@Tim *********

hospitals here take US credit cards also, so that's there as a back up.

@Tim *********

I hold $20,000 USD liquid to cover any emergency expenses for my family of 5. Child birth with emergency C section at the top hospital in BKK (5 day upgraded stay) was about $5,000 USD.

Momentary spiff, I wouldn't lose my mind. If you had plans on a walking border run, just fly. No biggy.

@Brook *******

you can think whatever you want based on your experience, but I already have friends who have had issues coming and going after the administration changed.

My family is happy, I don't really care what's going on there anymore. Not my problem.

@Av *********

we had our baby here this year, but we are both us citizens. Was a surprisingly easy process to get her US passport. But we are staying put for the time being, idk how the boarder agents will handle a foreign birth certificate for a US citizen 😅

Neat times we live in!

Maybe a quicker option to meet up in Canada or mexico with the current messiness in the US if her health would permit (lot less travel than over here, but idk their condition).

@Davis *****

If you read the fine print, non IM B is for visiting businesses, it is not a work permit allowing you to work freely in Thailand. To work under that, you need a work permit which requires sponsorship from a Thai company.

I just signed the mountain of paperwork for a work visa just so I can interface with the factory we want to work with here. When I called immigration to ask if I could attend meetings regularly under the DTV I was told absolutely not, and that I would need a work or business visa. I work remotely from Thailand, and past contracting factory work here we don't do business. But that's enough for them to want you on a different visa.

He wants to work in Thailand, even if his business is based elsewhere that business is being conducted here. Pretty clear grounds to either avoid and stay on the DTV, or change over to an appropriate business/work visa.

@Paul *********

there are no short term business Visa's, only long term that require investment. Work permits need to be sponsored by a Thai company as previously mentioned.

@Garrett **********

that makes sense, as it reinforces you are staying here long term. Inversely the DTV has no insurance requirement and the funds needed are not required to be in a Thai account. You do need proof of funds if extending your DTV visa vs doing the border run. At least that's my understanding.

@Garrett **********

I guess the big difference to me between the non O and DTV is the requirement to have a bank account for the longer term stay (retirement).

This is just in my head, but if they are allowing you to have money here, they are setting you up to stay long term. The DTV is specifically missing that component, and it seems by intent. If they wanted people here 6mo-5y they would have made a minor stipulation to require a small deposit or the 500k. Just my take on things though, I think Thailand could be more clear on this. But from what I've picked up the last 5 months of living here is that this is all pretty normal.