@Cole ********

No, it's not QR codes. It's avoiding a 220 Baht ATM withdrawal fee, plus 3% and a USD / EUR / AUD / CHF 5 withdrawal fee.

Very few banks don't charge these fees. The norm is to be charged these fees everytime you take money out of a Thai ATM on a foreign card.

I guess as a true nomad, who comes and goes, this might not matter too much, as you won't be living in Thailand for 5 continuous years but for those that do end up spending most of their time in Thailand, a Thai bank account becomes almost essential at some point. Making payments is very cumbersome (Ok, Wise works but isn't as convenient as making a local transfer) and for anything above Baht it takes several days and the fees can really stack up, for larger transfers.

How can you get access to your foreign cash if you're living in Thailand? Eventually, your cash will run out and you'll need to hit up an ATM or make a withdrawal via a bank branch (cash advance).

You'll save a lot of money on withdrawal fees by transferring to a Thai bank account.

The QR code thing really isn't a reason and certainly NOT the main reason for maintaining a Thai bank account. Minimizing fees and being able to receive funds and make payments (the former not related to employment of course as you're not supposed to work in Thailand except remotely while on this visa) are the main reasons.

@Dominic **********

Depends on the office used. Chiang Mai, Nonthaburi and Bangkok seem to be issuing 5 year licenses to DTV holders.

@John *********

360 days is basically a year. Its 1 year minus 5 days.

@Pete ******

It depends on the office used. Bangkok and Chiang Mai, as well as Nonthaburi seem to be issuing 5 year licenses to those renewing existing Thai licenses, while on a DTV or elite visas but many other offices are not.

@Andi **********

True, although some of his earlier articles were a bit presumptuous.

@Sefton *******

Indeed. Explains why my comments made using 4 different accounts never get published anymore. This only happens on his channel.

I've even specifically opened new accounts just to comment on his channel but after one or two, occasionally 3 or 4 comments, I get shadow banned.

This doesn't happen to me on any other channel. I haven't even been banned from commenting on Tim Newton's channel and that guy is far more cocky and arrogant. Ben's political leanings correlate almost perfectly with mine, but I'm not afraid to set the record straight with him when he gets something wrong.

I agree with 85-90% of his content, but on the DTV he has mostly been wrong or at least, continues to spew out fear mongering, rather than unbiased advice.

@Andi **********

Yes indeed. His friend from the Pattaya Mail, Barry Kenyon is the same - that guy seems to hate the DTV too and has written many fear mongering and in hindsight inaccurate articles on this visa. Only in more recent weeks have DTV articles written by him and published on the Pattaya Mail been less biased and more accurate.

@Sefton *******

Yes he's definitely been very biased on the DTV ever since it became available just over 6 months ago. Not only that, but some of his concerns have been proven false, though I wouldn't dismiss everything he's said...apparently at least one person has been asked to produce a work contract at immigration when entering the country? Normally, that shouldn't be requested.

I've made 4 entries into the country on DTVs already, 1 via air, the other 3 via land (2 of which used the same land crossing) and without incident.

I was questioned about what I do, which is fine. Mostly, it was to satisfy the curiosity of the officer. The only border where I found officers were familiar with the DTV due to lack of any questions was the one I crossed back to Thailand from twice.

@Hanson *****

Depends where you were in Europe, some countries weren't too bad during Covid, particularly Sweden. Switzerland was a case of what part of the country you were in and they generally scrapped rules quickly, moving on from mask wearing even at hospitals in early 2022, half a year before Thailand finally dropped government mask mandates (although many schools and privately operated businesses continued with this madness for another 6-12 months), in some cases into late 2023!

Nevertheless, if you were stuck in Thailand during Covid, in that you have a family and a home here and didn't have any pressing need to return to Europe for work, then Thailand was OKish, especially if you were in Bangkok, Hua Hin and upper middle class, where the authorities didn't bother you at home.

Anyway, a bit off topic but just wanted to make that commentary.

I think you're very right about his advice during those times; I learned a lot too, including the fact the state of emergency could be challenged in terms of some of the mandates it claimed to impose.