Declaring Large Amount Of Cash At Thai Customs

[KhunBENQ]

Hello,

I already did some search on the issue of bringing cash to Thailand.

For good reasons not explained here, I will bring Euro cash to Thailand (more than a 20'000 USD equivalent).

(I already have a Non O-A valid for one year).

No problems expected in my home country (its clean money withdrawn from my savings account).

At some time I will change to THB and pay cash to my Thai bank account.

Still not quite sure, whether the declaration to Thai customs will allow me to present this money in my account for visa extension (incl. the customs declaration) when time is due.

Anyone has an idea or personal experience?

Edited November 3, 2010 by KhunBENQ

[Jingthing]

That an interesting specific question which hints at a broader question. It is my impression that the current enforcement policies for retirement extensions DO NOT stipulate that the monies need to be imported from abroad. Of course, working is illegal on such extension and not transferring money in may raise suspicions about that, but that is another matter. Some years back, there were many reports that immigration was asking for proof of foreign transfer, but I don't think so recently. The reason I mention this is that if they aren't enforcing foreign inward transfers of the monies, there wouldn't be any logical reason why they would even need to see your paperwork about the cash carry in. So asking if that paperwork would be accepted would be a moot point if they don't even care anymore about the source of the money.

[GuestHouse]

Why take the risk?

Turning up with a bag of money to be approved by what is widely recognised as one of the most corrupt branches of the Thai civil service asking for a certification that the money has been brought into the country, when the alternative is a safe, reliable and cheap interbank transfer for which you can easily obtain a transfer certificate (in a format that the immigration office see every day + you have the bank's own records to prove the transfer should any questions arise).

Perhaps that's the issue: Bank records and questions that might arise.

[noise]

Why take the risk? ......... when the alternative is a safe, reliable and cheap interbank transfer ......

I echo GuestHouse in recommending the bank transfer simply because you can't lose it that way. As to your question, though, I was not asked and have never heard of anyone ever being questioned about where the money came from or asked to show it as a transfer into the country. And my friends who use this method for their visa and simply leave the money in the bank and live off transferred in monthly and/or withdrawn by ATM have never been questioned in any manner as to how they live when there does not seem to be any turn over in the account.

[PhilHarries]

Agree with GH here, if the money is clean why bring it as cash? If you have a Thai bank account transfer it electronically.

However I did once carry a substantial amount of cash into Thailand (didn't have a Thai bank account to send it to), didn't declare it at Thieves'R'Us (aka customs), and got through no problem but I wasn't using the money for a visa extension.

I am told that at many western airports they have money sniffing dogs (Thailand has the same but they all work in beer bars) and if you're copped with a significant wedge and can't provide documentary proof of it's origins they confiscate it until you do.

But I've never seen any evidence of this in action nor met anyone caught by such an operation so who knows?

[travelmann]

I regularly bring cash in I dont want any govt knowing where or what Im doing I find it invasive, I have never had a problem usually about £10000 at a time whihc is over the UK limit of declaring. In 5 years I have never been stopped. The Thai end is more lax than the British end. I have never been stopped in Thailand if you want to avoid problem use "Thaifasttrack" at the airport they give ciustoms a nod and a wink I reckon, you can be off the plane and out onto the taxis in minutes not hours sat ina immigration queue.

The main issue for me is invasion of privacy by nosey govt's I dont like it.

[travelmann]

Agree with GH here, if the money is clean why bring it as cash? If you have a Thai bank account transfer it electronically.

However I did once carry a substantial amount of cash into Thailand (didn't have a Thai bank account to send it to), didn't declare it at Thieves'R'Us (aka customs), and got through no problem but I wasn't using the money for a visa extension.

I am told that at many western airports they have money sniffing dogs (Thailand has the same but they all work in beer bars) and if you're copped with a significant wedge and can't provide documentary proof of it's origins they confiscate it until you do.

But I've never seen any evidence of this in action nor met anyone caught by such an operation so who knows?

This money sniffing dogs is ridiculous if you think about it, Im sure the dog is trained to sniff out suitcases full for example if I had €50000 in €500 bills that would be 100 notes thats a small amount of notes but if I had it in €10 notes thats a huge amount to carry and a lot to sniff out easily or have they trained the dogs to count the notes too? Theyd be stopping almost everyone going thu the gates I mean £2000 in £20 notes is also 100 notes and most people would take that sort of amount on holiday with them.

€500 notes is the smugglers choice and have been banned I think i n the UK .............I wonder why? doggies having trouble detecting it.

A lot of customs work is tip offs dont believe some of the bu***** they come out with they simply dont know.

[dave111223]

I am told that at many western airports they have money sniffing dogs (Thailand has the same but they all work in beer bars)

[jackr]

I regularly bring cash in I dont want any govt knowing where or what Im doing I find it invasive, I have never had a problem usually about £10000 at a time whihc is over the UK limit of declaring. In 5 years I have never been stopped. The Thai end is more lax than the British end. I have never been stopped in Thailand if you want to avoid problem use "Thaifasttrack" at the airport they give ciustoms a nod and a wink I reckon, you can be off the plane and out onto the taxis in minutes not hours sat ina immigration queue.

The main issue for me is invasion of privacy by nosey govt's I dont like it.

Well you could have a problem if someone decides to ask you where you got it from. I don't buy this 'invasion of privacy by nosey govt's'. What's the big deal and what are you doing that would be so secretive... all a bit daft, no. The main thing is, the money is being brought over safely and within the law. Also, if one is wanting to show that funds were transferred legitimately for the sake of obtaining an extension, then it's (sorry to say) a no-brainer that one swifts it... and gets a better rate at same time.

Op, immigration typically look at your bank book to see that you have FTT'd the dosh from outside Thailand. Relying on a declaration could be iffy. If you don't want someone seeing money coming into a certain Thai bank, set up new one, or if you're waiting for the Thai baht to slide for a better rate... ummm

[craigt3365]

I regularly bring cash in I dont want any govt knowing where or what Im doing I find it invasive, I have never had a problem usually about £10000 at a time whihc is over the UK limit of declaring. In 5 years I have never been stopped. The Thai end is more lax than the British end. I have never been stopped in Thailand if you want to avoid problem use "Thaifasttrack" at the airport they give ciustoms a nod and a wink I reckon, you can be off the plane and out onto the taxis in minutes not hours sat ina immigration queue.

The main issue for me is invasion of privacy by nosey govt's I dont like it.

I doubt any government would even blink over transfers of that small amount. They are looking for the big fish. 10k nowadays is just not that much. Does this mean you fill out the arrival card with somebody else's name and info...so you protect your privacy?

[GuestHouse]

Somebody has been watching too many 'Jason Bourne' movies.

[Jingthing]

Shouldn't this be in the VISAS forum so that the OP may actually get his specific question answered?

[cdnvic]

I deleted some nonsense posts. Please stay on topic so that the poster can get the info he needs, and keep the pop-culture conspiracies out of it.

[topt]

I hope this is still on topic but I came across this article last week. Although applicable to the UK I thought that any cash over a certain amount was supposed to be declared at point of entry? If so and you did happen to be stopped.......

The UK's border police were patting themselves on the back today after seizing over half a million quid in cash from the hand luggage of two Nigerian men at Heathrow Airport.

Border Agency officers discovered the cash as the men tried to enter the UK through Heathrow last week, after flying in from Paris.

The men said the money - a mix of €500 and $100 bills - was simply to procure supplies for their business, which they said was a father and son trading concern specialising in wine, spirits and cosmetics.

Border agents were sceptical, it would seem, and seized the cash under the Proceeds of Crime Act until the men can prove it comes from a legitimate source.

Apparently anyone entering or leaving the UK with over £1,000 in cash can be asked to provide evidence of its bona fides, or face having it "detained". The UK has already banned the issue of €500 notes over the counter after concluding they had become the bill of choice for organised and not-so-organised criminals

That's an awful lot of samples!

[Jingthing]

From the OP --

Still not quite sure, whether the declaration to Thai customs will allow me to present this money in my account for visa extension (incl. the customs declaration) when time is due.

That is the question. Can he use this money for his visa extension financial requirement. He did not ask about bringing money in, just whether when he does which he intends to do, can he use it for his retirement extension. I don't understand why this topic isn't in the Thai visa section either.

[lopburi3]

Actually because of several posts that have had to be removed this thread is dead and closed.