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Phuket Immigration at odds with BKK


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One-year extension rules clarified

 

One-year stay rules clarified

 

PHUKET: A Phuket Immigration official has confirmed that new financial requirements for one-year extensions to stay in Thailand on the basis of being married to a Thai or being the legal guardian of a Thai child will apply to both first-time applications and to renewals.

 

Pol Capt Krissarat Nuesen, the Deputy of Inspector of Phuket Provincial Immigration Office (PPIO), told the Gazette, ?The current minimum requirement is proof of 200,000 baht deposited in a Thai bank account or an income of 20,000 baht a month.

 

?That will double on July 10 to either 400,000 baht in an account or an income of 40,000 baht a month for a one-year ?marriage? or ?guardianship? extension.?

 

He stressed that applicants may not ?mix? the two systems ? applications must be made either on the basis of bank deposits or on the basis of income.

 

The new thresholds were announced in September last year but there has been some confusion about whether existing extension-holders would be allowed to apply using the old financial requirements, as has been the case with those living for many years in Thailand on retirement visa extensions.

 

Capt Krissarat was crystal-clear, however, on this point. ?This applies not only to first-time applicants but also to renewals. People who previously had to show 200,000 baht in a bank account, however long they have been here, will have to increase the amount to 400,000 baht.

 

?This will apply to all applications submitted on or after July 10.?

 

He explained the reasons behind the increase: ?Other government departments complained that Immigration was making it too easy for foreigners to stay in Thailand long-term.

 

?I don?t think that the higher thresholds will result in a decrease in the hundreds of people living in Phuket on this status. It?s a fair and transparent system.

 

?We found many people were trying to stay in Thailand on small amounts of money, or with suspect sources of funds.?

 

He added that all documentation will be checked carefully ?because we found some people had persuaded friends to transfer funds into their accounts temporarily so that they appeared to have the required amount to qualify.

 

?Then, three days later, the money would disappear again from the account. We don?t want this to happen.

 

?Applicants will find the process goes more smoothly if they can supply documents [such as pension records] showing us where their money comes from.

 

?I don?t think it will be difficult for innocent people, who have legitimate and sufficient sources of income, to meet the new requirements.?

 

But, he warned, ?If people show us only details of their bank account in Thailand, we are more likely to check carefully with the bank and interview them in much greater depth.

 

?In the case of renewals, we will check the documents against those from the previous extension applications.?He reminded holders of one-year extensions that they should apply one month before the expiry date of their existing visas or extensions, and that all those holding extensions must report to Immigration every 90 days.

 

From June 1, he added, those who do not report on time will be fined. Receipts showing that fines have been paid must be included among the documents submitted with applications for one-year extensions.

 

Asked how long funds must remain in a bank account before or after application, he replied, ?We cannot tell people how long they must leave money in their account. But we believe that if they can afford to live here, then keeping 400,000 baht in an account should not be a problem.?

 

He concluded, ?We are just doing our job, keeping the country safe from the bad foreigners. That?s why we have had to introduce this new requirement, to ward off problems created by such people.?

 

By Dhirarat Boonkongsaen

 

Source: Phuket Gazette

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I should add that this is apparently at odds with what BKK immigration is saying. At least, that is what is being said on thaivisa.com, where I got this from. It's apparently not the definitive say in the matter. And is not the first time Phuket has come up with contrary rules with BKK's interpretations. ? :dunno:

 

HT

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