Answered3 years ago
How can I ensure my money transfers from the UK show as Foreign Telegraphic Transfers in my SCB account for my Long Stay Marriage Visa in Thailand?
Hi, I regularly transfer money from U.K. using Wise. It goes to my Bangkok SCB account. Wise uses a third party bank Kasikorn who then forward it to SCB. The problem with this is it does not show up on my SCB statement as FTT. Foreign Telegraphic Transfer. I need it to show this in order to meet Long stay Visa requirements. For a marriage Visa I must deposit THB 400,000 for two months before visa application in to my SCB account. It must show that funds have come from overseas. Maybe using Swift bank to bank and accepting lousy exchange rate plus high fees is the only answer ? Any advice welcome.
Answer summary
A user is experiencing issues with money transfers from the UK using Wise to their SCB account in Bangkok, where the funds do not appear as Foreign Telegraphic Transfers (FTT) on their statement. This is necessary to meet the financial requirements for a Long Stay Marriage Visa in Thailand, which mandates a deposit of THB 400,000 for at least two months prior to application. Community comments suggest various solutions, including opening an account with Bangkok Bank or addressing the issue directly with SCB. Recommendations also include using Wise correctly to specify the transfer purpose to indicate long-term stay, and understanding that different banks handle transfer coding differently.
93 repliesnewest first
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Tom *******
Why not open a Kasikorn account?
Scott *******
It will not help this year, but open a Bangkok Bank account and it will show from overseas.
Stephen ******
I have a Bangkok bank account mine has an app the same as a english bank app and works the same can not print a statement for your phone
Brian ********
I also bank with SCB, my UK pension is sent via a 3rd party bank. I apply to my branch and they get me statements from the 3rd party bank. (SCB told me that they only keep the last 3 months on their own records) They put the bank stamp on each page and immigration at CW accepted without a problem
Kool *******
You are very misinformed. For the type O visa extension based on Thai wife it doesn't matter where the bt400,000 comes from. That is only relevant for the retirement visa extension. Again, it doesn't matter where the money comes from for the marriage visa extension.
Michael ********
I do swift transfer from my bank in Sterling and get a good rate when it arrives at Bangkok Bank at least as good as wise and get the FTT prefix as was advised to me as necessary.
Skip ********
I had this problem two years ago. It looked like I was not going to qualify for renewing my visa. Fortunately, while explaining this to a Thai friend, he contacted his friend in Bangkok Bank, in Bangkok, and got the matter sorted. What I do now is use Kasikorn Bank. There are other advantages, but not related to your post so I won't discuss them here. If you do switch banks keep all of your documents and bank book for a couple of years at least.
Graham ***********
I have transferred a large amount through OFX with the correct Foreign Transfer documents without any difficulty. Wise were unable to provide that service.
Pete **********
Designate the momey as "Funds for long term stay in Thailand."
Nick ************
I have 3 thai bank accounts and only my bangkok bank shows as FTT after asking Wise to tag my account. I use long term stay in Thailand as reason for transfer and it has worked for me now for 6 consecutive months. I did read somewhere that immigration will not accept two transfers or more per month totalling
*****
baht. It has to be a single transfer of *****
baht. Not sure if that is correct or not.
Terary **********
I think it all depends on the immigration office and how much you page an agent.
Nick ************
@Terary *********
never paying an agent again.
Roberto *********
@Nick ***********
As long as you have minimum 65k per month it's acceptable. A guy I know from Australia transfers 35k twice a month and it's no problem. Immigration office course like one transfer a month as it makes life easier for them, but there's no stipulationNick ************
@Roberto ********
glad to hear that
Mark ********
Open an account at kasikorn....
Guy ******
Please tell me how you resolved this
Ken ***********
@Guy *****
******************************************************************
Bernard *****
Bangkok Bank no problem. Shows
Ken ***********
You should contact WISE and ask them to flag your account so they do not use a secondary Thai bank for your transfers. Many threads about this in the WISE group.
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Adam **********
A marriage visa inside the country doesn't require you to show where your money has come from, if it's the 400K method In my experience.
Andrew *********
OP@Adam *********
will check that out
Simon *********
When it asks you the reason for transfer scroll to the bottom it says for long stay in Thailand or something like that. Choose that option then it normally takes 3 days for your money to clear and shows as international transfer.
Andrew *********
OP@Simon ********
tried this. No joy 😟Andrew *********
OPI think it’s because Wise doesn’t send direct to SCB. It goes via partner bank Kasikorn who then transfer on to SCB. This then becomes domestic transfer on the statement.
John ******
@Andrew ********
I’m with Krungthai and have no issues either. Transfer from Australia takes about 3 seconds.Andrew *********
OP@John *****
the transfers are very fast. The only problem is no FTT stamp.Simon *********
@Andrew ********
depends what bank account you have then works with Bangkok bankSimon *********
@Andrew ********
I have Bangkok bank so I will be honest don't know about other banksAndrew *********
OP@Simon ********
SCB
Tom *********
Open a Kasikorn account, or other Wise compatible bank.
Jackson *******
If you’re Canadian, use CIBC’s Global Money Transfer no fees, good rate.
Bart **************
Who requires the money to be from overseas?
Andy ********
@Bart *************
if you apply for a Non Immigrant O visa in Thailand or you use the income reason for maintaining your visa extension you need to show the money comes from abroad. This is true for most immigration offices in Thailand.Bart **************
@Andy *******
any source that it applies if you get non-O from within Thailand?What immigrations Bangkok told me is that I could switch from exemption to non-O. I have a multitude of the required money, but not from overseas. So had this been an additional requirement for that particular switch, they'd have told me I do not qualify.
John **********
@Bart *************
overseas transfers are required if you want to use monthly income and your embassy doesn't provide an income affidavit but you can't use that for either the initial visa or first extension. For marriage it's 40k baht per month from overseas and for retirement 65k
Lay *******
@John *********
you have to have proof of finances on the first 90 days reporting for retirees? I had thought that once you're approved for the 12 months extension you're ok until your subsequent 12 extension comes up.John **********
@Lay ******
maybe in one or two offices but generally they just check you've kept to the rules when you go for your next extension. If you haven't kept to them you won't get the extensionBart **************
@Andrew ********
ah, agent website.And indeed the one source I found stating that the funds had to be from abroad. All the other sources that I found, including the official ones, didn't state it. I'd have had a big problem had this been a true requirement; I had plenty funds, but not from abroad. I asked Tod Daniels just as extra check and he convincingly denied that it had to be from abroad.
Faulty sites like this make this stuff really tough for unknowing people like us :(
Andrew *********
OP@Bart *************
Thai Visa office for MARRIAGE VISA.Bart **************
@Andrew ********
who are they? Immigrations? Agent?Andrew *********
OP@Bart *************
immigrationBart **************
@Bradley ********
so do I. If anyone cares it must be some embassy, because for in-country switches/extensions it surely isn't required to be from overseas. Had it been required, I would not have qualified for that extension myself. I didn't get the extension but for another reason, the money condition was ok.Simon *********
@Bradley ********
maybe they used an agent the rules clearly state the monthly income has to come from overseas for extension of retirement visa.John **********
SCB is not one of the banks where Wise supports international transfers being marked as such so you need to get an FET to prove the origin
Phil ******
@John *********
bangkok bank shows interbank transfers too but your bank knows they are international and certified as such.Andy ********
@Phil *****
see answer above.Phil ******
@John *********
yes they've added Dee money since I talked to the. Years ago.****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************
*****
449&url=https://wise.com/help/articles/*****
35/guide-to-thb-transfers&ved=2ahUKEwjAieKe4tmEAxUJcGwGHQahDqUQFnoECBsQAQ&usg=AOvVaw3Uz1AcqPF4nb9hw8bzGyQuJohn **********
@Phil *****
actually they can go through 3 but one of these is Bangkok Bank which mine always comes to and thus displays correctly in my Bangkok Bank accountPhil ******
@John *********
ALL Wise transfers go through one of 3 intermediatry banksJohn **********
@Phil *****
mine never go via intermediary banks, so far at leastPhil ******
@John *********
It depends on which internediatry bank it's routed through.John **********
@Phil *****
it always does for mePhil ******
@Andy *******
Bangkok bank doesn't show them Either.Roberto *********
Get an account with Bangkok Bank. Works every time for me
Phil ******
@Roberto ********
mine shows interbank transfers and yes have bangkok bankAndy ********
@Phil *****
it will FTT if you choose For Long Term Stay in Thailand as the reasons on for the transfer in Wise. Choosing this option does slow the transfer as Bangkok Bank check each transfer and recode if necessary.Phil ******
@Andy *******
no it doesn't as I ALWAYS CHOOSE this option. It depends on which internediatry bank it's routed through.
Peter *********
On wise you have to put reason for sending money for long term living in Thailand
Andrew *********
OP@Peter ********
I did this but no difference on statement.Andrew *********
OPThanks
Peter *********
@Andrew ********
it does on mine, sorry can't help any more with that, BTW I'm with Bangkok bankAndy ********
If you are convert to marriage visa then the ammout is 400k.
Andy ********
@Andrew ********
you have 2 options.1. Open a Bangkok Bank account and use the final option for sending the money on the Wise app. This will mean the transfers are coded as FTT and immigration will be happy.
2. Go into your bank and explain lain the issue. They will have a process that will enable them to change get the coding and they can also issue certificates for foreign transfer. As long as you have certificates totalling 800k for conversion to Retirement Visa Extension. AND. You have 800k on the day you apply you will be okay to convert from Visa Exempt or tourist visa.
Andrew *********
OP@Peter ********
wish I hadn’t closed my Kasikorn accountPeter *********
@Andrew ********
maybe send 100bht to every option and see if one hits the mark, just a thought, this is Thailand, there isn't much ryhm or reason about a lot of things,Andrew *********
OP@Peter ********
I’m with SCB and Wise uses Kasikorn as third party so maybe that’s the reason ?
Steve **********
Must show st FTT. went thru this a dozen years ago. Immigration was very inflexible.
Darrel *********
@Steve *********
what's st FTT?Andrew *********
OP@Darrel ********
FOREIGN TELEGRAPHIC TRANSFER. ( FTT)Steve **********
@Darrel ********
code in Bankbook indicating funds are from outside of ThailandKen ***********
@Darrel ********
if you have WISE flag your account and choose long term stay.More info on WISE FB group
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Darrel *********
@Steve *********
yea guess I'll do transfer like that from states. Wise made it so simple and fast.Steve **********
@Darrel ********
don't know Darrel, have never used Wise. My money direct deposited from StatesDarrel *********
@Steve *********
got it I have to do this soon too. Does this work with any bank via wise?
Andy ********
@Graham *****
unfortunately the selection you mention only works for Bangkok Bank.Graham ******
@Andy *******
It works for others with different banksAndrew *********
OP@Graham *****
I tried this. No difference !
Andreas *********
@Andrew ********
maybe try "property purchase" in the drop down menue, because that's because the land office wants to see the money came from abroad . . luck has it the transfer will be coded as bein a FET
Kevin *******
You don’t need to accept lousy rates. Send in £s/home currency and allow the Thai bank to do the exchange rate. Rates are similar to wise with HSBC
Martin ******
@Kevin ******
when I checked a year ago the Bangkok TT rate (the one used for large transfers from abroad) was 5K worse than Wise on a transfer of 800K. Bangkok bank charges a 500thb charge for receiving too, which is not huge for large transfers but adds up on many smaller ones.Kevin *******
@Martin *****
but the goal was to solve his visa issue and avoid the lousy rates by allowing the host bank to do the conversion.Martin ******
@Kevin ******
yes that is what I am describing. The conversion is done by Bangkok Bank on arrival in Thailand. Their rates are OK, but Wise's rates were about 2.5K Baht better on 400K when I checked.Another advantage of using Wise is you can set it up to snipe a better rate. Eg, tell it to convert £20K to Baht if the rate is greater than 45.5. It will trigger the conversion if the rate is met.
Andrew *********
OP@Kevin ******
how about First Direct ?Kevin *******
@Andrew ********
I would imagine you can still send in £s - don’t let them do the conversion.Phil ******
Yes ask your baNk to complete a FET form. Oh btw the 2nd intermediary bank is Bangkok bank
Phil ******
Ok
Ken ***********
@Phil *****
the FET comes from the intermediary bank, not his bankPhil ******
@Ken ******
jeez things have changed then. Before covid it was impossible to make contact with either intermediary bank.My Bangkok bank branch used to do this for me and branch manager used to stamp and sign it. Ken when did this change please?
Ken ***********
@Phil *****
it has been the same for me for 5 yearsAndrew *********
OP@Phil *****
on my Wise transfer receipt it comes up as Kasikorn.Phil ******
@Andrew ********
yes thats fine. Get your bank to complete a letter or FET firm that is a record of your transfers. They do it all the timeActivity
34 joined34
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