A mess of a visa run...

Post by **lomuamart** » Sun May 17, 2009 12:38 pm

Takiap,
I should think that your wife giving you the money would be OK as Imm have said. However, you can't include your wife's income any more to make up the 40k if necessary. It must be the foreign husband's income alone. So, I suppose the 2,000 would count as income, but what happens if they ask for a work permit? You're "earning" the money in Thailand. Quite possibly, for that amount, they might not care. I'd be a bit cautious though.
I'm surprised that your Embassy don't know of the letters. They need to confirm your income and Imm base their decision on the amount entered at the exchange rate on the day you go. Different Embassies have different requirements. The British Embassy want to see bank statements to demonstrate income (they also wanted to see a copy of the tenancy agreement I have for my property in London). The US Embassy just ask you to sign a form saying that the income you declare is correct. At least that's what I think happens there. No need for evidence.

Post by **PeteC** » Sun May 17, 2009 1:32 pm

lomuamart wrote: The US Embassy just ask you to sign a form saying that the income you declare is correct. At least that's what I think happens there. No need for evidence.

Correct. All they do is notarize that your signature is correct and it's you signing it. Pete

Post by **Wanderlust** » Sun May 17, 2009 1:38 pm

lomu,
As far as am I aware, the letter from the Embassy is only required if the money is outside Thailand; if it is coming into a Thai bank every month then all immigration need is the bank book/statements from the Thai bank. They may want to know where the money comes from but that should be easy to show. That may be why the SA Embassy were a little confused? If HH immigration really are after a 'proof of income' Embassy letter from everyone even if their money comes into a Thai bank every month then that is a major change; I suspect though that something has been lost in translation in this instance - maybe they thought the money was going into a foreign bank?

Post by **Wanderlust** » Sun May 17, 2009 1:39 pm

Pete,
How much do the US Embassy charge for that?

Post by **PeteC** » Sun May 17, 2009 1:45 pm

Wanderlust wrote:Pete,
How much do the US Embassy charge for that?

Give me a few hours to ask my friend in Pattaya.I don't need to do it but he does. Stay tuned. Pete

Post by **lomuamart** » Sun May 17, 2009 1:47 pm

WL,
I think you're spot on there. My income dosn't come into Thailand hence the need for a letter.

Post by **Wanderlust** » Sun May 17, 2009 2:04 pm

Pete,
According to the US consulate in Chiang Mai website it is $30 (the main embassy website doesn't appear to list the charges anywhere). The British Embassy charges (I think) £36 or 1980 baht for providing a letter stating what your income is. Quite a difference!

Post by **PeteC** » Sun May 17, 2009 3:29 pm

Wanderlust wrote:Pete,
According to the US consulate in Chiang Mai website it is $30 (the main embassy website doesn't appear to list the charges anywhere). The British Embassy charges (I think) £36 or 1980 baht for providing a letter stating what your income is. Quite a difference!

Yes. he just called back and confirmed 30 in BKK also. Pete

Post by **Poe** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 2:01 am

Cost of recent visa run to Laos.

Date Description Thai Baht
31-Jul-09 Tuk Tuk to Hua Hin town 150
1-Aug-09 Taxi to Bangkok train station 40
1-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk to Hua Hin train station 100
1-Aug-09 Taxi to China Hotel Bangkok 100
1-Aug-09 Coffee at Bangkok train station 120
1-Aug-09 Dinner & Breakfast on train 540
1-Aug-09 Lunch at hotel 600
1-Aug-09 1st Class train ticket Hua Hin to Bangkok upper bunk 782
1-Aug-09 China Town Hotel Standard Room, no breakfast, 8 hr stay 790
1-Aug-09 1st Class train ticket Hua Hin to Bangkok lower bunk 982
1-Aug-09 1 Class train ticket BKK-Nong Khai upper bunk 1117
1-Aug-09 1 Class train ticket BKK-Nong Khai lower bunk 1317
2-Aug-09 Beer 40
2-Aug-09 Trip to 7/11 131
2-Aug-09 Lunch 258
2-Aug-09 Dinner 515
2-Aug-09 Buss to cross Mekhong river 40
2-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk from Nong Khai train station to Laos border 60
2-Aug-09 Taxi to Intercity Hotel Vientiane 200
2-Aug-09 Inter City Hotel Vientiane, Laos, Standard room w/breakfast 947
2-Aug-09 Visa for Laos 1540
3-Aug-09 Visa Service + Double Entry Tourist Visa 2500
3-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk back to cafe 40
3-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk to mall 119
3-Aug-09 Drinks 143
3-Aug-09 Dinner 238
3-Aug-09 Taxi from hotel to Thai Embassy and back 317
3-Aug-09 Lunch 333
3-Aug-09 New book to read on train 800
3-Aug-09 Inter City Hotel Vientiane, Laos, Standard room w/breakfast 947
4-Aug-09 ATM Fee 79
4-Aug-09 Taxi to border 198
4-Aug-09 Laundry 238
4-Aug-09 Buss to cross Mekhong river 40
4-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk to train station 40
4-Aug-09 Lunch 55
4-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk from border to hotel in Nong Khai 60
4-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk to another hotel 60
4-Aug-09 Beer on train 130
4-Aug-09 Hotel for a few hours 150
4-Aug-09 1st Class train ticket Nong Khai to BKK upper bunk 1117
4-Aug-09 1st Class train ticket Nong Khai to BKK lower bunk 1317
5-Aug-09 Breakfast on train 240
5-Aug-09 Taxi from Bangkok to Hua Hin 2100
TOTAL 21629

Post by **Poe** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:02 am

Here is the same thing but with additional currency conversions.
Cost of recent “Thai Visa Run” to Vientiane, Laos: Click here!
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ar?id=tZ ... l=0&ecol=8

Post by **Big Boy** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 4:12 am

Poe,

I don't know what is in that spreadsheet, but my computer has been trying to load it for over 10 minutes without success - I've now crashed out of it.

Post by **Poe** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:08 am

Not much on it as far as size.
Are you on TT&T by chance?
I am trying to review stock charts but my connection has that Chinese Flu called dragonass.
Might give up soon.
Just did a speed test and I am getting half of what was sold to me.

But, I did go back and click on the link and it opened up in 3 seconds.

Post by **STEVE G** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 5:10 am

Poe wrote:Cost of recent visa run to Laos.

Date Description Thai Baht
31-Jul-09 Tuk Tuk to Hua Hin town 150
1-Aug-09 Taxi to Bangkok train station 40
1-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk to Hua Hin train station 100
1-Aug-09 Taxi to China Hotel Bangkok 100
1-Aug-09 Coffee at Bangkok train station 120
1-Aug-09 Dinner & Breakfast on train 540
1-Aug-09 Lunch at hotel 600
1-Aug-09 1st Class train ticket Hua Hin to Bangkok upper bunk 782
1-Aug-09 China Town Hotel Standard Room, no breakfast, 8 hr stay 790
1-Aug-09 1st Class train ticket Hua Hin to Bangkok lower bunk 982
1-Aug-09 1 Class train ticket BKK-Nong Khai upper bunk 1117
1-Aug-09 1 Class train ticket BKK-Nong Khai lower bunk 1317
2-Aug-09 Beer 40
2-Aug-09 Trip to 7/11 131
2-Aug-09 Lunch 258
2-Aug-09 Dinner 515
2-Aug-09 Buss to cross Mekhong river 40
2-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk from Nong Khai train station to Laos border 60
2-Aug-09 Taxi to Intercity Hotel Vientiane 200
2-Aug-09 Inter City Hotel Vientiane, Laos, Standard room w/breakfast 947
2-Aug-09 Visa for Laos 1540
3-Aug-09 Visa Service + Double Entry Tourist Visa 2500
3-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk back to cafe 40
3-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk to mall 119
3-Aug-09 Drinks 143
3-Aug-09 Dinner 238
3-Aug-09 Taxi from hotel to Thai Embassy and back 317
3-Aug-09 Lunch 333
3-Aug-09 New book to read on train 800
3-Aug-09 Inter City Hotel Vientiane, Laos, Standard room w/breakfast 947
4-Aug-09 ATM Fee 79
4-Aug-09 Taxi to border 198
4-Aug-09 Laundry 238
4-Aug-09 Buss to cross Mekhong river 40
4-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk to train station 40
4-Aug-09 Lunch 55
4-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk from border to hotel in Nong Khai 60
4-Aug-09 Tuk Tuk to another hotel 60
4-Aug-09 Beer on train 130
4-Aug-09 Hotel for a few hours 150
4-Aug-09 1st Class train ticket Nong Khai to BKK upper bunk 1117
4-Aug-09 1st Class train ticket Nong Khai to BKK lower bunk 1317
5-Aug-09 Breakfast on train 240
5-Aug-09 Taxi from Bangkok to Hua Hin 2100
TOTAL 21629

I've no experience of this kind of thing, but wouldn't it be cheaper to fly to KL or Singapore and back on a budget airline?

Post by **Poe** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:11 am

Probably; too bad I hate flying.

Super Joe · Post by **Super Joe** » Sun Sep 06, 2009 6:58 am

WL or anyone else extending based on family support, where falling just a bit short of the 40k monthly income, could you not do the following:
Say you had 35k coming in and so 5k short = 60k per year. The criteria says "average annual income" equivalent of 40k per month, so to me that means can be 38k one month as long as 42k another month, or one single yearly income payment of 480k!?!?
So once a year you transfer 60k to family or friend who once a year based on "average annual" transfers that 60k into your main account where your 35k monthly investment income is sent over from ?
If they don't wear the once a year transfer then your helper has to do a monthly direct debit.

Bit of a pain in the butt but less so than leaving the country!?!?

SJ