@James ***************

do you have a source for this?

Air pollution is terrible in Chiang Mai. It's a risk factor for lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema, and stroke. It's my favorite city otherwise, though 😁

Typically takes 2-4 days for me. But I don't use it for speed. It works differently than places like Western Union. Wise matches transactions in your country with transactions in whatever country you're sending to. Sometimes that takes time.

There are a couple of different aspects to this question. One is if your specific immigration office allows what's called the combination method. Some in the bank, and some monthly income.

Since you said social security, I assume you're from the US. The US does not provide the documents you need in order to verify your social security income.

That means your first year, to qualify for a non-O for purposes of retirement, you'll have to put 800k in the bank.

During that first year, if your office allows the combo method, you can transfer your social security payments every month to your Thai bank account.

After a year of doing that, you might be able to switch to the combo method for your second year.

But it's best to ask at your specific immigration office..

@Ryan ***

ymmv. Wise takes 2-3 days for me, generally. It depends on the amount, what time of day you do it, and where the transfer is coming from.

Wise doesn't transfer out to the US. Deemoney does.

If you buy a physical SIM card in Thailand, don't you have to show your passport and fill out paperwork? With an esim, you don't have to do that.

I used to wait until the middle of the month to transfer, as it seemed there was an uptick. But that pattern didn't last.

@Alain ******

in some cases the airline will ask.

@Graham *****

yes. I met the requirements to extend based on either method.