@Scot ******

yes. Domestic transfers, including to DeeMoney are free and easy.

@Scot ******

you can compare Deemoney's exchange rates to other services right here.

My sole bit of advice here is not to use an agent that sends your passport to another province to get the visa.

Non O has no health insurance requirement.

@Thai****

you'll need to start with 800,000 baht in a Thai bank. After a year of monthly deposits of 65k from the US, you can switch to the income method.

There are a few different ways you can do it. I'd suggest getting a non-O visa in the US. I believe that will give you 90 days in Thailand.

You can get everything arranged and apply for a yearly extension in that 90 days. That includes getting a bank account and getting the 800k transferred in.

I had one payment misidentified as a local transfer. Turns out it went through Kasikorn before hitting Bangkok bank. I spent a couple of hours getting it straightened out and getting Kasikorn to provide me with a paper saying it was international.

The IO didn't look at it. But ymmv.

As others have said, the drop-down menu in Wise contains a "funds for long-term stay" option which is supposed to code it as an international transaction.

@Garrett **********

no, they don't have a high exchange rate. They use the mid-market exchange rate.

With a non O, you can eventually switch to the income method. You transfer money in monthly, but don't need 800k in the bank.

Some of those Jurassic people are dinosaurs.

@Lopsee *********

imo, the non O is easier. It doesn't have the insurance requirement. But if your priority is keeping money out of Thailand, go for the OA.