Trust me that's not really a good analogy, if Immigration hassles you it can cause problems you don't even wanna know about.

I use Xe and they guarantee the rate, but SCB charges me a fee to handle the transaction...there's really no way around it, except to carry cash.

Create a multi page PDF or scan all pages into one file

Right. Xe rates are always the best, but they do charge for instant transfer, the free service takes 3-4 business days.

@Matthew ********

but their rates are lower to make up for it.

Xe is better than Wise, higher exchange rate, zero fee. Only fee you pay is on the Thai bank receiving account.

15 business days from the day all docs are complete and accepted by the app

@Udo ********

the concrete is the 12 + 3 month multiple entry stamp in my passport and the freedom to use my 800K how and when I want.

@Udo ********

the long term result is a gain, not a loss. I handed my passport to an agent on Monday. No docs, no bank deposit, no nothing. On Wednesday they handed it back to me with a 1 year multiple entry visa extension. Meanwhile my 800K returned 6.5% interest. In the 5 months it's held hostage at risk in a foreign bank it could have generated 21,000 interest in a FDIC insured mutual fund. And I didn't have to lift a finger, drive anywhere, stand in line and yak with some foreign civil servant in broken English etc. To me it is well worth it.

@Udo ********

ok guy we obviously have different views on how to best manage and utilize financial resources in retirement. Good luck to you.