Some Bangkok Embassies to stop Certification of Income Letters

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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

Post by caller »

Big Boy wrote: Thu Oct 11, 2018 3:46 pm I agree, the British Embassy certainly wouldn't knowingly give out forged letters. However, something I had never considered until now - with modern technology, how easy would it be to forge the pension letters that we provide to the Embassy?
Coming from my background, I'm absolutely convinced this happens. But I doubt it is a major problem. I'm sure if it was, that the Thai authroities would get wind of it and deal with it. What we're talking about here is taking a sledgehammer to crack a nut. For example, the Thai authorities could ask the Embassies that don't currently notarise docs, such as the US, to do so.

Ultimately, most farangs will have an income greater than most Thais, even if it doesn't meet the required amount and they spend that money in Thailand and pay taxes such as VAT which go into the Govt. coffers. If this plays out that more expats leave, the Thais themselves will suffer.
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

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handdrummer wrote: Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:25 pm The discrepancy between married and unmarried income is strange. Do the Thais think it's cheaper to be married than single.
Yes, this has always puzzled me as well.

Another strange thing is that I have never been asked to prove where my 800k in the Bank came from. I keep it on term deposit, but sometimes draw some out, and then top it up in time for the 3 months deposit bit, sometimes not. I use a different account for day to day and it is that account that receives the incoming FFT. I then move some of it to the term deposit.

On Monday with the small stuff up that I had, the young officer spent sometime closely examining the passbook, but nothing was said. I do get a copy from the Bank when a transfer arrives and do take it with me to Imm., but have never been asked for it.

Don't know about KBank as I use Bangkok Bank, but they will and have printed out a statement from my passbook when asked. Not sure if they charge for it as the case in question was the Banks fault with my passbook. Maybe immigration will accept that along with a letter from the Bank?
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

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Nereus wrote: Thu Oct 11, 2018 4:00 pm
handdrummer wrote: Thu Oct 11, 2018 2:25 pm The discrepancy between married and unmarried income is strange. Do the Thais think it's cheaper to be married than single.
Yes, this has always puzzled me as well.

Another strange thing is that I have never been asked to prove where my 800k in the Bank came from. I keep it on term deposit, but sometimes draw some out, and then top it up in time for the 3 months deposit bit, sometimes not. I use a different account for day to day and it is that account that receives the incoming FFT. I then move some of it to the term deposit.

They asked this money from where it comes at first time I asked for a year visa, long, long time ago and since never.
I know some people who keep 1 million Bht. on a fix deposit and use this for their visa every year without any problem.
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

Post by PET »

LOMU - the ability of using ones marriage to a Thai for the annual extension seems preferable now, with the financial requirement being 50% less. Can you advise what the requirements immigration require over and above what we have been providing?
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

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PET wrote: Fri Oct 12, 2018 2:16 pm LOMU - the ability of using ones marriage to a Thai for the annual extension seems preferable now, with the financial requirement being 50% less. Can you advise what the requirements immigration require over and above what we have been providing?
Go to immigration 19 Rai, they have a list of requirements in Thai and English.
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

Post by caller »

Incidentally, whilst on this subject, on another forum I use (not TV), the thread about this was started by a Canadian, as after visiting his Embassy for whatever is needed for his extension, he was told that the service will be discontinued. He started the thread to ask if anyone else had heard of this.
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

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PET wrote: Fri Oct 12, 2018 2:16 pm LOMU - the ability of using ones marriage to a Thai for the annual extension seems preferable now, with the financial requirement being 50% less. Can you advise what the requirements immigration require over and above what we have been providing?
For once, I think that Euro's post is actually decent advice.
There is certainly more paperwork involved with the marriage extension and, up to now, they might include marriage cert, some Amphur certificate of marriage (I'm not sure what that is exactly but there must be some official note that you're married), your wife, photos, neighbours to attest that everything's kosher etc etc.
Local offices don't like marriage extensions because they don't make the decision on them.
I can't be more precise than that.
As said, go and ask. Be ready for some grilling and just stick to your guns. "What do you want to see?"
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

Post by PET »

OK I will try to go next week and will report back, I have never had a problem with immigration over the last 12 years and I do have the certificate of marriage and a copy notarised by Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the British Embassuy.
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

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https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/pos ... s-whistles
Useless UK embassy:
It was recently announced that from Jan 1, 2019 the British Embassy in Bangkok will no longer provide a pension letter service required by Thai Immigration.

Some time ago the embassy stopped issuing and renewing passports; it also outsourced the provision of visas for those wishing to visit the UK. Registration of UK citizens visiting or residing here was disbanded, as was the warden system whereby British residents were appointed in key areas to inform UK citizens of important developments such as cases of national emergencies. I understand honorary consuls in major Thai cities were also terminated.

If it's not too much trouble, perhaps someone from the embassy can respond and advise us of exactly what services it can provide -- if any. An expat
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

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None.
They're here to promote business between the two countries. Nothing more, nothing less.
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

Post by Blacky »

Fabulous 103FM posted an interview with a British Embassy Bangkok Official that clarifies some of the questions raised....

https://fabulous103.com/british-embassy ... ats-visas/

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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

Post by HHTel »

Good interview but it still implies that your income has to be shown in a Thai bank. Did I understand that correctly?
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

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HHTel wrote: Sat Oct 13, 2018 4:37 pm Good interview but it still implies that your income has to be shown in a Thai bank. Did I understand that correctly?
Absolutely, so whilst it was made fairly clear, there will be a lot of expats who although they may have income equivalent to +65,000 Baht a month, they may not transfer that to Thailand on a regular monthly basis (e.g. BB sends £10k every six months or so).
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

Post by PET »

Dannie Boy wrote: Sat Oct 13, 2018 7:23 pm
HHTel wrote: Sat Oct 13, 2018 4:37 pm Good interview but it still implies that your income has to be shown in a Thai bank. Did I understand that correctly?
Absolutely, so whilst it was made fairly clear, there will be a lot of expats who although they may have income equivalent to +65,000 Baht a month, they may not transfer that to Thailand on a regular monthly basis (e.g. BB sends £10k every six months or so).
Well all they have to do is still send it and then FX the surplus back.
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Re: British Embassy Bangkok to stop Certification of Income Letters

Post by hin »

another link that might be of interest


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