Many applicants have been approved via Wise and Revolt, strange you were not given an extension due to having a Wise account. So you will do a border run ?
Malaysia is the most strict SEA Embassy to apply from. Vietnam, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia are easier to apply from. Check this FB group for lots of posts on applying all those places .
Yes but it depends on the embassy you apply from. Some will only accept an employer as a guarantor. You should check with the embassy you are applying from.
Yeah, it is annoying. No one could predict how certain SEA embassies would be exploited though. Anyone who has the DTV should have docs to hand. I will do the same for my return next month.