Why is Wise taking longer for my long-term stay transfers to Thailand?

Sep 3, 2024
3 months ago
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
It seems Wise is taking longer and longer to transfer "Funds for Long term stay in Thailand". Last month I made my monthly transfer and it had taken a few days.. In the middle of the month I had to make another transfers, they quoted me 1 week. I just made my monthly transfer and again they quoted me one week. I immediately transfer funds for "travel expenses" and its there in a few minutes

Anybody else have this experience?
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TLDR : Answer Summary
Users are experiencing significant delays when using Wise for transfers categorized as 'Funds for Long Term Stay in Thailand'. Commonly, such transfers are treated as international transactions, which can take longer (often quoted as several days to a week) due to additional processing required compared to domestic transfers utilized for 'general living expenses'. Several community members highlighted that specifying reasons for transfers affects processing time, with 'general living expenses' often resulting in much faster transactions. Others recommended alternative services like Remitly for quicker transfers, albeit with potentially less favorable exchange rates.
Rick ***********
I've begun having the same issue of long delays with Wise. When I make a transfer it takes 5-7 days despite the fact the funds leave my account in the US within a day of initiating the transfer.

I've begun using Remitly instead of Wise. The exchange rate isn't as good but it is much quicker transferring the money.
Mark ********
following
Mark ********
following
Casey ******
I too had this problem a few weeks ago. Having a couple degrees in financial markets I asked customer service some very direct questions. First I got the run around then they sent me their annual report and I actually read it.

Here’s what is happening. 50% from them and 50% from interpreting their annual report.

Volatile currency markets is a huge risk for for Wise. If you place an order on the weekend and the THBUSD gaps down before they can settle the transaction, they lose. This is where their rate guarantee comes in. They guarantee the rate for just 48 hours now, and if the money takes longer than that they are at risk.

This is what they do. If you transfer THBUSD at 34 on Friday night after the transfer window they guarantee that rate until Monday. If your money doesn’t arrive until Tuesday and the spot rate is now 33.5, your guarantee is expired and they transfer you at 33.5. If the rate is more favorable, say 34.5, they honor your 34 rate and call the .5 difference a cost of sales adjustment.

We are seeing longer periods of transfers to hedge their risk and decrease their costs, especially in volatile markets.

The last paragraph in this section of their annual report is most relevant.
Casey ******
It should be noted, but maybe not perfectly clear, by taking a few extra days this offers them a great opportunity to see a swing in rates and sell you THBUSD at 33.5 when they could get it for 34 as the example indicates.
Terry ********
I just transferred a bit over
*****
“for long term stay”. It took one day. But in the past I’ve had it take up to a week from time to time. A lot of complaining seemed to fix it.
Jørgen ********
You transfers from THB to THB or ....?

If you transfer from another currency it may take longer time.
Alex *********
Yes, it takes longer when using the Funds for long term stay, it always has when I use that option.

Made the mistake of sending it over a public holiday two months ago it took a week. Generally it takes around 4-5 days for it to be transferred when I use that option
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alex ********
That's been my experience too.
Christopher *************
Its not wise it's the Thai banks as they do more checks ,but don't select long term stay for the transfer select for monthly expenses it works faster , also do the transfer in the morning as well it makes a difference
Deborah *******
I find smaller amounts go faster $2900 almost same day
Wendy ***************
it depends on the amount it seems, if I stay below say $4000 it takes seconds, if I go above it takes 2 days, if you go to the next level say $10,000 it can take up to a week
Paul ****************
Did one yesterday came within seconds.
Michael *******
I just made A couple of transactions, one was coded general living expenses, and the detail page is very vague about origin of funds, came through in seconds. I did same transaction using long term stay option, also came through in seconds and on details page it has a comment in reason field “ long term visa requirement” so I think that clarifies it….sadly, folks who have spent a year clocking up their monthly 65k transfer without using correct reason will hit a snag with immig…thanks Brendan for clarifying this
Marvin *********
Every month but usually arrives by the next day or one day more at the most. I called them as asked why it took so long when before it was there in minutes. Thats why I left western union. Now a day or two.they said it was the banks timeframe.
Colin ********
I've never had a, problem and transfer 20-30 a week
Peter *********
Put pay for goods 5mins
Peter *******
"Long term stay" transfers settle next business day usually 2pm with Bangkok Bank as there's a manual process involved. You didn't say which bank and if a public holiday involved
Dave **********
French banks have stopped me using WISE. they say too much fraud. I think, it's because they get no commission.
Billy ******
I use Wise to transfer “general living expenses” to my Thai bank every month, and it takes seconds.
Dennis *********
If you make smaller transfers, should be instant. There is a FAQ on the website that gives you to limit for instant, vs waiting. Then just make several instants vs one big one per month.
Tim *********
When I use Wise, money transfered regardless of whether either of the banks is open for retail banking business. It usually takes seconds but occasionally takes an hour or 2. Today was 2 hours, but nothing to do with bank opening hours in London or Bangkok
Brian *****************
I just sent my wife's allowance from Spain and it took seconds.
Pete **********
Your probably under investigation for money laundering - they need extra time to forward your details to the investigators.
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Pete *********
Stupid NSA/CIA ruins all my fun.
Pertti *************
For visa, buying condo etc income Wise need to send funds abroad not their thai account so there some delay ofcourse. family support came in second from Belgium few million bahts.
Michael *******
NEver had an issue , maximum is 12 hours and they keep You updated - do transfer every month
Ron *********
Remitly takes about 10 seconds to hit the bank transfer every time
Brandon ************
@Ron ********
most likely showing as an internal domestic transfer though which wouldn't satisfy visa requirements.
Stephen *******
When you say anything other than for long term stay, it's an internal transfer from a Wise account in Thailand. When you say long term stay it's a SWIFT transfer from your country to Thailand. Both banks have to be open (not a weekend, public holiday in either country) and business hours in both countries. Many things to cause delays. No one is holding your money intentionally!
จอห์นนี่ *******
For those of you the use 'general living expenses' do you incur any receiving bank charges?
Billy ******
@จอห์นนี่ ******
My Bangkok bang charge me 15 THB a month
Robert **********
Use Remitly. Takes seconds.
Martyn ***********
I use 'general living expenses' comes in minutes...
Nick ************
A lot of people on here do not realise the significance of getting transfers marked as international. To get that use long term stay and Bangkok bank and it takes 24 hours.
James ***********
@Nick ***********
can you explain the significance for those of us who don’t know?
Nick ************
@James **********
the time comes when you have to get a new long term visa stamp and some require 12 monthly payments into your Thai bank account that show as international transfers on your bank statement and in your bank book. For me it is 12 x
*****
baht. Miss one or have it marked as inter bank transfer and you don't get your stamp.
Christopher *************
Or get a letter from your bank confirming that yiur monthly transfers for living expenses came from abroad , you can also show a printed wise account statement that shows where the funds came from
Nick ************
@Christopher ************
my io said no to a wise statement.
Christopher *************
@Nick ***********
oh right , but you can also show which foreign bank the money came from each month
Nick ************
@Christopher ************
you can but it is a bit inconvenient and time consuming.
Christopher *************
@Nick ***********
🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️🤣
James ***********
@Nick ***********
oK. Thanks. It seems that it’s a visa-specific thing. If your visa doesn’t require a Thai bank account, then I take it that the characterization of the transfers won’t matter.
Nick ************
@Martyn **********
but it does not show as international transfer.
Martyn ***********
@Nick ***********
I well aware, but don't care..
Alan *********
@Martyn **********
Same, never had a problem and I don't care how it gets categorized as long as it arrives quickly - which it does
Steve **********
I had this problem last month. Quoted a full week for $2500.

Yesterday I only sent $1,000 and it came today.

It said “will arrive in seconds” but then took 17-18 hours.
Ken ***********
I have been lucky with WISE transfers, I transfer THB 65,000+ every month from my U.S. bank account to my Thai Bangkok Bank account and it posts the next day at around 2:30 PM Thai time. Not sure what issues cause longer transfer times for others.
Mark ********
@Ken **********
same here for several years...2.01pm on the dot the next working day. I suspect the OP has an account with one of the non preferred banks (i.e.not BKK bank or Kasikorn etc.which can accept direct international transfers)
Terry **********
@Ken **********
same here.
Keith **********
Seems like banks don’t want to release your own money I’ve had similar experience
Alex ********
i see these posts all the time and I can't help ask why? Every single transaction bar 1 or 2 over say 100-200k bht have been instantanious, wondering if there are reasons yourrs take a long time
Nigel **************
@Alex *******
yeah mine too. 24 hrs max for big amounts for long stay
Nick ************
@Nigel *************
same for me and marked international.
Eric **********
@Alex *******
mine from the USA to Thailand .. used to be from a few seconds to 30 min.

But, a few times.. including two days ago,

The options were a couple of days to a week.
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Alex *******
It seems to be the "Long term stay in Thailand". My second transaction was for "Traveling Expenses" and it had only taken a few seconds.
John ***********
I transfer money to Thailand each month from Australia using Bahtsmart which gives a slightly lesser rate than Wise but takes all of 2 minutes.
Ken ***********
@John **********
do the transfers show as international transfers when received by your Thai bank ?
Eric **********
Yes, having the same issues
Patricia *********
When they ask what the money is for, always answer that it's for general living expenses. My transfers when that is the reason take from seconds to 3 or so hours.
Brandon ************
@Patricia ********
that's not possible for people that are using Wise to show monthly transfers for their visa extensions. Those transfers must show as an international transfer and therefore you have to select the reason for "long term stay" so it codes correctly for immigration.
Michael *******
@Brandon ***********
when I checked with my bank SCB last year , they confirmed code for general living expenses showed it came from outside Thailand have I missed something
Nick ************
@Michael ******
it doesn't now.
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael ******
That's what I thought. I thought my bank Bangkok Bank. required Wise to make a special desgination that the funds come from overseas, otherwise I couldn't use those funds for things like buying property or proof of funds/income.
Brandon ************
@Michael ******
most Wise transfers are sent to your bank account from another bank account in Thailand that Wise owns.
Michael *******
@Brandon ***********
yep got that but when I checked with by bank they told me it was an external transfer - I will enquire further , otherwise it negates Wise completely and back to inflated bank charges and crap exchange rates
Brandon ************
A normal Wise transfer (travel expenses) is just a domestic transfer from one account in Thailand to another account in Thailand. Easy and fast.

A transfer for the long term stay has to show as an international transfer. So it's not as easy and not as fast.
Michael *******
So has this changed in the last 6 months, as I queried this with SCB and they assured me that it was coded on my bank statement as an international transfer from Wise they also explained the different codes to - me who identifies this ? the bank when they do the letter for immig, or are immigration officers conversant with the various different banks transfer codes ? I also have local transfers into my account and codes are definitely different - this can have serious consequences for many people, as wise is widely used so important we get facts straight - I will try to verify with both my bank and immig (in Phuket at least) during the course of the week.
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
@Michael ******
From what I understand the difference is significant.
Nick *******
@Brandon ***********
not true, you can say it's for holiday expenses & it will come through straight away.
Brandon ************
@Nick ******
where did I say it doesn't? I specifically said the "long term stay" is the one that's not fast.
Nigel ********
@Brandon ***********
It's usually about 3 days from the UK for long term stay on larger amounts .1hour for £1000🙏
Terary **********
ORIGINAL POSTER
I don't think I have every seen "long term stay" happen quickly for me but I always transfer
*****
+.. It usually takes 2-3 days.
Nick ************
@Nick ******
it is true. I played around with it myself last week. If it comes through straight away and less than 5000 baht it does nit get flagged as international trsnsfer but just a bank to bank transfer instead.
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