Bangkok Bank was always the easiest. Some say it's still possible with TTB but to be honest it is a national crackdown. The new rules are to stop scammers and money laundering but everyone gets caught up in it, unfortunately. It is nothing to do with wealth. A retiree on a minimum income but with an "O" visa can open a bank account whenever.

I think it depends on the Embassy - some only accept bank accounts. Not brokerage or investment accounts.

Departure flights etc can be left blank.

@Winston ***********

Maybe for Soft Power. Workaytion is quicker and cheaper if you still qualify

I have returned twice now in May and used TDAC. Each time I asked if they want TDAC on phone and both times pointed to screen and said no need. Yesterday there was about 10 Chinese in my queue sent back for not completing it. When it was first implemented they were checking it was complete before they allowed to queue. Not yesterday.

@Yasmin **********

Standardisation would be nice but it never happens. My best pal of 40 years is a British Ambassador. He is very happy that he no longer has to deal with visa's and passports these days. It is mainly outsourced. He can get on with his primary role of soft power and commerce 🙂 🙂 I had quite the discussion with him last week in London. He could not beleive the MFA had the power to think up a visa and issue it without the interior ministry ie immigration, having their say.

@Yasmin **********

I think you are fine - you seem to have covered what he was checking. Netherlands do seem to be taking this more seriously than others. That is probably a local decision. An ambitious Ambassador does not want any black marks on their record :-)

@Yasmin **********

For western countries the key questions are 1) Reason to return 2) No recourse to public funds for a visitors visa. As you say though it must have been ensuring you were in Netherlands but it must have been more thyan that. They could have asked for "Proof of life" with a current local newspaper in hand pictured on Dam Square :-)

@Yasmin **********

Good one. When the UK Embassy were issuong Visas in Thailand it was usually a local Thai interviewed Thai's. It could be hit and miss but that is all I am saying 🙂 Hope everything is fine for you - from your description it looks OK. Just like the UK and others it looks like they want to check you can support yourself in Thailand without working illegally. Pretty standard really. That is why Immigration could possibly ask people to show funds upon re-entry?

Was it a Thai that interviewed you or a local hire?