CHANGES TO IMMIGRATION RULES FOR EXTENSIONS:
Since the beginning of the year there have been some significant changes to a few things visa/extension related..
So let's re-cap them
*As of the 7th of January the consulates of FOUR countries (Australia, Denmark, USA & UK) have stopped providing affidavits of income from abroad notary letters for people to use when using monthly income for proof of funds on extensions of stays which allow it (marriage, retirement, raising half thai children).
*The Police Order concerning monthly income method of funds was amended and is as follows
You must transfer in from abroad the minimum required amount (40K baht for marriage/children & 65K baht for retirement) EVERY month for the previous 12 months before you apply for your extension.
*The combination method of showing proof of funds for extensions based on retirement is still a valid option BUT they will take the month with the least amount transferred in to thailand and use that times 12 to get an 'average' transfer amount. The rest must be banked and the seasoning requirements still are in place.
*There is a supplemental police order which states in view of this policy change there will be leniency granted on people unable to show 12 months of incoming transfers BUT no one knows WHAT that actually means or how lenient they will be.
*There is a set of changes which will come into effect on March 1st. They are in regards to using banked money for an extension of stay based on retirement.
*It states the 800K baht must be in a thai bank account in your name only for 2 months prior to you applying for your extension of stay AND for 3 months AFTER the extension application. It also states that at no time during the year can the balance of the account go below 400K baht.
*There is some conjecture given the incredible amount of blow back to these changes for banked money that they will either be amended or not implemented. BUT as of now they ARE set to take effect March 1st.
