@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.

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

if it were a 5 year stay I would agree. But it's not, it's a 6 mo stay with the ability to do a relatively easy border run, or a more complicated visa extension. They also have been clear about the inability to open a bank account also.

This doesn't prevent anyone from living here on it, it just makes it inconvenient. For some that's fine. For my family of 5 it's not something we want to jump through the hassle of, and we want the ability to work with Thai businesses to support our business back in the US. DTV has some pretty strict limits on even communicating with Thai businesses even about business outside the country.

Just my opinion, but if you want to stay here more than 6mo at a time without hassle, get a different visa. That's all.

@Dany *******

haha yeah, we moved from Las Vegas. We save a bit of money, but 100% recognize we don't live the typical Thai lifestyle.

Here in Pattaya we can thankfully, but in BKK we had to pay via cash or Thai bank wire. So a week before rent was due we would just hit the atm every morning on our daily stop 😅

Big part of moving here was to show my kiddos they don't need as much in life as was taught to us. We get to bring some manufacturing jobs for the locals too, so it's a win win haha.

@Dany *******

I did not know you could top up with cash. But I'm not here solo, wife and three kids also lol. We burn through 300k/mo with rent and utilities being 100k. Wise wasn't an option so we would have to go to 3-5 ATMs to be able to withdraw all the money we needed.

Doable, but not convenient. And tourisim generally does better the more convenient it is.

@Monster **********

but your Thai friend doing it for you would help solve the issue of the other fake accounts being used to scam. I don't think there are nearly as many Thai people willing to put their name on an account they know will be used for scamming. Someone you have known a long time is likely a different story. So this current crackdown would do good by your logic.

@Dany *******

you can't setup scan pay without a Thai bank account. We tried true money when we got here in Dec and we couldn't link any US bank accounts (unless that's changed).

We have bank accounts that refund ATM fees, and CC are taken in a lot of spots (more than I had imagined). So we get along fine until my work visa is approved and I can get my Thai account. But the atm thing is kinda rare for people, so that isn't as convenient for most.

I've lived in BKK and Pattaya the last 5 months, it's definitely plenty safe to walk around with a week ot two's worth of money. But for many tourist who can't recognize the bills, an app would be far more easy and cheaper. My first month here it wasn't uncommon to mix up a 100 and a 1000B bill at quick glance.

It would just be helpful, I don't think it should stop anyone from visiting, long or short term though.

@Dany *******

I think if tourists had access to scan pay 90% of them wouldnt want one.