What are the best strategies for managing funds and converting currency while on a Non-O retirement visa in Thailand?

Nov 9, 2023
a year ago
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
Kind of strategizing about how to do this.

From US - living now in Thailand- I put in 800,000 in Bangkok bank and will be getting non-O retirement visa end of next month - all squared away.

I also started putting 65,000 THB in every month - probably prematurely already done for 2 months, but was planning on doing that as well for a year - so that I can take back out the 800,000 THB the next cycle (and continue to put in 65,000).

That ties up a lot of money that could be drawing interest - and exposure to the vagaries of the Thai Bhat - and if I keep going ahead with this I wonder whats the best way to get it back out?

I assume they just want it consistently going in- don't care too much how it goes out. I can use the debit card all i can, of course expenses here that are in THB... But wondering about going direct through the bank/debit card for things that are in dollars.... will I eat a lot of exchange fee this way? Vs, transferring some of it back to a US bank through Wise the other way around. And I guess making cash withdrawels and exchanging for dollars at money places before I'd go back to the US perhaps - which would be infrequent.

Thoughts?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
This discussion revolves around the financial management strategies for someone residing in Thailand on a Non-O retirement visa. The participant outlines their banking setup, which includes depositing 800,000 THB into a Bangkok bank account and making monthly contributions of 65,000 THB. Concerns about currency conversion fees, how to efficiently withdraw or transfer money back to the US, and the potential tax implications next year are raised. Comments offer various suggestions including the use of services like Deemoney for transferring funds, maintaining a foreign currency account, and alternatives like buying gold for investment.
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Brooke ***********
Save the hassle, leave your money invested in home country…hire a local agent. No headaches, got non Thai spouse onto my retirement visa. Worth every penny. As to Wise…exchange baht into US$ inside Wise…you can pull out at ATMs stateside when back home.
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I believe I'm ok with lowering it to above 400,000 after I get the non-O going for some time period? .. until closer to renewal time or something ?(unless doing renewal with having 65,000 in every month I won't need to bump it back up to 800,000) ?? So I can take out some of what I put in so far at that point too (w/ Deemoney possibly)
Sharon *******
If you're worried about exchange rates you can have a foriegn curreny account with most Thai banks & acceptable by Immigration. Your problem now if you did this would be showing the money came from overseas
Terary **********
My plan is to buy gold with the extra cash I don't need here in Thailand.

Gold trades a little differently here so be prepared for a learning exercise.
Andy **********
Or buy gold. Stick it in a safe.
Melissa *********
Make sure you keep an eye on the potential new taxing method next year. It might be based on amounts coming into thailand. If so I might just stick with leaving 800k in Bangkok bank getting tiny interest.
Keith ************
Wise doesn't transfer out to the US. Deemoney does.
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Keith ***********
ok - Deemoney sound like something to look into thanks. I could consider making quarterly payments back with Deemoney - rather than waiting the year. As again i think its more about inflow- not outflow (the 800,000 stays as a constant).
Brandon ************
There's never any reason to pay for anything in baht that will need to be converted to dollars. If you're doing that you should be paying with a credit card or something from home, and not double converting your money as losing twice.

Once you get your extension next year using the monthly transfer method, you can use Deemoney to transfer the money back to your home bank account. Wise cannot transfer money out of Thailand, only into Thailand.
Neil ********
@Brandon ***********
not sure that is true. If you first set up wise in your home country you should be able to convert in wise and return it. I did that with UK bank

Also you can get 4.5 % interest in Bangkok bank on your money
Roberto *********
@Neil *******
Bangkok Bank only paying 1% at most
Brandon ************
@Neil *******
it sounds like your money never left Wise. The op's money is already in a Thai bank account. Wise cannot transfer money from Thailand to another country
Pat *******
@Brandon ***********
I use wise to transfer from my uk account into my Bangkok account, but can't find any information on transferring from Bangkok account back to wise ,

Anyone know how to do ?
Cilene ******
@Pat ******
I did actually. You need to open one account in BAHT in Wise .

Choose the BAHT currency; then you will use your debit card from Bangkok bank to transfer the money in your WISE BAHT ACCOUNT, from there you transfer to your USA account with is already registered in your WISE account .
Pat *******
Brandon ************
@Pat ******
it's been said multiple times in this thread that it's not possible to use Wise to transfer money out of Thailand.

You need to use Deemoney
Pat *******
Ken ********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I can ?
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