@Neil *****

500,000 isn't enough to live on in Thailand for a year? FFS., considering 20k to 30k a month is about average salaries in Thailand, even 30k only comes to 360,000 a year and you reckon a farang couldn't live on 500,000 baht per year. All depends on circumstances. When I'm in Thailand I can live on a hell of a lot less than that, mind you I don't pay rent or pay for food when I'm there. Only outgoings I have are beer and petrol for car and motorbike, so it's all relative to the individual.

@Neil *****

If you apply for the soft power road to get the visa and you don't have to show any earnings, what you said about borrowing, in the UK about £11,300 from family members, for one who in their right mind would transfer that amount of money into a relatives bank account on the assumption that they'd transfer it straight back after applying for the visa. Another thing, if you don't have to prove income for the soft visa route but have to have the 500,000 baht equivalent in your bank account, that amount of money if you don't have any income source is hardly going to last five years considering cost of living, extension fees and the fact you'd have to do some sort of border run after 360 days. Do the immigration, or Thai Embassies/consulates think people who've borrowed the money can then once they've returned it to whoever finance living in Thailand on sweet fuck all?

I worked offshore in Vietnam in 2000. Flew from Bangkok, didn't need a visa although it took a bit of time getting through immigration.

Too many conspiracy theorists on Thai visas.

This is a load of crap. I presume this is referring to the DTV visa. Why would they want to see 500,000 in a bank account for six months, for a five year visa and if your applying for the soft power visa, which I presume, they won't need to see earnings?

@Damo **********

Could be something in that. Maybe they would be suspicious if you are a National of the likes of Nigeria, but not if your from a Western country.

@Steve ******

I heard for the DTV there is no seasoning period.

@Andreas ********

Another jumped up foreigner.

Normal.

Taken from Wikipedia for whoever it was that questioned that I said a Dive master is a tour guide in Thailand.

A divemaster (DM) is a role that includes organising and leading recreational dives, particularly in a professional capacity, and is a qualification used in many parts of the world in recreational scuba diving for a diver who has supervisory responsibility for a group of divers and as a dive guide..