@Carl *******

you appear to be doing exactly that to people with much more knowledge and experience than you on this group.

@Chris ****

great call. I didn't do my bank account that I hold my visa money in and it delayed me getting the paperwork for my next visa extension. I managed in the end but it would of been easier if I had updated when I got my new passport. 😊

@Mil **********

great answer.

@Peter ********

,

@Amos *********

I encourage you both to try this approach and report back how reality differs from the rhetoric.

@Kool ******

that is the best answer to a very complex issue.

As others have said all immigration offices are different. If you are going to be applying at one of the bigger offices (Bangkok, Pattaya, Phuket Chaing Mai etc.) then you may be able to get better advice from this group.

Sounds like you have done the correct thing by getting the 800k into your bank account as early as possible. All the other requirements are normally easy to obtain.

Downside of the DTV

1. You need to extend every 180 days. Details of what the requirements are to extend are not currently clear and are very likely to vary from one immigration office to another.

2. You can only extend once so you need to leave the Kingdom every 360 days.

3. Border bounces are becoming harder with some border crossings requiring stays outside of Thailand for one or two nights.

4. It is a new visa with many questions outstanding about how the Thai Immigration will actually deal with this visa in practice.

With all the above said it is an excellent visa, especially for someone under the age of 50 who is not married or has a dependent child. Also good for someone who travels regularly outside of Thailand.

@Steve *******

what you are saying makes complete sense and I know is true.

If you moved a few Km into Phetchaburi and needed to extend your stay in Cha Am you would need to fill in all forms by hand.

It's just another of the anomalies of living in this wonderful kingdom. 😊

@Marcin ******

don't worry, you obviously didn't have any visits to you Immigration Office in that 3 weeks.

Don't sweat the TM30 too much, especially if you are travelling around the Kingdom. The odd day here and there will make no difference whatsoever.

When you need ether an extension or a 90 day report make sure you have a TM30 then. TM30 is the responsibility of the owner of the property that you stay to do. Unfortunately there is an anomaly meaning that if it isn't done and you need a service from immigration (visa extension or 90 day report as examples) you are the one who gets a 2,000 Baht fine. So my advice would be when you need to go to immigration make sure you have a TM30. Most hotels will just give you a print out.