bamboozled

I posted this in another thread but I think it's rather buried so thought I'd re-post here, hope that's ok. I have a Multi-entry Non-O based on marriage to a Thai from Savannakhet that is due to expire toward the end of July. I'm thinking to go this week or next to get a new one (in Savannakhet) as I might be away when the visa expires and would prefer to return to Thailand with a valid visa. I thought I read somewhere that one can apply for a new visa up to one month in advance of the expiration date. Can anyone confirm that or am I batty? Also, and this is a lesser issue but since I'm on the topic, will the new visa be dated from the expiration date of the old visa or will it be dated from the day on which the new one was applied for? ...The concern being that I might be short-changing myself a little bit. Many thanks! Bam.

Hard to believe this post is real.

Thanks BritTim, yes, I'm aware of those options and indeed might border bounce and kick the can down the road. No interest in the 1-year extension but thanks for mentioning it.

Pardon the interruption folks... How many days in advance of visa expiration can we apply for a new visa? I have the aforementioned Multi-entry Non-O based on marriage to a Thai from Savannakhet that is due to expire toward the end of July. I'm thinking to go this week or next to get a new one as I might be away when the visa expires and would prefer to return to Thailand with a valid visa. I thought I read somewhere that one can apply for a new visa up to one month in advance of the expiration date. Can anyone confirm that or am I batty? Also, and this is a lesser issue but since I'm on the topic, will the new visa be dated from the expiration date of the old visa or will it be dated from the day on which the new one was applied for? ...The concern being that I might be short-changing myself a little bit. Many thanks! Bam.

Isn't CoR needed for reasons other than just buying a car? I don't recall being asked why I needed a CoR when I got them in the past. True, my memory is not the greatest. For a TM30, for example. The IO officer might also not have his info correct and putting the cart before the horse.

Thanks! Yes, I just logged onto the website and saw the announcement. I find it a bit baffling, frankly. Hopefully, I just need to get used to doing it on the phone and no big deal. I'm more comfortable on the laptop doing all this stuff, however. I'm sure it's about saving money and not security.

This means that no more access via laptop and only mobile phone? I have an SCB account but never received this info, to my knowledge. Also very possible they sent it to me but I didn't read it. I'm very surprised at this move by banks as navigating important stuff from a phone is just plain silly. We do it out of necessity when out and about but it's hardly a replacement for a home computer/laptop. Yet another reason to dislike banks.

Yeah, could be a numbers game. In that case, a bit of a misnomer.

You're right, that IS. a pretty long string. It doesn't really matter so much. Just want my AARP discount.

Just curious. ThaiVisa, oops, I mean Asean Now labels me as "Newbie" above my (blank) profile icon. Fair enough, they make the rules and who doesn't want to be forever young(ish). I've been a member since 2007. Will I ever get out of kindergarten?

Do you mean an effects pedal?

What's a Looper?

Thanks for the new vocab word, Regyai: "Harridan"...a strict, bossy, or belligerent old woman. "a bullying old harridan"

Late to the party and off topic a bit but man I remember some beautiful moments lost in song late night at the old Brasserie. It was like being in a dream. Couldn't believe they were playing this. "I'm your captain, I'm your captain Though I'm feeling mighty sick Everybody, listen to me And return me my ship"

Toast1, good luck to you, brother. I can't imagine what's going through your head in these moments. I'm sure everything and perhaps nothing, at the same time. We all will tread this terminal path, come one day. Our communal, very democratic, end. That gives me some solace, to think about my own death and know that it is not just me, it is nothing personal, it is the natural cycle of being. You are not alone and we will all be there alongside you. Ah <deleted>, now I'm crying. Hugs, my fellow traveler.

Frickin' banks. And to think, you are putting your own money in there and they will be using it to make money, presumably, as that's what banks do. It's not like you are asking for a loan. I wonder if going to immigration and asking them how you can deposit the money for eventual retirement visa might give some ideas. It's rather a catch-22, isn't it? Need the visa to be able to open an account in order to deposit the money to obtain said visa.

They're aware of the situation. They already have FAQs about getting the credit advice/FET from the other bank. I assume they see it as more trouble than it's worth.

Right, no promises. It's too bad they can't delay the transfer until there is the possibility to have it as an international transfer. That is, one opts in to agreeing to wait longer for the money to arrive in order that it is guaranteed to show as FTT. Perhaps it's not that easy.

I sent Wise an email about the issue and received the reply below. It is more promising than what I got on the phone call with Wise yesterday. I replied to the email that, yes, I do want them to tag my account so they appear as international transfers. We'll see what comes of it. I only have one day left to secure an international transfer for this month, not even a day. Wish me luck. Laura's looking forward to hearing from me! "Thank you for getting in touch. When you send a transfer with the local currency (THB) the transfer is a local transfer. This is because of how Wise works: with us when you send a cross-currency transfer (USD to THB), you pay to our USD account in the US and we send out the equivalent from our THB account located in Thailand. Like this money never actually cross the borders so the transfer arrives earlier than traditional bank transfers. International transfers are the ones when you receive a global currency (like USD, GBP or EUR) to your account, when the currency you receive is not the local currency. If you want to send international transfers, these need to go through the SWIFT international payment network. Here you can read more about sending USD to countries outside the US. However Bangkok Bank (BBL) & Kasikorn Bank (Kbank) are capable of showing transfers as international transfers if we are sending through these banking partners. We can help you to route your payments via your desired payout partners, however we can't promise that the payments are definitely going to be paid out with the partner you chose. It can happen that there is an unforeseen scenario where a certain partner might be facing a technical issue. In this case the system will route the payment via another available partner to ensure same day delivery. Please, confirm if you'd like us to set this up for you and which partner you want to choose. Looking forward to hearing from you. Best wishes, Laura

Yes, my friend has the same luck, his transfers for the last 3 months all international. Does it matter the amount, by chance, do you think?

Transfer was from US bank.

They wouldn't have me, I tried in two different branches. And I'm married and been here 20 years. They wanted wife's signature but she's in Bkk. However, it's MY account and she has nothing to do with it. ...Just to point out the insanity. I'm putting my money IN the account not getting a loan. Insanity. Plus, as someone pointed out, no saying when they will then go via Bangkok Bank first and then transfer to Kasikorn. Wise should not pretend with the "funds for long term stay" choice. Moonlover, what exactly have you been showing the I/Os? They would not accept my stack of papers showing the paper trail of transfers. Wasted A LOT of time and money getting that stuff together, all for nothing. Bank holidays may exasperate the situation but today isn't a bank holiday and my test transfers all went to Kasikorn bank first. Not sure what I'll do. A SWIFT transfer is very expensive compared to Wise.

So, my transfers last month were direct to my Bangkok Bank account and showed as international. This month, they have gone through Kasikorn and now appear as local transfers. <deleted>! I just got off the phone with Wise and the nice guy on the other end of the line really had no input except to say get the FET from Kasikorn. And he had no idea why sometimes the transfers go to Bangkok Bank directly and sometimes via Kasikorn. He also said there is no notation that he knows of that he can put on my account to have the transfers go direct to Bangkok Bank. Has anyone had luck getting the FET forms/credit advise to prove their money came from abroad? A couple years ago, I had all my transfers go to my SCB account and they all showed as local. Thus, I went around to 3 different banks (Kasikorn, Bangkok, and Deemoney) to get the credit advise and tried to show it to immigration. It was all for naught. They wouldn't accept it, wouldn't even look at it. I had to scramble to find another visa route. I recently opened a Bangkok Bank account (after being rejected by Kasikorn) just to avoid this and now I find Wise is sending it to Kasikorn (whilst my friend is still getting direct international transfers to his Bangkok Bank account). It makes no difference if I choose "long term stay" or "buying property". They are going to Kasikorn first and showing as local transfers. The Wise guy on the help line said that Wise does indeed have a Bangkok Bank account so no reason that they must go to Kasikorn first. Anyone have anything to add here? This is very frustrating and I would say heads up to everyone using Wise for monthly transfers/visas. I would say do your transfer early in the month and if it shows as a local transfer you might want to pay the extra money and do a SWIFT transfer to be on the safe side. Cheers...Bam

I have one right now...and have been going out every 90 days.

For the multi-entry, yes, you have to leave every 90 days. Can just do a border bounce, though. Would love to know the answer for your first question.