Retirement Visa Extension and Wise (Transferwise)

[lomuamart]

Chazz, I appreciate that different banks have their own ways of doing things, but my credit advices from KBank had to be ordered from HO in BKK. HH could and did print out simple statements, but the international stuff came from HO.

Maybe TMB will be the same? It's got to be worth asking. I'd bet that your HO in BKK will have to keep records of international transactions.

[cheshiremusicman2]

If you open a 'Foreign Currency Account' say in Sterling then surely there is no need to prove it has come from the UK. I am in two minds as to how to prove that I have the required 800,000 Baht for my next extension due to retirement (in Feb next year). I have renewed this for the past 13 years always with the necessary amount in my bank account, but I am seriously thinking of opening an 'FCA' and dumping 22K sterling in it rather than getting it converted into Baht as I hope that the exchange rates will improve over the year to come.
Do the IO really think that most retirees have a 'Pension Income' of 65,000 Baht per month? I could send the 65,000 each month, but only a portion of this would be derived from 'pension sources' and I am sure they would reject this, which to me sounds stupid as long as you can meet the criteria each and every month. My income is derived from part pensions and monthly income from investments, so why the heck do they not accept this if I can prove that I have met the critical 65,000+ for 12 consecutive months?
Anybody else using the 'FCA' method and any tips as to which bank to use for this would be most appreciated?

[HHTel]

Proof of funds coming from overseas only applies to the income route. 800K in the bank doesn't require that proof. It can come from anywhere. An FCA is perfectly acceptable as long as conversion on the day equates to 800K baht or more.

[lomuamart]

And there's nothing to say that income must come from pensions alone although I know some Imm offices are insisting on it. I haven't got the exact wording to hand but it runs along the lines of "overseas income from, for instance, pensions, investments or whatever".

I did my extension last month and the officer was only interested in seeing that the requisite amount of money was brought in each month from abroad - evidenced by the credit advices. I could meet the requirements by pensions alone but I don't transfer them directly over here. They just go into my UK bank account together with other revenue streams and I decide, on a month-to-month basis, how much I need over here. That amount varies, but not hugely, however is always well above the minimum amount.

[caller]

It was my understanding that the only requirement now was to show 65k monthly into your account. That's all I showed when I extended my visa last month.

[Big Boy]

I was told they also needed my annual letter from my pensions company, although you've renewed since me, so maybe that has changed. Or more likely, just the luck of the draw which I/O is on your desk that day.

[cheshiremusicman2]

Sorry, I am still confused if I need to have my 800,000 Baht (or the equivalent in foreign currency deposit account) in the bank for 2 or 3 months prior to my application for renewal of stay under retirement conditions. Some people say 2 and others say 3? This will be my 13th renewal at HH immigration. Just a blxxxy pity that they can't take into account that you have met all the regulations for 13+years and give you some slack, like making your next retirement stamp last for 2 or more years. Maybe (just maybe?) someone will have the nous to implement something like this in the future - I live in hope!

[lomuamart]

cheshiremusicman2,

Season the money for 3 months.

I assume you are aware that the 800K has to also remain in the bank for 3 months after your extension is granted and then can't fall below 400K for the next 6 months - ie until you need to top up again to 800K 3 months before the next extension.

[Nereus]

visa extension.jpg (89.49 KiB) Viewed 1086 times

[HHTel]

cheshiremusicman2,

Season the money for 3 months.

I assume you are aware that the 800K has to also remain in the bank for 3 months after your extension is granted and then can't fall below 400K for the next 6 months - ie until you need to top up again to 800K 3 months before the next extension.

Small correction there. 2 months before and 3 months after.

[lomuamart]

HHTel, the seasoning always was 2 months for the first extension and then 3 months for subsequent ones.

cheshiremusicman2 said this would be his 13th renewal, so I'd reckon on 3 months seasoning. It's not his first extension.

And then, I was trying to advise Big Boy on his seasoning when he first came over and I said "2 months for first extension". But HH Imm insisted on 3 months and... well over to you BB.

So, rely on 3 months seasoning to be on the safe side. After BB's experience, I have never advised less than that despite the Police Order.

[HHTel]

Did mine a month ago and seasoned for 2 months. A friend renewed his on Friday and 2 months was accepted.

Nereus posted the police order above and there it states 2 months prior and 3 months after.

[lomuamart]

OK. I can't argue about that and it's good as they're following the letter of the law.

[Nereus]

Although it states 2 months, if you look at the actual wording of (4), it also states " at least 2 months prior to the FILING date".
As it is possible to renew an extension at least 30 days, some have reported 45 days, BEFORE the expiry date of your valid extension, what is to stop them disputing where the date actually is? Is it the date that you go to immigration to extend, or is it the date that the current extension expires?

For me, I think that I will stick with the 3 months before the expiry date, regardless.

[HHTel]

I do realise that it's 2 months prior to application which is why some have been told to return the following week as the application has to wait for the 2 months to complete.