Hoo boy. Oy vey. WTF?
This was my first retirement extension at Hua Hin, after five consecutive annual extensions at Jomtien.
I used the "income + savings" qualification, as I have for the past five years, since my pension falls short of B65,000/month.
I was told clearly that the money had not been in my account long enough. It needed to be there three months prior to the extension.
(PS: If this post looks familiar, I posted the same topic on that other popular visa-related Thai forum...)
3-Months Seasoning Requred For Combo Qualify, Retirement
Re: 3-Months Seasoning Requred For Combo Qualify, Retirement
Okay, that first post was for the sound-bite generation of ADD readers.
Here's the full version:
After I politely challenged the denial of my extension, the equally polite and friendly Pol Sgt Maj showed me a printout in English that is often linked and quoted on the other visa forum that shall not be named: either B800,000 savings in the bank for 90 days, or, a combination of savings + income to equal B800,000.
I pointed out that the "for 90 days" only was in the first option (B800,000), but was NOT included in the second option (savings + income). He looked confused so I repeated, by separating the options with my hands. He then read the Thai version, and I could tell he "got it," though he never said he did. He said to wait a moment while he consulted his senior officer seated behind him. He said she was calling Bangkok for clarification. She called him back, and then he returned to me. It was obvious they weren't budging. He seemed sincere when he said I was the first person to challenge their rule.
He decided to verify my last extension at Jomtien, and saw that in fact, they had issued the extension a mere two days after the money was wired from overseas into my Thai bank account.
I asked him why Bangkok and Jomtien don't require the funds to be seasoned when using a combination of income and savings, but Hua Hin did. He said it used to be that way but it changed. I asked when, and he said November 2010. When he saw me write down that date, he opened a binder of official-looking notices (all in Thai) and stopped at one pointed at it and said November 25, 2010.
I asked him if he had the Immigrations help line 4-digit phone number. He didn't know what I was talking about. He gave me a phone number for Bangkok Immigrations which turned out to be a voice-mail menu of recordings only.
He suggested I go to Jomtien tomorrow, since I had time, and they would do the extension without money seasoning. I asked incredulously if the law had changed on November 25, 2010 to require seasoning and he said yes. So, I asked why I should travel to Jomtien if they also required seasoning. He just smiled.
At one point, he offered some short extension (for B4,000!) to give me 90 days to season my money, and I said, no, thank you.
We sat there, in this bizarre give and take conversation, both of us entirely civil and polite, and finally he said he would ask his senior officer if they would make an exception this one time, for me only, to not require the bank money to be seasoned.
And, we were off the races: he stamped, signed, filled in forms and I got my extension and re-entry permit. He slipped up, though. He never consulted with his senior officer before doing so. After he said he would check with her about an exception for me, he & I chatted a while and he started processing the paperwork. Never even looked at her before proceeding. Hmmmmm.
So, I would VERY MUCH like to hear any reports of experience at Hua Hin Immigrations, especially since November 25, 2010, from anyone using the savings + income method to qualify for a retirement extension.
Here's the full version:
After I politely challenged the denial of my extension, the equally polite and friendly Pol Sgt Maj showed me a printout in English that is often linked and quoted on the other visa forum that shall not be named: either B800,000 savings in the bank for 90 days, or, a combination of savings + income to equal B800,000.
I pointed out that the "for 90 days" only was in the first option (B800,000), but was NOT included in the second option (savings + income). He looked confused so I repeated, by separating the options with my hands. He then read the Thai version, and I could tell he "got it," though he never said he did. He said to wait a moment while he consulted his senior officer seated behind him. He said she was calling Bangkok for clarification. She called him back, and then he returned to me. It was obvious they weren't budging. He seemed sincere when he said I was the first person to challenge their rule.
He decided to verify my last extension at Jomtien, and saw that in fact, they had issued the extension a mere two days after the money was wired from overseas into my Thai bank account.
I asked him why Bangkok and Jomtien don't require the funds to be seasoned when using a combination of income and savings, but Hua Hin did. He said it used to be that way but it changed. I asked when, and he said November 2010. When he saw me write down that date, he opened a binder of official-looking notices (all in Thai) and stopped at one pointed at it and said November 25, 2010.
I asked him if he had the Immigrations help line 4-digit phone number. He didn't know what I was talking about. He gave me a phone number for Bangkok Immigrations which turned out to be a voice-mail menu of recordings only.
He suggested I go to Jomtien tomorrow, since I had time, and they would do the extension without money seasoning. I asked incredulously if the law had changed on November 25, 2010 to require seasoning and he said yes. So, I asked why I should travel to Jomtien if they also required seasoning. He just smiled.
At one point, he offered some short extension (for B4,000!) to give me 90 days to season my money, and I said, no, thank you.
We sat there, in this bizarre give and take conversation, both of us entirely civil and polite, and finally he said he would ask his senior officer if they would make an exception this one time, for me only, to not require the bank money to be seasoned.
And, we were off the races: he stamped, signed, filled in forms and I got my extension and re-entry permit. He slipped up, though. He never consulted with his senior officer before doing so. After he said he would check with her about an exception for me, he & I chatted a while and he started processing the paperwork. Never even looked at her before proceeding. Hmmmmm.
So, I would VERY MUCH like to hear any reports of experience at Hua Hin Immigrations, especially since November 25, 2010, from anyone using the savings + income method to qualify for a retirement extension.
Re: 3-Months Seasoning Requred For Combo Qualify, Retirement
I try to keep up-to-date with visa stuff here and must admit that if you'd asked on here about your situation - combination method - I would have said that there's no need to season the savings if they're made up to the 800K with income.
I'd like to see the wording of that police order in Nov 2010 because to the very best of my knowledge things havn't changed for years.
At least you got your extension and it gives you another year to work towards getting things "correct" the HH way.
I'd like to see the wording of that police order in Nov 2010 because to the very best of my knowledge things havn't changed for years.
At least you got your extension and it gives you another year to work towards getting things "correct" the HH way.
Re: 3-Months Seasoning Requred For Combo Qualify, Retirement
According to the usually-well-informed folks on the other forum, nothing has changed. Specifically nothing in November 2010 changed.
What I'm really trying to find out is if the Immigrations Officer simply made a mistake, and to save face put me through about a half-hour of agony. Especially when he went ahead and issued the extension/re-entry permit without checking further with his senior officer. I find it hard to accept that I'm the first applicant in Hua Hin ... ever ... to not have had the money seasoned for 3 months for the income+savings method...
What I'm really trying to find out is if the Immigrations Officer simply made a mistake, and to save face put me through about a half-hour of agony. Especially when he went ahead and issued the extension/re-entry permit without checking further with his senior officer. I find it hard to accept that I'm the first applicant in Hua Hin ... ever ... to not have had the money seasoned for 3 months for the income+savings method...
Re: 3-Months Seasoning Requred For Combo Qualify, Retirement
I believe he meant to say 25th Nov' 2008 wpcoe, that was the date of the big change re: 'seasoning', as below extract. The red text is not me but Isaan Lawyers (who translated and published it), and the red indicates changes in rules from previous requirements...wpcoe wrote:He said it used to be that way but it changed. I asked when, and he said November 2010. When he saw me write down that date, he opened a binder of official-looking notices (all in Thai) and stopped at one pointed at it and said November 25, 2010.
So, I would VERY MUCH like to hear any reports of experience at Hua Hin Immigrations, especially since November 25, 2010, from anyone using the savings + income method to qualify for a retirement extension.
But the more obvious one was former 'savings deposit of 800k with a bank in Thailand' ('in a Thai bank' being a specific requirement most know about)... the latter just says 'savings deposit of 'x' amount', and no mention of bank. If anyone asked those of us a bit familiar with it if they can bring their Barclays Bank statement along, I think most of us would point to the former and say 'look they're telling you there it has to be a Thai bank'.
As usual it's muddy enough for it to allow 'their interpretation'
I think you can rightly buy yourself a drink tonight though as you kept your cool and got a result, without paying tea-money!!
SJ