@Michael ******

quickest and easiest way is to go to a branch and ask. If the answer is no, you'll get that pretty fast, leaving you more time to try another branch. Things that help are a long-term visa/extension of stay, and evidence of address such as a Residence Certificate from Immigration or an affidavit listing your address from your Embassy/Consulate. If you get tired of trying branches you can contact an agent and they will help you open the account, but worth trying on your own first in my opinion.

I had success opening a savings account at Bangkok Bank, branch on Rat-U-Thit just before getting to Jungceylon in Patong, but that was 10 years ago and it was easier. However, I do recommend giving that a try. They will want the address confirmation mentioned above. A big branch with English speaking staff and used to dealing with foreigners. Bangkok Bank is known to sometimes open an account for someone if the applicant also purchases insurance. PA 1st Personal Accident insurance, the Smart and VIP plans which include coverage for motorcycle accidents as well are not a bad deal in my estimation. At least you get something for the money rather than paying an agent.

Krungsri Bank and Kasikorn Bank have reputations of being easier banks at which to open an account.

@Marc *******

From actual personal experience with my dual Thai-American citizen friend who entered Thailand on her US passport because her Thai had expired it is NOT possible to switch passports in Thailand. She was able to apply for a new Thai passport while in Thailand. She took the new Thai passport to Phuket Immigration and was told she had four options. She could leave Thailand before her permission to stay expired. She could extend her permission to stay based on her visa-exempt entry by 30 days for purposes of tourism. She could apply for a one-year extension of stay for being a returning Thai national. She could leave the country by air and return on her Thai passport. Those were her actual options, not her theoretical options. In my opinion, you are doing a disservice to people who need to know how they will be treated in those circumstances by telling them how you think it should be done rather than how it is actually done.

From actual personal experience with my dual Thai-American citizen friend who entered Thailand on her US passport because her Thai had expired it is NOT possible to switch passports in Thailand. She was able to apply for a new Thai passport while in Thailand. She took the new Thai passport to Phuket Immigration and was told she had four options. She could leave Thailand before her permission to stay expired. She could extend her permission to stay based on her visa-exempt entry by 30 days for purposes of tourism. She could apply for a one-year extension of stay for being a returning Thai national. She could leave the country by air and return on her Thai passport. Those were her actual options, not her theoretical options. In my opinion, you are doing a disservice to people who need to know how they will be treated in those circumstances by telling them how you think it should be done rather than how it is actually done.

@Chris ********************

Because the OP qualifies for at least 3 different visas and extensions. We don't know at this stage whether the OP wishes to work in Thailand which would affect which of those options is suitable.

@Stuart *********

OP has not indicated whether he expects to work in Thailand or not. If he wants to work he will need option 2 or 3 to obtain his work permit. If he does not work he can choose any of the three options you outline.

@Mart *****

Normally when you get a Non-O visa inside Thailand you must use only the same immigration office to extend that visa.

A SWIFT international wire transfer from US to Thai bank is not a horrible alternative to Wise but will likely cost more. Many US banks will charge a fee for the international wire transfer ($20-$50 or thereabouts, some are cheaper than others) and you will get the Thai bank's telegraphic transfer rate when buying Thai baht with US dollars, which is not a horrible rate but is worse than Wise's mid-market rates (average of bid and ask). Also, Thai banks will charge an international acceptance fee on the transfer of 0.25% (minimum of 200 and maximum of 500 baht) per transfer. Doing it this way is not terrible for funding the 800k baht, but would not be recommended for monthly transfers as the fees would add up. However, it nearly "guarantees" that it will be marked correctly as an international transfer (FTT in the case of Bangkok Bank). (The only reason it might not be marked as international is if an intermediate bank had to be used between your US and Thai banks. I've heard this should not be a problem if using Bangkok Bank as the destination).

Finally, it is possible to "fix": the marking of a transfer that is marked domestic rather than international. Involves getting a "credit advise" from the intermediate Thai bank, which can be an inconvenience and not something you want to have to do, but often this will be accepted by immigration as a legitimate international transfer.

@John ********

My understanding is that they never "guaranteed" it but in practice it very rarely happened that a transfer was marked as non-international. Now it seems that the track record is much worse than it used to be. The group I mentioned above is: