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What should I do if Chiang Rai Immigration does not accept my retirement visa income from Poland?

O-A Visa Chiang Rai Immigration Visa Extension Retirement Visa Income Requirements Polish Passport International Transfer Issues

Aug 8, 2025

16 days ago

Jacek ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Hi, I moved to Chiang Rai from another province, and my O-A retirement visa expires soon. I'm using the 65k monthly income method. I emailed the Chiang Rai Immigration to ask for a list of required documents. Based on their reply, I prepared my TM30, insurance, lease agreement, bank statement (printed online), and a copy of my passport. I brought everything to the Immigration office at Central Plaza Chiang Rai. However, the officer at the information desk looked over my documents and said they do not accept monthly income from my country😳 He gave me a yellow leaflet and explaining that they only accept monthly income from the UK, US, and Australia. I'm a Polish passport holder, and this is my second extension. What should I do? I would really appreciate any advice or help 🙏 Thank you!

#ChiangRaiImmigration #OAVisa #OAExtend

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TLDR : Answer Summary

A Polish expat in Chiang Rai faces issues with extending their O-A retirement visa due to their income not being accepted from their home country. Despite preparing documentation as advised by the immigration office, the local officials only accept income from specific countries (UK, US, Australia). Comments suggest obtaining an affidavit letter from the embassy or exploring other immigration offices like Mae Sai that may have more lenient policies. The situation highlights inconsistencies in immigration practices across different regions of Thailand.

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Charles ***********

I have found the Chiang Rai immigration office to be very hard to deal with.

Mae Sai is much more accommodating, they seem friendly by comparison.

15 days ago

Jan ******************

Print out your latest tax return or annual statement from your pension provider and send it or email it to your embassy for a affidavit letter if your embassy offers this service.

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16 days ago

Nicholas *******

I'm in Chiang Rai and extended my non o retirement visa in March using the 65k monthly income method using bank statements as proof. I do have a British passport. Very strange to hear only certain nationalities qualify for this method. You could try the office in Mae Sai and see what they say. They used to have a better reputation for service and knowledge. I haven't used them recently.

16 days ago

Ellie *******

@Nicholas ******

, because the British embassy in Thailand wouldn't issue an income affidavit. You are in a different situation from the OP's. Please check Tod's comment.

16 days ago

Jacek ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you for your reply. This is valuable information. Did you provide bank statements printed online or issued and stamped by the bank? Did they request a letter from your embassy?

16 days ago

Nicholas *******

Hi Jacek, per the helpful information provided by Todd and then Ellie, my information does not appear to help you. Based on the answers given, it seems that if the embassy of your country can issue an income affidavit, then some of the Thai immigration offices expect this to be provided. As mentioned, you could try the Mae Sai office as a long shot. For the bank statements, I had downloaded them from online and visited my local branch and asked them to stamp each page, which they reluctantly agreed to do. They would prefer for the statements to be ordered from them and then they would stamp - this method has a lead time, I think seven days, and a small cost associated with it. Best of luck to you.

16 days ago

Reply to

Nicholas *******

Jacek ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Please ignore the file attachment above. Correct image added below.

16 days ago

Graham ******

If your Non-OA is about to expire (the actual Visa not your entry stamp) get new acceptable insurance and do a border bounce to get stamped in for another 12 months (or up to the expiry of your insurance if less)

16 days ago

Jacek ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Graham *****

This is my next extension, not re-entry. Previously, my monthly income was accepted in another province. Immigration Chiang Rai told me I couldn't use monthly income here unless I had income from the UK, US, and Australia and showed a letter from the embassy.

16 days ago

Graham ******

@Jacek **********

Ok, again terminology matters. Your Non-OA is not about to expire, it is your current Extension of Stay that will expire.

16 days ago

Jacek ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

@Graham *****

You're right.

16 days ago

Reply to

Jacek ***********

Tod *********

Sadly there's not much you can do.. Many immigration offices have that unofficial policy that if your embassy here issues the income affidavit notary letter you have to use that for monthly income method and can't use international deposit to meet the financial requirement

Contact your embassy and see if you can get the income affidavit, if you can get it from them (many do it by email now so you don't have to go to the embassy)

If they don't offer it go back to the Chiang Rai office and say you want to file an appeal about their policy of not allowing monthly income method by international transfer..

16 days ago

Tod *********

Delete that image from your post please 🙂

16 days ago

Jacek ***********

ORIGINAL POSTER

Sorry, FB doesn’t allow me to remove it after publishing. I added a list of required documents by Chiang Rai Immigration in the comment.

16 days ago

Reply to

Jacek ***********

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