@Doug *******

same thing I went through in Nong Khai. Krungthai finally opened one for me after denials from all the others.

I did it in November 2024 and May 2025 for the sole reason of opening a bank account even though I wasn't staying 90 days. It takes the stress away from trying to accomplish it within the first 90 days of your "real" non-o as some places still aren't up to speed with the 90 day non-o evisa. US passport if that helps.

@Pete ******

I feel like if you don't have the 800k for a retirement visa maybe don't retire overseas. Granted, I know a lot of people have the money, they just don't like it being stagnant in Thailand.

@Martyn **********

I just did 2.5 million for a house and no matter how I mixed it up, I was pretty close to the same as 1.6 million and 900k in the second transfer. I thought about using Navy Federal from the US because they start out at $25 for an international transfer, but after the less than mid rate exchange rate and unknown Thai charges, I opted for the known cost that Wise gives you. I just factored it in to the overall cost of the house.

@John *********

went to Nong Khai immigration today and told me I can't change to a 90 day non-o in country. They said I have to go to Laos and get it there. I've seen other posts that mentioned Nong Khai immigration not doing what some of the other offices will do

@Brandon ***********

yes, we all just jumped over the fact that he's talking about opening a new bank account. We were talking like he is trying to fund an existing account for a visa 😞

For me in the U.S. when I inquired about the swift transfer, which I thought was a good idea at NFCU only being $25, it went on to say that the receiving bank may have charges and that the exchange rate was based on some mid-rate whatever, excuse my lack of clarity please, and it kind of left it up in the air exactly how much one would receive. I used Wise because I knew exactly what the homeowner of the house I am buying would receive. Not discounting your experience at all.

@Anna ********

I found the swift transfer a bit more intense than just a simple Wise transfer. With Wise you know exactly where you stand as far as fees are concerned. The swift transfer from all I have ascertained might come in below what you thought you were sending after the fees from both sides and the exchange rate come clear.

I just went through today when I used Wise. It seemed that if you did a wire transfer it needed to go to Wise's JP Morgan account then to your account as a domestic transfer. I wasn't sure if that would show it as a domestic or international transfer, so I went with the transfer directly from my bank, fees sucked compared to wire transfer but I felt better about it showing as an international transfer. If you go straight from your bank, you need the swift code for whatever bank you are transferring to. My research showed that after the $25 fee from Navy Federal credit union, the possible charges from your Thai bank and a less than favorable exchange rate, Wise was the way to go. At least with Wise you know what you are getting upfront. Also, it's 800,000 baht for a visa.

@John *********

ok. Thanks for the heads up. I thought I saw a post in the past of someone doing it, good to find out I'm wrong before wasting money.