General Reports

[ElMexicant]

Plan on entering with (60 days tourist visa at BKK + 30 extension) + one day border run to Cambodia for another (45 days visa exemption (Oct 1) + 30 days extension) + another one day border run Cambodia (45 days visa exemption + 30 days extension) = 240 days.

So 240 days total to fuck 300+ different girls. Will Thailand allow this for an 8 month stay? It's only 3 official entry stamps (1 tourist visa + 2 being land border) in one calendar year.

[Banana Boi]

How long does the transfer usually take?

Just don't do it while the bank you are taking the money from or the bank you are transferring the money to are closed. It could take 2 days over a weekend. Otherwise it will take seconds. May be longer for a new user. I've never transferred more than 50k baht at a time. The fees on Wise are nominal for what you are transferring. The exchange rates are the true rates.

[Sunlover2]

I don't see what the big deal about the 45 day Visa on arrival.

In my case: the hotel I stay at in Bangkok offers a 10% discount for 15+ day stays, and a 20% discount for 30+ day stays. I used to have to get creative with my entries and departures to achieve the 30 day mark. No longer the case it seems because I would certainly take advantage of the longer stay opportunity.

Stickman has suggested in recent columns that they should allow six months VOA but doubt that will ever happen. Their attitude regarding farangs remain the same.

True this.

SL.

[EihTooms]

How long does the transfer usually take?

I think it depends on which country you are transferring money from and which country you are transferring money to. Or from which bank? Not sure.

Anyway, my experience with Wise is very similar (good) but also a bit different in a couple of smallish details than was posted previously and I suspect that is because I transfer money from a Bank of America account in the USA to my Bangkok Bank account in Thailand.

I will now go into more detail here than most want to know or read about this but some of it might be useful for USA expats living in Thailand on Long Stay visas who make regular money transfers from their USA bank account to their Thailand bank account as I do. So here goes:

See, Wise has funds and procedures set up in each of those particular countries ready to make a deposit happen in Thailand literally within seconds, often not even a full minute. That's because they aren't really pulling money out of the USA account to move it into a Thailand account (as a procedure, I mean. Of course, it is never done literally and physically). Wise already has an account full of funds in Thailand and a secure and reliable withdrawal procedure set up with USA / Bank of America. So all they're doing is making sure I've got the amount stated in my USA account, that they've "written a valid check for it" and then they will just make a simple domestic transfer from one bank in Thailand (theirs) to another bank in Thailand (mine).

It happens as fast as one of our girlfriends gets the 200 baht she pestered us for to top up her phone from our, say, Bangkok Bank account to her, say, Kasikorn Bank account. Really, within a few seconds she has it in her account, right? Same with Wise to us in this example.

And that is also why we might look at our USA Bank of America account mobile app or online banking site and see the money hasn't even been taken out of that account yet. But Wise has "written a valid check for it", they know we are good for the money and they will get it soon enough, usually within 1-2 days. That is the way it works from my USA account to my Thailand account, that is. It might be different from and to other countries or banks.

Another difference is in my experience I must choose "Funds for long stay in Thailand" as the reason for the transfer if I want the record on my Bangkok Bank statements to show the all-important FTT or Foreign Transfer designation in order to satisfy the monthly Foreign Transfer minimum with Immigration and to maintain my retirement visa requirements (for those of us who chose the monthly transfer option vs a large lump sum deposit option for that purpose).

That money must be a genuine Foreign Transfer. And when I choose "Funds for long stay in Thailand" I will not receive the money within seconds. No, in that case Wise is going through a more typical international transfer procedure from one country to another, not a simple domestic transfer within the same country. Consequently, I will receive the money in my Bangkok Bank account the afternoon of the next business day. The important thing being, and Wise understands this, that it will then be considered and properly identified on my Bangkok Bank statement record as a true FTT or Foreign Transfer.

My choosing "General living expenses" or anything else as the reason for the transfer will not do it for me. Yes, I will then get the money in my Thai bank account within seconds vs the afternoon of the next business day. But it will only go on record as a Transfer From One Account To Another. Which is not enough info for Immigration. As far as they know I just pulled it out of one Thai bank account and put it into another Thai bank account. Which, in fact, is exactly what Wise did in order to get it to me within seconds.

But that kind of transfer is not what Immigration is looking for to justify the Long Stay visa ink stamp I want in my passport. They want to see money from outside of Thailand being brought into and spent in Thailand.

[LittleBigMan]

How long does the transfer usually take?

Once your set up account I noticed small amount like 2-3,000 if you do it morning by 4 pm should have it don't do weekends when This banks are closed.

I've in many cases completed the transaction and gotten the money in my account in 20 minutes I though no way? So I went to my bank ATM check it was there. I checked my USA Account they haven't even requested it.

You can track the transaction although not exact but best to plan ahead.

I know a few guys here do it on their phones regularly that get it within minutes not sure how their accounts are set up. Wise have bank accounts and ATM cards I'm not sure how that words.

[Tomasb]

For the past several years since 2016 I have been applying in the US through the Thai consulate for a 60 day visa stay to cover the winter months from Jan to end of Feb. However, I like to stay in Thailand for 90 days taking me to the end of March so I request a 30 day extension via their immigration office, which is located outside of Bangkok. The cost is 1900 bt for the extension and about $45 USD for the 60 day tourist visa. It's a bit of a pain having to travel to the outskirts of Bangkok to apply for the extra time but that's the only option for a 90 day stay (without leaving the country) and returning for 30 days.

I don't see what the big deal about the 45 day Visa on arrival. If you want to stay more time, then you have to make the trek out to their suburban office for 30 more days for 1900 bt but, of course, that gives you two and a half months, not three. Not sure, how Thai authorities view a second request for another 30 days but I have heard in the past they took a dim view of it.

Stickman has suggested in recent columns that they should allow six months VOA but doubt that will ever happen. Their attitude regarding farangs remain the same.

[Mr Enternational]

Five years ago I started to use Wise, after researching all other transfer options for larger amounts

How long does the transfer usually take?

[LittleBigMan]

From the Bangkok Thread.

Here is my experience with the above doing research and experimenting years back. I know of know ATM offer by Thailand to give what the International rate that might be posted like Bloomberg.

If for example, Bloomberg has it listed at 36.00 using an ATM, cards like Charlies Schwab, Fidelity, Chased, Wells, etc. Will give you that rate, it is usually lower in the range of 35.40-50, at an exchange booth like in Pattaya T. T. Which general giving the best rate it might be at 35.65-70.

For 10 years I used a number of times the ATM for my living expenses, the majority with Charles Schwab, Credit Union, and Wells, only CS, reimbursed and the other two have large balances majority use Aeon ATMs due to the lower fee of 150, plus a 1% charge on the other end in the USA.

Five years ago I started to use Wise, after researching all other transfer options for larger amounts for major purchases but to make things flow better and faster plan ahead and kept each transfer to 10,000 to my Thai Bank account with Bangkok Bank.

Two years ago I woke up and when it came to using Wise, not sure why it took me so long. With Wise rate offered for example if I saw it on Bloomberg in the morning at 36.00 I log on to Wise and start my transfer that is what I was getting 36,00 with their fee, it was still lower by half by the time I paid the 150 plus the other 1% back home. Normally, I would take a 500 USD withdrawal in baht to not exceed the limit to be safe 15,000 baht, my bank in the USA Would charge me like $4. 90.

Since using Wise monthly and forwarding my pension each month to my Thai Bank Bangkok Bank, with the max rate of exchange being provided by Wise, I'm coming out ahead over 10,000 baht a month compare to using the ATM method. I've had family and friends switch majority was having their S. S. Pension sent to the and. Why. H. Q Bangkok Bank then ACH forward to their Bangkok bank. They all thought they were doing good until I got them on Wise.

There is a bit of a hassle with Wise due to their security measures, you set up your account whenever you log they at times want to send you a numeric code to enter your account make sure it is texted to a phone number you can access at all times. I have a Thai number and a USA I register it with the Thai since I live here the majority of the year. Not sure if you can register your email address?

Last, I regularly use the ACH option, and if you are using it for immigration purposes for one retirement O, each month when they ask you for the reason you scroll down to end " living expenses " when the money arrives in your book it comes over as FTT which satisfies Immigration.

Since reading all this ATM stuff and I wrote this about ATM a few years back and it was a Warning!

There have been times I use a specific card on a Thai ATM, after it charges you 220, the next screen gives you a breakdown of the conversion! This isn't what is offered on the International market THIS IS THE BANK ADDITION CHARGES BY OFFERING A MUCH LOWER RATE! You have a choice of pushing YES OR NO, most think to get the money you must push YES! That isn't the case you can push NO, then you get something closer to the market rate and still get the money you requested!

The majority of the time when I need to use my Charles Schwab or even Wells, the message isn't ever shown it just goes to the market rate. But Monday, I was a bit short on cash to pick up my truck at the dealership so I went next door to the 7/11, but it didn't have a Bangkok Bank ATM, only Siam so I had to use my CS card. After the 220 charge the message of conversion show up to my surprise so after going over the fine print the rate given was 35.75, I said no way that is what I saw on Bloomberg this morning. The catch Siam Commercial got a bit slick IMO, there was a notation of a charge of 5% addition for the conversion that would have lowered the 35.75 ALOT!

So beware, if you don't have a Thai Bank account, a two-week millionaire who doesn't care or have the time to think of such things LBM understands go on with your life. But if you do there above is the information.

[Nyezhov]

Nope you have to apply for the 45 day Visa before you arrive in Thailand while you are still OUTSIDE of Thailand. Not sure what they mean by this since it has yet to be published. I'm in your boat too with my arrival in Thailand for September. I will delay to October if they change the entry rules to my benefit.

I wouldn't recommend knowingly overstaying and paying a fine. Pretty sure they keep a record of this crap. I'll be living in Bangkok this time around. See you if you're up in BKK.

I'm in your boat, I'm waiting to see what the new visa rules are.

Overstays in Thailand are a total nono, especially if you are traveling back and forth.

[Banana Boi]

Wondering if I land in Thailand Sept. 5 and stay until Oct. 9 if my 30 day visa I got when landing, automatic turns into 45 day visa on Oct. 1 , any idea! Or when leaving I have to pay fine per each extra day I stay? Any information will help! Thanks.

Nope you have to apply for the 45 day Visa before you arrive in Thailand while you are still OUTSIDE of Thailand. Not sure what they mean by this since it has yet to be published. I'm in your boat too with my arrival in Thailand for September. I will delay to October if they change the entry rules to my benefit.

I wouldn't recommend knowingly overstaying and paying a fine. Pretty sure they keep a record of this crap. I'll be living in Bangkok this time around. See you if you're up in BKK.

[Allover]

Wondering if I land in Thailand Sept. 5 and stay until Oct. 9 if my 30 day visa I got when landing, automatic turns into 45 day visa on Oct. 1 , any idea! Or when leaving I have to pay fine per each extra day I stay? Any information will help! Thanks.

I sincerely doubt you will be given the extra 15 days unless you get lucky and the immigration officer is not paying attention.

I have been warned not to overstay because immigration will look at you more closely on future trips. I don't know if that is accurate or not. I don't recall anybody here mentioning problems with overstays besides the cost.

The fee to extend is B1900 unless you have a visa agency do it for you. They're charging about B2000-B2500 on top of the government fee of B1900 for a total of about B4000-B4500 to do it for you.

[ElMexicant]

Wondering if I land in Thailand Sept. 5 and stay until Oct. 9 if my 30 day visa I got when landing, automatic turns into 45 day visa on Oct. 1 , any idea! Or when leaving I have to pay fine per each extra day I stay? Any information will help! Thanks.

Arrivals on or after October 1 will get the 45 days. You however can get the E Visa 60 days now or pay 1900 baht to get an extension of an extra 30 days when on the ground.

https://www.thaievisa.go.th/

[HorseTrader]

There are different requirements depending on your country of citizenship and country of residence, perhaps other factors too. Check the Thai E-Visa website to see what applies in your situation.

https://www.thaievisa.go.th/

As of 12 hours ago, that website does not reflect the expected changes described in recent posts. I have no idea when the changes will be posted in the Royal Gazette.

[RacShack]

Visa on arrival by air has always been 30 days. Arrival by land was 15 days. For US citizens at least. Now it seems that both have been increased by 15 days.

Wondering if I land in Thailand Sept. 5 and stay until Oct. 9 if my 30 day visa I got when landing, automatic turns into 45 day visa on Oct. 1 , any idea! Or when leaving I have to pay fine per each extra day I stay? Any information will help! Thanks.

[Bugzy 69]

My country is on that list too, so its a 30 day stamp. On previous trips I always bought visa tru our consulate here in Malta, 60 day stay and a fee of 35 euros but local office closed during covid. Presently to obtain a visa one have to send passport and all documents with a courier to the Greek embassy at Athens and all this shit plus a staggering 125 euros fee.

No, by land it has also been 30 days for a few decades, except for a brief interval when they had it at 15, but quickly reverted back.

The 15 days refer to Visa On Arrival, which applies to the Chinese, Indians and a few other nationalities. Not to be confused with the visa-exempt 30 day stamp.