In theory, yes. Benjamin Hart from Integrity Legal claims you can't, but unless he has some sort of inside information we don't have, then he's speculating.
What we've been told so far is that yes, you can extend once per entry for 6 months.
In practice, unless you are infirm or can't travel, you're better off traveling and doing a border run or having a vacation/holiday at least once every 6 months and then returning. Seems to be easier that way but up to you.
Yes. As far as I'm aware, ALL walk-up consulates (meaning those still accepting in person applications) will only allow you to make payment if they accept your application. This means if you make payment and receive a pickup slip you'll be getting your visa.
Walk-ins still available in Taipei, but not for much longer. They move to the e-visa system reportedly on November 19.
Jakarta is still allowing walk-ins for the foreseeable future, but get there soon as they'll be making the switch too, though it's not quite clear when.
Laos (both consulates) require an appointment, but statements MUST show at least 3 months worth of 500,000 Baht parked.
I would recommend applying in Jakarta, they sound like they're the easiest. Taipei is OK, but fussier with financials. If you have a job and money is being paid into your account and you can document everything properly, Taipei is fine...however, I have the feeling neither Laos nor Jakarta will scrutinize your transactions.
Laos probably won't care how you got access to the 500K Baht as long as you can show proof the funds have been sitting in your account for 3 months or more.
Jakarta and Taipei don't care when the funds were transferred.
Strange that for such a large country as Indonesia, they've decided to no longer allow Bali to sell visas, when Thailand is setting up a second consulate in Siem Reap, Cambodia, a much, much smaller country.
However, with the e-visa about to be introduced in Indonesia, probably within the next couple of months and already in effect in Cambodia, for foreigners, it won't matter anymore as you simply have to be somewhere in that country to apply.
The only advantage of multiple consulates will be for Thais who require passport renewals, notarial services or other consular services while residing in or traveling in foreign countries.
Correct. Then you can carry the old one alongside the new one, since valid visas inside the old passport are still valid, despite the passport no longer being valid.
I thought most DTV holders have previously resided in Thailand and thus should already have a Thai bank account. This applies to me. I hold 2 Thai bank accounts and thus have no need to apply for any additional ones.
I'm sure there are first timers who have decided to move to Thailand on a DTV who've never resided here before and may or may not have visited in the past, but I think they make up a small minority of applicants.
My guess is - very likely you can get back to back DTVs, just like one can get back-to-back non-B and non-O multiple entry visas (where they're still available).
I don't see any difference between the DTV and non-immigrant multiple entry visas in this sense except the former allows for twice as long a stay per entry and possibly an extension of similar duration and the visa lasts for 5 years, whereas a non-imm multiple entry only allows 90 days per stay and the visa is valid for just 1 year (except for the very rare 3 year multiple entry non-Bs...not sure if these are still being issued anywhere).