Hi there, I would like to transfer around 3million THB from overseas, and I'm thinking to issue a check at overseas bank and cash it in here in thailand. (bangkok bank)

Does anyone of you tried this method and how much were the clearance fees?

I may handcarry some cash 20,000 USD and check the rest if the fees are hefty.

Is there anything i should be wary of?

Bkk bank wanted over $100 USD to cash a check. And you don't get access to your money until the check clears about 1 month. Better to wise or swift it.

1 hour ago, bkkryn said:

Is there anything i should be wary of?

It works, but it takes an insanely long time, you could be waiting for a month.

Hi there, I would like to transfer around 3million THB from overseas, and I'm thinking to issue a check at overseas bank and cash it in here in thailand. (bangkok bank)

Does anyone of you tried this method and how much were the clearance fees?

I may handcarry some cash 20,000 USD and check the rest if the fees are hefty.

Is there anything i should be wary of?

Hand-carrying cash is stupid. You asking for trouble with customs, law enforcement and criminals. US law enforcement will take it off you and then you have to sue them to get it back.

For that amount, do an international wire transfer.

3 hours ago, Everyman said:

For that amount, do an international wire transfer.

The question to the OP @bkkryn is why you wouldn't do that - what are you trying to hide avoid.........?

On 4/30/2026 at 9:35 AM, Everyman said:

Hand-carrying cash is stupid. You asking for trouble with customs, law enforcement and criminals. US law enforcement will take it off you and then you have to sue them to get it back.

Alarmist talk, I think. There is no limit on the amount of cash which can be taken out of the USA, but amounts exceeding $10,000 need to be declared to American Customs at departure:

https://www.usa.gov/travel-money

And there is no limit on the amount of foreign currency cash which can be brought into Thailand, although amounts exceeding $20,000 need to be declared to Thai Customs upon arrival:

https://thailand.go.th/issue-focus-detail/009-010

Edited May 1May 1 by OJAS

On 4/30/2026 at 9:35 AM, Everyman said:

Hand-carrying cash is stupid. You asking for trouble with customs, law enforcement and criminals. US law enforcement will take it off you and then you have to sue them to get it back.

For that amount, do an international wire transfer.

You can leave the US with all of the cash that you want, just need to declare it before you leave, I have brought in over that amount with no issue

You’re not going to convince me that stuffing $100,000 USD in a duffel bag and flying to the other side of the world is a good idea. There’s so many things that can give wrong with this idea, and what’s the benefit?

And that is notwithstanding the difficulty is getting that much cash from your U.S. bank. They don’t just have that laying around. And they are going to want to know why you need so much cash. Frankly I think they would call the FBI, or the local nut house.

If you get stopped by local PD or State troopers with that much cash, they will take it from you and say you’re smuggling the proceeds from a drug sale. Then you have to prove your case to get it back.

Or…you can do an international wire transfer like a sane person.

On 4/29/2026 at 11:23 PM, bkkryn said:

Hi there, I would like to transfer around 3million THB from overseas, and I'm thinking to issue a check at overseas bank and cash it in here in thailand. (bangkok bank)

Does anyone of you tried this method and how much were the clearance fees?

I may handcarry some cash 20,000 USD and check the rest if the fees are hefty.

Is there anything i should be wary of?

A few years ago I received a cheque from my employer, posted me a cheque, just a few hundred Malaysian Ringgit. I deposited into my kasikorn account, the fees were very low but it did take around 6 weeks to clear.

4 hours ago, Everyman said:

If you get stopped by local PD or State troopers with that much cash, they will take it from you and say you’re smuggling the proceeds from a drug sale. Then you have to prove your case to get it back.

That really is nonsensical fear-mongering. You'd have a slip from your bank as evidence that you withdrew the money from your own bank account.

That being said, I don't see the point of flying around with large amounts of cash either. There's SWIFT, there's Wise and a multitude of other safe options.