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What happens if I accidentally drop below the 400,000 baht balance needed for a retirement visa in Thailand?
retirement visaThailand immigrationbank balance requirementsvisa extensionexpat advicePhuket immigrationretirement in Thailand
Dec 9, 2021
4 years ago
Tom ***********
ORIGINAL POSTERMy friend has lived in Phuket on a retirement visa for a number of years. During the months that 400,000 baht was to be left in the bank, my friend mistakenly removed too much money and the balance was about 10,000 below minimum for one day. My friend realized the mistake and deposited money to exceed the minimum the next day. Has anyone personally had a similar experience? If so, how long ago and what was the result when attempting to renew their retirement visa? My friend has heard several third person stories so if you don't have firsthand experience it's not necessary to respond to this inquiry.
TLDR : Answer Summary
The situation described involves concerns about falling below the minimum bank balance of 400,000 baht necessary for a retirement visa in Thailand. Several commenters shared their experiences, suggesting that occasional lapses are often overlooked, especially if correct funds are restored promptly. However, others advised caution, with anecdotes of complications arising during visa renewals, such as being required to reapply or facing scrutiny based on daily bank transactions. While some recommend not mentioning the incident during application, experiences vary significantly based on the immigration officer encountered and the specific circumstances surrounding each case.
NON-O RETIREMENT VISA RESOURCES / SERVICES
- Go to the Retirement Visa Section for information on requirements, including age restrictions, financial requirements, and necessary documentation.
- For immediate assistance, contact Thai Visa Centre directly via LINE at @ThaiVisaCentre or Email them.
- Explore recent discussions by using the Non-O Retirement Visa tag in the search box at the top of the page.
- Join the Thai Visa Advice Facebook Group to ask your questions, and get advice from others.
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Dawn **********
Yes, I’ve had a similar issue. I’ve PM’d you.
George *************
My advice is to try it as early as you can (depending on the immigration office it can be 30-45 days before your permission to stay expires). If unsuccessful, and it's likely it will be unsuccessful, use an agent. Make sure the agent will get your extension from your local immigration office and that they understand it will be just for this year because of the shortfall and that you intend to resume doing it yourself next year. If not acceptable to the agent get another one.
Tom ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@George ************
yes. You describe a very reasonable course of action.Reply to
Tom ***********
Reply
Nick ************
My experience is that they will not renew if you go below the minimum during the year even though they told me they would if I deposited the right amount for two months. Went back after two months and still no! Cant believe a word they say as they just make it as difficult as possible.
Miki *******
I just use agents, why complicate life:)
Jeff ********
You can use a reputable visa agency to get around this as mentioned in the comments section but don’t use the person below
Ken ******
possibly need more soon, mandatory health insurance going to need more:
*********************************************************************************************************
Jack **********
why they have access to your bank accounts?
Richard ********
@Jack *********
no they don't, only copies provided. It would be illegal for them to have access to your account?Reply to
Richard ********
Reply
Russell *********
wow .. I always thought it was 800,000 baht for 3 months. I just renewed back in July..
is it down to 400,000 baht now ?
is it down to 400,000 baht now ?
Russell *********
wow... thanks .... how they check the 3 months after ?? lol
George *************
@Russell ********
From the 12-month bank statement they require. They want it 12 months from when you received your last extension of stay. Easy to check that the balance was not under 800k for the first three months after the extension was granted. Fail to meet that requirement and you will likely not be given another extension of stay based on banked savings.Reply to
George *************
Reply
George *************
@Russell ********
The minimum balance for retirement extension is 800k two months before application and three months after application, for the rest of the year 400k.Karim ***************
@Russell ********
retirement visa is 800,000, marriage visa 400,000Reply to
Karim ***************
Reply
Nick ************
They will always find a way to prevent you getting your extension. Dont waste your time and just pay an agent. No hassle. No stress. No mountain of copies of all the papers you have ever had and first class service if you pick carefully.
Harry ********
@Nick ***********
Don't know where you're going here.I've now now notched up over twenty retirement and marriage visa extensions.
Not one gram of 'stress'. In fact we're normally in and out of our immigration office in twenty minutes, probably less time than if you went to an agent.
Nick ************
@Harry *******
then you have a much more cooperative immigration office. Congratulations. On many occasions I have asked for information on several issues only to be told something different when I comply. I had to visit 8 times before I finaly got the necessary documents to obtain a driving license. Each time something different required and another list.Reply to
Nick ************
Reply
Harry ********
@Nick ***********
Total crap and potentially very expensiveSupposing at 50 you start using an agent and you're still in Thailand when you're say 70, that's ฿300,000-400,000 you've UNNECESSARILY wasted or over £8000.00.
Nick ************
@Harry *******
some folk pay £*****
for elite Visa for only 5 years. My option looks quite good value.Henrik ****
@Nick ***********
, it is not exactly legal to use agents to "circumvent" the rules.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Henrik ****
@Nick ***********
, not true. No need to pay an agent for nothing.Nick ************
@Henrik ***
I dont pay for nothing. I pay for a service that is stress free, efficient and reliable.Henrik ****
@Nick ***********
, it is expensive and most applicants do not need to pay for such a service.Harry ********
@Henrik ***
Sure mate. The only reason (it seems to me) to use an agent for a visa extension is if you do not have the funds and they'll magic an illicit bank letter...Nick ************
@Harry *******
ive had the funds for over 3 months but still no !Henrik ****
@Harry *******
, I agree with you especially for a retirement visa.Reply to
Henrik ****
Reply
Robert **********
Try asking an agent
Philip **********
What country is he from? I’m Canadian and don’t need the 800 K in bank. My pension is more than 65 K a month. Canada is one of the few countries who issues verification letters for proof of funds.
Henrik ****
@Philip *********
, it will be possible to use the income method from most countries even your embassy is not issuing an affidavit. The case is exactly the word "verification", which most will not provide. But most will legalize documents from your source(s) of income, which most immigrations will accept as proof of income.Philip **********
@Henrik ***
Ummm You’re incorrect about my embassy. They issue verification AKA Affidavit letters to show proof of income. I got one last year and I’m going again in a few days to get another one. Canada issues them. USA, UK, Australia does not.Henrik ****
@Philip *********
, you misunderstand completely what I am saying. I am talking about the countries that are not ready to issue affidavits. In most such cases, it will still be possible to do the income method as explained.Philip **********
@Henrik ***
Yup I read “Even your country is not issuing….” The “IF” was missing. Even if your country is not issuing….
My apologies.
Henrik ****
Philip Houghton, the reason why most embassies are not - any longer - ready to issue affidavits is that the Thai government changed the policy to ask the embassy to "guarantee" the income as stated by the affidavit in Thai bath. For several reasons, most embassies immediately stopped issuing affidavits. But there is still a way out in most cases as long as you are not asking the embassy to guarantee anything, but just asking them to confirm the authenticity of your income documentation and asking the immigration to do the money exchange calculation. You will need to ask your immigration also for being ready for that.
George *************
@Henrik ***
Most embassies did not stop, only US, UK, and Australia. And no embassy on earth guarantees anything. Those three embassies simply didn't want to be in the business and so they unilaterally got out of it. How else to explain that most other countries continue to provide embassy letters acceptable to Thai Immigration? How are other countries able to do that but the US, UK, and Australia are not?Reply to
George *************
Reply
Dennis ***********
@Philip *********
Canada Pension & OAS statement.?Reply to
Dennis ***********
Reply
Wayne ******
I had to leave the country and apply again for 2000 baht mistake by my wife ...in the end I paid a agent to do it for me
Alan *******
I had the same problem.
Had my renewal rejected 18th Oct. Got a 60 day Covid ext till 16th Dec. On 19th Oct put the balance back to 420k.
Had to season for 60 days, til 19th Dec, so I would have been on overstay for 3 days @ B500 per day and an Overstay Stamp in PP.
Went to CW yesterday and got a 60 day family visit extension valid til 14th Feb 2022. Wifey not happy as it took most of the day up.
Going back Feb next year for 12 month extension.
They DO check Bank Book and the deposits thoroughly at CW .
Had my renewal rejected 18th Oct. Got a 60 day Covid ext till 16th Dec. On 19th Oct put the balance back to 420k.
Had to season for 60 days, til 19th Dec, so I would have been on overstay for 3 days @ B500 per day and an Overstay Stamp in PP.
Went to CW yesterday and got a 60 day family visit extension valid til 14th Feb 2022. Wifey not happy as it took most of the day up.
Going back Feb next year for 12 month extension.
They DO check Bank Book and the deposits thoroughly at CW .
Tom ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Alan ******
CW stands for immigration office or something else?Alan *******
Reply to
Alan *******
Reply
Bob **********
If one day they probably won't even notice and if they do I believe there will overlook it
Richard **************
Never forget, they don’t like you and they don’t want you in their country
Jim **********
@Richard *************
perhaps it is your rediculous post about there being no Red Bull for sale and it was a policeman not a woman.Richard **************
@Jim *********
perhaps you should reread my comment and tell me where said there was no Red Bull. I’m eager to hear about that.Jim **********
@Richard *************
"All the energy drinks in Thailand. Since the son of the Red Bull company killed a women and daddy bought his freedom there is no Red Bull for sale. Some stores still have it but Thailand without Red Bull?". 2 days ago post setting public. Dementia or just not honest?Richard **************
@Jim *********
what does some stores still have it. What the holy fuck does that mean to you?Jim **********
@Richard *************
I understand, you didn't say it and if you did what difference does it make. Zero credibility is your goalRichard **************
@Jim *********
enjoy misinterpreting things and then arguing about it on social mediaReply to
Richard **************
Reply
Martin *********
@Richard *************
... generally they are indifferent but if you get above your station - owning a business - or your being treated better than them....Different game.
The rose tinted glasses mob won't see that.
Martin *********
English teachers are always welcome in Thailand.... 😄
Rose tinted glasses optional..
Rose tinted glasses optional..
Jim **********
@Martin ********
you obviously have nothing to worry about then do you?Martin *********
@Jim *********
is it a question ...Jim **********
@Martin ********
usually the question mark (❓) is indication that a question is being asked. An example of this would be " don't you think and don't you think ❓" have two different meanings and likely two different responses
Martin *********
@Jim *********
...you spend waaay to much time on Facebook rather then lookin through your 'Rose tinted Glasses' mate ...Jim **********
@Martin ********
"then" looking would suggest I spend time on Facebook and after look through rose tinted glasses. I am sure you really wanted to use the word "than". It's those subtle differences that make the English language so difficult to master for some and keeps them from " getting above their station". You have answered my question unwittingly.Reply to
Jim **********
Reply
Dan **********
@Richard *************
Nah, that's just you.Karim ***************
@Richard *************
uncalled for really. In this world, some people are a55h0les and, some are not.Reply to
Karim ***************
Reply
John ********
I had the same situation as I had mistakenly paid a bill from the wrong account, they gave me a two month visa due to Covid and required I come back after the account had the sufficient balance for a full 3 months. Even though I had another account with combined showed over 800k they didn’t care.
Bob *******
I’m only commenting because you said not to
Russell *********
lmao .. yea
Karim ***************
@Bob ******
rebel.Reply to
Karim ***************
Reply
Dave **********
I had the same problem! I was ok because after the money I took out, I still had over 3 months before my visa extension was due! They advised, if it was less than 3 months, I would have to start over again for the whole procedure of applying for a retirement visa!
Nick ************
@Dave *********
they told me two months so I went back two months after transferring the money and they told me something completely different!Tom ***********
ORIGINAL POSTER@Dave *********
interesting. Thank you.Reply to
Tom ***********
Reply
Bonnie *******
They are going to look at your balance for that day when the money was deposited and if it has been in long enough to be seasoned. We did not have to show daily records
George *************
@Bonnie ******
A bank statement stamped/signed by the bank is required to get a retirement extension in Phuket. The bank statement will allow the immigration officer to determine if you fell below any of the mandated minimum balances required from the time of your previous extension of stay. It's unlikely it will be missed as that's what the IO is specifically checking for.Reply to
George *************
Reply
Wayne ********
expect the worst case a friend of mine has similar and was given the run around and had to reapply again for retirement and had to leave the country and return after a lot of expense but it all depends which immigration guy u get
Kool *******
From my understanding they go by the monthly balance, not daily.
Karim ***************
Tell him not to even mention it when attempting to renew the visa. Don’t draw attention to it.
Jonathan *******
@Karim **************
they check bank statements and the bank book. They may be lucky and not get busted buts it's highly unlikelyKarim ***************
@Jonathan ******
at this stage, he has nothing to lose. He should go in and charm the hell out of whoever his immigration officer is. Make them like you before they even start looking at the bank book and they will be more inclined to overlook the discrepancy.Jonathan *******
@Karim **************
Agreed, nothing to lose at allReply to
Jonathan *******
Reply
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