@Kerry ********

The best way to use wise is to transfer using the currency of the country you are sending from and convert it within the wise app. Wise gives a far better conversion rate than any bank. If transferring into Wise from the US you should be adding USD - once you are ready to send to your Thai bank you convert it to Baht and then transfer the funds into your Thai bank - you will save heaps in the conversion.

@Kerry ********

Never transferred from the US but I did to the US (from Australia) and always got a better rate than the bank offered.

Wise always seems to give me a better conversion rate. Been using them for years between Aus, the US and Thailand and never been disappointed. Check your conversion rates your bank gives and then look at Wise's rates - it can make up the difference or the cost of the transfer depending on the amount you are sending.

@Graham *****

Thanks, I forgot the amount we paid the first time - I just knew the last two times we paid 1900 each.

Open bank account and deposit at least 800k baht. Do not let it drop below 800k. Get letter and statement from your bank showing the seasoned funds on the day you plan to apply. Get a lease or contract for a place of residence. Dress appropriately and respectfully to visit immigration - get checklist as each province can have slightly different rules to abide by. Be patient at immigration - no matter how irritating it may be, show respect. Its really not hard. Pay 1900 baht and that's it.

Thai woman are no different to women everywhere. Especially if you get out of the touristy areas like Bangkok, Pattya and Phucket. There are good and bad woman. Good and bad men. That's life. Not all will see you as an atm, some will. Be cautious, visit her, see what happens. If it's worth pursuing you'll know, but it takes time, like any relationship.

@Rob *********

We have only actually gone under once which was during my surgery so I wasn't sure, thank you for the clarification! Our method of transferring when AUD is up has worked a treat for us and the seed money we put into the Thai bank already has returned in super thanks to wise investiments. It is nice to know should an emergency pop up that the funds are right here and accessible.

If you use it wisely you can minimise any loss. Keep in mind that the requirement (and I am sure someone will correct this if my understanding is incorrect) is that it be in your account 3 months before you apply and 4 months after and allows you to use funds up to half (for non o retirement 800k - can use 400k) the rest of the year. How we use this is to transfer funds when the exchange rate is up, thus making up for the difference in interest the funds could have earned and not having to transfer when the rates are low. It works well for us at any rate. By doing it this way, we negate the need to have an agent for immigration which can be quite costly and our annual visa costs us only 1900 baht annually (89.00 AUD)

Most countries do - it's called citizenship. Otherwise, all but 3 countries require check ins and updates to visa's. It's to ensure their continued legal status and to verify their compliance with visa conditions, including maintaining adequate financial resources and not engaging in prohibited activities.

@Rob *********

I kinda thought that too - thats what AI lists so not know which he was going for (the poster doesn't say what his starting point is - age, financial situation etc) I just posted the lot it listed for the guy As a starting point he should look on the Thai Embassy website since there it lists the determining factors and what he needs for them.