has anyone stopped to think that OP may have a decent monthly income but doesn't have 400k baht just laying about? A lot of people here are out of touch.
"I'm a software developer". That's all the IO needed to hear. Not only did they lie, they basically said yah I'm gonna be working here without the correct visa. Dumbass.
my idp says it's valid for 3 years, 2 years later I'm still using it. Out of the handful of times I was stopped at a checkpoint I showed it to the police and they let me on my way. It's why I haven't bothered getting a Thai license yet.