Answered6 months ago
Will a temporary shortage of funds affect my visa renewal in Thailand?
I recently spent 2 nights, 3 days in hospital for an operation. On discharge I was asked to pay the bill. (I am addressing my Health Insurance on the matter). I have 2 bank accounts and paid, but my KKB only allowed a daily limit of 50,000. So, I paid the shortfall 23,000 baht with my BKB card. It was only after I paid it, I realised it would leave me short for my 1 visa year renew by the 23k this next week. I repaid it within a couple of hours. This is the first time I have defaulted on my 800,000. Will I have problems with immigration.
Update: Friday Immigration refused my Extention due to shortage of funds, and told you must leave by Monday. I went straight to my agent. She viewed my extension paperwork, and said no problem, we can get you a new Visa today. I parted with 28,400 THB, and told to pick up my passport with a new stamp at immigration at 16.30. Expensive, but job done. It's only valid until November because before then I need to renew my passport.
Update: Friday Immigration refused my Extention due to shortage of funds, and told you must leave by Monday. I went straight to my agent. She viewed my extension paperwork, and said no problem, we can get you a new Visa today. I parted with 28,400 THB, and told to pick up my passport with a new stamp at immigration at 16.30. Expensive, but job done. It's only valid until November because before then I need to renew my passport.
Answer summary
The user experienced a temporary financial shortfall when they had to pay a hospital bill and, after repaying, faced difficulties with their visa renewal due to funds dipping below the required 800,000 baht. Comments from others suggest that this issue can often be resolved by showing proof of an unexpected expense, such as a hospital receipt, and that immigration officers may vary in their discretion for such circumstances. Some users had similar experiences and were able to rectify their situations quickly with the help of agents or by presenting documentation.
78 repliesnewest first
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Gregory *********
Thanks for the update as a warning to us all. I am glad an agent fixed it but it demonstrates a failing of the system. They are too quick to refuse without considering situation for which they could have just as easily shown compassionate discretion. They have proved that money talks and corruption rules here.
GentleJac**********
OPGregory Kleiman it's been an expensive learning curve. I've now removed my 800,000 bank card from my wallet, and tucked it away with my house book.
James ******
I’ve learned one thing in 19 years here. Don’t fight the system. 
Stu *******
yes big problem
pack up and get ready to leave
pack up and get ready to leave
Max **********
Best to have bank Face ID and you can go above 50,000 limit.
John *********
Happened to me last year in udon.100 baht short.
She said comeback next week.
Went to bank and changed letter to my yearly interest acc.
Immi accepted. Bkk bank
She said comeback next week.
Went to bank and changed letter to my yearly interest acc.
Immi accepted. Bkk bank
Brilliant*********
Can't answer to immigration but K bank allows you to change the daily limit in the app
Jerry ********
It depends on the person you interview. My Thai gf mother died & I helped with the funeral expenses. 1k under & wise took a few days to get it I'm my account. Mine had his hand open. Or should I say he handed me an empty envelope. I put 6k in at the advice of my gf.. he was happy until my next year's interview. He handed me the empty envelope again for the same incident now over a year old. He hinted that 15k would be ok unless I wanted to do a border run.
Bernard *********
I got exactly the same problem 2 years ago, i never had problems with immigration... but they refused to renew my visa... they followed me and discretly gave me a phone number to solve the situation in some hours... it was just
*****
thb....
Ray ******
Yes you will I had a similar thing in pattaya mind all imagration offices are differant my advice is try it see what happens if they say no go to an agent and ask how much to do your visa you have the money in the bank so it should be a lot lot cheaper
Gerar ********
As long it fixed on the same day it is normally not a problem for Immigration.
Adrian *********
If they do have a problem with it. I would say it us time to move to somewhere else.
Being required to have
Being required to have
*****
.666 Baht a month to spend is a red flag for me.
Craig **********
yep....technicality as it is, it will still be a disqualifying event and you'll need to likely start over...i did almost the exact same thing and it was only 2000 baht...sent back within 20min after I realized I paid something with the wrong account....had to do everything all over...and not sure about KKB but my BBK app allows me to up the daily limit to about 250k
Jack *******
De Rent,aend the Bank Account
*****
0 too gehe der.
Charles ********
Same thing happened to a friend…he greased the palms.
Dennis *********
In the future, you can't expect everything to go as planned every day forever. Have a second account for regular expected expenses and additionally keep a healthy reserve and don't touch your 800k retirement account. Unexpected expenses always come up at the least convenient time, so you have to plan for those rainy days.
Aki ************
Show them your hospital receipt at the same time you can up your daily cash out daily limit up to B100,000 or what ever you want.
Haim *******
My advise, don’t go on the edge. I always keep my account on 1 million thb. To be on the safe side.
Osian ********
Can you not show the 800k being available over 2 accounts? Is there a rule it must be in 1 account?
John **************
My understanding is that they want to see the e monthly deposit of 65k THB into the account not a daily balance.
Now if it is the 800k you are talking about that is a bit different and I would defer to the other responses.
Now if it is the 800k you are talking about that is a bit different and I would defer to the other responses.
Tom *******
I did the same. I sent 100,000 to my crypto exchange from the wrong account and realized nine minutes later so I topped up again. When I went to Pattaya immigration, they said it wasn’t an issue as long as the balance is correct by the end of the working day. You should be fine.
Ossie *********
As long as you have enough in both your banks to make up the total you should be okay you will have to get a statement from both banks it happened to me and it was accepted also take your hospital recipes they may show a little compassion towards you
Russ **********
Ossie Cassidy ... was the food 'that' bad?
Ossie *********
Russ Marriott I hate predictive text : (
John **********
@Ossie ********
and a letter from both banks
Les ********
Interesting. My hospital bill was over my transfer limit (substantially) and I was shown how to change it (using the KBank app) and paid the bill (Samitivej insist on the bill being paid before the operation) and then got reimbursed by the insurance company (partial).
Marney ********
Should be right
Chris **********
You can increase the limit with KK using the app. I changed mine from 50 to 200k.
Christopher ******
I had the same problem & was asked why it had happened after I explained there wasn’t a problem. It was only deficient by a few hundred baht & the money was put back within hours.
ConfidentP**********
Should have increased your daily withdrawal amount on the bank app.
Sandra ****************
ConfidentPenguin2198 I tried to do that and on KBank and I couldn't just increase it. It went for a review and came back denied as the 50k/day would easily cover my general spending habits over the last years. I had no problems raising it to 2mil on SCB though
Nigel *********
My frie
Wolf ******
Take with you the print-out of you second account (transaction record) to show, that you have 800k+ on your both accounts if they ask for this 23k issue for some hours.
Maybe he will not see and than it's ok.
If he see you can explain and show the records of both accounts.
Good luck and recovery
Maybe he will not see and than it's ok.
If he see you can explain and show the records of both accounts.
Good luck and recovery
Bill *********
For the next time...medical or otherwise, use your credit card so as not to disturb your Visa cash stockpile. Plus you'll get mileage points! I "shop" at Bumrungrad and they're all too happy to take my credit card.
Kenny **********
I thought the general idea of having the funds in the account was for such a scenario? If they penalise you for using the funds for exactly what they’re for makes no sense.
Steve **********
@Kenny *********
imagine if bankers pushed for the requirement, not hospitals…Tom *******
@Kenny *********
yeah well it never did make sense in the first place. 😁John *********
@Kenny *********
That's not what it's there for at all.
Karl **********
John Russell What is it there for then? To get foreign currency into Thai banks? It's not all just for visa compliance once the visa has been approved.
Munzie *******
John Russell I think you might find it is. I have been living here continuously since '08 and this was always the reason given.
John *********
Munzie Munro And who was it gave you that reason Munzie? Because that's bullshit :-) If that was the case every tourist entering the country would require surety.
Andy ******
John Russell interesting. I assumed the same as the OP. So why exactly does the Thai govt insist on a baseline for savings with a visa application? Do you know?
Andy ******
John Russell not sure of your maths there, John. There isn't 800,000 THB per person spent in the Thai economy. It's just sitting in Thai and international bank accounts.
And your reply has nothing to do with the original insurance question I posed. But thanks for playing.
And your reply has nothing to do with the original insurance question I posed. But thanks for playing.
John *********
@Andy *****
Do some sums Andy. Google tells me there are over *****
0 people on long term retirement visas alone in Thailand at £*****
. That's over 3.5 billion quid directly injected into government coffers long term. I'm no investment expert but I'd guess a lot of money is being made from that.
Stu *****
@Kenny *********
welcome to Thailand.... *****
Peter *********
Yes
Mariano *********
My wife had it. We used the wrong credit card. The officer were not easy,even if we put immediately the missing money ( 6000 thb!)
Christer *****
It would seem that you have used the funds for the exact thing they are intended for? A very polite explanation and fingers crossed
IndigoG********
Everything here can be solved for about 2k baht.
Brian *******
IndigoGrape5836 depends where. 17k in my case. . .
Sebastian ********
Been there and done that but mine was with a house deposit. No problem at all if replaced in a couple of hours. 😎
Paul ***********
Really simple rules ! Best not to break them ! Good luck !
LovelyW*******
As the thais say Ha sip Ha sip
Krazye******
LovelyWolf1783 50 50?
Paul ********************
Get a letter from the hospital explaining... And show it to immigration if its a issue
Bernard *********
Paul Anthony McDermott didnt work for me
Paul ********************
Bernard Rouhaud was it the same immigration department, IO ❓... Different offices different IO.. Never know unless you try 👍
Lee **********
Firing squad
Michael ********
I had the same situation. Just explain why and everything will be fine. At least that was the case with immigration in Jomtien.
Ralf **********
Ultimately, a single official decides
Also, pay attention to the most important Thai forms of politeness
good luck ☘️
Also, pay attention to the most important Thai forms of politeness
good luck ☘️
Bernard *********
Ralf Berthold politeness has nothing to do with it.... my immigration officer always got her newyear present before....( Chanel n°5)
GentleJac**********
OPRalf Berthold I'll even wear shirt and trousers.
Paisarn ******************
I would suggest that you keep and show them the hospital receipt, as well as the KKB passbook.
Bernard *********
@Paisarn *****************
didnt work with meGentleJac**********
OP@Paisarn *****************
thank you, will do.
Nigel *******
No, contact Grace. Thai Visa Center
Bradley ********
Nigel Wells why…? 🤪
Nigel *******
Bradley Atkins no Bank statement required
LivelyG********
Within Same day balance before midnight, if not gone below threshold, should not be a problem ....
GentleJac**********
OPLivelyGuava9034 thank you
Marty *******
My experience with immigration when talking in a genuine polite manner. They are helpful and understanding. I was late for a visa related situation. Explained and never got fined for being overdue
Marty *******
Just to add: today i just had a short notice visit from the Thai Immigration Police. Which i was informed it could happen after my 90 day check in. When they arrived all was completed with signatures and photos, in a clear polite manner.
GentleJac**********
OPMarty Lewis thank you
Lance ********
It's not the Gestapo yet
Peter *******
Immigration will probably see it as an opportunity to push you to an agent, depends if the statement shows you going below the 800k, check, sometimes daily totals
Colin **********
I did a similar thing, and immigration accepted it. Just down to the officer.
GentleJac**********
OPColin Chaffers thank you
John **********
If you managed to replace the money the very same day you may be OK but if it was the next it's more than likely a problem
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