If I planned to stay in Chiang Mai for 5 years, I would try to find a short term rental so I could move south for the 4 months where the air is unbreathable.

No. You must have at least 6 months remaining at the time you apply for the DTV.

If the passport expires while your DTV is active, you carry both passports until your DTV expires.

I only know of one province that requires you to be on a long-term visa to get a residence certificate. That's not the case in pretty much every province. So it's not an impediment to getting a drivers license.

The "under consideration stamp" is like an advance on your 1-year extension. When you go back on January 8th you'll receive the remaining year in your passport through December 9th 2026.

The 2nd thing they gave you is a TM47 receipt, which is your first 90-day notification reminder. You need to do your first 90-day report in February.

The DTV does not have any age restrictions.

@Colin *********

the agent doesn't open the bank account. They facilitate you being able to do so. They have arrangements with the staff/management at a specific bank branch and they go with you and ensure that everything is taken care of. The bank account is yours, in your name, with your passport and KYC information.

Banks have been telling people these excuses when they don't want to do all the paperwork to open an account for a foreigner for much longer than 2 weeks.

Each bank branch manager sets the requirements for that bank branch. If the one you went to will not do it, go to another one, and another, and another one, until you find one that will.

Might help if you indicate where, unless you're willing to travel anywhere in Thailand to see a doctor

A criminal records check is only require for the non-OA visa. A 90-day non-O visa does not require any background check, health check, insurance, or any number of requirements that the non-OA visa requires. It's mostly just providing proof of funds.

You're not waiting 60 days. You're waiting 2 months. You cannot apply for the extension until your money has been in the bank for 2 full months. That means if your funds were deposited on November 8th, you cannot apply until January 8th.

If you have extra time, then go to immigration and ask them for their handout of requirements for the 1-year extension. That will allow you to make sure you have everything in order when the time comes.