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Unanswered5 months ago

What is the best school program length for a DTV Soft Power culinary application in the US?

elkur******
asked Jun 7, 2026
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United States, Soft Power Course Length...

Interested to hear from those who have been approved recently for DTV Soft Power in the United States. I am deciding what school and program length to buy for a Soft Power culinary application. I'll be submitting this week to the NYC consulate. To date, I have not read a report that definitely indicated a US consulate rejected someone (or downgraded them to a Tourist Visa) because they signed up for a 6-month course instead of a 9-month course. I do understand this has become an issue at other consulates - Jakarta for example. But since I'm dealing with the US consulate system, applying in the US, I'm leaning towards deciding a 6 month course is still sufficient. Curious to have your thoughts...
Summary so far
The post is seeking insights from expats recently approved for a DTV Soft Power visa in the United States, particularly regarding the ideal school program length for a culinary application. The author mentions confusion over whether a 6-month course will be sufficient for approval, as there are conflicting reports about course durations affecting visa status, especially seen in other consulates. Various comments provide anecdotal experiences with banking issues for expats, indicating broader concerns beyond the initial query.
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Doug ********
Doug ********
Kgrunsgri were excellent for me, one year statement in ten minutes 200 baht.

Guarantee letter with all the account details 100 baht, needed permission from Bangkok head office as in was in Udon thani and got the letter in
*****
minutes. No complaints,always helpful in branhc, app works fine...
Roger ********
Roger ********
Controversial opinion but l use Bangkok Bank and have never experienced a problem.
Khun *********
Khun *********
Just get a DTV . You will thank me later.
Julian *******
Julian *******
i opened an account with government savings bank ( pink bank ) and i just leave the money there. day before renewal i get statements and the confirmation letter, i get a few thousand baht interest on the money but its tax free. no complaints. i have a krungthai account and a bangkok bank account for everyday banking
Malcolm **********
Malcolm **********
I am with Kasikorn and find them good but it will vary from branch to branch. My recommendation is to not use the largest branches such as in Central or the rural ones as the first are often not very helpful and the second don't normally deal with foreigners so I would stick with smaller branches in the city.
Lindsay *******
Lindsay *******
Several years ago I went to open a kasikorn account with yellow book, OA visa, pink ID card and a large deposit. My wife and 7 other family members were account holders. No idea what the issue was and asked if I/we could speak to customer service in Kasikorn in case I was missing something. Good service agent who understood my desire to open an account. He asked to speak to the manager. 20 minutes later the manager handed back my phone. The customer service guy apologised several times saying he could not convince the manager to open an account and he didn't understand why she was not supporting opening an account. I wasvat all times respectful and well dressed. Somewhat bewildered I walked around the corner to BB and 30 minutes later walked out with 2 accounts, 2 passbooks, 2 ATM cards, a functional app and online banking. No problems since.
Jean-yves **********
Jean-yves **********
Have Krungsri and kasikorn.
Tim ******
Tim ******
I have accounts with Kasikorn and Krungsri. Both good
Steven ******
Steven ******
I spoke to Bangkok bank initially but they werent the most helpful in a couple of branches. The final branch i went in said that they wouldnt let someone open up a bank account on the initial 3 month non o, I would need to use another bank for my extension. I went to K Bank, they were super helpful and I left about 30 minutes later with a bank account.
Rob *******
Rob *******
SCB good for me...
Tomas *********
Tomas *********
KASIKORN
Willy ********
Willy ********
I had a good experience with Krungthai. It's a government bank, so the risk of bankruptcy is very very small.
Wolf ******
Wolf ******
I have a fixed account for the 800k immigration purposes at Bangkok Bank.

Also a current a count with them for money transfers.

For daily payments I have also a current account with Siam Commercial Bank.

I advise to have current accounts at 2 banks, because sometimes the QR payments don't work with one bank and you have a backup.
Gerar ********
Gerar ********
I use Bangkok Bank for many years and never had an issue.

But for retirement visa convenience (1 year statement) I would recommend another bank like Kasikorn.
MagentaGo**********
MagentaGo**********
Except Bangkok bank😂😂😂
Sebastian ********
Sebastian ********
MagentaGoldfish4443 there is nothing wrong with Bangkok Bank if everything is in order. Banked there for nearly 11 years with no problems whatsoever.
BC ********
BC ********
Sebastian Barrow you not having a problem is not the issue. If is all those who had a problem which is the issue.

Even Thais have had problems.

Which has been on Thai language news.
Sebastian ********
Sebastian ********
BC Farang many times the issue has been the case of having to check back as to how the account was opened. Regardless of whether farang or thai, in some cases the account was dodgy/mule hence the checks. Other banks could well do the same in the future.
Dave ***********
Dave ***********
Sebastian Barrow yes, same. Not a single issue.
MagentaGo**********
MagentaGo**********
Sebastian Barrow nope, BBL did a nonsense request for many expats even everything is in order. They have no standards.
Nigel *************
Nigel *************
MagentaGoldfish4443

I have kept my Bangkok bank. But only as a back up.

K bank is far better, not had a problem so far after many years.

The ATM on 2nd road Jomtien ate my cash coming out. Two times it was stuck in the machine, all crumpled up. I tried to wiggle it out but it ate it again. Went inside and took 3 days to re-imburse me.
MagentaGo**********
MagentaGo**********
Sebastian Barrow yes. Canceled all accounts and cash out.🥱🥱🥱
Sebastian ********
Sebastian ********
MagentaGoldfish4443 was you one of them to get a nonsense request?
Raymond *********
Raymond *********
From what I know Krungsri
Wez ***********
Wez ***********
Kasikorn or Krungshi.
James **********
James **********
Depends which is closest to you, theyre all the same really, I use bangkok bank, not had any issues. People have moaned their money was frozen, but its notnit you use the bank as a normal everyday account. Open a few different ones.
Mike ******
Mike ******
James Mitchell I’m not sure that it’s allowed unless you have a long term visa not with just a NonO I asked Kasikorn the other day and the customer service lady was a friend of mine
Roger ********
Roger ********
James Mitchell l have been with Bangkok Bank for a decade. Never had a problem.
Nigel *************
Nigel *************
Roger Lorton

I've had Bangkok bank accounts for 14 years in Korat and in Pattaya. But when the frozen accounts saga was around, I had my accounts frozen 3 times. So I went to K bank and re-opened my account there. It's great using K bank with Wise. But Bangkok bank is a nightmare at Wise.
James **********
James **********
Roger Lorton same here
Larry *************
Larry *************
James Mitchell tens of thousands of people had their accounts frozen last August with Bangkok Bank. Mine was frozen 3 weeks.
James **********
James **********
@Larry ************
what was frozen, you entire account or the required amount for the visa?
Larry *************
Larry *************
James Mitchell it literally says how many accounts were affected and why. It also says the impacted groups.

Bangkok Bank had expats literally waiting for hours or coming back the next day to resolve the issues. 99% of them using their accounts like “normal.”
James **********
James **********
@Larry ************
and do you see it also gives the reason why they were frozen. If you're using your account like normal there wasn't any issues.
Larry *************
Larry *************
James Mitchell my account. For 3 weeks.
Gary ***********
Gary ***********
Kasikorn

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