What is the best way to transfer 800,000 THB from the USA to Bangkok Bank for a visa?

Feb 3, 2022
3 years ago
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
Transfers from *USA* to Thailand.

Hi - Hi can anyone please recommend best way to transfer 800k TB from US to Bangkok Bank. I need to deposit for visa. Is Moneygram the best option?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Expats looking to transfer 800,000 THB from the US to Bangkok Bank for a visa have several recommended options. Multiple users suggest using Wise, known for good rates and transparency in fees. Bank wire transfers, especially through banks like Chase and Bank of America, are also considered safe and efficient, often having low fees. However, users highlight the importance of considering additional charges and ensuring that the money shows as coming from overseas for visa applications. Users also caution about transfer limits with certain services.
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Miri *****
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Robert **********
Wise is now limited to 50,000 baht per transaction except for 3 banks, and other than Bangkok bank may not show it as international, you have to be careful
Wayne **********
Use Wise, best rates most of the time
Carlo ******************
I sent money from my Chase Bank to Bangkok Bank in NY in US $ and transferred in my Bangkok Bank in Thailand...10$ fee and great currency exchange
Bob **********
Just do a swift code wire transfer from your us bank
Andy ************
Be careful with Wise. It is by far the best way to transfer money to Thailand but the transfer for retirement 800,000 must show it has come from overseas. Wise doesn't always show this
Peter ****************
Wise is the most upfront about all the fees I've seen. I did a test and the 1K USD I sent from BoA ended up being worth only 969.00 USD on that day's exchange rate. And there was a fee to send but I do not recall what it was. Wise will even show you if alternative methods are cheaper. I ended up using Wise.
Stuart **********
Bank to bank, you get the telex rate 👍
Dan ***********
I strongly recommend wire transfer. When I did mine a few years ago it was $40 through chase bank. Wire is the safest.
Miri *****
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Steve **********
Wise (as stated already) is the best or direct wire transfer bank to bank.

I did that (wire transfer) with Bank of America. Same day deposit. But I got wrecked on exchange rate.
Stuart **********
@Steve *********
you must be sure to send in your home currency which is not the default option, then exchange rate is the telex rate of Thai banks on the day of receipt 👍
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *********
yes Steve. That's what am trying to avoid. On 800k it can add up to quite a bit. So far Moneygram is the best that I can see online. Better rate than Wise.
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
I wouldn't call 2k baht on $10k "laughable". 🤔
Steve **********
@London ****
but make sure you include fees. That’s just the rate.

I read money gram charges 2% for over $500. That’s $200 per $10K transfer.

Wise is about $70. So that makes up for the 2k baht and then some.
Wilmont ******
@Steve *********
Before this limit on transfers in I regularly transferred $10K to $15K through my Navy Federal Credit Union and only cost me $25.00 transfer fees. Now I don’t know with all these other companies.
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Steve *********
not seeing it here. But maybe it's somewhere else. Anyways, I get it - seems Wise is liked.
Steve **********
@London ****
shit that’s really good. I just googled it so it certainly can be wrong. I just noticed it’s 2.5 years old also.
Chris **********
You're aware the money would need to sit in the account for 3 months prior to the NON-O application right?

Transferwise is probably the easiest way to move money.
Chris **********
You're right, it's two months. 👍🏻
Chris **********
I'm on an extension of stay (NON-O) based on marriage, so I don't have to park as much money vs. retirement, but I think it's 3 months for a 'marriage visa'....not sure about guardian?
Stuart **********
@Chris *********
If it's guardian based on Thai family it only has to be there on day of application, no seasoning required. It's the best visa in that respect 👍
Wylie *******
@Chris *********
it's still only 2 months for non-0 marriage extension. There is a visa where you need the money in 2 months prior and 3 months after receiving the 1 year extension. I thought it was one of the retirement visas. Perhaps that is where you are getting the 3 months from?
Wylie *******
I believe it is 2 months before you apply for the extension too, not from when your current stamp expires. At Chiang Mai you will also only receive a 30 day under consideration stamp and although I'm not sure if it is required it is probably a good idea to keep it above 400k until you receive the remaining 11 months. So I guess in practice one may need the money in there for 3
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months or so.
Miri *****
@Chris *********
I think for guardian visa is just one month right?
Stuart **********
@Miri ****
guardian based on Thai child only needs to be there on day of application, it's different for guardian of foreign child
Miri *****
@Stuart *********
not based on Thai child based on school.
Stuart **********
@Miri ****
nope based on Thai child, parents of foreign children can get a guardian visa if their child goes to international school, 1 visa per child. Seasoning is required and it's 500k on the bank. For a foreign parent of a Thai child the visa is similar but it's 400k in the bank on day of application only. That is for male foreign parent, I believe that if it's a female foreign parent of a Thai child there is no financial requirement
Miri *****
@Stuart *********
Do you have any legal document or from visa immigration? I was always asked to show money even though i am a female parent. When i put him on international school I was asked to show money to get the visa. I dind't know this. I need to do visa again with another school so it is very important for me to know this for sure
Stuart **********
@Miri ****
yes there is a legal document, I had to go to court as the father with the Thai mum to get parental rights as we aren't married. I then took that document to the amphur office who give me a document called a คร.11. As a mother you have parental rights automatically so you can skip the court part and go straight to the amphur with the birth certificate to get the คร11. You can then use this with immigration to apply for a 12 month extension of stay based on custody of a Thai child. As mentioned I believe as the mother you don't need funds in the bank for this. As a father you need 400k in but only on day of application. This visa has nothing to do with the school, it is based solely on the child being Thai. Send me a PM if you need any further info going through the process 👍
Miri *****
@Stuart *********
my child is not thai, I just called immigration and they said i still need to show 500.000 in the account. i am not thai either.
Stuart **********
@Miri ****
ok well I did specifically say that if the child is Thai. If not then yep you need the guardian visa based on having a foreign child, the 500k and seasoning applies 👍
London *****
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Chris *********
yes I am. Thanks. Although I thought its 2 mths. I am in no hurry.
Miri *****
@London ****
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this is to use wise. It is a referral link where you get no fees for some transfers I believe
Jp *******
Swift inter wire transfer from your US bank to Bangkok Bank. Or a domestic wire transfer using Bangkok Bank New York branch routing number
Dave ********
Wise is the best way

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