Non O (Multi Entry) no longer issued at Royal Thai Embassy in London - new financial requirements fo

[Yorky]

"Is this a new requirement?"

No.
4. Proof of residence – Recently, Thai Immigration has been asking for more documentation to show proof of where you live.

Looks like "yes" to me. Although I shall wait and see.

 

[CO-CO]

"Is this a new requirement?"



Looks like "yes" to me. Although I shall wait and see.

It's no. It has been a requirement for a long time.


Selective reading and poor comprehension on your part.........................


Recently, Thai Immigration has been asking for more documentation to show proof of where you live. Previously, they accepted.....

 

[Yorky]

It's no. It has been a requirement for a long time.


Selective reading and poor comprehension on your part.........................


Recently, Thai Immigration has been asking for more documentation to show proof of where you live. Previously, they accepted.....

Thai Immigration have never, in 19 years, asked for proof of where I live.

"Selective reading"?

That is the worst representation of a list of rules and regulations than I've seen in a long time. Have they never heard of paragraphs?

 

[nomad97]

FAR too much documentation there.......................... but I fully understand your reasons for being cautious.

You shouldn't need:-

Wife & Family, or any paperwork relating to them. Map is only relevant to marriage extensions (usually).

You should only need TM7, evidence of address and financial evidence.


I shall be interested to see how they view the income side of things as you (like many others) have nothing to CERTIFY your income. Let's see what remit the IO's have been given in considering that aspect.

I think you will need a bank letter (standard letter confirming that you have an account); other immigration offices have asked for a bank letter CERTIFYING that you receive 65,000 Baht p.m.


Good luck.

Taking your points one by one.

Surin Immigration has always asked for my wife's paperwork including a TM 30, ID Card and Blue House Book. We have frequently been asked for a map of where we live and I always include a copy in the paperwork. We did receive a home visit 3 years ago (I think it was 3 years ago but time passes so quickly it could have been longer).

Like you, I will be very interested to see what financial information they want to see, over and above the bank statement for the past 12 months. I do not have a bank letter but just about everything else. Maybe I will see about the bank letter tomorrow.

If all goes awry next week, I have until the end of December to sort things out. The I.O. told us to come in on 14th November, my next 90-day report, and to do the extension at the same time. This will be 45 days before the due date.

 

[CO-CO]

Thai Immigration have never, in 19 years, asked for proof of where I live.

"Selective reading"?

That is the worst representation of a list of rules and regulations than I've seen in a long time. Have they never heard of paragraphs?

It is packed with good information though.................. but as Nomad just said (and many others before him) it is down to what your local IO wants to see.

 

[Yorky]

Taking your points one by one.

Surin Immigration has always asked for my wife's paperwork including a TM 30, ID Card and Blue House Book. We have frequently been asked for a map of where we live and I always include a copy in the paperwork. We did receive a home visit 3 years ago (I think it was 3 years ago

I'm also not sure of the year of the "home visits" but it was only one year. Lack of planning again - insufficient staff to conduct the increase in visits.

That was also the year that my wife completed the one and only TM 30 form and I/we have not been asked for it since. Didn't you previously report that your wife had not completed a TM30 form before this year?

 

[CO-CO]

I'm also not sure of the year of the "home visits" but it was only one year. Lack of planning again - insufficient staff to conduct the increase in visits.

That was also the year that my wife completed the one and only TM 30 form and I/we have not been asked for it since. Didn't you previously report that your wife had not completed a TM30 form before this year?

Home visits were never a feature of a retirement extension but they became briefly popular about 3 years ago ? Possibly a response to the Erewan bombing when they realised that they had no idea where their Farangs were!


We had one visit around that time but have never been asked for a map.

 

[Yorky]

We shouldn't only accuse the Thais of "over the top" bureaucracy - @Prakhonchai Nick has recently informed me that the British Government (passport office) require colour copies of every page of your old passport (including the blank pages) to be submitted with your application for a new passport.

How ridiculous is that?

 

[Yorky]

We had one visit around that time but have never been asked for a map.

I remember very well our "home visit" - the IO wanted a photograph of me, my wife, the puyai baan and her deputy on the stoep. As the three women were half my height I suggested that I sit; but no; I had to stand. I think he was close to the gate before he was far enough away to get all of us in the photograph.

 

[CO-CO]

We shouldn't only accuse the Thais of "over the top" bureaucracy - @Prakhonchai Nick has recently informed me that the British Government (passport office) require colour copies of every page of your old passport (including the blank pages) to be submitted with your application for a new passport.

How ridiculous is that?

I am sure they have their reasons (not sure what they are) AND, at least the passport office is consistent with the application of their rules.

 

[Yorky]

I am sure they have their reasons (not sure what they are) AND, at least the passport office is consistent with the application of their rules.

True - except for the photographs:

These images are from the https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports site and not one of the "approved" would be suitable for a passport photograph today.



And, in my past experience, albeit 9 years ago, this phrase is completely ignored -

"You must get your paper form and one of your 2 print photos signed if you’re applying for ....

• renewal of a passport if your appearance has changed and you cannot be recognised from your existing passport"

 

[CO-CO]

True - except for the photographs:

These images are from the https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports site and not one of the "approved" would be suitable for a passport photograph today.

View attachment 30966

And, in my past experience, albeit 9 years ago, this phrase is completely ignored -

"You must get your paper form and one of your 2 print photos signed if you’re applying for ....

• renewal of a passport if your appearance has changed and you cannot be recognised from your existing passport"

Unfortunately you are quoting incorrect details ?

 

[CO-CO]

The correct details for paper applications from Thailand - NOT online applications:-

https://www.gov.uk/photos-for-passports/photo-requirements


Get a passport photo
Digital photos

• Printed photos

Printed photos
You need 2 identical printed photos if you are applying for a passport using a paper form.

You need digital photos to apply for a passport online.

You must get a new photo when you get a new passport, even if your appearance has not changed.

Your photo must have been taken in the last month.

Your application will be delayed if your photos do not meet the rules.

You can get help with your passport photos if you’re disabled.

The size of your printed photos
You need to provide 2 identical photos.

They must:

• measure 45 millimetres (mm) high by 35mm wide (the standard size used in photo booths in the UK)
• not be a cut down version of a larger picture

If you use a photo booth outside the UK, check it can give you photos that measure 45mm high by 35mm wide.

The quality of your printed photos
Your photos must be:

• printed to a professional standard
• clear and in focus
• in colour on plain white photographic paper with no border
• without any creases or tears
• unmarked on both sides (unless a photo needs to be countersigned)
• unaltered by computer software

What your printed photos must show
Your photos must:

• be a close-up of your full head and upper shoulders
• contain no other objects or people
• be taken against a plain cream or light grey background
• be in clear contrast to the background
• not have ‘red eye’

In your photo, you must:

• be facing forwards and looking straight at the camera
• have a plain expression and your mouth closed
• have your eyes open and visible
• not have hair in front of your eyes
• not have a head covering (unless it’s for religious or medical reasons)
• not have anything covering your face
• not have any shadows on your face or behind you

Do not wear sunglasses or tinted glasses. You can wear other glasses if you need to, but your eyes must be visible without any glare or reflection.

The size of your image
The image of you - from the crown of your head to your chin - must be between 29mm and 34mm high.

Photos of babies and children
Children must be on their own in the picture. Babies must not be holding toys or using dummies.

Children under 6 do not have to be looking directly at the camera or have a plain expression.

Children under one do not have to have their eyes open. You can support their head with your hand, but your hand must not be visible in the photo.

Good and bad examples of printed photos

Posting your photos
When sending your application, your photos must be:

• separated from each other
• left loose and not attached to your application form

 

[nomad97]

I'm also not sure of the year of the "home visits" but it was only one year. Lack of planning again - insufficient staff to conduct the increase in visits.

That was also the year that my wife completed the one and only TM 30 form and I/we have not been asked for it since. Didn't you previously report that your wife had not completed a TM30 form before this year?

Not so. I found a copy of the TM 30 that she submitted 4 years ago. What I have said previously is that my wife has been given forms to fill-in while they processed my application. However, I did not know what forms these were but guessed they may have been a TM 30. This year I have filled in the TM 30 and I will report back after my visit next week.

...................................................................................................

To take up on a point made by @CO_CO, "I think you will need a bank letter (standard letter confirming that you have an account); other immigration offices have asked for a bank letter CERTIFYING that you receive 65,000 Baht p.m."

I have a Passbook, therefore I have an account. As to certifying my income, I do not know how the bank can or would want to provide such a letter. Previously, I have had to talk long and hard to persuade a sub-manager to certify that I was still alive and kicking (Pension Life Certificate). He really did not want to put his name and a stamp to that. To ask him to certify that I transfer in excess of 65,000 baht per month, for the previous 12 months, is to my knowledge asking the impossible. Firstly, such information is not available in the local bank. I applied for my 12-month bank statement at the beginning of the week, Monday morning, in the Bangkok Bank at Robinson's. I had to produce my passport, bank passbook and she also took my yellow tabien baan. All were copied. The charge is 200 baht for the statement. She then told me to return in one week, next Monday, to collect the statement. This is pretty much par for the course as the request has to go to Bangkok, Head Office, where I understand the statement is printed before being returned to Surin in the company mailbag. In past years I have highlighted each transfer from the UK on the statement and made a tabulated spreadsheet showing the total for each month and a summary for the year. This has been accepted previously by Surin Immigration. I don't see a bank manager in Surin going to this trouble to identify the funds transferred each month and, more to the point, I do not believe he would certify that I transfer in excess of 65,000 baht each month. Nor would he put his name to the letter to state this to be a true (similar to the old Embassy Letter). It would be "more than my job's worth" to quote a favourite saying.

P.S. My annual statement usually runs to 12 pages or more.

 

[Yorky]

The correct details for paper applications from Thailand - NOT online applications:-

I have that information. But we were discussing consistency were we not? Why are the requirements different? And why are digital images not acceptable for applications for new passports overseas?

 

[Yorky]

Previously, I have had to talk long and hard to persuade a sub-manager to certify that I was still alive and kicking (Pension Life Certificate).

A couple of years ago I asked an IO to sign a copy of my passport to certify that it was an actual copy of my passport.

NO CHANCE!

 

[CO-CO]

I have that information. But we were discussing consistency were we not? Why are the requirements different? And why are digital images not acceptable for applications for new passports overseas?

As said, they have their reasons.

The instructions are perfectly clear.

 

[Yorky]

As said, they have their reasons.

The instructions are perfectly clear.

As is this one:

"You must get your paper form and one of your 2 print photos signed if you’re applying for ....

• renewal of a passport if your appearance has changed and you cannot be recognised from your existing passport"

But it has been ignored (in my experience).

 

[CO-CO]

Not so. I found a copy of the TM 30 that she submitted 4 years ago. What I have said previously is that my wife has been given forms to fill-in while they processed my application. However, I did not know what forms these were but guessed they may have been a TM 30. This year I have filled in the TM 30 and I will report back after my visit next week.

...................................................................................................

To take up on a point made by @CO_CO, "I think you will need a bank letter (standard letter confirming that you have an account); other immigration offices have asked for a bank letter CERTIFYING that you receive 65,000 Baht p.m."

I have a Passbook, therefore I have an account. As to certifying my income, I do not know how the bank can or would want to provide such a letter. Previously, I have had to talk long and hard to persuade a sub-manager to certify that I was still alive and kicking (Pension Life Certificate). He really did not want to put his name and a stamp to that. To ask him to certify that I transfer in excess of 65,000 baht per month, for the previous 12 months, is to my knowledge asking the impossible. Firstly, such information is not available in the local bank. I applied for my 12-month bank statement at the beginning of the week, Monday morning, in the Bangkok Bank at Robinson's. I had to produce my passport, bank passbook and she also took my yellow tabien baan. All were copied. The charge is 200 baht for the statement. She then told me to return in one week, next Monday, to collect the statement. This is pretty much par for the course as the request has to go to Bangkok, Head Office, where I understand the statement is printed before being returned to Surin in the company mailbag. In past years I have highlighted each transfer from the UK on the statement and made a tabulated spreadsheet showing the total for each month and a summary for the year. This has been accepted previously by Surin Immigration. I don't see a bank manager in Surin going to this trouble to identify the funds transferred each month and, more to the point, I do not believe he would certify that I transfer in excess of 65,000 baht each month. Nor would he put his name to the letter to state this to be a true (similar to the old Embassy Letter). It would be "more than my job's worth" to quote a favourite saying.

P.S. My annual statement usually runs to 12 pages or more.

Fortunately, you are not living in area covered by Jomtien immigration.

I said from the outset when, embassy letters were abolished, I had little confidence in an IO being able to extrapolate income evidence from bank statements. That lack of confidence extends to Thai bank officials.

 

[Yorky]

Of all the websites that I've checked (not only gov.uk) they are generally consistent with the fact that -

"Photo size must be 45 millimetres (mm) high x 35 millimetres (mm) wide.

1. A close-up of your head and shoulders so that your head, from the bottom of your chin to your crown is between 29mm and 34mm high."

Irrelevant of whether it is submitted on paper or digitally.