[af_vet_1981]

Ah, the carefree life of the American Ex-Pat may not necessarily be as advertised …

AI Overview

+8
While not strictly required for short-term tourists, it is highly recommended for expats and long-term residents in Thailand to open a local bank account to handle daily expenses, pay rent, and avoid high foreign ATM fees. A Thai bank account is also a requirement for most long-term visas and offers greater convenience through local payment systems like PromptPay

[jimwatx]

Yeah a number of expats were caught up in this and many of them plan on leaving Thailand because of this and their ever changing visa rules.

[ducttape45]

I was wondering if someone was going to address this as I wonder how many ex-pats are no without the ability to gain access to their money.

With all the talk of moving overseas to find a better life, it seems "the grass ain't greener on the other side of the fence" after.