’t be lying, but I also wouldn’t expect anybody else to have the same experience. Having a bad back and needing a cain to get around does have it’s perks at Immigration and on public transpo occassionally, despite being painful and a pain in the ass…
Mike ******
Awesome
Steven *********
Maybe a dumb question. But do you have to print out the bank statements or can you just bring it up on your bank app?
Don **********
OPSteven Sheldon I would print them out. I did, and it seemed that was the correct process
Russell *******
The exception that proves the rule.
Don **********
OPRussell Lynch I lived 5 years in Pattaya. I'm just saying it's not always the same
Arnold **********
Good to hear someone not complaining
Ian **********
My local office is the same: Nakhonsawan. Everybody tells you to go early, but like you, I go late and always quiet.
RadiantC********
Ian Morrison I've been to that office once. Quiet and no one else there but they still take 30-60 minutes to process paperwork (which is not that bad but just saying).
Denny *******
I use Surin immigration and they’ve always been very helpful and it’s a really good atmosphere in there and generally quiet
Don **********
OPDenny Moore I can't be more surprised coming from Pattaya..this was like the local post office, everyone helpful.
Denny *******
Don Crawford yeah u actually don’t feel like your in an immigration office
I’ve done a few extensions at Jomtien over the years and that place is so so different compared to Surin
I’ve done a few extensions at Jomtien over the years and that place is so so different compared to Surin
Mike ******
It takes Pattaya Immigration TWO visits usually on 2 consecutive days though sometimes over a (long) weekend. I think they get a % of the car-park fee!
Don **********
OPMike Bell lol.. I lived there 5 years .I know.. crazy good today
Robert ********
Guess surin is not a busy office. Takes all day in Chiang Mai. Sometimes 2.
Greg *****
Great news, glad to hear a happy camper. Can I ask though did you need to have the statements stamped at the branch or they accepted from the app. Thanks for any heads up
Don **********
OPGreg Bee lol, I actually went to the bank at 2:30. I had already downloaded the statements , the branch for 100 bhat made me the account verification letter..I raced over to immigration and arrived 40 minutes before closing
Greg *****
Don Crawford thanks Don..so did the bank stamp the statements
Don **********
OPGreg Bee nope . Just print outs. I highlighted the deposits for them..she thanked me for making it easier
Paul ******
It’s nice to hear the good stories too 🙏👍
Nick **********
I use Kap Choeng(Surin div 4)always helpful and fill all my paperwork for tm30 tm47.great office🥰
RadiantC********
Nick O'reilly Any military checkpoints there sensitive about foreigners in the area given how close you are to Cambodia, or is that limited to the last 2km before the actual crossing (which is almost certainly off limits to outsiders)?
Nick **********
RadiantCamel1017 yes but rarely manned.just explain i go to immigration,show passport and on you go..ive never had issues at Kap Choeng but last nov/ december it was closed and Surin city immo took over,which abit further for me😎
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