Some Bangkok Embassies to stop Certification of Income Letters

[T.O.M.]

The way the UK £ is going that will probably be nearly £25 grand.. Haha, anyone with that kind of money just sitting around doing nothing every year is very lucky ..
...

Lucky? Or for much of their working lifetime did they live beneath their means, saving and investing the difference?

Thank you SIR...!!
Best post on the thread....All the whiners here have probably lived above their means back home, hence the difficulty to deposit a smallish amount like 800k baht in a Thai bank account for 3 months to secure their visa.
Only this time there will be no nanny state to bail them out...

[StevePIraq]

My opinion is that if you don't have 800k to leave in a Thai bank for 3 months what the hell are you doing living here.

[Homer]

My opinion is that if you don't have 800k to leave in a Thai bank for 3 months what the hell are you doing living here.

Consider how much much of your monthly pension you could have saved if instead of Hua Hin, you lived in Udon Thani, Khon Kaen, or Nong Khai. For some of you, consider how much more you could have saved if you'd stopped drinking.

[RCer]

Do you know if that is specifically in reference to yourself, since you extend in Nov, or was that a statement pertaining to all, effective January 1st, as being 'next year'.....???

Think many are awaiting a clarification, not me though .... THANKS

I'll find out the answer next month, as my turn at Imm ....
[/quote]

It's effective 1 Jan. I usually extend in Dec, but the boss got antsy because we are not in Hua Hin any longer and Pathum Thani might have different requirements.

From my wife's conversations with them, the cause is a few things.

1. Brokers providing fake 800k bank letters.
2. Farangs using Thai Government funded hospitals and not having the money or insurance to pay the bills.

IMHO, the Government should have done this long ago.

[laphanphon]

Thanks for the clarification.

Means all them folks who got their letters, expecting to be accept up to 6 months after issued, may be in for surprise, if extending after the new year.

I know the USA and UK embassies were issuing in Oct and Nov, so many might think that affidavit is good till April / May-ish.

Maybe not, and will be interesting to see how that plays out after New Years.

Udon Thani Imm, so far, and untested, has stated they will honor the letter till May-ish, as USA outreach issued them Nov 7 in UT. Also means you have to show residence in UT, as they won't do out of province extensions or apps.

Also agree, Gov't should have done long ago, and quite surprised they ever accepted the affidavits of income.

[StevePIraq]

It's effective 1 Jan. I usually extend in Dec, but the boss got antsy because we are not in Hua Hin any longer and Pathum Thani might have different requirements.

From my wife's conversations with them, the cause is a few things.

1. Brokers providing fake 800k bank letters.
2. Farangs using Thai Government funded hospitals and not having the money or insurance to pay the bills.

IMHO, the Government should have done this long ago.

Actually it is not brokers providing 800k bank letters, it is banks who provide the letter

[RCer]

It's effective 1 Jan. I usually extend in Dec, but the boss got antsy because we are not in Hua Hin any longer and Pathum Thani might have different requirements.

From my wife's conversations with them, the cause is a few things.

1. Brokers providing fake 800k bank letters.
2. Farangs using Thai Government funded hospitals and not having the money or insurance to pay the bills.

IMHO, the Government should have done this long ago.

Actually it is not brokers providing 800k bank letters, it is banks who provide the letter

True, but they're still fake and the government is going to stop it, as they should.

[StevePIraq]

That's what they say but like so many things here only time will tell

[Big Boy]

Actually it is not brokers providing 800k bank letters, it is banks who provide the letter

Actually, it is brokers. I saw a friend's letter from his broker only last week when helping him with his Income Letter application. This is the way he;s done his application for the last 5 years. Although my friend is wealthy, and his income quoted on his letter is genuine, nothing would be easier to forge.

[StevePIraq]

And someone had a letter from a bank formally stating the money had been in the bank for in excess of 3 months when it had only been in the account for 20 minutes.

The brokers do not produce the bank letter, the bank does.

[buksida]

there is nothing illegal with borrowing money for your visa, the requirement is you have the funds in your bank account, there is no statement on where the money comes from

My opinion is that if you don't have 800k to leave in a Thai bank for 3 months what the hell are you doing living here.

Are these two quotes from the same person?

[dtaai-maai]

My opinion is that if you don't have 800k to leave in a Thai bank for 3 months what the hell are you doing living here.

That is possibly one of the most stupid and insensitive - on so many levels - posts I've ever seen on this forum. I can think of several legitimate answers, but they all seem pretty obvious to me, and I'm struggling to stay civil.

[caller]

There's some pretty harsh comments on here about other farangs, speculating on their circumstances, without any justification, it seems to me.

As for anyone leaving now, as they won't 'qualify', Why would anyone do that, without anything official from immigration? All we have so far is hearsay, which seems to differ from office to office. Why not wait until something official is issued?

[StevePIraq]

there is nothing illegal with borrowing money for your visa, the requirement is you have the funds in your bank account, there is no statement on where the money comes from

My opinion is that if you don't have 800k to leave in a Thai bank for 3 months what the hell are you doing living here.

Are these two quotes from the same person?

There is nothing illegal in borrowing the money, which should be in your account for 3 months. As I had previously stated I used this system once when going through a divorce and did not have cash in country on the advice of my lawyer.

I stand by the second statement.

[fabman]

I renewed my retirement visa on Thursday. They made it very clear that next year they will only accept proof from my Thai bank that I have had 800k on deposit in an account solely in my name for 3 months.

They will not accept any income statements or other evidence.

The way the UK £ is going that will probably be nearly £25 grand.. Haha, anyone with that kind of money just sitting around doing nothing every year is very lucky ..bye bye more foreigners in Thailand.

Totally agree. I know 2 retired UK expats who have decided to go back as they will not qualify. The problem both have is how to sell their assets in Ting Tong Land. I have told both that if they sell their assets as I have just done and rent they will easily have enough cash in the bank. Unfortunately both think they can make substantial profits on their homes. They really do live in Ting Tong Land.

I am in a similar situation, trying to sell a house here is almost impossible.. You have to be extremely lucky, even if you cut the price a lot. There are just not enough people considering buying a house here anymore.. And who can blame them with the stong Thai baht. The only people profiting from this is the wealthy Thais.. Because your average Thai is still working ridiculous hours for small money. They have no chance to get a mortgage to buy a house or do much else