This is Thailand. Rules are flexible/bendable and most of the stuff just depends on the mood of the specific person you are talking to

I would like to ask any and all of the anonymous posters who spread panic about IOs asking "Proof of ongoing funds (e.g., showing that the 500,000 THB minimum is still available)", where is the rule/law that states you must put 500K in your account and keep it there for 5 years in order to be eligible for DTV? There is no such rule. Therefore they cannot ask this from you just like that. People do not carry their 6 month bank statements just in case. It would also not be very safe to constantly carry a statement showing a high bank balance with you all the time.

I applied in Malaysia and it took almost 1 month. You may consider yourself lucky if you get a result this week

But why would you need it? How can anyone send you back for not having the statement if there is no requirement to carry one with you? And even if I carry it with me, what will they do with that, as there is also no requirement to constantly have 500K on the account? Not to mention it might not be too safe to constantly walk around with a statement showing exactly how much you have on your bank account at that very moment

In order for them to be able to ask that, there should be a requirement that people MUST carry bank statements with them. I do not know know any such requirement... I also do not know any requirement stating how much money you need to have on your bank account after you have already been issued a DTV visa. So... perhaps someone smarter can enlighten me:

1. On what grounds can they ask to see this? and

2. Since there are no balance requirements for the 5 year period after the visa has been approved, what kind of decisions could they possibly make even if someone does carry their bank statements with them (provided that this someone does not have an obscenely low bank balance, say less than 1000 baht)?

I just posted yesterday. Applied in Kota Bharu, Malaysia. Took quite long but no questions asked during the process. Got pulled aside for a conversation when I returned. But, in hindsight, that might have also been just because in that particular border crossing (Sunai Golok) a "farang" may be quite a rare sight among numerous Thais and Malaysians, and he might have just been thinking that I am one of the guys looking for consecutive 60 day visa exemption stamps... Anyway, after he found out that I have DTV, do not have any border bouncing history, and that he can talk to me in Thai, the conversation took quite a friendly turn and I was soon stamped in for my first 180 days on DTV.

@Bob *********

Show me the law/rule/regulation that states that the 500k must stay in the account for the entire 5 year period, or even for the first 180 day period. And if there is no rule (which I believe there is not) then they have no right to ask for that statement. People usually do not carry 6 months bank statements with them when travelling. As to the activity that was the basis for the visa, I think that is a reasonable thing to ask...

@Aaron ********

Oh dear, I must’ve taken a wrong turn on the internet! I thought I was on Facebook, not applying for a visa to North Korea or registering with a state-approved opinion board in Russia.

See, in this part of the world, people are actually allowed to have opinions —even on things that don’t revolve around their own backyard. Shocking, I know.

If my comment rattled your worldview, that’s unfortunate… for you. But rest assured, I’ll continue commenting on whatever topic I please. And whether you like it or not, that’s your personal little struggle—not mine. 💁‍♂️

@Aaron ********

What a childish comment... Do I have to be police to think that people should follow the meaning of the law? Someone who stays in Thailand enough to have a "stable relationship with his Thai gf" is clearly not a tourist and should not be (ab)using exemptions and visas meant for tourists. That's it! Or if they want to (ab)use these opportunities, they should at least not whine, if someone stops them from doing it.

Well, to be honest, if you use the 60 day free stays (or even a tourist visa) to stay in Thailand long term, they should not be letting you in. You need to get a correct visa. If you are living in Thailand long-term, you are not a tourist.