Transfer of 800K using Wise for 1 Year Extension Visa

[LJHoward]

Just now, LJHoward said:

 

I had a similar except on contacted Wise and they referred me to their partner bank in Thailand and the problem (last mile out of Wise's control).  However, a couple days later the money showed up and I have not had the same problem since. 

If you can find anything as quick, cheap and easy to use as Wise please let us know.

[DrJack54]

18 minutes ago, Suitcase said:

Yesterday I just set up a new transfer again and they’re saying it will take six days

same sending bank same receiving bank

Unacceptable

Don't know what's that about. 

My last transfer (from Oz) May 14 was under one minute to set up and receive in Thai bank 

 

[Yellowtail]

For anything over ~US$10K coming from the US I think swift is the cheapest option. 

 

Unless something has changed, I do not believe there is a limit on how much you can receive in your Thai account. My US bank limits my online swift transfers out to US$100K per day. 

[crazykopite]

On 5/16/2025 at 3:05 PM, MalcolmB said:

Make sure you get a letter from your Thai bank which confirms the money came from overseas through wise.

Call immigration for an example letter of what is required so the bank staff know what is required

 

On 5/16/2025 at 3:05 PM, MalcolmB said:

Make sure you get a letter from your Thai bank which confirms the money came from overseas through wise.

Call immigration for an example letter of what is required so the bank staff know what is required

As far as I know it doesn’t matter where the money came from as long as you have 800k in your Thai bank for a certain amount of time it’s either 2 or 3 months and all you do is go to your bank getting a statement confirming what’s in your bank and present to immigration when you apply 

[Yellowtail]

15 minutes ago, crazykopite said:

 

As far as I know it doesn’t matter where the money came from as long as you have 800k in your Thai bank for a certain amount of time...

This is my understanding as well. I used money already in Thailand to fund my immigration account. 

[Wyabcp]

5 hours ago, Card said:

Be sure it best to have it in the bank 2 calendar months before extension rather than 8 weeks which is more of a western concept of 2 months.

Thanks, to be safe I'm targeting 63 days 

[Wyabcp]

6 hours ago, renaissanc said:

This doesn't answer your question. After transferring the money to the satisfaction of Immigration, you might like to change banks. Krungsri Bank is rather old-fashioned and basic. My wife and I used to have an account there. I felt like I was going back in time when I needed to use their service.

Thanks but so far Krungsri have been fine. Slow to setup account with lots of signing etc., but staff were good and patient. It's typical of the type of process in Thailand . Once i got the account, everything was great, app etc.. No complaints, i guess we'll see... 

[Wyabcp]

Thanks everyone for all the help, just an update, I've now transferred the 800k into my Krungsri account. 2 x Wise transfers from UK  that happened in seconds, not minutes and not  hours ... So all good, i now wait for the IMO appointment in. 2+ Months. 

Not sure why this conversation got side tracked into US tax requirements, but that's  normal i guess on these platforms.. 

I'll update as i continue through the process... 

Thanks 

W

[Yellowtail]

5 minutes ago, Wyabcp said:

Thanks but so far Krungsri have been fine. Slow to setup account with lots of signing etc., but staff were good and patient. It's typical of the type of process in Thailand . Once i got the account, everything was great, app etc.. No complaints, i guess we'll see... 

I've had a Krungsri Mee Tae Dai immigration account for years without issue. And generally, there is no waiting for the letter and whatnot at the Chiang Wattana Immigration branch. 

[Wyabcp]

25 minutes ago, Yellowtail said:

I've had a Krungsri Mee Tae Dai immigration account for years without issue. And generally, there is no waiting for the letter and whatnot at the Chiang Wattana Immigration branch. 

thanks, that's reassuring

[Wyabcp]

On 5/16/2025 at 7:27 PM, Upnotover said:

Chaeng Watthana.  No other option for you.

 

Make an appoitment here.    https://gov.immigration1.queueonline.net/appointment/login.html?v31

Looks like I can only pre-book 1 month in advance, so I'll have to wait a few week before getting an appointment.

[DrJack54]

24 minutes ago, Wyabcp said:

Looks like I can only pre-book 1 month in advance, so I'll have to wait a few week before getting an appointment.

Yes appointments are tight at CW for extension appointments.

Currently only 3 slots available during next month.

With no appointment it's not a disaster.

I see you used WISE with smooth transfer.

Note: Make sure that your aware of other requirements for the bank side of things.

"Bank Letter"..….that can be obtained day or two prior if you wish.

 

Update of bankbook on day of application.

Best way is to do 100b deposit as this also shows activity. 

[mogandave]

Personally, with Krungsri at CW, I think it’s easier to just get the letter in the morning at immigration. 

 

I transfer a bit of interest out in the app to round the number, ask for the letter, have them update the book, take the book to photocopy, and the letter’s ready when I get back. 

 

[DrJack54]

8 hours ago, mogandave said:

I transfer a bit of interest out in the app to round the number, ask for the letter, have them update the book, take the book to photocopy, and the letter’s ready when I get back

Not sure why you do that. 

The person that does the letter can also accept eg 100b deposit. 

She will also photocopy the last page of the bank book to show update and activity. 

So hand her 100 for deposit and 100 for Letter. Job done. 

I now obtain the 12 month bank statement and letter day or two prior as bank can be busy for Letter. 

[JamesPhuket10]

On 5/16/2025 at 8:48 AM, Wyabcp said:

Hi all, I'm currently in Bangkok on my first week on a Non O Visa from the UK. I need to transfer the 800,000 Baht, so that I can apply for the 1 year extension. I have setup a bank account at Krungsri Bank in Bangkok Phrom Phong. Can I send the 800K Baht using Wise ? I know that maximum that can be transferred is 500K each time, so I would need to do 2 x transfers.

Will the Immigration office be ok with a transfer from Wise for the 1 year extension ? I could use Barclays Swift payment, but would be much more expensive.

thanks!

 

I use Bangkok bank but the question is about more than one bank transfer at a time.

 

I do multiple transfers during the year depending on how much I am spending.

 

I make sure there is 800k in the Thai bank two months before I go to the immigration office. It then has to be in the bank for three months

I then make sure there is a minimum of 400k in the bank for all the other months.

 

Two months before the next visa extension I top up to 800k again, plus my normal living expenses for my own use.

 

So basically two months before 800k and keep it at or above that amount until three months after you applied for the visa and then keep it above 400k, then top it up as many times as you like during the year.

 

I use WISE for all transfers.

 

[DrJack54]

15 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I make sure there is 800k in the Thai bank two months before I go to the immigration office. It then has to be in the bank for three months

I then make sure there is a minimum of 400k in the bank for all the other months.

Yes the financial requirements for extensions retirement have been outlined. 

 

Many folk have two accounts. 

One a dedicated "account for immigration" and another for day to day banking. 

Additionally some folk with the dedicated account just leave balance at 800k+ all year round. 

The OP will opt for what best suits him. 

[Beerzy65]

On 5/16/2025 at 2:48 PM, Wyabcp said:

Hi all, I'm currently in Bangkok on my first week on a Non O Visa from the UK. I need to transfer the 800,000 Baht, so that I can apply for the 1 year extension. I have setup a bank account at Krungsri Bank in Bangkok Phrom Phong. Can I send the 800K Baht using Wise ? I know that maximum that can be transferred is 500K each time, so I would need to do 2 x transfers.

Will the Immigration office be ok with a transfer from Wise for the 1 year extension ? I could use Barclays Swift payment, but would be much more expensive.

thanks!

Yes that's fine

[JohnnyBD]

On 5/16/2025 at 3:07 PM, DrJack54 said:

OP, you can you WISE no problem. 

Good option. 

As indicated choose reason "funds for long term stay" 

Be aware that for extension money in bank account does not need to be shown to have come from abroad. 

 

 Note to others: Kasikorn and BBL have limit of 2 mill babt per transaction. Better choice of bank imo

Just to clarify, you do mean the transaction limits of 2MM within Thailand from bank to bank? As far as I know there is no limit on incoming transfers from overseas. I recently wired 4 MM from the US to Bangkok Bank with no problem.  They received it the next day.

[Upnotover]

16 minutes ago, JohnnyBD said:

Just to clarify, you do mean the transaction limits of 2MM within Thailand from bank to bank? As far as I know there is no limit on incoming transfers from overseas. I recently wired 4 MM from the US to Bangkok Bank with no problem.  They received it the next day.

He is referring to the limits on sending with Wise. Their limit varies acting to the destination bank.

[sandyf]

On 5/16/2025 at 2:48 PM, Wyabcp said:

I could use Barclays Swift payment, but would be much more expensive.

I appreciate that there is an additional cost involved but if it was me I would use SWIFT.

If there happened to be a problem and the funds go astray you can have a SWIFT enquiry done by the remitting bank. I had to have it done once and it is very detailed, the enquiry showed the funds had been received into the wrong account. The receiving bank had consistently denied any receipt.

Not sure  if the same facility is available on peer to peer transactions.

The odds are probably slim but Murphy's Law is always lurking in the background.

[Yellowtail]

1 hour ago, sandyf said:

I appreciate that there is an additional cost involved but if it was me I would use SWIFT.

If there happened to be a problem and the funds go astray you can have a SWIFT enquiry done by the remitting bank. I had to have it done once and it is very detailed, the enquiry showed the funds had been received into the wrong account. The receiving bank had consistently denied any receipt.

Not sure  if the same facility is available on peer to peer transactions.

The odds are probably slim but Murphy's Law is always lurking in the background.

I know that from the US. Wise and such are only cheaper for small transfers. Over about US$10K, swift is cheaper. 

[hotandsticky]

Just now, Yellowtail said:

I know that from the US. Wise and such are only cheaper for small transfers. Over about US$10K, swift is cheaper. 

 

 

US$9,900 is not a small transfer.

 

Comparisons that I have done over the years has shown WISE to ALWAYS be cheaper for anything up to 1 million Baht. There is a tapering effect as the amount becomes larger but the difference in exchange rates has always been better than fees charged.

 

 

[treetops]

14 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

US$9,900 is not a small transfer.

 

Comparisons that I have done over the years has shown WISE to ALWAYS be cheaper for anything up to 1 million Baht. There is a tapering effect as the amount becomes larger but the difference in exchange rates has always been better than fees charged.

 

For USD transfers?

[Yellowtail]

24 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

 

 

US$9,900 is not a small transfer.

Comparatively, yes. 

24 minutes ago, hotandsticky said:

Comparisons that I have done over the years has shown WISE to ALWAYS be cheaper for anything up to 1 million Baht. There is a tapering effect as the amount becomes larger but the difference in exchange rates has always been better than fees charged.