Bringing over $20,000 USD in cash? Anyone tried? What's the procedures?

[statman78]

I also try to bring cash when I come back as I get the best exchange here in Bangkok at Superrich. I have left the US with more and arrived here in Thailand with more and never had anyone look. Maybe just luck but i was not worried about it as I could prove where the money came from. I did not do any paperwork on either end. It is my money. I worked for it at a legit job so i can do what I want with it where ever I want to. Right? Cheers! We were buying a house here. Cash. So I really wanted the best exchange I could get and that is me turning in 100's at Superrich.

I have done the same on numerous occassions and never had a problem. I use Superrich then go accross the street to deposit the money into my bank account. The US does have cash sniffing dogs but I have only seen them used to check in-coming passengers.

[NowImEasy]

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Turn it into travelers cheaques for the trip


Sent from my iPhone

Which places take them? Banks only? At what exchange rate, same as the cash or slightly lower?

I've found that banks will give you a better rate for traveler's checks. About one baht more. There is a charge of about 30 baht per check, so if you do this, get the largest denomination that you can find. So for a USD500 TC, you realize about 470 baht more than with cash. This probably has something to do with the fact that there is no risk for the bank. The bank can go to the (example, American Express) issuing banks' website and match the transaction with your ID.

About declaring the money upon departure. I see that you're a Canadian, eh? I was leaving the US one time with over $10,000. I downloaded the declaration form from the US Customs (might have a different name this month), filled it out, and when I left the US via Chicago, there was no one to give it to. No one has ever checked me out when leaving the US. I don't know what's happening in Canada. Just my 2 cents.

I'd love to know what you're doing with all that cash. I wish I was in you shoes with that cash and a few weeks in the Big Mango.

Be careful

[paul the concreter]

Cash is cheaper sure you get less in exchange but there is no charge and back home they charge me for the cheaqs

[poweratradio]

The maximum amount you can carry to Thailand without reporting is $20,000 USD. I would stay under that for practical reasons. I do think the the US and Canada are the last holdouts on the $10,000 limit. Not for the trafficking reasons they claim but for control.

There is no procedure for that amount in Thailand. You only have to report if it is over the $20,000.

Just buy as many Maple Leaf ounces of Canada's 999 fine gold that you want money for in Thailand. Yes the ounce price bounces up and down but that happens so often that you might watch prevailing rates to catch a price drop which usually is followed by a price jump up. Of course declare them as it is a tiny neat way to carry large sums now that large denomination currency in Canada seems non existant. I recall $1000. pink ones in the 70's and took 250 of them in two pants pockets to France. No problem.

[Maestro]

False

Transfer a million baht. (SWIFT)

...

No, don't sent Baht. Sent foreign currency, eg CAD

[GOLDBUGGY]

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The U.S. Say it's because of financing terrorists.I believe they just want to know your business.From the U.S. You can take over $10,000 out of the country but ya have to fill out A a customs form.
Just to put my 2 cents in,when ya go thru security,the X-ray machine can't determine if it's cash,only paper.I don't really believe
They are looking for money.They are looking for explosives etc.Something to take down an aircraft etc.

No. It is for money laundering purposes. Been hit by my own bank back home when I deposited over $10,000 from Overseas. They froze my account until I explained why. It was just my wages from my employer on a money transfer, so no problem. But she did explain they are required by law to check for this over $10,000 because of Money Laundering.

Let's say you are a drug smuggler and you sold $200,000 worth of drugs in South America for cash. Would it not be easy then to just fly back to Canada, walk in with this $200,000, and deposit that money in your bank if no questions were asked? Say at $10,000 a shot. Or more if you told the bank teller you sold some property overseas. She won't question that or check it. That kind of defeats the purpose of even checking other ways.

That is why they may question you if you bring in more than the limit. It is best you have a good reason and proof. A Withdraw slip from you bank should be enough. But it still does not explain why you do not use your bank card, like most other people. If you don't declare it they can take it away and who knows what else.

Personally, I would sooner spend the 10 buck and use my bank card. Get your bank to increase your daily and weekly limit to the maximum. This will save you on withdraw charges. I have pulled out more than 200,000 Baht on my Gold Visa Card. I never tested how high I could go though. Up to your Credit Limit I suppose. Which you can increase by toping up your Visa Account first to any amount. But then each bank is different here and they may have there own limits regardless.

.

[GOLDBUGGY]

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The maximum amount you can carry to Thailand without reporting is $20,000 USD. I would stay under that for practical reasons. I do think the the US and Canada are the last holdouts on the $10,000 limit. Not for the trafficking reasons they claim but for control.

There is no procedure for that amount in Thailand. You only have to report if it is over the $20,000.

Just buy as many Maple Leaf ounces of Canada's 999 fine gold that you want money for in Thailand. Yes the ounce price bounces up and down but that happens so often that you might watch prevailing rates to catch a price drop which usually is followed by a price jump up. Of course declare them as it is a tiny neat way to carry large sums now that large denomination currency in Canada seems non existant. I recall $1000. pink ones in the 70's and took 250 of them in two pants pockets to France. No problem.

Not exactly sure about Thailand but most places I have been to ask for Currency over a certain amount, or Gold. In fact if I recall it is anything over that value.

Try bringing in a suitcase of Canada Maple Syrup. You would not believe what a small bottle of that stuff sells for here.

[Donnie Brasco]

False

Transfer a million baht. (SWIFT)

...

No, don't sent Baht. Sent foreign currency, eg CAD

Yes

You're right, thanks.

Guess I was thinking from the pick up end here.

This thread is just another example of TV hit bait is it not ?.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[Shurup]

False

Transfer a million baht. (SWIFT)

...

No, don't sent Baht. Sent foreign currency, eg CAD

Yes

You're right, thanks.

Guess I was thinking from the pick up end here.

This thread is just another example of TV hit bait is it not ?.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Does it look like it? I asked the genuine questions looking for an advice. I make up to 6 trips between Canada and Thailand and I live here so I need money on my Thai bank account. Hope it answered your questions.

Sent from a Nuclear Submarine.

[Shurup]

The maximum amount you can carry to Thailand without reporting is $20,000 USD. I would stay under that for practical reasons. I do think the the US and Canada are the last holdouts on the $10,000 limit. Not for the trafficking reasons they claim but for control.

There is no procedure for that amount in Thailand. You only have to report if it is over the $20,000.

Just buy as many Maple Leaf ounces of Canada's 999 fine gold that you want money for in Thailand. Yes the ounce price bounces up and down but that happens so often that you might watch prevailing rates to catch a price drop which usually is followed by a price jump up. Of course declare them as it is a tiny neat way to carry large sums now that large denomination currency in Canada seems non existant. I recall $1000. pink ones in the 70's and took 250 of them in two pants pockets to France. No problem.

Will the gold trading places here take Canadian gold at its full value? Just wondering...

Sent from a Nuclear Submarine.

[Donnie Brasco]

False

Transfer a million baht. (SWIFT)

...

No, don't sent Baht. Sent foreign currency, eg CAD

Yes

You're right, thanks.

Guess I was thinking from the pick up end here.

This thread is just another example of TV hit bait is it not ?.

Sent from my iPhone using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Does it look like it? I asked the genuine questions looking for an advice. I make up to 6 trips between Canada and Thailand and I live here so I need money on my Thai bank account. Hope it answered your questions.

Sent from a Nuclear Submarine.

I had no questions. Just a minor misstatement in my reply.

And yes, this kind of inquiry, much the same as inquiries that are more easily Googled than answered here sound a lot like hit bait.

A lot.

"Sometimes, 'fuggedabowdit' just means fuggedabowdit. . . . "

[Shurup]

And yes, this kind of inquiry, much the same as inquiries that are more easily Googled than answered here sound a lot like hit bait.

A lot.

"Sometimes, 'fuggedabowdit' just means fuggedabowdit. . . . "

You're free to think what you like of course. I wouldn't care how many replies there are as long as I got my questions answered, even if it's only one reply. Google also can't answer everything, sometimes people want to hear a 1st hand experience fromthose that are in the same situation.

If it sounds like a hit bait to you, perhaps you can stop replying to this post so the reply counter doesn't get even higher.

Sent from a Nuclear Submarine.

[ronthai]

Criminal, drugs money, what???

[Shurup]

Criminal, drugs money, what???

At you police or something?

I've mentioned that I'm declaring them in Canada so can't be anything criminal can it?

Sent from a Nuclear Submarine.

[Donnie Brasco]

Criminal, drugs money, what???

At you police or something?

I've mentioned that I'm declaring them in Canada so can't be anything criminal can it?

Sent from a Nuclear Submarine.

No drama, shurup.

Could be cash from a job in the trades.

Maybe you're a roofer or a framer.

That would explain why you'd have the cash but perhaps wouldn't know about wire transfers.

Dunno. Doncair.

Anyway, wire transfer procedure is always under revision.

Maybe even set up a unique off-record safe word.

Give him your Bkk telephone number.

The more measures of comfort the better.

Get the rest of the Bank's procedures from the Manager over a beer and burger next time you're back

so he remembers your face and name when you need to do this thing.

There's a loop he needs to close before he wires the money.

But they rotate 'em pretty quick these days

"Sometimes, 'fuggedabowdit' just means fuggedabowdit. . . . "

[Shurup]

Criminal, drugs money, what???

At you police or something?

I've mentioned that I'm declaring them in Canada so can't be anything criminal can it?

Sent from a Nuclear Submarine.

No drama, shurup.

Could be cash from a job in the trades.

Maybe you're a roofer or a framer.

That would explain why you'd have the cash but perhaps wouldn't know about wire transfers.

Dunno. Doncair.

Anyway, wire transfer procedure is always under revision.

Maybe even set up a unique off-record safe word.

Give him your Bkk telephone number.

The more measures of comfort the better.

Get the rest of the Bank's procedures from the Manager over a beer and burger next time you're back

so he remembers your face and name when you need to do this thing.

There's a loop he needs to close before he wires the money.

But they rotate 'em pretty quick these days

"Sometimes, 'fuggedabowdit' just means fuggedabowdit. . . . "

I'm in the oil industry so I make enough on my and my family's needs and I also have time to spend them being on 28/28 rotation schedule.

I do know what's the wire transfer (swift) and how it works, I even set up my online banking account in Canada to be able to do the transfers to my Thai bank account whenever I needed and wherever I were at the moment. I did send a test amount some years back to see how I like it. I didn't like all the fees and poor exchange rate I've got. My Canadian bank charged a fixed fee for the transfer (don't remember how much) and my Thai bank charges up to 500 or 600 baht per transfer. With huge amounts these frees would have been fine, but there's no getting away from the exchange rate they give you at the time of transfer. So it was the first and last time I send money that way.

Thanks to a few TVF members who were willing to discuss this subject over PM and answered all my questions, I have no interest in this topic any longer. Mods can close it if they feel it is just another "hit bait" topic.

Sent from a Nuclear Submarine.

[DogNo1]

Just checked the VASU rate. I got the same rate on my Visa card cash advance today.

[sean420]

I'm here for 6 months for last 4 years and I would use atm but the overall fee would be 22.00 dollars each times,so now I bring 10,000 and 22,000 in travelers checks in 2,000 each ones.never a problem.

[ballbreaker]

OP you are aware the rate you see at bank money exchange window is not the rate you get on a wire transfer. Wire transfer rates are in the same neighborhood that VASU and Super Rich gives you not what you see at bank exchange window. Provided the exchange is done in Thailand.

Edited April 24, 2014 by ballbreaker

[Shurup]

^^^ It was not the case when I sent the test swift transfer some years back. It was still very poor rate, def nothing close to Vasu rates.

Sent from my mobile, whatever mobile it is.

[Zatoichi]

$500 Euro notes will drop the bulk down from 200 bills down to just 29. That's the easy way if your ultra worried about customs looking at your bulges lol

[MrWorldwide]

Some serious numbers in this thread. I'm about to get on a plane to KL with around 9K AUD in cash, but I'll be just as protective of my CITI debit card : longterm, I believe that little piece of plastic is going to save me some serious currency conversion and ATM fees. On the downside, the CITI staff here in Sydney's Chinatown seem to have zero interest in walk-in customers : I guess they assume most are just there to use the (lone) ATM, and that's fair enough. The CBA branch has a horde of bilingual staff eager to get both Chinese and non-Chinese into the bank - given their fee structure, I can see how that would make sense

[Briggsy]

Gordon Bennett, about half the posts here are either wholly or partially inaccurate.

On bringing in £5,000 in cash you will save around £50 - £100 over a bank transfer and a bit less over the specialist money transfer companies.

There is no limit. You just need to declare over 10,000 Euros worth when leaving the UK and over $20,000 worth when arriving in Thailand. Provided you declare it, neither end could care less. So bringing in, say, £12,000 in cash, you need to declare at the UK end. There is a form you must fill out and you would also need to declare when entering Thailand as it is over $20,000. The Customs Officer would yawn and wave you through.

Provided you declare, you will not be arrested, your money will not be confiscated, there is no limit (except on Thai Baht).

Don't listen to the rubbish on this thread. If you want to take the small risk of bringing cash, simply follow the declaration rules. I always bring money over like that.

Edited May 2, 2014 by Briggsy

[gk10002000]

If from the fascists republics (The US or the UK) I would bring $9800 in cash, and the balance in high denomination travelers checks, buried in a book on a carry on. Something like that. Very discreet. Nobody will ever find it hopefully. It satisfied the Thai requirements, and fools the fascists.

I am sure that extra balance in traveler's checks would count towards the $10,000 limit so be careful if trying to use this approach

[gk10002000]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Turn it into travelers cheaques for the trip

Sent from my iPhone

Which places take them? Banks only? At what exchange rate, same as the cash or slightly lower?

I've found that banks will give you a better rate for traveler's checks. About one baht more. There is a charge of about 30 baht per check, so if you do this, get the largest denomination that you can find. So for a USD500 TC, you realize about 470 baht more than with cash. This probably has something to do with the fact that there is no risk for the bank. The bank can go to the (example, American Express) issuing banks' website and match the transaction with your ID.

About declaring the money upon departure. I see that you're a Canadian, eh? I was leaving the US one time with over $10,000. I downloaded the declaration form from the US Customs (might have a different name this month), filled it out, and when I left the US via Chicago, there was no one to give it to. No one has ever checked me out when leaving the US. I don't know what's happening in Canada. Just my 2 cents.

I'd love to know what you're doing with all that cash. I wish I was in you shoes with that cash and a few weeks in the Big Mango.

Be careful

Yes, I believe what this poster said about the US Customs form is correct. At Los Angeles, LAX, there was a post about somebody asking for the form, who to give it to etc. I believe he was told to go to some office somewhere within LAX. There was nothing in the normal departure process lines

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

For those wanting to use traveler's cheques, just be aware that the Thai banks are raising their fee to 153 baht PER CHEQUE for handling them, regardless of the denomination. A lot of the major banks have already gone to the new fee, and others are following.

So if you're going to use cheques, it makes economic sense to get them in the largest denomination available, which in the U.S. I believe is $500 cheques.

But, with that TC fee amount, you're actually paying more in fees on the Thai end than if you withdrew 20 or 30 K baht from an ATM and paid a single 150 or 180 baht ATM withdrawal fee -- assuming your bank card has no foreign currency fees of its own.

[Shurup]

For those wanting to use traveler's cheques, just be aware that the Thai banks are raising their fee to 153 baht PER CHEQUE for handling them, regardless of the denomination. A lot of the major banks have already gone to the new fee, and others are following.

So if you're going to use cheques, it makes economic sense to get them in the largest denomination available, which in the U.S. I believe is $500 cheques.

But, with that TC fee amount, you're actually paying more in fees on the Thai end than if you withdrew 20 or 30 K baht from an ATM and paid a single 150 or 180 baht ATM withdrawal fee -- assuming your bank card has no foreign currency fees of its own.

Good to know. You're right, a single 20K cash withdrawal (25K from BKK Bank) from a Thai ATM is more than $500 a lot less hassle and less fees.

[aussiep]

Just my two cents - I would try to avoid physically carrying that much money half way around the world if possible. I transfer necessary monies to a Bangkok Bank account just for ease and safety and on many occasions have transferred that amount or more in a single transaction.

However, if that is not possible, be careful.

There's just too many fees involved with bank wire transfers and you get poor exchange rate on top of it, on a large sum of money it's quite a bit of losses on the exchange rate alone, but I do agree it's safer.

If I couldn't figure out a safe way to bring over $20K, I'll just stick with my just under $20K routine, I think it's pretty safe considering not many people carry that much cash on them so no one would suspect I carry that much. And if I do get checked - I'm all legal.

Any comments regarding bank drafts and/or traveler's cheques? Anyone?

HI.

Traveler cheques were good value in Thailand, Not now.

Before the charges were 33thb per cheque of any value.

Last trip in March/April 2014 they have added a 150thb +3thb charge.

So now traveler cheques are not quite the good value they once were.

aussiep...............

[gk10002000]

When we sold our house in Wisconsin before moving here three years ago, we had no mortgage to pay off, so had almost US$200,000 in cash. We were planning to buy a house in Chiang Mai (and did so). I transferred the money from our savings&loan to my wife's K-Bank account, no questions asked, using what the banks call SWIFT. The fee was ~$30. No additional reporting was required, because the feds know about it anyway if it's an electronic transfer. Maybe K-Bank had no problem with it because my wife is a Thai citizen. The question for you is whether you want to pay a $30 fee. We knew it was a one-time thing and a small portion of the money.

Someone else commented that he once brought more than US$10k and filled out the form. Me, too. AFAIK, bring as much as you want, as long as you report it. So, the US govt knows. Who cares? Bringing the money is legal. Don't be a sheep by succumbing to rampant anti-govt paranoia.

Keep in mind that the US now requires US citizens to report if you at ANY time had an amount over $10,000 in a foreign bank. So while transferring the money in might be the easiest and most convenient, technically you would have to report it.

[KunMatt]

You are mad to carry that much in cash on you. Either bring travellers cheques or do a few large cash advance withdrawals from a bank in Thailand using your debit card. I think the largest I ever took in one go is 400k baht from SCB. Helps if you have a SCB account to deposit it into otherwise you will then have to carry that amount of cash around on you.