What is an “exemption visa”. Where did you speak to someone ?

@Wally ****************************

you do realise that your South African millions are not worth that much in the rest of the world 😂😂

@Wally ****************************

because it’s their country and they make the rules - just like you home country makes its own rules

I can’t see how you would expect to live for up to 5 years on $60,000 of savings plus paying for your medical treatment. Being unemployed and only having that amount of savings sounds very much like you are planning to work to live.

@Sean *********

sometimes the truth is confronting

Self-inflicted troubles. It certainly sounds like you were not being a true tourist

You said: "Bottom line: The laws of Thailand are forcing me to take serious risks with my health, likely to some level of injury degrading my quality of life temporarily, and possibly permanently and critically.". That is just nonsense. You have travelled with a pre-existing medical condition - your lung injury. You don't state if you have medical insurance. Knowing your medical condition you chose to travel. If a 30 minute car drive is going to put you at risk what will a multi-hour flight in a plane do? Don't try and blame the laws of Thailand - admit that your own decisions have put you in the predicament you are in, take responsibility, and work forward from there.

@Lewis ************

no - the visa is for 5 years. Maximum stay any one entry can be 360 days - 180 days plus 180 day extension. 500k baht will not see you through the 5 year validity of the visa.

@Lewis ************

but that will not sustain you for 5 years

@Ian *********

great comments