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What should I do if the British embassy can't provide a letter to prove my state pension for Thai immigration?

Thai immigrationUK state pensionVisa requirementsNon-O visaFinancial proof for visaInternational money transferEmbassy letterRetirement visaExpat financial documentation
Sep 11, 2024
2 months ago
Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Immigration says it’s better to get letter from British embassy to prove I’m getting state pension, I phoned British embassy and asked could they give me a letter, The Woman on the phone said they have nothing to do with pensions.

Any ideas what to do now
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TLDR : Answer Summary
The user is seeking advice on proving their state pension to Thai immigration, as the British embassy declined to provide a relevant letter. They received suggestions to provide bank statements from their Thai bank or proof of international transfers, as the embassy stopped issuing such letters in 2018. The conversation highlights various ways to demonstrate financial viability for visa applications, including using statements from the international pension unit in the UK.
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Ellie *******
I'd apologise first for that I cannot say for sure.

I remember there was a report (tried to search, but couldn't find the exact one). This person had to get proof of source of income (pension) from his home country as his embassy doesn't issue an affidavit. He wanted to use monthly international transfers of 40K baht each for a yearly extension based on a spouse to a Thai. His immigration office asked for proof of source in the foreign country of his income to allow him to use international transfers for marriage extensions. Please note that not all immigration offices allow this (monthly international transfers) for marriage extensions.

Also, this is not the monthly income method by an embassy affidavit (you don't have to have a Thai bank account) OR for a yearly extension based on retirement.

Again, I cannot say for sure, but this MIGHT be worth checking what the local immigration office actually wants to see.
2 months ago
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Ian **********
You can get a letter from the international pension unit in UK that will confirm your pension for the current year. However this can take up to 28 days to be delivered if the local post office know where you are!
2 months ago
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Tod *********
@Ian *********
 but it won't do anything as far as help you use monthly income method inside the country, he'd still have to transfer the funds in so they code as international transfers
2 months ago
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Ian **********
@Tod ********
 I was told by my immigration officer that if I could provide confirmation of income from UK from private pension company and state pension that they would accept that as proof of income.
2 months ago
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Tod *********
@Ian *********
 I have never ever heard that and the only proof of income from abroad used to be the affidavit of income notary issued by your embassy here which means if you're from the US, UK or Australia, you can't get it and have to transfer in the minimum required amount each month every month from abroad for the previous 12 months to use monthly income method for an extension
2 months ago
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Ian **********
@Tod ********
 I agree , didn't receive it in time this year but will try it again next year but will have transfer funds in place just in case. Friend here from Norway said they did his based on letter of confirmation from pension provider in Norway!
2 months ago
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Tod *********
@Ian *********
 I really believe your friend in Norway got the letter from HIS EMBASSY here in thailand and used that

Several countries embassies still issue the affidavit of income from abroad notary letters; Canada, Norway, Sweden, and others.

That embassy letter is the only thing that offices will accept if you're not transferring the minimum required funds in from overseas every month for the previous 12 months
2 months ago
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Ian **********
@Tod ********
 No he didn't. He printed it out from his pension provider. All it proves is the 'rules' are flexible dependant on the immigration office/officer. I just hope I catch them on a good day! 😀
2 months ago
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Ellie *******
@Ian *********
, and he isn’t transfer any money to a bank account in Thailand?
2 months ago
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Ian **********
@Ellie ******
 He had money in place but they did not ask or check it after he showed proof of income. He was surprised as well!
2 months ago
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Ian **********
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Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I don’t need letter I’ve got
*****
0 in bank he told me it’s better if I show letter from embassy,

Also my pension gets paid into Wise then I transfer it to my bank but it gets paid from Kasikorn bank will this show as international transfer
2 months ago
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Tod *********
@Paul *********
 nope that will not show as international it will show as a domestic transfer and immigrations won't allow you to use monthly income method
2 months ago
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Dominick ******
@Tod ********
 Not sure if this is helpful: why not get pension paid into UK bank account; then use Wise to transfer, making sure to tick the “reason for transfer box” that says “Funds for longterm stay in Thailand.” (The code you get doing it this way is proof of international transfer.)
2 months ago
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Tod *********
@Dominick *****
 it'd only code 100% of the time with that reason code if you used the "big 3" (Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Thai or Siam Commercial)

any other bank even with that reason code is a crap shoot on it coding right on the transaction history
2 months ago
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Dominick ******
@Tod ********
 Ohh good to know! Much appreciated.
2 months ago
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Dominick ******
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Peter *******
Why do you need proof of pension for immigration?
2 months ago
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Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ******
 I’ve just applied for marriage visa got the
*****
Bhat in bank now under consideration,

It’s just that immigration officer said it’s better if I get letter from British embassy confirming I get state pension.

Maybe it’s easier to leave the
*****
in bank
2 months ago
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Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Thanks 🙏 everyone for your support
2 months ago
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Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Peter ******
 okay thank you Think it’s easier to leave
*****
0 in bank
2 months ago
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Peter *******
@Paul *********
 yes much easier and some Immigration Offices do not accept monthly transfer for Marriage Visa Extensions
2 months ago
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Peter *******
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Peter *******
@Paul *********
 you will not get a consular letter from the UK Embassy, they do not issue affidavits confirming income.

You will need proof of transferring at least
*****
per month from overseas. . Not sure if wise transfer is shown as Overseas Transfer on Kasikorn Statements, if not you will have to get a Foreign Exchange Certificate(FEC) for each transfer.

Wise to BBL show as Overseas transfers
2 months ago
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Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
My pension gets paid into Wise and I transfer it to my bank but it shows it’s coming from Kasikorn Bank is this okay for immigration
2 months ago
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Brian ************
@Paul *********
 if you use the Transfer for funds in Thailand option then this will show as an international transfer on your bank account. This is required for renewing the visa.
2 months ago
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Peter *******
@Brian ***********
 unfortunately does not show as International Transfer with all banks. Some it shows as Interbank Transfer.
2 months ago
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Peter *******
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Jan ******************
The British embassy stopped issuing affidavit letters to confirm income/pension in 2018.

If you want to apply for a 90 days Non O in country or extension of stay, there’s unfortunately no legal way around proving the first year yourself by showing proof of 800K baht in a thai bank. For the second year you can use your pension by showing proof of twelve months consecutive transfers over sea of min 65k baht a month to your thai bank account.
2 months ago
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Pete *******
You don’t need to prove you’re getting UK state pension. You simply must prove you meet the financial requirements by submitting your Thai bank account details.
2 months ago
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Peter **********
sign on to hmrc gateway and the info you want is there
2 months ago
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Peter **********
Ian Campbell can't you just take a screenprint or a page print? or maybe ask DWP for a statement..
2 months ago
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Ian **********
@Peter *********
 Screen print not accepted but asked DWP for statement, first attempt not received, spoke in phone second attempt not received. In fairness asked private pension for statement as well also not received!!!!
2 months ago
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Ian **********
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Ian **********
@Peter *********
Tried that, they took it for files but didn't like it as it didn't have official stamo on it!!!
2 months ago
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Ian **********
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Chris ********
Can't you just get a letter and statement from your Thai bank showing you're meeting the financed criteria?
2 months ago
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Tod *********
@Chris *******
 he does not meet the requirements because he's moving the money thru WISE and they're coding as domestic transfers, to use monthly income method you have to show the funds came from overseas each month every month for the previous 12 months
2 months ago
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Andrew *********
@Tod ********
 isn't there a category you can select that shows as international transfer or has that stopped now ?
2 months ago
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Graham ******
@Andrew ********
 yes, the last option in the Reason for Transfer drop down menu
2 months ago
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Paul **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Graham *****
 for long term stay in Thailand ?
2 months ago
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Nigel **************
@Paul *********
 yes. That is what I use and Bkk Bank show it as international transfer
2 months ago
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Graham ******
@Paul *********
2 months ago
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Graham ******
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Tim ******
@Tod ********
 For info. I have been using Wise transfers for 4 years now and never had any issues with statements. Transferred to SCB .

Jomtiem immigration.
2 months ago
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Tim ******
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