Jim7777

6 minutes ago, ToddinChonburi said:

Transferwise.com

I’ve been looking into transferwise but I’m weary of it I don’t know if I trust those kind of apps yet.  

4 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

 

Some banks/credit unions however apparently will not do overseas SWIFT transfers or require the account holder to come to the bank in person. So this is variable by bank.  I can do mine online with follow up email verification questions, no need to call but they are costly. Your Credit Union's charge is unusually low. Most places $40-$50.

And You’re probably right about some of the smaller Credit Unions some of the smaller Credit Unions suck.  But USAA, Navy Federal, and PenFed are all great and very friendly to people like me.  I don’t really like the term “expat” though.  

3 hours ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

Penfed, despite the name, is basically open to the general public. If you're not current or ex military, you can still join by taking out membership in a nonprofit entity they support.

 

Navy Fed, on the other hand, requires its members to be either current or former military, or a relative of someone who is or was... apart from some other more narrow membership criteria they have.

 

Both are relatively expat friendly, and have reasonable rates for international wire xfers.

 

 

 

Oh yeah they both sure are expat friendly.  Yes that’s true about PenFed membership but if you are Active Duty Military, retired military as I am, or for any veteran they treat you the same as any other Credit Union like Navy Federal.  PenFed even refers to me by my rank that I retired as on the phone and in their letters in the mail.  I also get paid a little faster through PenFed then I did with Navy Federal.  They both are great banks though.  It’s some of the smaller Credit Unions that suck.  The big Credit Unions like USAA, Navy Federal, and PenFed are awesome.  

The only thing I liked better about Navy Federal was that they’re open 24/7 and my International wire transfer fees were $10 dollars cheaper, other than that I’m actually happier with PenFed and maybe the OP should try to open an account with them over the phone just like I did back in January.  Although I think they might have been able to verify my identity easier over the phone with my SSN because I’m retired military but I’m not sure.  They figured out what my rank was and I never told them so they obviously verified my identity somehow and they verified that I am retired military somehow, or maybe just because of my VA and retired military pensions paid through Direct Deposit I’m not exactly sure.  But it might be something that the OP should try in his situation is to maybe call PenFed and try to open an account over the phone, because I was able to do exactly that without showing them any ID at all but I’m not sure if that was because I’m retired military which a Credit Union can easily verify.  Maybe he can open a PenFed account right over the phone just like I did without having to show any ID.  I was able to do that all I had to send PenFed was the signature cards that are required by law but they didn’t even ask me for any identification.  

So I think the OP should try doing what I did back in January.  I highly recommend that he at least try.  

PenFed isn’t open 24/7 like Navy Federal but PenFed still has some good long hours.  And yes their International wire transfer fees are quite reasonable.  

3 hours ago, Sheryl said:

 

 

Some banks/credit unions however apparently will not do overseas SWIFT transfers or require the account holder to come to the bank in person. So this is variable by bank.  I can do mine online with follow up email verification questions, no need to call but they are costly. Your Credit Union's charge is unusually low. Most places $40-$50.

You know I don’t know if I can do it online but I prefer to call and do it, they always send me an International Wire Transfer receipt to my email after it’s processed every month I do it.  And actually ever since I switched over from Navy Federal Credit Union to Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) they have been charging me $30 US dollars for my International wire transfer fees.  Navy Federal Credit Union used to only charge me $20 dollars for my International wire transfer fees but now with PenFed I’m paying an extra $10 dollars.  I’m now paying $30 dollar fees every month I do my International wire transfers.  So ever since I switched to PenFed I have been paying a little more than I did with Navy Federal but I guess you’re right that’s still not bad at all.  

The low International wire transfer fees are just one of the benefits of using a military Federal Credit Union I guess it’s just a benefit of being retired military because most of my banking services are totally free with either USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union, and PenFed because I’m retired military and a disabled veteran.  I know it’s definitely not the same with private banks like BOA ETC.  I also get paid a day early with PenFed that’s how all Federal Credit Unions treat Active Duty Military, retired military, and all veterans pay it comes through a day early every month.  Just some of the benefits of being retired military and using a Federal Credit Union.  Most Federal Credit Union Services are free for Active Duty Military, retired military like me, and all veterans and the services that we do pay for such as International wire transfer fees are normally a lot cheaper than normal banks. I actually didn’t know that my wire transfer fees were cheaper until I saw your post and another post.  

Oh yeah and they do ask me verification questions as well when I do it over the phone just questions I think they find on my credit report to verify my identity before they process my International wire transfers, it’s the same every month.  

I’ve always wondered about that as well and I’ve seen things worse than that which really makes me feel bad.  I’ve seen kids that age around 8 to 10 years old walking around the outdoor markets and restaurants/bars alone with no adult supervision IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT trying to sell little things.  I always think that poor kid ought to be home in bed sleeping and getting ready for school tomorrow.  I know that none of my wife’s sister’s children ever had to do that as kids and now their youngest daughter is in college.  Yeah that really upsets me as well when I see that but we’re not in the United States or Europe.  Unfortunately there are some really sad things that do go on around here that most people prefer to ignore and look the other way.  

34 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

They do not change it to the IAT format. The SSA sends it to the New York branch in the IAT format.

Unless the transfer is in the IAT format it will be rejected.

I remember back in November I called Bangkok Bank in New York and that’s exactly what they told me so I didn’t even consider that as an option I just opened a local SCB account here.  Plus I’m not even on Social Security I’m retired military and a 100% Disabled Veteran.  So that was never even an option for me to use Bangkok Bank in New York but back in November I did think about it until after I called them.  

Although my wife will start receiving her Social Security this year from the United States I just got confirmation from the Manila Social Security Office a week ago.  We’re just going to save her money since it’s income that we’re not used to receiving anyway so we might as well just save that money.  We’ll save her money in our US Bank Account.  My wife is a Thai citizen but has been a United States Permanent Resident since 1985 and she worked and paid taxes in the United States for almost 30 years.  We originally got married in the United States 21 years ago so we have the Kor Ror 22 Thai Marriage Certificate.  

1 hour ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

I'd say the normal range for international wires from the U.S. is from about $25 on the low end up to $60 or so on the high end at some places...  And probably the larger mega banks mostly in the $40-$60 range...  Offset by some brokerages that offer free or very low cost international xfers, and a few smaller banks and some CU's that have the $25 to $30 fees.

 

The problem is, even a lot of U.S. expats, for reasons that totally escape me, still do their retail banking with the BofAs, Chases, Citis, Wells Fargos, etc etc... And they're some of the worst when it comes to high intl wire transfer fees.

 

 

When I used Navy Federal Credit Union they only charged me $20 dollars for my International wire transfer fees, and now I use Pentagon Federal Credit Union and they charge me a $30 dollar international Wire Transfer fee every month but it’s okay because I make all that money back since I no longer pay any ATM fees.  Before the new immigration rules began I was just using my US ATM Card and I was paying 220 Baht in ATM fees every time I used the ATM but not anymore.  So even with the $30 dollar wire transfer fee and even the exchange rates I’m still saving a lot more money this way every month.  I know that USAA, Navy Federal Credit Union, and PenFed all do International Wire Transfers because I’ve used all 3, but I do it manually over the phone.  I know my PenFed does process my wire transfers through Wells Fargo because I’ve seen it on my Credit Advices at SCB here in Thailand but it’s fine because they still show up on my statements as International wire transfers.  

So for me I don’t mind paying the $30 dollar International wire transfer fee through PenFed.  I will say that Navy Federal Credit Union was better at processing them but with PenFed they seem to post to my Thai bank account a little bit faster.  I just have to make sure that I have the right bank employee on the phone who has experience in processing International wire transfers before going forward with it or just ask to speak with a manager but I have never had any problems with my International wire transfers every month, so far so good they have been going really smooth.  Knock on wood.  

On 3/9/2019 at 11:02 PM, CALSinCM said:

Try being out of the US for close to a decade.  Your IDs expire.  Then you attempt to open an account.  They need valid, non-expired ID, some want utility bills and the like.  US banks do not support the likes of retired expats even though I maintain a residential address in the US, maintain my residence status in my state, and vote.  So, short of returning back to the states to reapply for a DL or state ID, opening a bank account from here is going to be problematic. 

I recently switched to PenFed Credit Union back in January right over the phone without showing any identification at all I just had to send them the signature cards for my wife and I.  And that was all now I Bank with Pentagon Federal Credit Union in the States and my accounts with them work just fine and so do our US ATM cards.  And I easily make my monthly wire transfers manually over the phone with PenFed every month without any problems into my SCB account here in Thailand. 

But I don’t know it might be easier for me to open up an account with a new Federal Credit Union over the phone from here in Thailand since I’m retired military and the Credit Unions can verify that I’m retired military from my Social Security Number.  I mean I didn’t even send them any form of identification.  I opened the accounts right over the phone back in January, I only sent them the signature cards required by law, and Pentagon Federal Credit Union even knows what my rank was when I retired so they were obviously able to verify my identity without even seeing me in person or even seeing my identification.  So if you’re qualified for PenFed I highly recommend that Credit Union or Navy Federal Credit Union, or USAA, but definitely PenFed because they took care of me right over the phone back in January without asking me for any ID at all or anything except for just my name, SSN, and DOB and my new PenFed accounts were opened within 5 minutes over the phone really easy.  And I’ve been in Thailand for 5 years and I was able to do it over the phone.  

I was expecting it to be harder I thought they would want me to mail them copies of my ID at least but nope it was a lot easier than I thought.  So maybe try opening a new bank account over the phone and you might be surprised how easy it really is.  If you already use a Credit Union then you are probably qualified for PenFed so maybe give them a call.  

4 minutes ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

The poster's comment you're referring to was talking about an issue that one person was having with ONE particular U.S. brokerage firm -- not any kind of broad policy against sending money to Thailand by U.S. banks, credit unions or even other brokerages.

 

As for BKKB, you can't open an account with the NY branch. You used to be able to have the NY branch route your U.S. bank or CU-initiated ACH transfers onward to your BKKB account in Thailand. But that service is due to end this coming April 1.

 

 

I know, that’s why I went with a local Thai bank SCB and I just transfer the money manually over the phone every month.  I remember when I called the Bangkok Bank branch in New York back in November they basically told me the same thing so I didn’t even consider that as an option after I spoke with the Bangkok Bank New York branch over the phone last year.  I just simply opened an SCB account and I just make my monthly wire transfers manually and it’s not so difficult to do it that way.  

20 minutes ago, Sheryl said:

Very useful, thanks.

Time to order new checks!

Sent from my SM-J701F using Thailand Forum - Thaivisa mobile app
 

My monthly international wire transfers that I do every month manually over the phone with my bank in the States only take about 2 or 3 days to post to my SCB account and it was the same for Bangkok Bank as well.  It’s a lot easier to just call the bank and do it manually it’s only a $20 dollar fee for International wire transfers at my Credit Union.  People are making it out to seem harder than what it really is.  I’ve been doing it since November now without any problems every month.  I even just called my bank’s 24 hour phone number and there’s no change.  I think some people might be having issues transferring larger sums of money from different types of accounts like brokerages or 401Ks.  I just use my checking account in the States every month and keep it simple.  I just transfer like half of my monthly pension payments every month and it’s really simple and in accordance with immigration’s new rules.  

On 3/9/2019 at 11:16 PM, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

 

What brokerage is telling you that?

 

People here are doing wire transfers from various U.S. brokerages to Thailand all the time... There's often a fee for the intl xfer, but rarely hear anything of a ban on sending to Thailand.

 

As for the CU, do they mean you have to appear in person to authorize each and every intl xfer? Or are they saying, as some do, you need to authorize the FIRST intl xfer in person, and after that, you can repeat the same xfer either by online or telephone instruction?  It would be rare, in my experience, having a CU tell you you have to appear in person for each and every xfer.

 

 

There is no ban on international Wire Transfers to Thailand I just called and asked my bank.  It sounds like he’s just having an issue with automatic ACH Direct Deposits through Bangkok Bank in New York.  I make International Wire Transfers to SCB manually over the phone every month with no problems from my Credit Union in the States and it’s easy as pie.  

Although when I was originally thinking about how I was gonna do my International wire transfers I did consider opening an account at Bangkok Bank’s New York branch and setting up automatic transfers and I do remember the Bangkok Bank branch in New York telling me about new regulations regarding automatic transfers through their branch.  I didn’t quite understand it but I ended up going with SCB and I just make my International wire transfers manually over the phone every month and it really is super easy.  So there maybe some truth to what he’s saying regarding the automatic transfers to the Bangkok Bank New York branch because I remember talking to them on the phone about that back in November but you can still transfer money from the United States to your Thai bank account no problem.  

As far as the issue with the Bangkok Bank New York branch I believe they said that your automatic transfers have to be set up a certain way and if they’re not new regulations require that they be returned, but if the automatic transfers are set up the right way they will be processed no problem.  I remember that’s what they told me back in November.  

Regardless if there is a problem with automatic International wire transfers just do them manually like many of the rest of us do, but no there is no ban on transferring money from the United States to Thailand not according to my bank or Federal Trade Commission regulations.  In fact Thailand is in bed with our banking system and our FTC.  

It’s easy you just call your bank in the States and manually request an international wire transfer.  I read about a lot of people on this forum making it seem more complicated than it is when it’s extremely simple.  I do it all the time at least once a month.  

On 3/9/2019 at 8:50 AM, ubonjoe said:

The 20k baht is the standard number but it is seldom asked for.

I have never heard of any location asking for more.

You know I just remembered when I first entered Thailand on my marriage visa back in 2014 at the airport they didn’t ask me anything about how much cash I had on me.  I do remember going to the currency exchange booth and exchanging about a thousand US dollars cash into Thai Baht.  Just the cash I was traveling with but no one asked to see it.  I always thought that you had to show 20,000 baht on the 60 day tourist visas.  But I don’t know when we used to come here on vacation back in the day when we were living in Japan I never stayed for more than 30 days at a time so I never needed a tourist visa.  I wasn’t expecting them to ask either because back then I only knew the basic visa rules and not much more than that.  

On 3/8/2019 at 3:16 PM, ubonjoe said:

Not required at the Thai embassy in the US.

Source: https://thaiembdc.org/consular-services/non-immigrant-visas/non-immigrant-category-oa/

No problem to use a USAA account as far as I know.

It is now shown on the embassy in London website.

I’m on a marriage visa extension so I don’t know anything about initially applying for a retirement visa at a Thai Embassy even though I am actually retired here, I’m just a little younger than 50 years old but my wife’s a Thai citizen.  Anyway the Thai Consulate in New York City is really easy to deal with that’s where I obtained my initial visa was at the Thai Consulate in New York City.  I’m not sure how they do Retirement Visas there but everyone I talked to about that Thai Consulate when I was actually there including people applying for Retirement Visas had nothing but good things to say about them.  Everyone said that the New York City Thai Consulate is one of the best and I got my marriage visa really easily there with very little paperwork I had to submit and it was ready the next day, it took less than 24 hours to get my visa in New York.  Although I understand that there’s more paperwork required for an initial Retirement Visa so this might not help.  

My wife and I have also been to the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. when we lived in that area when my wife needed to update her Thai ID Card and passport, and I can say for sure that the Thai Embassy in Washington, D.C. is a lot busier and slower than the Thai Consulate in New York City.  From my experience the Thai Consulate in New York City is a lot faster and easier to deal with then the Thai Embassy in DC.  

But that was back in 2014 so I don’t know how much has changed.  The Thai Embassy in DC I remember moved 3 times between 2007 and 2014.  I still remember when the Thai Embassy in DC was still in Georgetown but now it’s way on the other side of DC.  The first time we visited the Thai Embassy in DC it was still in Georgetown but it’s far away from that side of DC now.  I remember when the Thai Embassy was still in Georgetown they seemed a lot more helpful than the new location.  The Thai Consulate in New York City I think is the best choice but again I haven’t been there since 2014.  

15 hours ago, Sheryl said:

If I were you I would first try going back to CW, might get a different IO this time and a different outcome. Don't mention the prior trip, just go in, hand them all documentation including your TM30 receipt and tabian ban or condo papers and see what happens.

 

Worst they can do is refuse but AFAIK there is no valid reason for them to do so. Unless there is some rule that first extension has to be at same office as the visa -- @UbonJoe?

That’s something you should try very soon and if it doesn’t work I recommend going to the Thai Embassy which is just over the border of Savannakhét, Laos and just apply for a whole new retirement visa.  I’ve never needed to use it but I’ve heard great things about the Thai Embassy in Savannakhét and they have always been my back up plan if I ever had an extension problem which luckily I have not in almost 5 years living here in Thailand.  That’s probably your best option but maybe try what Sheryl said first and if that doesn’t work leave the country, get a whole new retirement visa at a Thai Embassy, and then just come back to Thailand with your new visa.  Like I said Savannakhét is probably your best option.  

Also message a guy on this website named ubonjoe he is one of the site moderators and he’s an expert on these matters, no one here knows as much as he does about these things at least not anyone willing to give extremely good advice for free.  Talk to Ubonjoe first he’ll never steer you wrong he honestly knows what he’s talking about and absolutely no BS.  He has well over a decade of experience dealing with these things and he’s willing to help people.  He’s given me great advice on several occasions over the past 5 years.  Ubonjoe is the only person on this website that I fully trust to ask advice about visa and extension matters and even some other things as well he knows Thailand better than anyone else I have ever spoken to online.  

I bet Ubonjoe will probably tell you the same thing I did or something very similar but you should still ask him first because I might be totally missing something about your situation that Ubonjoe definitely will not miss.  He’s really good at these things as long as you clearly explain the situation so he knows all the facts.  If you take nothing else at all from my post at least trust me and ask Ubonjoe he doesn’t mind giving very good free advice.  And it will be very good advise I assure you.  

I’m not sure what your nationality is but if it’s United States, British, Australian, or Denmark you should have obtained one last Income Affidavit in December before the Embassies stopped issuing them back in December through January, because they are still valid till June at the latest, they’re valid for six months after the date of completion.  I’ve heard that some immigration offices make their own rules but I don’t know anything about that because my local immigration office doesn’t do that.  I’m also on a marriage visa extension.

My local immigration office accepted my last income affidavit back in December and my under consideration period just ended earlier this week and I received my full one year extension stamp within 5 minutes earlier this week with no issues.  They didn’t ask for bank statements or anything my income affidavit was good enough.  I don’t like advertising my location but I live somewhere in the North East in Division 4.  

Ever since January I began preparing for my next extension that I’ll do in probably mid January 2020.  I go by the monthly income method because my pension is pretty big even by US cost of living standards.  So I just do my wire transfers every month on payday from my bank in the States to my Thai bank account and I have my pass book updated and my deposit statements printed as well once a month after I do my monthly wire transfers.  I actually like the new rules better for me it’s easier.  I’m 21 years retired military and a 100% disabled veteran so I do pretty well here and the medical care is pretty good as well.

Anyway if you are a citizen of one of the countries that stopped providing the income affidavits and if you didn't already get an income affidavit back in December obviously it’s too late now because they have already stopped issuing them.  

That might be why immigration is questioning you because technically you are still supposed to use the income affidavit we’re still technically in the transition period.  Although the transition period is soon coming to an end.  Plus if you are using the money saved in the bank option instead of the monthly income option I’ve read a lot of stories on here about how immigration questions the money saved in the bank option a lot more than the monthly income option.  But I could be wrong because I don’t know your entire situation either.  

Trust me just try a different bank you’ll find one, sometimes you have to shop around banks.  I didn’t find the right bank branch till my second try at my local SCB branch and they’re awesome.  If you’re set on Bangkok Bank just try a different branch or a different bank like SCB.  All the bank branches have their own rules you just have to find the right bank for you.  

My immigration Office isn’t doing that at all as far as I know but I think I’ll bring my pass book with me anyway when I do my next 90 day report since I just got my next one year extension stamp only a few days ago just in case.  

Sounds like he just got lucky and the immigration officers at the Thai/Lao border just didn’t properly check thoroughly enough in the computer or biometrics system and now he’s probably in Thailand illegally.  I wouldn’t want to be in his shoes.  Sounds like he just got lucky.  

On 2/27/2019 at 2:28 PM, scubascuba3 said:

Try different branches and banks. It took me 3 to find a friendly bank

That’s kind of how it worked for me as well it took me 2 to find a friendly bank, I spoke with 2 different managers at two different banks.  For me ironically it turned out to be my local SCB branch that is best for me where I live but it depends on what branch you use and more specifically the manager of your local bank branches.  In my case SCB is a million times better than Bangkok Bank but again it just depends on what branch and especially the specific bank manager.  It really does because where I live the Bangkok Bank branch manager was kind of a dick, but the SCB branch manager where I live was extremely helpful she was totally awesome.  

If they give you a hard time ask to speak with the manager and if the manager also gives you a hard time then don’t waste your time just go to a different bank or branch.  That worked for me as well and I’m very happy with my local SCB branch.  

22 hours ago, CharlieH said:

Dont put up with it, go to another bank/branch, they are all like franchises and operate differently.

You could go in there tomorrow and see someone else and get a totally different response. Happens more than you would think.

That’s true, it really is I’ve seen that many times in life as well, but from my experience dealing with Thai banks it depends a lot on the bank manager.  Sometimes you do just have to go to a different branch or a different bank.  

Depending on where you live in Thailand and your local bank branches you just have to find the best one for you.  

3 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

I think what was wanted was proof a person was staying here long term. Residency perhaps was not exactly that was being asked for.

A one year extension of stay stamp or a entry OA long stay visa would prove that.

In my case they could see that have not been out of the country for years.

Same for me at my local SCB branch as it was for you, except they also asked me for the Tambien Baan and my lease agreement and my wife’s Thai ID Card but I was still able to open the account in my name only in only 30 minutes with no paperwork from immigration at all.  They did make copies of my original visa in my old passport and copies of my extension stamps and all of my exit and entry stamps in my new passport and my old passport so you’re right.  

Although I do think they have added some new rules since you opened your account I remember when I opened my first Bangkok Bank Account back in 2015 it was a lot easier back then but again that was a joint account with my wife.  

My current SCB account is in my name only and from what I understand it has to be in my name only for immigration purposes which was why I opened the new SCB account in the first place, and I’m glad I did because I’ve found that SCB is a lot better than Bangkok Bank at least from my own personal experience where I live anyway dealing with my local branches of both banks.  I think it really does depend on the bank branch because I’ve seen that for myself as well.  I know that back in the day it was a lot easier to open any Thai bank account but they really have gotten a bit stricter, again depending on what branch you use.  I’m happy with my SCB account.  

2 minutes ago, bkk6060 said:

Has nothing to do with the question.

Does it show that you are a resident which is what the OP is asking about?

Coming in and out of the country with stamps on your passport has nothing to do with showing or proving residency.

It was not a guessing game but a specific question I believe.

 

 

 

Well read my first post not all banks here require information from immigration my passport stamps were accepted at my local SCB branch when I opened my SCB account there.  I didn’t have to show anything from immigration just our Tambien Baan and my lease agreement and a lot of other paperwork but it was all paperwork that I had readily available and that most other people living here on a long stay visa extension would also have readily available.  I didn’t have to ask immigration for anything but I would have if I had to.  

I opened my SCB account in only 30 minutes in one day with NO PAPERWORK FROM IMMIGRATION but like I said that was just my personal experience at my local SCB branch.  Apparently a lot of other bank branches are different which I’ve also seen for myself as well just read my first post about my experience opening a Thai bank account in my name only.  Sometimes you just have to go bank shopping or just get the paperwork from immigration I guess I’m sure it’s not that hard to get.  Luckily I didn’t have to go through all that extra hassle when I opened my SCB account but again that’s just my own personal experience where I live.  

In fact I should be paid here real soon since I’m retired military and a disabled veteran and I use a Federal Credit Union in the States so I get paid a day early so I’ll be making my next monthly wire transfer by about 7PM tonight.  But my pension payments are probably in the account now if not they will be in about an hour or two. So I think I’ll check on that here pretty soon.  I just realized today is payday YES!!! Maybe I’ll take my wife out tonight if she’s feeling better unfortunately I can’t drink right now because of a few flare ups of some medical problems.