@Nami *******

was this a visa agent or somebody at immigration?

@Graeme *********

if he's transferring Aussie dollars directly to baht in a Thai bank account, the "transfer" fee is the conversion charge. If he exchanges the the dollars to Thai baht in his wise account there will be no transfer fee but he will have paid the conversion fee already

@Robert ***********

be side you don't have to do it in perpetuity. You may need to start the process again, rather than just extending, but to say once you've done it one way, you can't do another is incorrect

@Robert ***********

you're wrong,.but I really don't get why you're banging on about this anyway. I was suggesting possible options the op may not be aware of. They may be suitable for them, they may not. Obviously the way you've done it must be the best way for everyone, in all circumstances

@Robert ***********

or if.you find it gets to 0 in savings you could then stop?

@Robert ***********

you know you are allowed to access and spend the monthly transfers? It's not a continuous deposit scheme

@Henrik ***

exactly, you can show it in your own country..it doesn't need to be held up in a Thai bank account. I wasn't giving a definitive answer, I was suggesting an option not knowing their full circumstances. I, personally, don't understand the antagonism towards the o-a, because of the need for health insurance. If you've 0 baht that you can leave dormant in thai bank account and have great insurance,.then all.well.and good. That's not an option for everyone though

@Henrik ***

also, the op is concerned they'll have issues converting from current visa. If they're granted an o-a in home country then they'll already know there is no issue

@Henrik ***

all depends on if you want to have 0 tied up, as I mentioned. If only just turned 50, I'd rather pay the baht for a year and then start transferring the a month from abroad that I'm.allowed to use

If you've just turned 50 you may be best to leave the country, get an o-a visa which requires 12 months health insurance in advance but isn't too expensive if you've only just turned 50. You need to show the equivalent of 0 baht in your native account. You can then start sending the required monthly amount from abroad to a Thai bank account so you can then go to an O visa the next year (or even the year after, as a multi entry o-a can get you almost 2 years if you border bounce at the right time, and then you won't need to have 0 tied up in a Thai bank account, as long as the required minimum monthly transfers have been adhered to