BKK57

Thanks for your reply. If I got an esim through Verizon or ATT do I have to be in the USA to use that? If I'm in Thailand wouldn't I have to use roaming or long distance to call back to the USA? To call USA, it's not expensive to use my True Move sim to call USA, it's about 3 cents/min. Where I'm stuck is when a bank or business wants to send SMS to a USA phone number to verify my identity, they won't accept a number outside the USA. Also, I want to able to give someone in USA a USA phone number that they can call me, like my Skype number.

Microsoft is killing Skype in May of this year. So, no more Skype number. I use a USA Skype number to call in the USA for about 2.7 cents/min. It also allows family and business in the USA to dial the USA Skype which I can then answer on my smart phone here in Thailand. I can also RECEIVE SMS which I really need when businesses or financial institutions want to send an SMS to a phone to verify identity. I have seen that you can port the number to a new provider. Microsoft says it can be ported to Microsoft Teams Phone, with a charge of $11/month plus $3 cents/minute usage. It's not clear but there may also be an additional monthly charge for Teams. Any one port their Skype number to a provider that can match the features of a Skype number, including ability to receive SMS? I have seen that since Skype numbers were considered land lines SMS worked well. Apparently some virtual phone numbers that are cloud base are not acceptable to some banks and financial institutions. Any recommendations for providers???

So I would have to go to BB Silom (that is closest) and ask for 12 month statement, then come back in 3-4 days to pick it up, then on day of extension go down to BB at CW to get "The Bank Statement"? That's more work than 65K/month method, which is one trip to BB Silom for a Confirmation Letter showing 12 months of Credit Advices showing Intl. transfers, done while I wait. Using a different bank might make it a bit easier except that I have heard that many banks don't want USA customers because of the USA reporting requirements. I think it would much easier for everyone, Thailand Govt. and Immigration included, to just charge 10,000 baht fee for a retirement extension and forget the bank reporting crap. The interest on 800,000 baht sitting in an 1% saving account is almost nothing. Could get that 10,000 baht fee back and a lot more, if I had that 800,000 baht earning 5% back in the USA.

Drjack - If I went to CW on July 15, 2025 for retirement extension expire on Aug 9, 2025 and I provided CW with a copy of the bank book and the Bangkok Bank showed the following entries: 21/05/24 FTT ****800,000.00 *****800,000.00 25/06/24 INT ******* 396.21 *****800,396.21 25/06/24 TAX ******** 59.43 *****800,336.78 25/12/24 INT ******* 396.21 *****800,732.99 25/12/24 TAX ******** 59.43 *****800,673.56 25/06/25 INT ******* 396.21 *****801,069.77 25/06/25 TAX ******** 59.43 *****801,010.34 15/07/25 TRF *******100.00 *****800,910.34 that is, no CMB(combination) entries, would CW still require a 12 month bank statement??? The bank statement in this case would be 25/12/24 - 15/07/25, and would show exactly the same entries as in the bank book. If yes, I need the 12 month bank statement, can you obtain that statement at Bangkok Bank at CW or do you have to go to the Silom branch to do that? This is, of course, in addition to "The Bank Statement" showing ownership of account and the ending balance on the day of extension, in this case 15/07/25.

Dr Jack, thanks for your reply. Last extension I used income method, this coming extension I want to use 800,000 deposit method. Do you think I would be OK to show back in June 2024 a deposit of 800,000, a copy of my bank book, and "Bank Statement". My stay expire date was Aug 9, 2024. OR are you saying I have to show I am still showing income transfer every month since my last visa extension, which I do have, but then I have to go back to Bangkok Bank in Silom to get a separate statement showing that i have international transfers for each month and show the credit advices for each month. I'm really hoping I can just show 800,000 deposit back in June 2024 along with the current bank book and bank statement.

I have two questions about my situation with my new passport. I have a 90-day report due Mid March, two weeks from now. I just called immigration and they said I need to transfer stamps from old passport to new passport before I can do a 90-day report. First question, can I do the 90 day report with the old passport? The old American passport has been punched to show it is cancelled, so can I really do the 90 day report online or at the immigration office, or will I have a problem when I go to do my retirement visa renewal in July for my renewal date in August? Second question, if I can not use my old passport and I have to transfer stamps what is the required documentation? The second page of the Stamp Transfer form lists some requirements, copy of old and new passport, last entry, last visa stamp. When I called immigration they said I need bank information also. Here's where I'm not sure what they require. For my last visa extension at Chaeng Wattana I used 65,000/method method. For this I have to go to Bangkok bank with each credit advice for the last 12 months and they generate a letter (not "The Bank Statement" that shows I own the account, which I have to get separately). Would I need to go back to Bangkok Bank with the last 7 credit advices, or for the last 12 months My last retirement visa extension was in July 2024. I had planned to change to the 800,000 in a bank account method for my next extension in July. I made a foreign transfer of 800,000 baht into my account back in June of 2024. Can I show this instead? Do I just need copy of my bank book and the "Bank Statement" for this method? Basically what do they require for this partial period to show I am still in compliance with bank requirements?

OK, IAT... the letter I received from BKK when my ACH transfer was refused back a few years was that the transfer had to have the address information of the recipient and only IAT could provide that. In any case when I call Fidelity every month to send a wire, which by the way they do not charge for, it is always sent via a wire using the swift code BKKBTHBK. Crucially, the coding on the bank book is FTT, which I need to show my monthly transfers using 65,000/month method. I have considered changing to 800,000 in a bank account to side step this problem, but its like giving up 5-10% interest/dividends which I could realize by keeping it in the USA. That is about 80,000 baht a year, almost 2500 USD.

Maybe time to talk to another bank. I have recently seend posts saying many banks won't set up an account for Americans because of the USA reporting requirements, too much paper work.

Yes, I'm aware of this, Fidelity restricted my account a few years ago when I changed my legal address to Thailand to match the legal address on my USA tax returns. The only restrictions are that I can't invest in mutual funds (no problems there). Can still buy stocks, ETFs, etc.

As I said I will go to the global payment desk at the Silom branch of Bangkok bank to sort this out. As far as ACH goes, that was done away with a few years back, and since then the only way to send money to Thailand via a bank is by wire with a swift code. ACH is not allowed any more as address information has to be sent along with the transfer and ACH does not have this ability. Now I have to call Fidelity Investments where I have all my investments and ask them to send each month. An automatic payment every month is preferrable. I let you know how the visit to Bangkok bank turns out.

Thanks for all the replies. Just to clarify, I did contact the bank, and made sure they understood I wanted to do a International Direct Deposit. They asked what country. I answered USA and told them I was going to submit a form to Social Security. As I understand S.S. asks for a swift code, so it is NOT the old ACH method. She checked with some one and came back and said you must setup a restricted account to do International Direct Deposit. I also asked if I would be able to get a credit advice if I did this. She said no,, sindce the code in the bank book is not FTT. Perhaps I need to go to the Bangkok Bank in Silom and ask at the Global Payments desk. Currently I have my SS deposited into my investment account in the USA then send a wire transfer here to Thailand. I get a Credit Advice sent to my email for every transfer and I use those credit advices to show 65,000 each month for retirement visa. i have read post from a few years back saying that you can put a non-restricted account on the SSA-1199 and it may work for a few months, or even years until some one at the bank notices and then will refuse the deposit. I really don't want that happening.

Thanks for information. When you receive funds is FTT the code used in your bank book for the transfer? I ask because I would like a credit advice from the bank and you can only get that for transactions marked FTT.

Has any one from America signed up for International Direct Deposit for monthly Social Security with the S.S. Admin? I know to start this process you need to send a SSA-1199 Form to FBU Manila. They require the account number and swift code of the bank. I have two plain vanilla savings account at Bangkok Bank. However, when calling Bangkok Bank, I am told that on Bank's side a special restricted account is required and I would have to appear in person to collect the funds. No Debit card or ability to transfer funds from this account is permitted. According to the USA S.S. this is a convenience... but it's NOT. Has any one done this at Bangkok Bank with out a restricted account? From what I have seen on various posts if you try to send to a regular account eventually they will catch you and refuse the deposit. Until I was made aware of the restricted account I was thinking this might be the way to go so that I can easily prove I'm bringing in S.S. which is not assessable for tax purposes. Now, I just send a wire every month, but there is no specific designation that it is social security. Any feed back is greatly appreciated.

I have 90% of my investments at Fidelity Investments (Fidelity.com). Just like a bank you can do Bill Pay and find financial stocks and ETFs that I'm sure pay better than a bank. Fidelity does not charge anything for international wire transfers. Bangkok bank charges roughly 200-300 Baht on receiving a 100,000 baht transfer. It does come in as an international transfers and you can ask Bangkok bank to send an email with a credit advice when they receive the funds. The credit advice shows the amount sent, Bangkok banks fee, and the exchange rate used (which is the TT Buying rate on the Bangkok bank website.) Today, Dec 29, the TT Buying rate is 34.03. Usually comes in next day. Always been very happy with Fidelity.

Bangkok Bank allows up to 2 Million baht transfer on their banking app. But unless you go to the bank first to get your picture taken the app limits transfers to 200,000 a day. However, can only make transfers on the app during banking hours :( Still, saves a trip to the bank.