Went to bank today for visa renewal paperwork, showed them last years letters so they would know exactly what I wanted. Got something similar-ish and was assured this was fine, I wasn't 100% but thought I'd give it a go. Immigration asked me to go back to the bank because it was incorrect. The same lady said 'you got the wrong information from us because you asked me for a year, not 12 months! 🤔🤔
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TLDR : Answer Summary
A user shares their experience of obtaining incorrect bank documentation for a visa extension in Thailand, highlighting the misconception between a 'calendar year' and '12 months'. Comments address the importance of precise documentation in Thai immigration, as well as the common challenges faced by expats with local practices. Others recount similar experiences, suggesting clear communication and understanding of immigration requirements to prevent issues.
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Unfortunately, in Bureaucrat-Speak (e.g. Banks, Immigration, Embassies), a year is a particular year as distinct from the last 12 months. e.g. 2025 Gregorian Calendar Year or 2568 Laos/Thai/Cambodian Buddhist Calendar year. The same goes for "Decade" e.g. The 2010s c/f to "the last 10 years"; Century and Millenium etc. Visa-speak is even more fun. The following is what I have learnt from this group (and is partly tongue-in-cheek, but I believe it to be true): A "Visa" is simply permission to enter a country under the terms of that particular visa, granted by that country's embassy somewhere. This is totally distinct from a "Permission to Stay" stamp that you used to get when you entered the country. With digital systems, you may not get that stamp in your passport and you must trust it has been recorded accurately (I think some Officers might allow you to look at their screen or give you an actual stamp if asked nicely). You cannot extend a visa. You can extend the invisible "permission to stay". If the "permission to stay" was granted under a Multiple-Entry Visa and is within the time-frame specified in that visa's first permission to stay, that might be for the same period as specified in the visa e.g. 12 months. But the NEXT stamp, or the invisible entry in the immigration computer, will not necessarily be under the same conditions as the original visa. e.g. A Multiple-Entry OA visa for Thailand can be used without a re-entry permit for multiple entries within the time dates specified by that visa as long as the Medical Insurance is still current, and it will be extended for the time period specified. Outside the dates specified in the original visa, however, the conditions of the visa invisibly and secretly change. It becomes a Single Entry Visa and you require a re-entry permit or you lose the right to enter under that original visa. An Immigration Officer is a member of the Police Force and is not some sort of "Customer Service Officer", even though they are called "Public Servants" in many countries. They are not required to tell you anything or ask anything like "Do you have a re-entry permit?" Upon an attempt to re-enter under the terms of the original visa, they will not tell you to go to the counter over there that says "Immigration" and get a re-entry permit, after all - they too are Immigration.
Barath Faust its not the bank its immigration that doesn‘t allow self printed statements, besides that you still need the letter from the bank as well anyway
If only all the banks and immigration centres would communicate and all agree on what exactly is required life would be so much easier. I sometimes think they purposely make things complicated to make extra baht from you. They could make life so much easier for us and themselves but strangely choose not to.
Clayton Weatherly mate they are being both arseholes and plain stupid, I mean how difficult is it??? If there's a difficult way to do something that's easy thais will do it.
Well, a year and 12 months are not exactly the same. Any period January to December is a year, but 12 months can be counted from starting from any month to the same month of the next year. I mean, I know it's absurd technicalities, but they've got a point haha
Alan Rothwell Well I don't like it mister! You pedantics are all the same, coming over here taking all our jobs, our women and besmirching the name of the great government agencies that are set up to care for us and protect us. Correct that sir!
Immigration wants a 12 months bank statement from the day you renewed your last Visa until the day the bank issues the document last time I renewed my extension of stay.
Last week I got a bank statement from the day I had the last extension last year, until last Monday I went to Bangkok bank. The statement is valid for 7 days from the day it's issued and then they update my bankbook and I get a guarantee letter. That's what immigration require.
Yeah Thais differentiate the calendar year VS 12 months. So she gave you a calendar year confirmation and not 12 months 😅 We'll she as a bank official should have known better for visa purposes
Jonny Larsson this sort of happened to me 3 weeks ago. This was my 3rd extension. I went to the Bank for my paperwork. They only gave me statements for the last quarter. When I get to the immigration officer, she first got mad because my stamps got blurred because my passport got wet. My current stamps were readable it was the stamps from prior years that were blurred but still somewhat readable. I told her I was leaving at the end of this month and will take care of it while I am there. Then the bank statement problem. I told her this is what the bank gave me. Really ? Only 3 of the 12 months needed? I showed her my bank book and explained it never has been below 1 million baht for the last 4 years. She showed my passbook to her supervisor and the supervisor looked at my bank book and it showed that. It got approved. So I will be more careful next year when I go to the bank. At least they were extremely reasonable with my lack of 12 months of statements. Extension granted.
I consider myself lucky. They wanted me to get a new passport. I told her I was leaving in a couple of weeks and told her I would be going back to the US in a few weeks and would get that taken care of while I am there. Yes I was lucky. However they let me into Thailand at Suvarnabhumi with the same blurred stamps including my extension.
I live in Thailand. After joining this site a couple of weeks ago I have decided one thing. Good luck to all of you. Enjoy Thailand, it has a lot to offer. Now.... where is that unfollow button?
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