Transfer of 800K using Wise for 1 Year Extension Visa

[lamyai3]

On 5/17/2025 at 7:44 PM, 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... 

Krungsri is great regarding getting everything done the same day at Chaengwattana. And the staff there always seem to be well informed on the requirements from immigration upstairs. 

[hotandsticky]

8 hours ago, treetops said:

 

For USD transfers?

 

The principle is true for every currency.... unless the Yanks are getting a bum deal on WISE charges - or US banks are giving away SWIFT transfers.

[StandardIssue]

On 5/16/2025 at 12:48 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'm from USA so I use SWIFT which I believe UK Banks also provide as a wire transfer service. Can do it using Swift in one lump sum.

[StandardIssue]

On 5/17/2025 at 4:20 AM, 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 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 

It does have to originate form outside the country as far as I know .. it does matter where the money comes from.

 

[Wyabcp]

4 hours ago, DrJack54 said:

Sorry but that makes no sense.

You can apply for single entry Non O from visa exempt entry or tourist visa entry. 

You can apply for 12 months extension.

Multi Entry Non O is no longer available.

You can obtain multi reentry permit which is completely different. 

 

As far as attend CW without appointment yes you just do a walk in.

My preference is to arrive prior to lunch break to obtain que # then attend to docs during lunch break.

Works well

Yes, got it, messed up the wording, i guess it's  the re-entry permit i will need... Maybe I'll start a new thread on that after some research 

[Dan O]

On 5/16/2025 at 4:22 AM, Wyabcp said:

Yes I agree, but the problem is the Barclays Bank exchange rate is very bad. And this I think makes  Wise cheaper

You shouldn't do the exchange at your origin bank. Do the exchange on arrival at Krungsri. The rate is much better and no additional fees. You can ask the for a Credit Note if you want proof of international transfer. Swift transfers are always coded correctly. 

[treetops]

13 hours ago, hotandsticky said:

The principle is true for every currency.... unless the Yanks are getting a bum deal on WISE charges - or US banks are giving away SWIFT transfers.

 

Not every currency and as Yellowtail mentioned for USD above a certain point a Swift transfer is better.  Another poster worked it out as being just over $20K USD for him IIRC but the $10K mentioned may be just as true.

 

The reason is that with the USD being the most traded currency, the spread on it used by the banks is much smaller.  I did the sums in another thread recently and at that time the spread Bangkok Bank used on the USD was 0.88% whereas on the GBP it was over 2%.  This benefits those sending USD direct to Thai banks whereas those of us sending GBP, EUR etc get the bum deal from the banks and Wise seems to always win.

 

I never dug too deep but think that when the spread is less than the percentage element of Wise' fees then Swift will win afer a certain value, whereas when the spread is greater then Wise wins.

[Yellowtail]

12 hours ago, Dan O said:

You shouldn't do the exchange at your origin bank. Do the exchange on arrival at Krungsri. The rate is much better and no additional fees. You can ask the for a Credit Note if you want proof of international transfer. Swift transfers are always coded correctly. 

This is key using swift, if you let the origin bank (in my case Chase in the US), they offer the transfer "free", but rape you on the exchange rate. 

 

When I pay the $45 transfer fee, the Thai bank does the conversion, and they typically call me to approve the rate before they do the conversion. 

[Dan O]

2 hours ago, Yellowtail said:

This is key using swift, if you let the origin bank (in my case Chase in the US), they offer the transfer "free", but rape you on the exchange rate. 

 

When I pay the $45 transfer fee, the Thai bank does the conversion, and they typically call me to approve the rate before they do the conversion. 

Exactly. The origin banks make the bulk of their fees from the conversions and you always get a better rate converting it at the destination bank. Added bonus with swift is its always coded correctly as an international transfer so no chasing extra documents or reports from inter-banking movements like with many "money movers"

[JamesPhuket10]

On 5/18/2025 at 2:32 AM, DrJack54 said:

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. 

 

I am not sure what the OP will do but It is all very easy and straightforward to deal with one way or the other. 

 

Move money as described above.

 

Print all of the bank statements for the year from your bank account to your printer at home for free.

 

Scan and copy all of the bank book print outs for the year. (ATM printout).

 

I nip around the corner to my local bank and get a letter from them which takes five minutes. 100 baht.

 

Off to the immigration in Phuket and "Bobs Your Uncle" as we Brits say, all done in an hour, go back the next day to pickup the passport.

 

If we also want a multiple re-entry permit at the same time then hand all the forms over as well at the same time as applying for the visa extension, (with a 'secret' little extra 700 baht service charge), pick up the passport the next day with the visa extension and the re entry visa.(Phuket immigration).

[DrJack54]

3 hours ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

Print all of the bank statements for the year from your bank account to your printer at home for free.

 

Scan and copy all of the bank book print outs for the year. (ATM printout).

Immigration should not accept any of that. 

Advise folk that if your immigration office requires a 12 month bank statement obtain it from the bank. 200b 

BBL folk would be aware that this takes a few days. 

[JamesPhuket10]

13 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Immigration should not accept any of that. 

Advise folk that if your immigration office requires a 12 month bank statement obtain it from the bank. 200b 

BBL folk would be aware that this takes a few days. 

 

Not at all true with Phuket immigration.

 

I have done three visa extension using exactly the methods I stated in my comment, I did add the fact it was Phuket immigration to my comment so in fact my comment is totally factual.

 

The proof is/was in the pudding.

 

The problem with such forums as this is people can pass on info to others with are not factual, there are no factual checks on what is written.

 

 

 

[JK-Trilly]

On 5/16/2025 at 5:07 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

BBL is not a good bank to use because of the hassles in getting 12 month statements from

them later on for annual extensions. 

[DrJack54]

14 minutes ago, JamesPhuket10 said:

I have done three visa extension using exactly the methods I stated in my comment, I did add the fact it was Phuket immigration to my comment so in fact my comment is totally factual

This topic has come up previously. 

Fact is some immigration offices accept bank statements printed out by someone using bank app. 

They shouldn't. 

Suggest that for most offices a 12 month bank statement provided by the bank will/should be required. 

Cost 200b. 

Banks can do on the spot (apart from BBL) 

The bank statement can be up to 7 days old. 

I obtain mine the day or two prior to application as it does take time for bank to provide the statement. 

You can obtain "bank letter" at same time. 

 

[Wyabcp]

thanks everyone, I need a bit of a break from all this, just got a condo sorted now too, and it's all been a bit stressful lol

I'll recharge and come back to figure out the extension and re-entry after a few days....I think I have time. 

cheers!

[Upnotover]

2 minutes ago, Wyabcp said:

I'll recharge and come back to figure out the extension and re-entry after a few days....I think I have time. 

cheers!

Get yourself down Cowboy.  That'll do it. 

[Wyabcp]

2 minutes ago, Upnotover said:

Get yourself down Cowboy.  That'll do it. 

brilliant lol 🙂

[Wyabcp]

I just read this on the Immigration site... it states you do need to show foreign currency of the 800K option ... have i got this wrong ?

here

[DrJack54]

11 minutes ago, Wyabcp said:

I just read this on the Immigration site... it states you do need to show foreign currency of the 800K option ... have i got this wrong ?

Have lost track of your thread.

Think you entered Thailand on a Non O obtained from outside of Thailand.

Money in bank for applying for 12 months extension does NOT need to be shown to have been transferred from abroad.

For folk applying for Non O IN Thailand from visa exempt or tourist visa entry then Yes funds need to be transferred from abroad. 

[Wyabcp]

39 minutes ago, DrJack54 said:

Have lost track of your thread.

Think you entered Thailand on a Non O obtained from outside of Thailand.

Money in bank for applying for 12 months extension does NOT need to be shown to have been transferred from abroad.

For folk applying for Non O IN Thailand from visa exempt or tourist visa entry then Yes funds need to be transferred from abroad. 

Oh my... Sorry was in a panic... Thanks for clarifying 

[hullmonkey1]

On 5/16/2025 at 5:07 AM, 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

Dr Jack when you say that "for extension money in bank account does not need to be shown to have come from abroad". Does this apply  on the initial application for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement? 

[hullmonkey1]

3 minutes ago, hullmonkey1 said:

Dr Jack when you say that "for extension money in bank account does not need to be shown to have come from abroad". Does this apply  on the initial application for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement? 

Sorry I see you have already answered this question. Thanks anyway

[DrJack54]

35 minutes ago, hullmonkey1 said:

Does this apply  on the initial application for a 90-day Non Imm O Visa for reason of retirement? 

Yes for obtaining inside of Thailand for a Non O retirement the funds need to be shown came from abroad.

 

For application for Non O retirement outside of Thailand then the funds can be in a non Thai bank.

Also for extensions funds do not need to come from abroad if using money in bank method.

Income method monthly transfers need to be from abroad

[oldcpu]

On 5/20/2025 at 8:08 AM, JamesPhuket10 said:

 

Not at all true with Phuket immigration.

 

I have done three visa extension using exactly the methods I stated in my comment, I did add the fact it was Phuket immigration to my comment so in fact my comment is totally factual.

 

The proof is/was in the pudding.

 

The problem with such forums as this is people can pass on info to others with are not factual, there are no factual checks on what is written.

 

 

 

 

With respect, given your story, I believe it depends on the actual Immigration Officer you happen to be dealing with in Phuket immigration on any particular extension.

 

I live in Phuket.

 

A couple who live in a Villa just to the north of where I live in Phuket, adopted your strategy for years. Then 2 years ago , it was refused.  They were forced to go back to their bank branch in Phuket, get a yearly statement and an appropriate letter from the Bank.  Not long after that another Phuket expat friend reported the same problem, despite doing such differently for years.

 

so the policy does not appear to be even consistent within the Phuket office.

 

As the saying goes "your mileage may vary". YMMV.