@Paul ******

Are you planning to walk/swim back to your home country when you're finished, or might there be some travel expense involved (flight, hotel, land travel, food etc.)?

You have no medical insurance expense?

For an established and frugal long-term expat it CAN be enough, but for someone coming for just a few months, 1000€ / month is definitely on the low side. Better to budget at least 2K/month. You can always just not spend it if it turns out to be more than you need.

@Stuart **********

If you say so, Captain Thailand. But some of these agents have been in business for many, many years. They have hundreds of thousands of clients, some for decades.

If they misrepresent or lie, they will instantly lose all that good will painstakingly gathered.

But up to you, of course.

You will receive answers ranging from "illegal - you should be deported yesterday" to "no problem."

Many things are in flux right now. Best to visit and talk with a reputable agent and get first hand information.

The Kasikorn branch in Pattaya Central Festival seems to have clearly established guidelines for opening accounts, and is happy to do so.

I would try them first.

I had a very similar positive and turbulence-free experience last week with the Kasikorn branch in Central Festival Pattaya. In and out with my new account, bankbook, Visa debit card, and working ap on my phone in less than 45 minutes.

It's a changing world - the old ways of obstruction and roadblocks for no good reason - their days are numbered.

So after being here a few years, I've noticed that during high season, things get a little lax. But when low season arrives, it's like law enforcement suddenly feels they need to justify their existence, look busy, and that's when we get all the motorbike helmet checks, round-ups of illegal foreign workers, crackdowns on drunk driving and drug offenses, etc.

Once high season and millions of tourists come back, a lot of that zealous law enforcement activity fades away.

That's my observation.

And this is a tense year. A lot of stuff (global events) is negatively impacting Thailand through no fault of their own, and it's making some Thais edgy.

What visa do you have?

It's cultural. The Thais love to tinker; always trying on new things. Two steps forward, one step back. And consistency and uniformity - values highly prized in the west - are not part of the governing culture here. In fact, the exact opposite.

But in the end, it really is NOT that complicated or difficult.

If you find Thailand's visa process a "nightmare," perhaps you should look into Cambodia. Much simpler, more uniform, and far less impactful on your daily life.

@Tom ******

You are entitled to your opinion. But I suspect you completely, rather spectacularly misunderstand my point. Hint: sarcasm is involved here, in sympathy with the original poster's plight.

Interestingly, despite having no lack of words to criticise my "smug arrogant and thoughtless drivel", you don't seem to have a moment to offer him advice of your own.

So what is YOUR advice to your fellow human being?

Would love to hear it when you can afford to take a moment off from criticizing my shitty drivel.