OK........to update everyone on how it shook out. Today is Monday the 27th.

Due to time constraints, I could not take up on some of the methods of exchange. I thank everyone for all the responses and ideas though! You guys were very helpful and informative!

I just went with doing a wire from my Charles Schwab bank directly to my Bangkok Bank account.

I had done a test wire with only $50 sometime ago just to make sure things work per my needs. It worked and it came in on the 3rd business day.

For this wire of $22,500 the charges came out as such:

Sshwab charged me a $15 wire fee and some other charge of $4.50, for a total of under $20.

I sent in the order Friday afternoon. The money arrived today (Monday) at mid-morning.......so I am very happy with both banks on that score.

Bangkok Bank charged me a 500 baht wire fee. I understand that is the maximum charge possible on wires.

The all-important exchange rate was acceptable to me at 36.45.

So, it ended very well for me.

Now I gotta go get the bank papers and hit Jomtien immigration on Thursday.. I will report back with what happened later this week. Wish me luck!

BIG THANKS!

I think you are correct. But as I am in Thailand now I have approach matters from that direction. Thank you for the correction.

@Tony *********

That is not my understanding, but even if it were true, I am in Thailand. Thanks!

@Greg **********

Exactly!! Several advanatages to the O visa over the OA. That is so in my case anyway.

@Greg **********

My understanding is OA visas are applied for outside of Thailand, and O visas are applied for within Thailand. Thanks!

@Michael ******

I must say I was asthonished by the open and brazen corruption in the office. When I got my last 30 day extension, I was asked by an officer If I would rather just go ahead and apply for a Non O visa

I said sure but I have not transferred the 800k as of then. She said no problem. She then gave her seat to a gentleman in some sort of official looking clothes, but not the police-type uniform. He asked me a few questions and said no problem in my case. He can get me the visa right away. I said I really did not understand, but that would be great. He then wrote 25,000 baht on a pad and showed it to me. I immediately understood what was going on, but nonetheless somewhat shocked an agent was working at a office counter. I just said no thank you, and then he immediately exuded a bad attitude towards me. Oh well. Too bad-so sad for him and the officer.

@Tony *********

No, it was a METV visa. I did not want a Non OA visa, but rather a Non O visa. So that requires applying from within Thailand.

@Greg ********

As far as my case, I am a spend-thrift, and I have plenty of time......plus I have a charming Thai GF who is a good help in such matters.

@Robert *******

Does not "need" to be. That is just a word I use to describe a very recent transfer. This is how things shook out. Many factors at play.

@Nongnuch *******

Thank you for the info and the heads up! I appreciate it!