Double success story from KL! I'm so happy to finally be able to make this post. Hopefully, it will help people intending to use the Kuala Lumpur embassy for their DTV.
I used the soft power (medical treatment) route for my DTV. Initially provided a 3-month treatment plan, bank statements for 6 months, passport, photo, etc. After 6 business days, they requested additional documents:
* All passport pages including empty ones
* 1-year treatment plan
* letter from the hospital "that you have conditions that specifically require medical treatment in Thailand"
I requested these from the hospital and they were very kind to respond quickly, so I uploaded the additional documents on the following day. After 5 business days my DTV was approved, total waiting time a little over 2 weeks.
It was time to start the process for my wife, which I expected to be faster and more straightforward...
She applied for DTV the same day I got mine, selecting the spouse route, provided the basic docs and our marriage cert. After 5 business days, additional documents were requested:
* All passport pages including empty ones
* Proof of prolonged residence in Thailand for at least 6 months, such as a condominium rental agreement, lease agreement etc.
* A copy of the company's registration/business license and employment contract of the main visa applicant - A professional portfolio showcasing digital nomad, remote worker of the main visa applicant.
Luckily, we already had the rental agreement, but the last one was a bit confusing. In its place we submitted a document with a cover page explaining that I got my DTV for a medical treatment and provided all related docs. After 6 business days, she got her visa, again the total waiting time was about 15-16 calendar days.
After listing the facts, I want to share some personal thoughts:
* You may want to reconsider the medical route in KL if you don't have a valid medical condition requiring a one-year treatment and arrangements in place with a hospital ready to provide you with all the paperwork.
* As you see, they might request seemingly unrelated things, but be ready to just work with them and you will get to the finish line. Maybe it is best not to argue or ask questions, just give them the requested documents.
* Waiting time is obviously longer than other options in Asia, waiting for weeks while reading how people get approved in days or even hours was not fun. We had enough time so it wasn't a problem for us, plan accordingly.
* Some of the additional documents requested were unexpected. Some people may use the word "strict" to describe their policy; read my case and decide for yourself.
I want to thank all of you who contribute here, this group has been a great source of information!