Expat Visa Documentation

[Dodger]

Regardless of the type of long-stay visa you have there’s a list of mandatory documents you need to provide to immigration each year when applying for your extension. Immigration only requests one copy of these documents, although it’s highly recommended that you maintain an additional copy of each and every document you submit to immigration (or to your visa agent) in your personal files.

Personally, I scan these documents into an electronic file I keep on my PC before heading to immigration each year – and also scan a copy of the new visa I receive and put that in the file as well. Keeping manual hard copies works as well.

If you use an agent for convenience sake - maintaining this documentation is even more important. I don’t use an agent, but if I did I would make a copy of each and every document I provided to the agent, along with a copy of a dated receipt from the agent.

If you use an agent because of compliance issues (and I think we all know what that means) then it’s likely you won’t have all of the mandatory documents. This seems to have worked well for many expats over the years, but with the elevated scrutiny going on right now as Thailand tries to combat money-laundering and bank fraud the risk involved with visa noncompliances is obviously elevated.

Currently, the banks are tangled up with immigration and visa agents in a mess as they continue to uncover account discrepancies and fraudulent bank accounts during an accelerated internal audit process. Accounts are being frozen (suspended) for being suspicious and I imagine a whole myriad of reasons. There are apparently also internal issues (see Bangkok Post article below): You can make your own assumptions as to how messy this thing could get.

https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/ge ... e-scammers

Documents needed to renew visa extension using 65k/month income method:

1 – Passport
2 - Application for Extension of Stay (TM7)
3 - 2X2 Passport Size Photograph
4 - Photo copy of pages from passport - Identification page and all transfer stamps, all Extensions of Stay, and Last entry into Thailand
5 - Photo Copy Departure Card (TM6)
6 - Photo Copy of Bank Passbook pages showing all transactions for previous 12 months - (65,000 baht monthly minimum)
7 - Bank Letter showing account ownership and current balance (obtain same day as immigration visit)
8 – Bank Statement listing previous 12 month deposits from foreign source (obtain from your bank)
8 – Bank Credit Advice Report showing details of previous 12 month foreign deposits (obtain from bank)
9 - Copy of Condo or House Ownership Book/Deed (renters need to bring a copy of rental agreement and copy of owners I.D. card)
10 - Copy of document showing source of income
11 – Copy of Health Insurance Policy (O-A Visa Holders Only)

General Instructions:

Visit your bank in the morning, on the same day that you go to immigration to renew your visa.
Make a small transaction in your account (deposit or withdrawal) which just shows immigration that your account is current and active.

Obtain Bank Letter and Bank Statement listing the previous 12 month deposits coming from a foreign source.

Obtain Bank Credit Advice Report for the same 12 month period.

Fee’s range purposes from 300 – 500 THB depending on bank branch.

Note: If using 800k method bring copies of bank book showing minimum account balance of 800k for 3 months before and 2 months after the visa extension application for compliance

[Gaybutton]

elevated scrutiny going on right now

Emphasis on "right now". I don't think it will be all that long before this blows over and it's back to business as usual.

Your list of requirements is for those using the 65,000 baht per month method. Apparently it's a little less rigid for those using the 800,000 baht method and hold the "O" visa. For example, I use the 800,000 baht method. I am required to show the rental agreement, but I have never been asked to show the owner's ID card. I have never needed a credit advice report or anything that shows my source of income.