World news story
British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
From 1 January 2019, the British Embassy Bangkok will no longer be providing British Nationals with letters confirming their income.
Published 8 October 2018
From:
British Embassy Bangkok
This letter has previously served as a supporting document for obtaining a Thai retirement or marriage visa. The British Embassy Bangkok is stopping the certification of income letters because it is unable to fulfil the Thai authorities’ requirements to verify the income of British Nationals.
British Nationals should now demonstrate that they have an amount of at least 800,000 THB in an account in Thailand for no less than three months prior to the visa application, or a monthly income of at least 65,000 THB transferred into an account in Thailand for a retirement visa. For a marriage visa, the amounts are 400,000 THB in an account in Thailand for no less than three months prior to the visa application, or a monthly income of at least 40,000 THB transferred into an account in Thailand. A bank statement should be used as the supporting document for obtaining a Thai retirement or marriage visa.
All British Nationals concerned should note that the last date for income letter applications is 12 December 2018.
Some Bangkok Embassies to stop Certification of Income Letters
Some Bangkok Embassies to stop Certification of Income Letters
I received this email today from GOV.UK
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
Another nail in the coffin
Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
Or another loophole! There is no mention of how many months bank statements are needed showing B40,000 being deposited from abroad! I guess you could just send the same B40,000 round and round for a few months! Might be easier for some who struggle to keep the higher amount in an account for 3 months
Enjoying 'Retirement'....So many jobs to do, I don't know how I ever had time to work!
Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
I must say, I thought this news would have been devastating for some, and generated a huge reaction. I know a few people who rely on this method. If the Embassy won't issue a letter of confirmation, is there another way of proving income?
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
There has to be. The Thai regulation requiring an embassy letter is meaningless even if just one country opts out like Britain has now done. I would expect some kind of directive that in lieu of a letter, a notarized current copy of the government or company pension statement will suffice. Let's see............ Pete
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
Well, I thought this was a wind up until I checked a very unused email address and there the alert was.
To my knowledge, The Brit Embassy is the first to do away with income letters - at least in the "western world". And, it was one of the few that required proof of income to issue the letter.
Can't be bothered to see a UK national in the consular to be with his/her Thai partner for an application for a UK visa. Then, can't come into the grounds of the embassy to accompany your partner. (I've been through both of those) Then farmed out to other places in BKK.
Then they won't see us for the income letter.
Now it seems that they won't issue one.
Remember, so far, this isn't down to the Thai authorities changing the goalposts it's just down to our government's total disregard of us and a sorry state of the UK. Hey, they sold off some of that prime real estate recently, didn't they. Brittania rules the waves - I think not.
I'm going to go on a tax strike.
To my knowledge, The Brit Embassy is the first to do away with income letters - at least in the "western world". And, it was one of the few that required proof of income to issue the letter.
Can't be bothered to see a UK national in the consular to be with his/her Thai partner for an application for a UK visa. Then, can't come into the grounds of the embassy to accompany your partner. (I've been through both of those) Then farmed out to other places in BKK.
Then they won't see us for the income letter.
Now it seems that they won't issue one.
Remember, so far, this isn't down to the Thai authorities changing the goalposts it's just down to our government's total disregard of us and a sorry state of the UK. Hey, they sold off some of that prime real estate recently, didn't they. Brittania rules the waves - I think not.
I'm going to go on a tax strike.
Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
Well, I guess you will have to do like any other nationality (except US & Australia).
How do the Swedes, Danes, Swiss or Germans do it?
Their embassies don't issue fake confirmation income letters.
Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
Sorry T.O.M. I don't understand what you are saying. Are you saying the Swedes, Danes, Swiss and Germans are doing something illegal? Or are you suggesting the British Embassy were issuing fake letters? Could you please clarify?
What does any other nationality (except US & Australia) do?
What does any other nationality (except US & Australia) do?
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
I think you're missing the point. Maybe BB is British?
Seems to me that Imm may well start insisting that the income requirements are transferred into a Thai bank every month.
Ie, they don't care how much income you have from abroad as long as you can demonstrate that 65K/40K a month at least is transferred over here.
No good any more having a pension of 80K and just bringing over 30K. They want to see 65K a month.
Welcome the new Imm boss.
Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
I've just been reading the link https://www.immigration.go.th/content/service_22
Paragraph 5 should cover anybody genuinely living here i.e.:
Paragraph 5 should cover anybody genuinely living here i.e.:
Personally, I tend to transfer £10K twice a year, so that should easily cover me. Nothing about monthly transfers.Have money in a year And have a bank deposit. Calculate at least 800,000 baht,
up to the date of application.
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
Thing is, BB that the combination method has always been available. I've never used it but if, for instance, I had 600K in the bank then I could make the rest up by income (200K divided by 12). But where's that income confirmation going to come from - if it was ever necessary? The Brit Embassy aren't going to issue anything by the looks of things. And probably that Imm web site is not exactly up-to-the-minute correct.
Over the years, there have just been so many lax embassies issuing letters. We've always known that, to the stage where those embassies who require proof of income to issue the letter become redundant as well.
I've always thought that Imm would eventually insist that the minimum income should be brought into Thailand.
If this is the case, then IMHO, it's extremely harsh and it remains to be seen whether there will be any "grandfathering" rules.
Over the years, there have just been so many lax embassies issuing letters. We've always known that, to the stage where those embassies who require proof of income to issue the letter become redundant as well.
I've always thought that Imm would eventually insist that the minimum income should be brought into Thailand.
If this is the case, then IMHO, it's extremely harsh and it remains to be seen whether there will be any "grandfathering" rules.
Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
But para 5 and the earlier link are talking about the proof being deposits into a Thai bank (or maybe that's the way I want to interpret it ). The deposits into the bank, so long as they total an average of 65,000 Baht/month should be the proof. Or am I wearing rose tinted glasses?
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
Neither does Australia!
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters
But they are the current regulations.Big Boy wrote: ↑Mon Oct 08, 2018 7:24 pm But para 5 and the earlier link are talking about the proof being deposits into a Thai bank (or maybe that's the way I want to interpret it ). The deposits into the bank, so long as they total an average of 65,000 Baht/month should be the proof. Or am I wearing rose tinted glasses?
By all accounts, something is going to change.
Maybe.