Re #1. Not a problem - ppl saying its not allowed are being overly pedantic. Similarly a CEO on vacation making a call back to the office is "working" and technically this is not allowed, but no one is going to care. As long as you are not providing services to people in Thailand you are fine.

@Phil *******

yes thanks Phil, I also like the cardless cash option!

Same thing happened to me (Ottawa embassy). 3 weeks heard nothing, then get a message to send more docs. This was 4 days before my flight. I sent what they needed right away and they told me it would take another few weeks to process. So ended up going visa exempt and had a 1 day overstay, which was waived. I eventually received the visa and luckily can you it for my next trip in January. So in the end I actually saved money LOL

@Paulo ********

well I don't have any bills to pay, but prompt pay does interest me.

@Stuart ********

thanks Stuart, for me a bank account would be nice to have but not essential and so not worth any extra cost to get it.

Honestly you'd have to be nuts to notify a public hospital. This is 2022, not 2020. "Covid" is a mere shadow of its former self...for most it's just a mild cold. Very few need meds or any medical attention.

@Steve *******

it's not "on my record" because it was waived. If they put it on your record there is a form they have you sign acknowledging you broke the law. I wasn't asked to sign that form.

@Brandon ***********

fyi I didn't rely on luck, my visa didn't get processed in time so had to enter visa exempt. I relied on the anecdotal experience of others. Had it been more than 1 day I would have got the extension. I was only sharing as an FYI, not giving anyone advice, nor am I encouraging others to "break the law"

@Saran **************

oh cool, thanks!

@Saran **************

thanks, how does "mobile banking " work... Are you talking about paying via QR code, or can you actually withdraw cash without an ATM card?