Retirement Visa renewal.

[Billyboy294]

I am due to renew my Retirement Visa next month using my pension  (no problem with the current exchange rates)

 

However  a few years ago I was told that you also need to give copies of bankbook with a minimum of 100,000 baht and a letter from the Bank confirming this.

 

I seem to remember Mr Key Visa said you no longer need the letter from the Bank. Has anyone been recently and can confirm whether the Bank letter is needed.

 

This letter always seemed superfluous to me if you do a bank transaction on the day you go for the Visa showing the money in the bank that day..

[kansuwan]

I've extended my retirement visa six times (last in April 2013) but have never been asked for anything more than a letter from pension provider and letter of endorsement from my embassy. All done at Chaeng

Wattana in Bangkok.

 

Which Immigration office are you using?

What/Who was the source of the statement about needing bank book/minimum balance/bank confirmation?

[Billyboy294]

kansuwan

 

I use Pattaya (now called Chonburi) Immigration.

 

Regarding the letter from the bank, that has always been my understanding and have renewed my Retirement Visa (form TM7) more than ten years with pension and the letter has always been taken (ie never told it was not required)

 

Initially many years ago I was told by an Immigration officer i just had to show some money in the bank say 10,000/ 20,000 baht but a few years ago a Swiss friend of mine went to get his Visa and had just over 50,000 in the bank but was told he needed over 100.000 baht in bank. He had to go away and put more money in bank and get a new letter from bank confirming amount. So i have always gone with more than 100,000 in bank and a letter.

 

I am sure Key Visa some months ago said the letter was not required although I assume  copy of bankbook showing more than 100,000 Baht is still required unless there has been another change in the requirements. It seems reasonable if they accept your pension/income paid into a bank in UK that you must show you have a reasonable amount of money in the bank in Thailand.

 

I will be using Key Visa services (at new address) to get the letter from British  Embassy confirming my pension (cost 300 baht)

 

PS: when i renewed my Visa about a year ago i was told i now needed a copy of my rental agreement and I had to go away and get that.

[MisterE]

I've extended my retirement visa six times (last in April 2013) but have never been asked for anything more than a letter from pension provider and letter of endorsement from my embassy. All done at Chaeng

Wattana in Bangkok.

 

Which Immigration office are you using?

What/Who was the source of the statement about needing bank book/minimum balance/bank confirmation?

Yes, bank information not needed since your pension is sufficient.  The notarized pension affidavit from your embassy is what you need.

[Billyboy294]

Yes, bank information not needed since your pension is sufficient.  The notarized pension affidavit from your embassy is what you need.

 

I see you are American and requirements are different,:you dont even need to provide proof of pension to the US Embassy, only your 'word'.

 

Ok they accept your pension when it is paid into a bank in the UK but you could be 'penniless' in Thailand. They must have changed the requirement to show you have at least 100,000 in a Thai bank.

 

However to be on the safe side I will go with my copy of Bank book plus letter from Bank but wont hand them over and see what happens. Not worth being sent away for the lack of a 100 baht letter unless someone answers my query  below..

 

My OP asked if any UK citizens had recently renewed their Retirement Visa at Pattaya Immigration and whether Bank statements with 100,000 baht and letter were. required.

 

Perhaps Mr Key Visa gets a relaxation for the letter.because he is dealing with the Immigration on a regular basis on behalf of  those who dont like form filling etc.

[filibuster]

You only need the bank letter/copy of bankbook if your pension isn't sufficient to satisfy the 800k Baht requirement.  A lot of guys were caught out when the Baht was strengthening against western currencies.