Jomtien Extension of Stay - no surprises.

[x in pattaya]

No new twists in terms of the тАЬApplication for Extension of Temporary Stay in the KingdomтАЭ at Chonburi Immigrations (aka Jomtien or Pattaya Immigrations).

My extension expires at the end of January, 2010, but I went in the second week of December. When I last enquired, I was told that applications are accepted up to 2 months earlier than the expiration, and indeed no questions were raised when I did so. The new extension still runs the full twelve months beyond the current one, i.e. until the end of January 2011.

I had:
1. The TM7 application & B1900.
2. A 4 x 6 cm photo and yes they checked on the computer (apparently) to see if the photo was different from the one I used last year,
3. Passport and photocopies of the face page, visa, the arrival card & entry stamp,
4. Letter from my bank manager stating that I have over B800,000 in my account & listing a few recent deposits made from foreign resources,
5. Photocopy of entire bank book, the final entry of which must agree exactly with what is shown on the managerтАЩs letter,
6. Statement of the amount of my pension and Social Security, notarized by my embassy.

Either # 4 (over B 800,000) or # 5 (at least B65,000 per month) would be sufficient, but I believe in overkill. One can also combine the two so that the total exceeds either minimum amount.

You need to return the following day to collect the passport ... two days later in my case because of the December 10th Constitution Day Holiday.

Once again I found everyone at the Immigrations office to be polite, helpful and efficient (it had to be no more than five minutes from the time I was called up the desk to when I left the building).

I find that all the more amazing considering the motley crew of farangs they must have to deal with on a daily basis. Aside from the usual collection of unwashed ,unshaven (male & female) foreigners who appear to have slept for more than a few nights in the clothes they wore when visiting the office, there are always a few twits who seem to feel their understanding of Immigration rules is superior to that of the officers working there and are determined to establish beyond any doubt how obnoxious they can be.

[cdnmatt]

it had to be no more than five minutes from the time I was called up the desk to when I left the building

Lucky you didn't go a couple days ago on Tuesday, just after the holidays. Took me about 2 -3 hours of waiting. It was packed in there! Paperwork part was great though, and quick. I didn't find anyone too grubby looking though. I guess a couple guys who looked better dressed for the beach, but for the most part, was fine. Although, a few people did of course do stupid things that make me chuckle. A few will just walk into the office, and meander over to some desk at the back of the room, then act all dumbfounded when the immigration officer refuses to help them. Or when one guys' number was called, while going to the officer, he actually pulled his paperwork out of his back pocket, folded up nicely in a 2x3 inch block.

Oh well, nowhere near as bad as Malaysia. I had doing anything with any embassy or consulate there, because it takes 2 - 3 hours to spend 20 seconds handing a couple papers to the officer. People there just can't seem to grasp the complexity of correctly completing a straight forward one page form.

[x in pattaya]

it had to be no more than five minutes from the time I was called up the desk to when I left the building

Lucky you didn't go a couple days ago on Tuesday, just after the holidays. Took me about 2 -3 hours of waiting. It was packed in there!

Well, I did say "from the time I was called up to the desk."

I arrived 15 minutes before the office opened and pulled the first number for the extension desk, but they spent about twenty minutes with a load of passports either left from the previous day or brought in by an agent (although allegedly you have to apply in person). So allowing for the wait before the office opened, the further wait while they cleared their desk and the five minutes I spent with them, I was there maybe 45 to 50 minutes. Still, compared to similar undertakings in other countries or with my own embassy in Thailand, it was speedy.

I also agree that this time 90% of the farang seemed reasonably attired, but combining my experience for numerous 90 day reports and previous extensions, a fairly high percentage of those coming into the office could be classified as slobs. I've also seen some who pull a fistful of waded up documents from their back pockets and who then waste everyone's time completing forms, going out for photocopies or photos and so on AFTER they were called to the desk.

[Smiles]

" ... combining my experience for numerous 90 day reports and previous extensions, a fairly high percentage of those coming into the office could be classified as slobs ... "
Congratulations.
Oh great, I suppose this means just one more immaculately dressed farang cruising Sunnee Plaza for another year.
Was the immigration desk big enough to obstruct the fact that you were wearing socks with your sandals?

[x in pattaya]

Was the immigration desk big enough to obstruct the fact that you were wearing socks with your sandals?

Those are Argyle therapeutic support hose and they are color coordinated to complement the grips on my walker and the wheel covers on my oxygen tank trolley.

What is an Immigration desk and how can a desk obstruct a fact?

Was the immigration desk big enough to obstruct the fact ...........

............how can a desk obstruct a fact?


It was a typo....

He meant fart


:occasion9: :occasion9:

(it had to be no more than five minutes from the time I was called up the desk to when I left the building).

... there are always a few twits who seem to feel their understanding of Immigration rules is superior to that of the officers working there and are determined to establish beyond any doubt how obnoxious they can be.I wonder how many of these x in pattaya observed in action in the five minutes he was there (at the head of the queue). Or is this just another example of his condescending attitude to all and sundry?

Last Wednesay my friend went to Chonburi Immigration office (Jomtien) to change his tourist visa so he could apply for the 1 year extension based on retirement. Within 40 minutes, he had his 1 year extension done and is now good until March 2011. He picked his passport up this afternoon.
Documents needed:
Main passport page - 2 copies.
Passport page with tourist visa and entry stamp - 2 copies.
Arrival/departure card - 2 copies.
Proof of income letter from Embassy - original and 1 copy.
Letter from Thai bank - original and 1 copy.
Relevant pages from updated Bankbook - 2 copies.
2 photos.
Cost - 3900 baht.
Very efficient and courteous service. Kudos to the Immigration office.

[Narakmak]

Bank book copies going back one year will always be accepted. No need to copy entire bank book. Save some paper.

[quiet1]

At Jomtien Immigrations, now called Cholburi Immigrations, office I only copy the bank book page with the current balance.

That said, I use the savings+income combination so don't need to have the funds in the bank for 2 months as is required when using the income-only method (i.e. not using an embassy letter to declare any income).

However, I don't think even an applicant using the income-only method would need copies of pages going back a full year. Probably only the pages going back two months?

[Smiles]

" ... However, I don't think even an applicant using the income-only method would need copies of pages going back a full year. Probably only the pages going back two months? ... "
I use the income-only option. A simple thing to drop into the Canadian Embassy for about 20 minutes to obtain the certification of Canadian income document (***).
I extended my stay for another 12 months in September here at the Hua Hin Immigration Office using the embassy document only ... my Thai bank book was not produced or asked for.

Not sure if I'm mis-reading your post above Quiet1, but are you saying that at Chonburi Imm they ask for a bank book photocopy even though you are using income-only method?
__________________________________________________ ______

(***) For anyone wondering about this, the Canadian Embassy will provide you with a letter stating annual income only if you provide proof. For them, the Best Proof (and easiest) is: (1) your passport for identification, and (2) your T-4's (tax receipts) from the previous year. Have those two items in hand and the whole thing takes about 3 minutes (plus 15-20 minutes wait time, plus 1500 baht).

I've heard that for the United States Embassy certification they ask for nothing in the way of proof ... just you're own letter stating your annual income. Even easier! (Not sure of the consequences if you're caught in a lie :blackeye: )

For European countries I have no idea.

[cdnmatt]

For anyone wondering about this, the Canadian Embassy will provide you with a letter stating annual income only if you provide proof. For them, the Best Proof (and easiest) is: (1) your passport for identification, and (2) your T-4's (tax receipts) from the previous year. Have those two items in hand and the whole thing takes about 3 minutes (plus 15-20 minutes wait time, plus 1500 baht).

Really, that's all? Seems easier than I thought it'd be. I know Canada Immigration and Revenue Canada aren't linked up, unless Revenue Canada black flags you, so I'd be very surprised to find out the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok can double check your T4 with your latest tax return details within minutes.

And it's not exactly difficult to get blank T4 slips from the government. I even have a few left over myself. So I can just print off whatever I'd like, and head over to the Canadian Embassy?

[Smiles]

" ... Really, that's all? Seems easier than I thought it'd be. I know Canada Immigration and Revenue Canada aren't linked up, unless Revenue Canada black flags you, so I'd be very surprised to find out the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok can double check your T4 with your latest tax return details within minutes
And it's not exactly difficult to get blank T4 slips from the government. I even have a few left over myself. So I can just print off whatever I'd like, and head over to the Canadian Embassy?
My experience in September of this year: I brought the T-4's in to the Canadian Embassy on Rama IV ... an Embassy accountant takes them and goes away for a few minutes ... returns happily with a very official-looking letter addressed to Thai Immigration certifying my income exactly as it was added up from the T-4's, to the penny.

Your density has already been shown (many times) to be proceeding you, so 'up to you' if you wish to disbelieve.

[Surfcrest]

I know Canada Immigration and Revenue Canada aren't linked up, unless Revenue Canada black flags you, so I'd be very surprised to find out the Canadian Embassy in Bangkok can double check your T4 with your latest tax return details within minutes.

And it's not exactly difficult to get blank T4 slips from the government. I even have a few left over myself. So I can just print off whatever I'd like, and head over to the Canadian Embassy?

When you enter Canada at the Airport, the fellow in the uniform that takes your passport and your CCRA declaration works for Immigtaion. He is a primary inspector. As a Canadian he may ask you questions or ask you to confirm your CCRA documents, after which he'll enter a code on that declaration indicating to the Customs officers whether they would like to examine you and your things after you collect your bags from the carousel. You can be black flagged for a number of reasons and from different federal agencies....none of which you have any control over.

When you loose your passport or documentation while abroad, it would make sense for the embassy to have records on you to verify your true identity before re-issuing documentation. It would make sense if that information included your tax records as these records are already being shared with other federal agencies...CPP, Health Canada etc....but can further confirm your identity through work or pension records

Before you go out and print off whatever you like, remember you might be asked someday to pay tax on that "whatever I'd like "or worse?

[quiet1]

Not sure if I'm mis-reading your post above Quiet1, but are you saying that at Chonburi Imm they ask for a bank book photocopy even though you are using income-only method?
Could be you're mis-reading, could be I just wasn't clear. ;-)

There are three ways to qualify for a retirement extension:

(a) proof of income or pension from the Embassy of a monthly income of not less than B65,000, or

(b) letter of guarantee from a Thai bank showing a deposit of not less than B800,000 together with a copy of bank statement(s) showing a minimum B800,000 balance was maintained for not less than 90 days (60 days for initial extension), or

(c) a combination of (a) + (b) above to show an amount of not less than B800,000. (For this option, the bank balance need not be maintained for 60/90 days.)

I use (c), so I need to provide a photocopy of the passbook page with the current balance, along with a letter signed by the bank manager showing the same balance.

That said, I do believe that Jomtien (Cholburi) Immigration does want to see a bank book even when using method (a). Different Immigrations offices around the kingdom can have different requirements. On thaivisa.com there is a report that one of the upcountry offices still wants a medical certificate -- and that requirement was abolished several years ago elsewhere.

Smiles,
I can confirm that Chonburi Immigration requires bankbook copies when going the income only route.
Also, the letter from Canadian Embassy now costs 1600 baht.

[cdnmatt]

Your density has already been shown (many times) to be proceeding you, so 'up to you' if you wish to disbelieve.

No, I was doubting you at all, and sorry you took it that way. Was just a little surprised that the Canadian government would have left such an obvious gap open for exploitation. I know your CCRA details (ie. tax returns, back taxes owed, amount paid, etc.) won't show up on standard immigration checks, unless the CCRA (and usually, RCMP too) has specifically black-listed you for some reason, meaning the Bangkok Embassy has no way to (immediately) verify what you've given them.

Or at least that's how it was two years ago, so maybe the government has consolidated things now. Or maybe the Canadian government just thinks all T4s issued are honest.

[Smiles]

Smiles,
I can confirm that Chonburi Immigration requires bankbook copies when going the income only route.
Also, the letter from Canadian Embassy now costs 1600 baht.
Up a hundred from September! Goddamn socialists.

A good example of various Thai Imm offices often requiring differing types of documents for the same end. Obviously, the Immigration folks should all be reading from the same page ~ it being a national bureaucracy and all ~ but this is Thailand, so it's always a good idea to go to the office where you live and find out the requirements beforehand: if you don't have what they require, you'll just be sent on your way to gather them up ... wasting everybody's time.

Just one more reason I love this country :love4:

I've heard that for the United States Embassy certification they ask for nothing in the way of proof ... just you're own letter stating your annual income. Even easier! (Not sure of the consequences if you're caught in a lie :blackeye: )

For European countries I have no idea.

For the British Embassy, unless it has changed since I went earlier this year, they require copies of any official documentation showing a pension and/or income/unearned income (such as interest on deposits accounts, share dividends, rental income from property, etc). Although this could be supported by a tax return/P60 it is unlikely to be in most cases as the majority of retirees here would be "resident abroad" for tax purposes so a lot of that income (unless they were taxed at source) would not be shown.


That said, I do believe that Jomtien (Cholburi) Immigration does want to see a bank book even when using method (a).

That was certainly the case earlier this year - they needed to see the actual bankbook, not just the copy which they kept for their records, and they actually signed on the copy to verify that they had seen it. A minor point - the year before my bank manager stamped his letter in black ink, and it was passed around for a while before they accepted that it was an original, so make sure he uses a different colour ink pad!


So I can just print off whatever I'd like, and head over to the Canadian Embassy?

It is probable that the details may change over the next 23 years, when you will become eligible to apply.