VISA SERVICES......please clarify

[KhunFred]

I realize that I have asked this question in various forms before and many seem to be tiring of it, but since my fiancee decided

to honor her mother's wishes not to marry a farang, I am left with no way to qualify for the lower monthly income of 40 thousand 

baht. This means that I am going to end up paying usurious fees to my credit union to transfer 65 thousand baht to my Bangkok Bank account.

It would seem to make the outrageous fees charged by visa services very rational if I simply paid them a fee every year until I find a way

to transfer funds cheaply. (Don't even mention DeeMoney or TransferWise,  they aren't going to work for me).  I got a reasonable quote from 

Cambodia Inter on Soi Buakow (around 13 thousand baht) .  Is this my best plan to get this visa monkey off my back?  The subject is driving me

crazy, especially with the emotional upheaval involving my (non-prostitute) fiance. Any calm and benevolent answer will be welcomed.

[Maestro]

KhunFred, for a start, don't transfer Baht. Your mention of a credit union leads me to believe that this credit union (is it a bank?) is in the USA and the money you have in that account is in US dollars (USD), therefore, you should remit USD.

 

Does the payment order form of your credit union give you the option of indicating your Thai bank's correspondent bank in the USA? 

 

 

[Maestro]

Removed a troll post.

[KhunFred]

7 minutes ago, Maestro said:

Khun Fred, for a start, don't transfer Baht. Your mention of a credit union leads me to believe that this credit union (is it a bank?) is in the USA and the money you have in that account is in US dollars (USD), therefore, you should remit USD.

 

Does the payment order form of your credit union give you the option of indicating your Thai bank's correspondent bank in the USA? 

 

 

I never mention "baht" to my credit union, since they don't know what it is and don't care. I always use USD amounts. It is the Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union, and they have my Thai address and are attempting to work with me. The first mistake they made was to do a "verification transfer" of a very small amount which I would have to verify. I could not do this because the money was transfered into baht when it hit the account. They have a number of transfer options on their website, but they are crude and difficult, unless I want to contact Bangkok Bank's New York Branch, (which I don't, because their English and understanding of what I need is frequently as bad as my local branch. I transferred my Social Security payment in the beginning, but needed to send it back to the CU in order to cover shortfalls in credit card payments.. At this point, I just want to pay a service to help me if this is going to make the "funds in a Thai bank" problem go away.

[KhunFred]

Does the payment order form of your credit union give you the option of indicating your Thai bank's correspondent bank in the USA? 

 

My Thai Bank is Bangkok Bank, so I can only assume that their correspondent bank in the USA is their New York Branch,which is a wholesale bank.

[lopburi3]

30 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

The first mistake they made was to do a "verification transfer" of a very small amount which I would have to verify. I could not do this because the money was transfered into baht when it hit the account.

All you have to do is call Bangkok Bank for that information - if you set up SMS alert it provides all information directly to your phone (amount transferred in USD/exchange rate/fee/amount in baht deposited).

[Maestro]

I asked about your US bank's payment order form because when I recently needed to make a remittance from my US stock broker's account to my Swiss bank account, the "Wire Request (International)" form gave me the option of indicating the US correspondent bank's name and "ABA/Routing Number". I obtained this information from my Swiss bank but instead of the ABA/Routing number they gave me the SWIFT number of their correspondent bank in the USA and I inserted this in the form.

 

I expected the broker's bank to debit the usual transaction fee of USD 25.00 but the monthly statement shows no such fee and my Swiss bank received the full amount of the remittance without any deduction.

 

 

 

[Maestro]

1 hour ago, KhunFred said:

My Thai Bank is Bangkok Bank, so I can only assume that their correspondent bank in the USA is their New York Branch

Unless you communicated the information about the Bangkok Bank's correspondent bank to the Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union on your payment order you cannot take it for granted that they used the New York branch of Bangkok bank as the intermediary bank for the remittance.

[BritTim]

Using an agent for a dubious extension is something I would advise against. While some agents will almost certainly continue in business, it is highly likely that an example will be made at some point of a couple of agents and their customers. If you do, nevertheless, decide to go ahead, ensure the extension is really being made at your local immigration office with your presence, correct local address and correctly taken photo. Ask for a copy of all the submitted documentation to immigration. That will limit your risk. You do not want to end up with an extension being made on your behalf in Nakhon Nowhere using a fictitious address.

[KhunFred]

9 hours ago, lopburi3 said:

All you have to do is call Bangkok Bank for that information - if you set up SMS alert it provides all information directly to your phone (amount transferred in USD/exchange rate/fee/amount in baht deposited).

Do I call Bangkok Bank in Thailand or the New York Branch? I have SMS alert locally but you seem to indicate that I would need to make extra arrangements to receive alerts for verification deposits, showing the amount in dollars. Every item on my current SMS alert is always in baht. Could you specify who I need to call?  Thank you very much.Setting up a transfer link between my credit union and Bangkok Bank is extremely important if I am to be able to qualify for the new "proof of income" regulations.

[steve187]

9 hours ago, BritTim said:

Using an agent for a dubious extension is something I would advise against. While some agents will almost certainly continue in business, it is highly likely that an example will be made at some point of a couple of agents and their customers. If you do, nevertheless, decide to go ahead, ensure the extension is really being made at your local immigration office with your presence, correct local address and correctly taken photo. Ask for a copy of all the submitted documentation to immigration. That will limit your risk. You do not want to end up with an extension being made on your behalf in Nakhon Nowhere using a fictitious address.

jomtein are now requiring all applicants to have a photo taken at the immigration office, keep all receipts from immigration, i think 13,000 is too cheap, which i think will increase to comply with the new regs.

[ubonjoe]

6 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

Do I call Bangkok Bank in Thailand or the New York Branch?

You have to apply at your branch here to set up a international transfer alert that will show more info that a standard transfer alert by SMS.

[lopburi3]

46 minutes ago, ubonjoe said:

You have to apply at your branch here to set up a international transfer alert that will show more info that a standard transfer alert by SMS.

It has been too long ago but do not remember how I set it up - it is a free service and believe date back longer than the current ATM setup system.  It is very informative for international transactions.  

 

You can call Bangkok Bank here in Thailand to obtain information also.  In my experience they are quite good on phone (it used to be that was only option for service outside of branch).  Number is 1333

[jacko45k]

17 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

It has been too long ago but do not remember how I set it up - it is a free service and believe date back longer than the current ATM setup system.  It is very informative for international transactions.  

 

You can call Bangkok Bank here in Thailand to obtain information also.  In my experience they are quite good on phone (it used to be that was only option for service outside of branch).  Number is 1333

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Digital-Banking/SMS-Services/SMS-Remittance-Alert

 

Enroll via any Bualuang ATM or by calling Bualuang Phone 1333 or (66) 0 2645 6655

[ubonjoe]

15 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

It has been too long ago but do not remember how I set it up - it is a free service and believe date back longer than the current ATM setup system.  It is very informative for international transactions.  

When I set it up for my direct deposit account at a branch here they were not sure how to do it. I called the section that handles them and ask them to talk to the person at the bank. Bangkok faxed the application form to them to get it setup.

I have alerts for my other account I set up on the mobile app.

[DrJack54]

Reading some of the above posts makes me wonder/worry how the average Joe blow will navigate the bank statement requirements for income method and combo. Most of these posts are from switched on folk often familiar with the technical side of things. Lot of guys I mix with have never heard of Thaivisa and are completely in the dark. Will be an interesting year. How many threads in future will be along lines...."extension rejected today, bank statement not accepted" 

[KhunFred]

11 hours ago, Maestro said:

Unless you communicated the information about the Bangkok Bank's correspondent bank to the Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union on your payment order you cannot take it for granted that they used the New York branch of Bangkok bank as the intermediary bank for the remittance.

That, in fact, is the only option,

[OJAS]

56 minutes ago, jacko45k said:

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Digital-Banking/SMS-Services/SMS-Remittance-Alert

 

Enroll via any Bualuang ATM or by calling Bualuang Phone 1333 or (66) 0 2645 6655

If the OP has a card linked to his Bangkok Bank account, then fine. If he does not, though, he should be aware that it will not be possible for him to set up SMS alerts for incoming transfers, as I found out for myself when I tried to set this facility up for my own Bangkok Bank account which has no card linked to it for security reasons (as a result of my having previously been the victim of ATM fraud with 2 separate accounts with 2 other separate banks).

[poohy]

11 hours ago, BritTim said:

Using an agent for a dubious extension is something I would advise against. While some agents will almost certainly continue in business, it is highly likely that an example will be made at some point of a couple of agents and their customers. If you do, nevertheless, decide to go ahead, ensure the extension is really being made at your local immigration office with your presence, correct local address and correctly taken photo. Ask for a copy of all the submitted documentation to immigration. That will limit your risk. You do not want to end up with an extension being made on your behalf in Nakhon Nowhere using a fictitious address.

I think its best not discuss agents on this forum most members are anti and i suspect they and forum would happily grass people up.

 

They provide a valuable service and details are easily found without using this medium

Just message requesting details by PM would get around this 

[lopburi3]

17 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

That, in fact, is the only option,

Do not understand the above - a SWIFT transfer to Bangkok Bank in Thailand is BKKBTHBK and from most banks would never go near Bangkok Bank New York unless being sent to BKKBUS33 (New York address).

[KhunFred]

38 minutes ago, lopburi3 said:

Do not understand the above - a SWIFT transfer to Bangkok Bank in Thailand is BKKBTHBK and from most banks would never go near Bangkok Bank New York unless being sent to BKKBUS33 (New York address).

ALL transfers of funds from America to Bangkok Bank in Thailand are made through the New York Branch. This is common knowledge.

[ubonjoe]

35 minutes ago, KhunFred said:

ALL transfers of funds from America to Bangkok Bank in Thailand are made through the New York Branch. This is common knowledge.

Only if they are sent by ACH to the branch in New York or if the SWIFT code for it is used.

If the SWIFT code BKKBTHBK for Bangkok Bank here is used it is not routed through New York.

[KhunFred]

3 hours ago, jacko45k said:

https://www.bangkokbank.com/en/Personal/Digital-Banking/SMS-Services/SMS-Remittance-Alert

 

Enroll via any Bualuang ATM or by calling Bualuang Phone 1333 or (66) 0 2645 6655

I just set up an International SMS Alert at an ATM at my local branch.  SOmetime tonight, when my credit union opens, we will see if it works. THe last attempt to set up a transfer system between them and Bangkok Bank was a nightmare, with no help from my credit union, who told me I would have to work it out with Bangkok Bank. As soon as I make some changes, I will go with TIAA bank or some other USA bank that is more responsive to my needs. Thanks to all who offered advice on this.

[Maestro]

4 hours ago, KhunFred said:

ALL transfers of funds from America to Bangkok Bank in Thailand are made through the New York Branch...

 

I wonder, then, where the "usurious fees" for a remittance from Army Aviation Center Federal Credit Union (AACFCU) to your account at Bangkok Bank in Thailand come from. Is it the fee that AACFCU charges you for their ACH remittance to the New York branch of Bangkok Bank? How much is this fee?

[Maestro]

I see on aacfcu.com that AACFCU charges USD 40.00 for an international wire transfer, aka SWIFT. "Usurious" is indeed the correct word for it.

 

For a domestic transfer (ACH), eg to the New York branch of Bangkok Bank for credit to your Bangkok Bank account in Thailand, the charge is USD 20.00.