Thai immigration say that they’re willing to show leniency to
foreigners in the prickly subject of proving income when applying for
retirement and marriage visas and extensions.
Immigration chief Police Lieutenant General Surachete Hakparn
acknowledges that some applicants may have difficulty in providing the
now required 12 months worth of bank statements.
Where this is the case Surachete has instructed immigration officers
that, up to the end of 2019, they will have discretion to accept
evidence of less than 12 monthly transfers from overseas.
Appplicants given leniency in this case are being told that this is a
one-off exemption and that their applications for the next renewal will
not be accepted without a complete set of documents according to the
order.
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The order comes after revelations last year that a number of
embassies in Thailand, including the UK, USA and Australia, would stop
issuing income letters or affidavits, which had been used by expats to
confirm their income when applying for a retirement or marriage
extension.
This was forcing some foreigners applying for ‘retirement’ or
‘marriage’ visas to show 12 monthly transfers of either 65,000 baht or
40,000 baht paid into a Thai bank account.
Those affected by the new requirements are questioning if they will
still be able to obtain a retirement or marriage extension even though
they were not able to provide the 12 months worth of statements now
required.
Best to consult your visa agent or go directly to your local
Immigration office for an ‘off the record’ chat before you submit your
documents.
Source - TheThaiger & Thaivisa
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