Residency Certificates - Just One More Hassle!

[Dodger]

I don't know about anyone else, but other than buying a car or getting a driving license, I can't think of anything else I would even need a residence certificate for.

With all the intense scrutiny being applied to existing foreign bank accounts as a result of the money laundering scams that are being unearthed right now, it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the banks started requesting Residency Certificates for existing account holders. As we all know, many of the bank branches were violating their own policies by allowing farang to open accounts before they had a registered address here. Now the fun begins!

Personally, I'm not too worried about this because I obtained a Resident Certificate from Immigration and presented it to Kasikorn Bank 13 years ago when I first opened my account. This required me to secure a long-term apartment lease 3 years before I even retired. Not an easy task.

I had to obtain a new Residency Certificate when opening an account at BKK Bank when I retired to handle my SSA direct deposits, as the certificates expire after 30 days. So they have a Residency Certificate on file for me as well.

As far as this being a Catch 22 right now...you hit the nail on the head.

Only in Thailand!

[Gaybutton]

it wouldn't surprise me one bit if the banks started requesting Residency Certificates for existing account holders.

That could happen. I think quite unlikely, but in Thailand you never know. I'm sure we can come up with other things that at some point could require a residence certificate, but I'll do my worrying if it does happen. I don't spend time worrying about things that might happen, especially when there is nothing to suggest it actually will.

As my attorney friend said, "Don't worry until there is something to worry about."

[billyhouston]

I have three deposit accounts and a non-basic credit card with Kasikorn. When, recently, I wanted to open a further deposit account to season some funds, in lieu of medical insurance, they required yet another Residence Certificate. Sounds as though I just got it in time. I now need a Residence Certificate for car purchase. I already have the car on Red plates and i'm told that it will be a couple of months before I need the certificate and receive the Blue book and the new plates.

[Gaybutton]

they required yet another Residence Certificate.

Do you know if the bank is aware that immigration will not issue residence certificates for any purpose other than buying a car or obtaining a driving license? If you at least have a residence certificate for buying a car, I wonder if that would be acceptable to the bank.

I also wonder if a visa service can get a residence certificate acceptable to the bank. If not, who can a person turn to for help?

And don't forget - very often what one bank branch tells you can be totally different from what another branch of the same bank tells you.

This situation is my idea of typical absurdities we so often encounter - immigration won't issue residence certificates other then for car buying and driving licenses. And they must know banks are demanding farang to show a residence certificate while on the other hand the bank is demanding a residence certificate they know a farang cannot get.

Again, what's wrong with this picture . . . ?

[Jun]

This situation is my idea of typical absurdities we so often encounter - immigration won't issue residence certificates other then for car buying and driving licenses. And they must know banks are demanding farang to show a residence certificate while on the other hand the bank is demanding a residence certificate they know a farang cannot get.

Almost as if they are trying to force people to pay tea money to get things done

[Gaybutton]

Almost as if they are trying to force people to pay tea money to get things done

With this one, I wonder if even tea money wold help. But if anything does help, I would think tea money will fit in.

[Dodger]

......Almost as if they are trying to force people to pay tea money to get things done

Ordinarily, I would agree...but not in this case.

There's not a doubt in my mind that Immigration stopped issuing Residency Certificates in reaction to findings uncovered during the intense audits that are currently going on at the Banks. Money laundering and internal corruption are at the root of the bank(s) problems right now as publicly reported in the Bangkok Post several months ago.

They are not looking for tea money (this time)...they want to put a temporary hold on foreigners opening new bank accounts until they get their hands around the myriad of nonconformances that are surfacing during these audits. This would also explain why they put a hold on issuing Residency Certificates for those applying for a Government ID (Pink Card)...as I was in the process of doing. Why? Because with the Pick Card allows a farang to open a bank account without the need for a Certificate of Residency.

One can easily assume that obvious audit nonconformances being identified at the bank(s) would include; foreign account holders not having legitimate long-stay visa's and/or certified residence in Thailand. My guess is that the number of major nonconformances like this being found in individual foreigner accounts is overwhelming, to both the auditors and the Central Bank, thus the reason for this knee-jerk suspension of Residency Certificates.

If a person needs a Certificate of Residence to open a bank account in the short-term (next few months) my suggestion would be to contact your Embassy for support/direction.

[Gaybutton]

I agree with Dodger's post above, but I'm wondering how much of this is really going on. Are that many people holding corrupt or technically illegal bank accounts that it justifies making things so difficult for innocent people?

I hope you are correct about this being temporary and people will eventually be able to legitimately open a Thai bank account and if a residence certificate is still necessary, immigration will issue them again.

It is anyone's guess at this point when or even if there will be any changes, but I don't see how Thailand can continue to make it impossible very long for legitimate people to open bank accounts and conduct other necessary business.

I wish they would find other ways to solve their problems without making life miserable for the vast majority of perfectly innocent people.

[Dodger]

I wonder how a new retiree or anyone else with a legitimate reason to hold a Thai bank account, but doesn't already have one, is supposed to get a Thai bank account.

Until this mess is straightened out, some farang simply won't be able to retire in Thailand - depending on their nationality.

There's only 3 options the way I see it:

1) The Banks remove the requirement for a Certificate of Residency to open a bank account.
2) Immigration starts issuing them again.
3 The Embassies come to the rescue and start issuing them.

My bet is on #2, but ONLY if the applicant complies with Immigration requirements (law). I think the days of using an agent to cook-the-books are just about over. That's what got them in this mess to begin with.

What goes around - comes around.

[Gaybutton]

The Banks remove the requirement for a Certificate of Residency to open a bank account.

Are all the banks requiring a residence certificate? If not, can anyone tell us any banks not requiring it?