What are the new requirements for proof of funds for retirement extensions in Thailand?

@Tod ********

Hello Todd, just an update, I just completed my extension yesterday, and wanted to confirm that I did have bank statements showing multiple deposits each month that totaled over the required 65,000 and there was no problem.

bkk bank would only hive me, according to my branch, the last six months of statements for 100 baht, and told me I would have to wait a week or two if I wanted the entire 12 previous months. I challenged it a bit, but decided it wasnt worth an argument, as I also needed them to provide me the letter, which they did (for 100 baht), and they updated my bank book as well.

i had also one of the last income affidavit from the consulate (which should have been sufficient for six months, but not in Chiang Mai).

Of course, completed app docs given, bank statements, bank letter, bank book, income affidavit, etc and all done and have my one more year.

@Sa***

at least at most immigration offices the affidavit of income from abroad is still accepted at face value without any support documentation (Chiang Mai is the exception, as they require proof the money on the affidavit is backed up with something).

Pick one and stick with it, either give the affidavit and hold your line on using it or go for the 12 months of overseas transfers using the monthly income method.

@Mike *******

i will let you know. I will go to my local bkk bank branch, pay the fee, get my statements, and highlight each international transfer on each month's statement, the total clearly each month well over the 65,000 baht requirement.

i think Tod is correct, that some IO do not know the rules and stick to the old way-- my own agent said it would be easy if I had just moved the 800,000 baht months ago to my Thai bank acct, but i did not want that much money just sitting here.

i also have an income affidavit from the US consulate here obtained on my agent's advice at the end of last Dec-- supposedly, they were to be good for the next six months, but my agent said i still need the 800,000 or the monthly 65,000 plus deposits-- not sure, then, why I bothered getting the income affidavit.

@Tod ********

i may have to argue if they refuse, because I had the same understanding as you.

@Mike *******

Mike and Tod, I will find out soon myself as I do just what Mike does-- i transfer once a week or so, for the same reason as Mike-- the total per month is well over the 65,000 amount--my pension check is deposited in my US bank and then I transfer as needed via ach bkk bank ANY (yes I know that ends in April, but i have a full 12 months of more than 65,000 deposits each month. I will likely use transferwise in the future, but since my retirement visa expires mid February, I am going in the next day or so, via my agent, to renew.

ahhh, I asked about that very thing in Bangkok :O

The head of the section that does (retirement and marriage extensions) said as long as the transfers in each month added up to at least 65K baht they would be okay no matter how many came in that month.

So the real answer is technically it meets the requirements but they're too afraid to make a decision on their own. :/ That is a fail in my books. New policy or not, they've known since BEFORE it came into effect what it was gonna be..

@Rob***

as long as the monthly deposits are in excess of 65K baht EVERY month for a year, there is no requirement to disclose where the money comes from, just a print out of the incoming transfers certified (stamped) by the bank where you hold your account in thailand .

The English version is or pension or interest or dividend. Income out of investment is not mentioned.

@Mi**

, unfortunately it's none of the immigration officers business if that money continues to come in AFTER you get the extension.

The requirement for a year extension using monthly income method is 12 previous months of at least 65K baht a month comin' into a thai account from overseas.

It doesn't matter if you stopped transferring in the money the day you got your extension, all that would do is mess up the NEXT yearly extension NOT this one.

@Mike *******

did you take in the thai versions of the amendment for them?

@Mike *******

Then I would file an appeal or a complaint. That is NOT how the rule is written.

@Mi**

did you have a minimum of 65K baht transferring in from overseas to a thai bank account in your name only for the previous 12 months prior to you applying for this extension?

@Robert ******

good point (y)

The immigration officer in Bangkok was really specific when she explained you couldn't do 130K baht transfer in one month and then skip a month thinking you already sent the 65K the previous month.

It's a minimum of 65K baht EVERY month for the 12 months prior to you applying for your extension of stay..

It is minimum 65.000 Thb a month, NOT an total count of deposits divided by 12 to get an average monthly deposit.

I would file an appeal (which you CAN DO) or a complaint or push it as high as you can.

@Mike *******

I posted the thai version in the original post.

@Mike *******

I messaged the O/P and asked for the thai version AND googled around for it in thai too BUT so far I haven't heard back or found it.

Thanks, let us know. It is indeed a new procedure, so every hopefully a success story is a good one.