vagabond48

I need to move a large sum of US cash from Thailand back to the US.

The money came from a combination of ATM and bank counter withdrawals so I would need to convert baht to dollars. I have US bank statements showing these transactions, if needed.

My wife and I will be going to the US, so I know one option can be for each of us to bring cash with us.

I always thought that the maximum undeclared cash one can take was up to USD 10,000 but I read the following on a legal service web site,

"If you carry any foreign currency of more than USD 20,000 into or out of Thailand, you need to file a report to the Customs Department. This report is required by the “Ministerial Regulation (No. 25) B.E. 2530 issued under the Authority of the Currency Exchange Control Act B.E. 2485 and relevant regulations."

Is this in fact true? If yes, this mean that each person can take up to USD 20,000 out of Thailand without declaring it to Thai customs.

The second option would be to make international transfers through my Thai bank account but I have read that this is not that easy to setup.

If I go with the 1st option, I would have to go to a money changer. I know a reputable one that has the reputation of giving the best exchange rates.

If I go with the 2nd option, would there be a substantial percentage loss from the combination of bank fees (Thai and US) and a possibly lower exchange rate?

I do realize that option 2 is much safer but at what cost?

All helpful comments will be appreciated.

If you do an international transfer, which bank determines the exchange rate?

I just read the following,

"If you carry any foreign currency of more than USD 20,000 into or out of Thailand, you need to file a report to the Customs Department. This report is required by the “Ministerial Regulation (No. 25) B.E. 2530 issued under the Authority of the Currency Exchange Control Act B.E. 2485 and relevant regulations."

Does this mean that you can carry out upto USD $20K out of Thailand without declaring it?

I always thought the max was USD 10K for undeclared cash.

If you go to a reputable currency exchange like SK, what is the maximum USD that they will exchange for Thai baht?

Putting transfer banks fee aside, will you get a better exchange rate from SK then doing a bank transfer?

Note: all the money came from either ATM or bank counter withdrawals.

Does anyone know approximately how long it takes for a package to be sent to USA using International Parcel-Surface. It appears to be quite cheap. A 15Kg package costs only 2510B. Within reason, time is not an issue.

Surface which I presume the longest time.

I have sent big packages weighing 25kg 3 times to the US using surface mail.

First time it took 35 days..second time took 29 days and the 3rd time took 45 days.

Post office told me it could take up to 60 days and no guarantees.

Just a couple of questions, if you don't mind.

What kind of box did you use and where did you get it? I would image the packages get handled a lot and can be crushed on it's long journey

When you wrote "no guarantees", does that mean you would have to wait many months before making a claim for lost package?

Does anyone know approximately how long it takes for a package to be sent to USA using International Parcel-Surface. It appears to be quite cheap. A 15Kg package costs only 2510B. Within reason, time is not an issue.

Been flying China Eastern to Kunming for the last 3 years. Bought their tics on their website using my US CC. Buying 1 month in advance usually will cost less than $200US one way.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Vagabond. But then in the wake of that, your Schwab accounts were canceled by Schwab???

If so, following that course of very large foreign country withdrawals may not be something that others would want to follow....

Presumably, that wasn't a case about ATM reimbursements, since your withdrawals were done at the bank counters.

That may have been the reason as I have mentioned on several occasions.

Naturally you contacted Schwab about cancelling your accounts. What was their reply? I am a Schwab customer too and have made atm withdrawals of nearly 4000 USD on one particular day.

Yes I did. After repeated requests for an explanation, they finally told me I didn't fit their customer profile and they reserved the right to cancel any accounts without explanation. I never used my brokerage account.

Note: I always wondered if these substantial withdrawals using my Schwab DC created a red flag and got my account cancelled even though I had a US address. Some food for thought for those of you with the Schwab card.

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The last time I made 2 withdrawal in one visit was for $9500US using my Schwab High Yield checking DC and $8500 using my Schwab High Yield savings DC. I had to call Schwab prior to get approval from a supervisor to increase the limit on both cards. It was good for 24 hours. That month I made 2 visits to my branch to withdraw similar large sums of money without any problems.

Correct me if I'm wrong, Vagabond. But then in the wake of that, your Schwab accounts were canceled by Schwab???

If so, following that course of very large foreign country withdrawals may not be something that others would want to follow....

Presumably, that wasn't a case about ATM reimbursements, since your withdrawals were done at the bank counters.

That may have been the reason as I have mentioned on several occasions.

Schwab authorized debit card transactions for $9,500 and $8,500? Wow!

I avoid communication with my US banks being I'm a closet expat, but having Schwab @ even $2,000/day would be excellent!

The actual daily withdrawal limit for the checking DC is $1000 while the savings DC is $500. You can call a CS and get instant 24 hour increase of up to $4000US for each card. Anything higher needs a supervisor's approval.

There is one problem I see with using a CC over a DC to make is ATM withdrawals. When you make a DC ATM withdrawal the date of the transaction is normally when the rate is determined by Visa/MC but with a CC it may take several days to settle just like a normal CC purchase and that is when the rate is determined, so timing the CC withdrawal at the end of your statement cycle may be a bit tricky unless you did it 3 or 4 days before and don't mind paying interest for those days.

Btw, last year, I did a number of Schwab DC counter withdrawals and those transactions also took several days to settle and get the rate. In fact, I remember losing about $10 on a very large withdrawal because the rate went down between the transaction date and settlement date. A number small quirk, the transactions were visible on the 1st day and then disappeared for about 2 to 3 days and re-appeared when they were finally posted. Even my balance didn't get updated until the transactions re-appeared. These counter transactions kinda acts like CC cash advance without the interest.

Note: I always wondered if these substantial withdrawals using my Schwab DC created a red flag and got my account cancelled even though I had a US address. Some food for thought for those of you with the Schwab card.

Vagabond, on your Thai bank counter withdrawals using a debit card, how did those experiences go?

Sorry for the delay. I've been in China.

Did you have an easy time finding Thai banks willing to do debit card counter cash advances? Any bank companies more accommodating than others?

I went to my TMB branch and no other bank. One of the officers processed my withdrawal transactions. Although she spoke very little English, she was very polite and helpful.

Also, were the amounts of counter withdrawals you were doing above or below the typical 20,000 to 30,000 baht ATM withdrawal limits? I'm trying to get a sense of whether the banks are more willing to do counter withdrawals when the amounts are well above ATM limits.... or... they're OK doing smaller counter withdrawals as well.

The last time I made 2 withdrawal in one visit was for $9500US using my Schwab High Yield checking DC and $8500 using my Schwab High Yield savings DC. I had to call Schwab prior to get approval from a supervisor to increase the limit on both cards. It was good for 24 hours. That month I made 2 visits to my branch to withdraw similar large sums of money without any problems.

I thought about doing it myself when we decided to visit China this past January for 2 months. Chinese cars are allowed into Thailand but Thai registered cars cannot continue to China from Laos. You also definitely need a Chinese drivers license. The Chinese don't accept foreign or International drivers license.

I lived in NYC and would frequent Chinatown quite often. I normally would eat in restaurants where the clientele almost entirely Chinese.

I don't recall them eating any of the foods described as American "Chinese" style. I think the better term to describe this type of food is Chinese style American dishes.

I have eaten these dishes mostly at takeout places during lunch because it was convenient, cheap and tasty "enough" but so can a plain bologna sandwich on white with mayo and french's mustard if your really hungry enough.

Glutamate is harmless. MSG is just that with a sodium ion on the end. You are a hypochondriac.

Whether the OP is a hypochondriac is irrelevant but your statement shows your lack of chemistry knowledge.

I know this may be a bit extreme but if I said carbon monoxide is really harmless because it is only missing a single Oxygen atom, would that be acceptable too?

Don't forget, you can get free luggage tags at airport check-in counters.

There is one problem I see with using a CC over a DC to make is ATM withdrawals. When you make a DC ATM withdrawal the date of the transaction is normally when the rate is determined by Visa/MC but with a CC it may take several days to settle just like a normal CC purchase and that is when the rate is determined, so timing the CC withdrawal at the end of your statement cycle may be a bit tricky unless you did it 3 or 4 days before and don't mind paying interest for those days.

Btw, last year, I did a number of Schwab DC counter withdrawals and those transactions also took several days to settle and get the rate. In fact, I remember losing about $10 on a very large withdrawal because the rate went down between the transaction date and settlement date. A number small quirk, the transactions were visible on the 1st day and then disappeared for about 2 to 3 days and re-appeared when they were finally posted. Even my balance didn't get updated until the transactions re-appeared. These counter transactions kinda acts like CC cash advance without the interest.

Note: I always wondered if these substantial withdrawals using my Schwab DC created a red flag and got my account cancelled even though I had a US address. Some food for thought for those of you with the Schwab card.

Isn't funny how some people can find something negative to say with anything that could happen in Thailand?

I think there is a contrarian element in this forum that will take the opposite position to any issue. If there is an article that there are art shops in an area they will say not good! too many art shops will change the area for the worst.

If there is an article that says no art shops in a particular area, the same people will jump in there, saying how Thai people don't appreciate art, and art will be lost on them anyway.

I wonder what it is that make some people so negative?

LOTS OF TIME ON THEIR HANDS.

There are a number of quotes centered around 'idle hands'

Nimmanhaemin, the new Soho. Nothing wrong with a cultural touch to the city.

Why not start taking an interest in the traditional culture of the original inhabitants who have been here for the past 700 years?

But aren't most of these shops, if not all, owned and run by Thais and probably a number of them by Lanna folks.

Regarding Grandview and Sizzler where I have eaten, the final price on the bill is always the price that is quoted. The bill you see is broken down to the price of the foods you ordered plus the 7% which equals to the quoted price.

For example, until recently GrandView's buffet price 189B. The final 189B bill shows the cost of the buffet, water and the 7% VAT. This was the same for Sizzlers. We shop at airport plaza, when you purchase something for let's say 500B. The bill you get will show the price of the item plus the 7% VAT which will add up to the quoted 500B.

So yes, you have seen bills with the 7% VAT but it has always been included in the final price that is quoted not added to that price.

THIS IS NOT THE CASE WITH DUKES.

In many years that I have lived in CM, the various restaurants and popular buffets I frequent, always charge the exact price that is verbally quoted or written on menus which includes the 7% VAT.

Several months ago, I finally went to Dukes for the 1st time and was surprised to see that the 7% VAT was added to my bill. This is the 1st time I have seen this. Yes, I know that it is "only" 7% and that this is the billing procedure in western countries but this is not the case in Thailand, from my experience.

IMO, it appear to be an added "hidden" charge because this is contrary to the normal billing procedure at other restaurants/buffets.

I was wondering if other popular restaurants here in CM starting to do this as well.

Vagabond, AFAIK, the 180 baht withdrawal fee is only being charged against foreign MasterCard logo debit cards -- not VISA cards.

I'm not sure if all or most or many of the Thai retail banks are charging the 180 baht fee on MC withdrawals, since until now, I've never paid any fee for the longest of times, and I generally try to avoid using MC logo cards at all because of their lower exchange rate vs. VISA.

However, as I noted above, I can confirm that as of today, at least AEON and Citibank in BKK are NOT charging the 180 baht amount against MasterCards. With those two's ATMs, it's 150 baht regardless of whether a VISA or MC is used...at least for U.S. cards.

Thanks. All my DCs are with Visa so I guess at this point, I can expect the 150B fee.

Yes, I am aware of the slightly lower exchange rate from MC so I guess with the possible higher 180B ATM fee, MC DC holders may get hit with a double whammy.

I have only used Aeon ATM machines since the introduction of the 150B fee.

Can we begin listing the greedier banks that charge 180B rather than the less greedier 150B?

Huh??? What are you trying to get to, Vagabond? I'm not following this...

You want to know which of the Thai banks are charging the 180 baht fee on foreign MasterCards?

I have read on TV that some banks are now charging 180B for DC ATM withdrawals so I was asking if people would share which banks those are,

This would be for Visa and MasterCards DCs.

I have only used Aeon ATM machines since the introduction of the 150B fee.

Can we begin listing the greedier banks that charge 180B rather than the less greedier 150B?

It might be time to do some home country bank shopping.

There's no reason an American needs to be paying $5 per withdrawal plus a 2% foreign currency fee from your home bank on foreign ATM withdrawals.

There are a variety of U.S. banking and credit union options available that don't charge those kinds of fees.

I went back to the US last fall after being away for 6 years and took the opportunity to get 2 more DCs, TD Ameritrade and State Farm. The State farm DC refunds you up to $10 per month or unlimited if you have a monthly direct deposit in your account. Although, TDA does not refund overseas fees, it does not have the 1% foreign exchange fee so it was perfect for AEON until now. I still will be able to do a bank teller counter withdrawal with it.

The Dukers 99baht boiga is now 109+ (I think) but still the best burger deal in CM cuz it comes with a big pile o' fries. Darets gh has some decent and cheap frangfood too. Eurodiner-Bamboo bar is also good.

I went to Dukes for the 1st time several months ago and was surprised that unlike many restaurants I frequent, Dukes doesn't include the 7% VAT within their prices so add 7% to your meal. Of course, there is the tip if you are so inclined to add.

Being a pack rat, I have several of long electric cords that I recycled from non-functioning multiple outlet boxes. They don't seem to last that long.

Can I buy a female plug here that I can install to the above cables to make extension cords?

I just checked out their website and put in a quote for $1,000,000 with $1000 deductible with no USA coverage. The price for 1 year which is the maximum they allow is excellent for my 65+ age but it appears that this is travel health insurance and therefore cannot be relied on continued future yearly policies. Upon further reading, this insurance is only good outside your home country so you would not be covered if you wanted to return for a visit.