If you leave and re-enter before the visa expires you'll be stamped in for another year. You'll need a re-entry permit to leave during the second year.

The visa lasts a year and you're stamped in for a year on arrival. Any time in visa validity year.

@Glenn *******

Just follow your embassy/consulate rules

No they don't need to be notarised. Who said they should be?

@Brian *******

Still going to pay the 220

Always tell them you need to make a large deposit from overseas as soon as the account is opened for you.

Do Thai Customs officials drink milk or eat biscuits? No. So they couldn't care less!

It will be a nightmare on the roads. Try the 12th if possible.

@Rob *********

It's a little more difficult to get this visa but you don't need to to Thai Immigration at all inside Thailand for immigration matters. For people starting out that's a blessing. You'll probably need to see them to get a certificate of residence letter to open a bank account or get a driver's licence though once you get more established. And an o-a makes bank account and drivers licence easier too

Look at an non o-a in the Sydney consulate website. If you have a regular GP the medical certificate is easy. If you have no criminal history so is the police report. Then you need to show money in Australia only. I think your wife can get a trailing spouse non-o on the o-a. Then you are stamped in for a year. Yes you'll need insurance but can use Australian travel insurance now that you probably would have bought anyway.