What are the current requirements for proving income when applying for a retirement visa extension in Thailand?

Aug 1, 2018
6 years ago
Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
In and out of Burirum immigration in 35 mins with a year's extension to my retirement visa

A reentry stamp and my 90 day. Yesterday downloaded a TM 7 form and handed it in with all my documents

He put the form to on side and gave me another form to fill in plus 2 more forms printed off with my photo on both

Then another officer has started looking at my proof of income letter ,he's worked my income at 42 baht to the pound and it just scraped in

When I explained its 43,5 today not in this office it's 42

He then asked me where's your proof that they worked my proof of income out from. Fortunately I had the letter from the consolent with my bank statements from my 2 British accounts

I showed him every under lined was money in and all the unmarked amounts where either paid in Thai shops or Thai ATM machines

He went on to tell me that this was no good

I pointed at the boss and told him it was good enough for him last year and good enough for Kap choeng/churn the year before

He then said he'd let it go this year but next year he wants all my income put into a Thai bank

Sorry so long winded what good is a proof of income letter if he wants to see my pensions transferred to a Thai bank account before spending
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The post describes a personal experience of obtaining a retirement visa extension in Burirum, Thailand, highlighting issues with proving income during the process. The individual received a year's extension along with a reentry stamp and a 90-day update after presenting a proof of income letter from the consulate and bank statements. They faced scrutiny from immigration officers regarding the income exchange rate used and were advised that future processes might require their pension to be transferred to a Thai bank account. Comments from the community reflect differing experiences and advice on interacting with immigration, emphasizing variability in interpretation by officers and the importance of being prepared with documents.
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Ken *******
Just Embassy letter they didn't ask for anything else...but I had the bank statements just in case..
@Pa**
Tod *********
There is NO requirement on the books that you bring even a single baht into the country via any means when using the affidavit of income from abroad notary from your consulate to meet the financial requirements for yearly extensions of stays. You can always be asked to prove that the amount on the consulate letter is backed up by something but that's it.

I went round and round about this very topic with some pretentious immigration officer when I used to do "field trips" to help people with their visa extensions. You got your extension so you're fine this year, BUT if this comes up next year I'd stand my ground. If push comes to shove they'll back down, They know they don't have any rule they can refer to.
Mary ********
Moving your money to a Thailand bank subjects you to currency fluctuations. Not a good thing. Go to a different immigration office.
Bernd ***********
@Ivan ***********
Sorry, you are right. You said THB...and then it's correct .
Ivan ************
Bernd I said THB has been getting stronger. So long term, at least over the last few decades at least, it would been advantageous to have your money in THB rather than GBP. If you look at your graph, in 2016 £1 would get you 55 THB. Now it is 43. So THB is stronger now than it was in 2016.
Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Bernd **********
43,5 this afternoon
Tod *********
@Mary *******
, you cannot pick and choose what immigration office you use for extensions. Since they went to their Zone Immigration policy quite a few years ago you must use the immigration office that serves the area where you live for extensions of stays.
Bernd ***********
@Ivan ***********
are you sure, GBP is getting stronger?
David ****************
@Biff ******
correct.
Ivan ************
You can move money to a Thai bank but keep it in the original currency. For that option for the extension, the money just has to be in a Thai bank, it does not have to be in THB. You can keep it in GBP and just convert it as you need it.

There may be other reasons you don't WANT to move 800,000 into a very low interest Thai bank account, but this is just to address the currency fluctuation issue. Also "currency fluctuation" goes both ways, over the long run THB has been getting stronger vs GBP.
Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
As far as I know you use the immigration office in the province you live. I live in Burirum but for 15or so years I used Kap choeng/churn Surin as its 20 mins down the road

A couple of year back they transferred me to Burirum immigration 1 hr and 10 mins away
Biff *******
As far as I'm aware, you need to use the immigration office that covers the area where you live. You can't pick and choose.
Biff *******
Every office, even as far as every individual officer, has the power to interpret things as they see fit.

If you get a Thai bank account, and transfer your pension payments to it, you’ll end up saving money anyway so probably a good idea to open one.
Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Ha Ha Ken they told me 42 when my wife told them 43.5 he said not here today it's 42

Fortunately I had enough Ken did you give English bank statements for proof of income or Thai bank book?
Ken *******
They asked me at Mahasarakham immigration what the exchange rate was to the £ I said 43.5 and that was excepted....2 extra forms which they filled in asking my parents details Nok's parents details...when I first came to Thailand...how many times I'd been married before...mine was a second year extension married to a Thai National.
Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I'm not too worried about it Biff I got me visa and me reentry + me 90 day and the officer that actually dealt with it was a diamond and in and out in 35 mins loverly
Biff *******
He probably just got some bee in his bonnet about it on that day and decided he was going to give you a hard time ;)
Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I've got 2 and I probably transfer over half my pensions into mine or mine and my wife's joint account Without getting too involved I'm aware you can't use joint accounts for visas but ones from a jointly owend property in England And some personal issues why I use an ATM but thanks for the advice
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