Leave That Money In the Bank - Update

[jackspratt]

I don't normally wander into the execrable Thai Visa, but while looking at a link on a different thread here, this popped up:

Phuket immigration denied my retirement visa renewal for not maintaining an 800,000 baht bank balance 3 months following my first visa. All other visa requirements are in order- residency, 800,000 in bank prior to applying etc.......

Worth a read for those on legitimate extensions.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/118215 ... /#comments

Of course, what happens in Phuket may not necessarily be followed in Udon Thani.

[tamada]

^ The guy was apparently using the 'incorrect' information from another immigration office rather than Phuket where he had filed the first extension. He dipped into the 800k within the first 3 months and lost his subsequent right to the next extension. If he still has ~800 k in his Thai account, it is more than enough to pay the local agent to make it all go away with leaving the country and other drama. According to my mate in Phuket, for about 40k a local agent can get him a nice 1-year retirement extension issued by Saraburi immigration.

[DuiDui49]

^ The guy was apparently using the 'incorrect' information from another immigration office rather than Phuket where he had filed the first extension. He dipped into the 800k within the first 3 months and lost his subsequent right to the next extension. If he still has ~800 k in his Thai account, it is more than enough to pay the local agent to make it all go away with leaving the country and other drama. According to my mate in Phuket, for about 40k a local agent can get him a nice 1-year retirement extension issued by Saraburi immigration.

Holy cow Mr.Ordinary ;-)40.000 that's alot of learningmoney for him dipping in at/in/on??? savings.Heard of max 20.000 before and a friend of mine did in Phuket (5 month ago)16.000...but 40.000

[dunroaming]

^ The guy was apparently using the 'incorrect' information from another immigration office rather than Phuket where he had filed the first extension. He dipped into the 800k within the first 3 months and lost his subsequent right to the next extension. If he still has ~800 k in his Thai account, it is more than enough to pay the local agent to make it all go away with leaving the country and other drama. According to my mate in Phuket, for about 40k a local agent can get him a nice 1-year retirement extension issued by Saraburi immigration.

Holy cow Mr.Ordinary ;-)40.000 that's alot of learningmoney for him dipping in at/in/on??? savings.Heard of max 20.000 before and a friend of mine did in Phuket (5 month ago)16.000...but 40.000

Udon agents are currently charging 25000 baht trust me I know

[pal52]

I don't normally wander into the execrable Thai Visa, but while looking at a link on a different thread here, this popped up:

Phuket immigration denied my retirement visa renewal for not maintaining an 800,000 baht bank balance 3 months following my first visa. All other visa requirements are in order- residency, 800,000 in bank prior to applying etc.......

Worth a read for those on legitimate extensions.

https://forum.thaivisa.com/topic/118215 ... /#comments

Of course, what happens in Phuket may not necessarily be followed in Udon Thani.

I was specifically told to maintain 800,000 in my bank account for 3 months after my extension in Udon.
I was also told it had to be maintained at 400,000 until 3 months before the extension was due then 800,000.
This is probably due to the not nice person who is in charge of the front office.
If you do not then expect to pay 20,000 to an agent to renew your visa.

[tamada]

^ The guy was apparently using the 'incorrect' information from another immigration office rather than Phuket where he had filed the first extension. He dipped into the 800k within the first 3 months and lost his subsequent right to the next extension. If he still has ~800 k in his Thai account, it is more than enough to pay the local agent to make it all go away with leaving the country and other drama. According to my mate in Phuket, for about 40k a local agent can get him a nice 1-year retirement extension issued by Saraburi immigration.

Holy cow Mr.Ordinary ;-)40.000 that's alot of learningmoney for him dipping in at/in/on??? savings.Heard of max 20.000 before and a friend of mine did in Phuket (5 month ago)16.000...but 40.000

Tell me about it. Things are hellish more expensive in Phuket but the 40k was what was recently quoted to an Aussie in Rawai who sat on the amnesty fence too long and suddenly can't get a flight back to Oz.

[Hoopoe]

I was specifically told to maintain 800,000 in my bank account for 3 months after my extension in Udon.
I was also told it had to be maintained at 400,000 until 3 months before the extension was due then 800,000.
This is probably due to the not nice person who is in charge of the front office.
If you do not then expect to pay 20,000 to an agent to renew your visa.

Rumour has it that the Gay Mr not nice person ,,is leaving at the end of sept ,he now has enough money to pay for his promotion move down to BKK to join his boyfriend ,this coming from A bank manager and two school principals who have to deal with him , (hmm i wonder where he got his money from )

[jackspratt]

Ahh! rumours ....... ain't they grand, particularly when you can spice them up with a dash of irrelevant homophobia.

[sometimewoodworker]

I was specifically told to maintain 800,000 in my bank account for 3 months after my extension in Udon.
I was also told it had to be maintained at 400,000 until 3 months before the extension was due then 800,000.
This is probably due to the not nice person who is in charge of the front office.

It is due to Udon immigration following the rules. See Criteria 4 under

[tamada]

^ Which coincidentally is the same rule that Phuket immigration followed when the chap in the article linked in the OP was denied an extension.

The original post on TV does wander off into a discussion of the virtues of using the visa agent as a one-off to get through recent, Covid-19 related issues before reverting to more 'legal' and orthodox renewal procedures versus the perils of staying with the agent for subsequent renewals. Quite dramatic with some invoking images of breaking some perceived "grip" of the local IO and the agent in his pocket.

[pal52]

I was specifically told to maintain 800,000 in my bank account for 3 months after my extension in Udon.
I was also told it had to be maintained at 400,000 until 3 months before the extension was due then 800,000.
This is probably due to the not nice person who is in charge of the front office.

It is due to Udon immigration following the rules
See Criteria 4 under

7E1E4F51-DE2A-46E7-A130-0639F250339E.jpeg

But they do not follow the rules.
You can pay 20,000 baht to an agent of which I would guess at least 10,000 goes to the not so nice man to be split up.
Then the rules about 800,000 and 400,000 do not apply.

[Somchai499]

Following up on the OPs question: I am currently using an extension based on marriage. And consider moving to an extension based on retirement, in order to simplify the process.

I understand the 800/400/800 THB rule. But I am concerned that I may need to show up at Immigration office several times a year, so they can check my compliance.

Does anybody know how Udon Thani immigration handles this?

Many thanks

[pal52]

Following up on the OPs question: I am currently using an extension based on marriage. And consider moving to an extension based on retirement, in order to simplify the process.

I understand the 800/400/800 THB rule. But I am concerned that I may need to show up at Immigration office several times a year, so they can check my compliance.

Does anybody know how Udon Thani immigration handles this?

Many thanks

I would guess the only way they will handle it is when you apply for your next extension you have to give a copy of your bankbook.
They will then go back through it and check your balance from 3 months after the extension was granted.

You have to give a statement for 3 months prior for your extension from your bank or they may also then ask for a statement for 3 months after your extension was granted.
It is not practical to check when you do your 90 day report as you can do it online.

Just to further clarify my statement.
When my wife was refused her extension (she is not Thai and attached to my Retirement Visa).
I was handed back all my paperwork and advised to see an Agent.
When I handed over the paperwork to the agent and checked it I noticed a copy of all my bankbook pages for the year.
I did not supply these so the Immigration office must have made the copies.
That is probably how they will check the money in your account.
If you do not comply with the rules they will probably tell you go see an Agent and pay the money.

[sometimewoodworker]

Following up on the OPs question: I am currently using an extension based on marriage. And consider moving to an extension based on retirement, in order to simplify the process.

I understand the 800/400/800 THB rule. But I am concerned that I may need to show up at Immigration office several times a year, so they can check my compliance.

Does anybody know how Udon Thani immigration handles this?

Many thanks

There are few, to no people, that use the Udon office who were told last year of the rules. There are quite a few who have been told in the last few months of the rules, they have not posted a requirement to show immigration proof of money in the bank during the year.

However immigration are requiring a bank letter and a bank statement for 1 year (13 months) for those using the income method. So it is very likely that you may need a bank statement for the complete year using the deposit method. This is speculation though quite probably what will happen.

There is a current thread on TV about someone who dropped under the 800k within 3 months of getting his previous extension. His application for a new extension has just been refused as he did got have the funds required for the period required.