Where are you applying for the visa?

If you're going to get the initial 90 day non-O visa in Thailand, then you need to apply for it in the same place you will be applying for the first 1-year extension. No immigration office in Thailand will let you apply for the 1-year extension based off a 90-day non-O visa that was granted by a different immigration office.

@Sasha **********

If you gave me the choice of sitting around on my phone, or spending an hour doing paperwork, I would choose sitting around on my phone. But I might consider the paperwork if I'm going to get commission.

@Luc ********

laws only matter if there's enforcement and if the penalties outweigh the benefits.

Unfortunately Thailand is lacking in enforcement and especially lacking in meaningful penalties. Most of the time the fine if caught is less than the benefit of a single successful instance of breaking that law. And since the odds of getting caught are far less than 100%, it always makes sense to break the law according to game theory.

It's not a Kasikorn bank requirement. But it might be a requirement for the branch you went to in order to make all the paperwork required for them to do worth it.

Do you have a non-immigrant visa? A certificate of residence from immigration? What happens if you tell them you want the bank account without the insurance?

You can try other branches or other banks.

Worst case scenario is you bite the bullet and purchase the insurance. You might even be able to cancel it shortly after for a refund.

@John ********

that would be for retirement. Most agencies don't want anything to do with marriage extensions. Those require a lot more work and different approvals.

@Robert *********

most agencies now will only assist opening a bank account if you're also converting or extending a non-immigrant visa with that agency. I don't know of any agencies that can do bank accounts for tourists anymore.

You can only get a DTV from a Thai embassy or consulate. Obviously there are none of those in Thailand.

You must physically be in the jurisdiction of an embassy to apply there, and must remain until the application is processed. This takes anywhere from 3 days to 1.5 months depending on the embassy.

It's taking about a month in Laos currently.

You go to Laos. Then you submit the application online and upload your entry stamp from your passport.

Then you go to the embassy/consulate between 9-11 AM to pay for your application.

Then you wait and should get contacted in 1-2 weeks with an appointment to come to the embassy for an interview, and that date is usually another 2 weeks after the notification.

After the interview you usually get the visa before you can even get back to your hotel.

Sponsorship letter is for a dependent that is applying for DTV based on another DTV. Like a wife applying based on their husband, or a child applying based on their parent. The sponsor letter states that the primary person will be responsible for the financial aspect of the application.

Not relevant to you.