Renewed annual retirement extension

[2lz2p]

On Tuesday, I did my annual jaunt to Jomtien Immigration Office to renew my retirement extension of stay which expires in about 3 weeks. I like the new building set up and there was only one change in the documents I provided the last few years.

First, the new building.




If you haven't visited recently, you will find that there is now an air conditioned building where the tents in the parking area used to be - on the right side as you enter from Soi 5. The first door has a sign to start here for queue number - thus no waiting in line at the door into the main building. Further down is another door with signs for 90 day reporting, Retirement, and TM.30 reporting. The only drawback is there is no handicap entry for those of us that may be mobility impaired. I was using my rollator (wheeled walker) and had to lift it up over the step to enter.

I arrived at 8:45am and used the first door as there was no line. I told them I was there for "retirement" and showed I had my packet of documents. I was given my queue ticket for Desk 8 (#7 for the day) and told to go direct to that desk in the main building.

Note: They still require you to wear a mask.

At Desk 8, I had to wait as they were processing #5, so 2 people ahead of me in the queue. When my turn came, the Immigration Officer went through the packet with no issues. I then signed two documents as in the past (acknowledgements of overstay penalties and need to report any change in circumstance upon which the extension was granted) and paid the 1,900 baht fee. The only change was they gave me back my photograph and took one of their own using a mobile phone. Then the usual claim check with instructions to return after 2pm the following day. I was on my way home by 9:10am - so total time of 25 minutes. I did pick up my passport with my new extension stamp just after 2pm Wednesday - go to Desk 8 in the main building, no need to queue, present the claim ticket, and pick up your passport.

I use the 65k per month method - ordering my bank statements for the past 12 months at Bangkok Bank customer service at Tesco-Lotus South a week ago Monday as they need about 5 business days to get it from Bangkok HQ - fee 200 baht. On Monday this week, I returned and had them prepare my two bank letters for Immigration - the one verifying the account (required whether using 800k in bank or monthly income method) and the other listing all my foreign deposits shown on the statements (required for 65k per month method if you don't have an Embassy verification letter which is not available for holders of USA, UK, or Australian passports). Pattaya Immigration wants the letter showing deposits rather than the bank statements as proof you deposited at least 65k into your Thai bank account for each of the preceding 12 months.

I used the checklist provided by the Pattaya City Expats Club on their website at: https://pcec.club/CHECKLISTS-Extensions-of-Stay. The checklist notes to do a transaction and then update your bank passbook on the day of application. I omitted this step and nothing was said about needing it.

[Gaybutton]

Pattaya Immigration wants the letter showing deposits rather than the bank statements as proof you deposited at least 65k into your Thai bank account for each of the preceding 12 months.

The checklist notes to do a transaction and then update your bank passbook on the day of application. I omitted this step and nothing was said about needing it.

I I understand correctly, if you are using the 65,000 baht per month method, no matter what else you may have, they are only interested in the letter from the bank and nothing else is required. Is that correct?

Also, they have always wanted to see my passbook and transaction, updated the same day you apply for the extension. As long as you're in the bank anyway, I would do the transaction and update the passbook. They did want mine, but I was using the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account method.

I want to stress that 2lz2p's post applies to Pattaya immigration. I think most people reading this are well aware that the procedures and requirements at other immigration offices may be quite different. Maybe when the new administration comes in, they will require all immigration offices to follow the same rules, but I'm not holding my breath.

[Jun]

I don't see any logical reason for them to require your bank documents to be updated on the the same day.

You could still have moved the money out of the bank account in between visiting the bank and immigration on the same day, so why not allow a reasonable 7 days ?
The only thing the same day rule would do is presumably ensure there are no retirement extensions processed first thing in the day, as customers need to visit the bank first ?

Maybe when the new administration comes in, they will require all immigration offices to follow the same rules, but I'm not holding my breath.

Maybe a new administration might also rationalize and automate processes, allowing them to fire lots of immigration staff from their pointless jobs.

That has the advantages of making it more difficult to collect bribes and also freeing up some labour to do something productive.

[2lz2p]

GB, in answer to your questions:

Pattaya Immigration wants the letter showing deposits rather than the bank statements as proof you deposited at least 65k into your Thai bank account for each of the preceding 12 months.

When using the 65k monthly income to qualify and you don't have an Embassy verification letter, they want to see the bank letter listing foreign deposits into your account, not bank statements (even so, you will still need have your original passbook as well as copies of the pages for transactions during the previous 12 months). IMO they don't want to wade through the passbook/bank statements to identify the foreign deposits and make sure there was at least 65k deposited in each of the preceding 12 months.

Also, they have always wanted to see my passbook and transaction, updated the same day you apply for the extension. As long as you're in the bank anyway, I would do the transaction and update the passbook. They did want mine, but I was using the 800,000 baht in a Thai bank account method.

When using the 800k method, they want to see the passbook so they can verify that you kept at least 800k on deposit for 3 months, never fell below 400k for the next 7 months, and was again at least 800k for the 2 months before the current application. If you do not keep your passbook updated and thus have one or more consolidated entries, then it is my understanding they will require bank certified statements. Either with passbook or statements, they only need to scan the "balance" column to be sure it didn't fall below the thresholds.

As to having a transaction on the date of application, for me, they either missed checking that or perhaps decided to give me a break.

[Gaybutton]

I don't see any logical reason for them to require your bank documents to be updated on the the same day.

Logical reason? Since when does that apply in Thailand . . . ?

As to having a transaction on the date of application, for me, they either missed checking that or perhaps decided to give me a break.

Or perhaps no longer required - which is why I hope somebody going for their retirement visa any time soon will ask and let us know. I would ask myself, but I recently did my extension, so I won't have a reason to go to immigration until the next time, which will be nearly a year from now.

[2lz2p]

I did my extension renewal last Thursday. There were a few changes from getting last year's extension.

I arrived about 8:30am and obtained my queue ticket in Building B - no line and received my ticket for desk 8 (#3). Here I experienced my first change from last year. The Immigration Officer (IO) had me complete and sign two forms before going to the main building - one was the acknowledgement of penalties for overstay and the other acknowledgement that I needed to report to Immigration if there was any subsequent change in meeting requirements for the extension. He also provided me with a blank copy of each and said to have them already completed next time. Last year these documents were provided and signed at Desk 8.

At desk 8 (now located as the first desk on the left after entering the main building), I waited about 5 minutes before the IO signaled for me to step up to the desk. There is now a "board" to show queue numbers at each desk but it was apparently not being used - perhaps just installed and not yet working.

This year I had added to my documents evidence of my TM.30 address reporting as per an email sent to me by Barry Kenyon it is now required. Also, since I had moved to a house we recently built on a plot in Huay Hai area, instead of a lease, I included a "statement" signed by the house owner (relative of my bf whose family are now my "caregivers"). As with my lease last year, I also included a copy of the house book and owner ID card. My caregiver had filed the TM.30 when we moved there last February and as noted, provided a copy of that receipt which I now keep in my passport.

Since I use the 65k baht per month income method and can no longer get the Embassy (USA) letter certifying income, I provided the bank letter listing all my foreign deposits during the preceding 12 months. I also provided copies of my bank passbook pages, which as in the past, I had not updated regularly. Unlike the preceding years, this time the IO wanted the certified bank statements (which I had with me as they were needed by the bank to prepare the letter listing the deposits). He strongly suggested I keep the passbook up to date this coming year (I gather he would prefer the passbook show all the deposits and forgo the need to have to provide the bank statements).

This all took about 10 minutes and I was on my way out with instructions to pick up the passport on Friday after 2pm. Unlike in the past, this time the IO said I did not have to pick it up personally as my caregiver could do it - she had accompanied me on this visit and did pick up my passport.

[thewayhelooks]

I did my retirement run today and found my experience much as described above by 2lz2p. However something new re banking information for the past 12 months. My retirement date is July 8 and every year I've been getting my new visa by the end of June, allowing enough time for any problem to be sorted. I had assumed (silly me this IS Immigration) that banking details had to be supplied for the 12 months from July 8 to July 8. No so. I was told that as the date I obtained my new visa eg June 25 2023, and thus stamped in my passport, the passbook details for my B 800,000 started then and not July 8. So for next year, it will begin June 26. Maybe this is not news to board members but it is to me after getting my visa for 12 years.
Lucky me. I began a new bank passbook with a deposit the day after June 25, 2023 so I had to dash off home and get the last passbook and include the last entry on June 25. Otherwise no problems. To top it off, I noticed a handicapped parking sign outside Annex B and a police BMW filling that spot. Nice.

[Gaybutton]

To top it off, I noticed a handicapped parking sign outside Annex B and a police BMW filling that spot. Nice.

That part comes as no surprise . . .