Are you alone or do you have a Thai partner here? If you do, transfer the money (Wise) to their account and withdraw if from there. That's how I get money here without any fees minus the Wise costs.

@Mark *******

The only thing they will accomplish by using an agent to HOPEFULLY get a U.S. visa will be contributing to an agent's pocketbook. They will be no closer to their destination and maybe even further away after using an agent after trying to circumvent what the U.S. requires.

@Glen ******

is there any way to keep your 800K in Thailand for visa purpose and still get a decent interest rate?

@Mark *******

They fly them to Mexico and walk over with everyone else. Bonus is they get EBT cards, an apt. and your choice of mini van. Sorry to be a smartA**, but it was hard to resist.

Do you agree that there is nothing an agency can do for you as far as dealing with the American Embassy? I see people recommending an agency and I think that's just a waste of money as they have no say-so in what the embassy says, unless there might be backdoor workings going on.

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

I got the K1 visa way back in 2009 and it took 18 months. She could try for a tourist visa with no mention of a boyfriend and having assets back home. I think that would be her best choice. The May timeline IMO is out of the question. If she mentions a relationship, I think it would make it even harder. This is from talking to others that tried to get a Thai GF into the U.S..

The reality is that lot of these younger men have come to Thailand and experienced what they thought was love in places like Pattaya and Phuket without realizing where they were. The answers given aren't necessarily a slight to these kids if I may, they are just answers based on experience from men that have been alive and here long enough to see through the facade presented by their new Thai GF. They may seem harsh, but better to be forewarned and teased than broke at the end of 6 months of sending money to someone that might not even remember their name. Doesn't matter where you are, if you run up on the wrong woman you will suffer.

"An admittedly unpleasant person doesn't deserve to be judged by some do-gooders" do you think he should he be judged by other "admittedly unpleasant people"? If I'm not mistaken, he has been "unpleasant" in the past with other locals. Also, if you think the mob is xenophobic as one of their own was disrespected, maybe Thailand isn't the place for you.

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

right. Their country, their rules. What is so hard to understand that they want to make sure a person is financially solvent to live in their country? If you have a medical or financial problem that prevents you from meeting the requirements of your Visa, they should just acquiesce to you because you want to live there?

@Roger *********

I tried in May 2023 in Tha Bo, with a verified address (wife's house) at government office and they said I needed to be there for 6 months to get on yellow book. All the banks, one branch of each, said no without long term visa. Seems it might be easier in a big city to try the numbers (for lack of a better word) game.