Retirement Visa renewal (65k method) 13 months of bank statements?

[bangkokgalaxy 14]

Hello Everyone,

 

I am planning to review my retirement visa next week (it expires Jan 1) using the 65k method. I assumed it would be easy, I have been diligently transferring money from abroad, all statements show as FFT. Assumed I could do it myself.

 

But...after talking with the legal firm agent who helped me last year, he told me the officer will ask for 13 months of statements and credit advice letters...starting November 2019-November 2020. Why not 12? He couldn't say, but insisted that's what he has experienced. 

 

The problem: in November 2019 I had a Transferwise glitch that showed that month's transfer as SMART (in-country transfer). I provided documentation to immigration last year (2019) for that month by getting a credit advice letter from the local processing bank showing that, indeed, this was an overseas transfer. No issues.

 

Now, the agent insists I'll again need an agent to avoid problems (because officers are looking for reasons to reject 65k method retirees, he says). It will cost 20k for agent services. 

 

Before I write this off as advice from a self interested agent, can anyone provide recent feedback on using the 65k method at BKK immigration? Do they ask for 13 months of documentation? Did you have any issues?

 

Thanks in advance.

Edited November 30, 2020 by bangkokgalaxy

[Dan O 159]

I didnt see you list where your location or office is. Based on your post it sounds like you had been planning and working toward applying yourself versus using an agent this time.

 

I'm no expert here but if you provided the explanation documents for the messed up transfer last year and it was accepted then it should be accepted this year too I would think . If that gives you the 13 months worth of transfers transaction then your are good to go if they do ask for 13 rather than 12 monthly transfers. In that case why would you need at Agent ?

 

I would have to say my opinion is the Agent is "doing his job" trying to drum up business . 

[bangkokgalaxy 14]

To clarify, I'm based in Bangkok.

[mtls2005 15,584]

Twelve months of documented QFT were fine for my recent (Sep) ext stay/ret-inc at CW.

 

I carried the -13 month details just in case, but these were not requested.

 

Twelve CARs (bank)

QFT Summary letter documenting the twelve QFTs (bank)

Account ownership letter (bank)

Same day B/F (ATM at CW)

Copies of all passbooks covering the twelve QFTs (self)

Original passbooks (returned)

 

 

 

 

[ubonjoe 47,762]

The rules state 12 months of transfers. If you could show a transfer for this month and a statement showing the transfers from January of last year it should be accepted.

As far as I know Chaeng Wattana immigration is still wanting a letter from the bank showing the transfers for the past year.

I suggest you ignore the agent.

[chilly07 456]

The 13 mths is for a marriage extension allowing for the "under consideration" month

[ubonjoe 47,762]

6 minutes ago, chilly07 said:

The 13 mths is for a marriage extension allowing for the "under consideration" month

You do not need 13 months if you can show a transfer for the month you apply for the extension.

You do need to show a transfer when you go back to get your extension stamp at the end of the 30 days.

[kiteman9 75]

At my immigration office in Nakhon Phanom, they wanted a letter from, in my case the social security and the veterans affairs to see where my pension comes from. 12 months of direct deposits through bank of Bangkoks New York branch.

[earlinclaifornia 2,509]

43 minutes ago, kiteman9 said:

At my immigration office in Nakhon Phanom, they wanted a letter from, in my case the social security and the veterans affairs to see where my pension comes from. 12 months of direct deposits through bank of Bangkoks New York branch.

Same for me back in June at Chiang Mai.

[Scott Tracy 699]

I spoke to the Immigration officer in So Saket IO to ascertain what would be acceptable a coup!e of weeks prior to my application for extension. How about having a chat with yours before you apply?

 

The UK tax office has a summary of income and details of that income online, which I suggested and showed to them at the time of the chat and they accepted that as evidence of income from UK. I also printed off all my UK bank details showing transfers to transferwise and the transferwise transfer details. Along with the Thai bank statements and updated passbook, I correlated all the transfers and marked them in blue ink. They did only ask for 12 months, but I prepared 14 months, just in case...

[AlfHuy 2,441]

65k a month.

Why does it need to be from a pension?

 

[hotchilli 16,508]

On 12/1/2020 at 2:40 AM, bangkokgalaxy said:

Before I write this off as advice from a self interested agent, can anyone provide recent feedback on using the 65k method at BKK immigration? Do they ask for 13 months of documentation? Did you have any issues?

I do the 65k per month method for my renewal, via a pension.

I provide the pension statement/letter from my pension company showing the monthly transfer.
A bank letter stating the monthly income from the pension fund.
A bank statement showing the previous 12 months deposits.

A copy of my bank book showing 12 previous transfers + the book for them to check

never had an issue.

I would ignore the agent.

 

[mtls2005 15,584]

11 hours ago, AlfHuy said:

65k a month.

Why does it need to be from a pension?

 

 

It doesn't.

 

Rule says "...income, such as pension, interest...". Ret age min is 50 YO, very few people are pension-eligible at age 50 (yes I know some are).

 

But most recommend being able to demonstrate the provenance of the QFT. The BBL CAR does show the source (Ordering Institution, Ordering Customer)  of the transfer, but I also bring supporting documentation with me.  It has not been requested (ext stay/ret-inc: CW) in the two years since the change from the affidavit (U.S.).

 

Technically, legally and for tax purposes, U.S. Social Security is not a "pension". Retired government employees probably have a real pension, which can offset their SocSec.

[bangkokgalaxy 14]

Thanks everyone for your help and input. 

 

I will most likely go to Wattana and try myself. If they give me a hard time and I can't get approved, will that create issues using the agent to back to immigration again on my behalf? For example, will they stamp my denied in my passport? Or keep my bank letters, etc?

[mtls2005 15,584]

Last extension you used an agent?

 

You got an extension of stay based on retirement, using the income method? Based on an underlying Non-O?

 

What supporting documents did you or the agent provide to support your application?

 

Not seeing a huge issue here, doing it on your own. But if someone in the Imm CoC is still working with that agent you may be 'forced/encouraged' to re-employ them. They will only red-line your new extension if issued and then rejected by a higher rank officer. They will refund the 1,900 fee. Depending on the exact situation they may retain your paperwork, if you agree to return to sort out any issues. Worst case you'll have to use a/the agent.

 

Have all the documents prepared, and present the fewest number of documents possible. Keep supporting documents in hand if requested. Have all the forms pre-filled, included the three extra documents (STM2, Affidavit of residence, Overstay acknowledgement). With a 09:45 appointment you should be done by 10:15.

 

Make an appointment, and arrive ~ 30 minutes early. Don't make an appointment before 09:00 or 09:15. Present at desk L1-32 ~ 15 minutes before the appointment.