@Us ****

America isn't really dangerous in most areas. It has bad parts and cities like any other country.

The course are being pushed because you have 2 ways to qualify for dtv. Either have to show you're a remote worker outside of thailand or you can use those courses to apply under soft power.

If you don't have verifiable income you will have to apply under soft power and pay for something like 6 months muay thai. Even using soft power you might want to more then 500k in your bank statements as they can denie based on the fact they think you will not be able to support yourself without working illegally in thailand. Even if monetized your YouTube also couldn't be Content filmed in or about thailand as that would require a work permit.

Get a 6months multi entry tourist visa. It's 60 day stamps extendable to 90 days and you can get a stamp just before the visa expires giving you upto months on a legit visa or get a dtv.

1.You can work while on vacation in thailand as long as the work is remote and outside of thailand.

2. The 500k thb duration requireme in the account depend on the embassy they all want different durations, you can However just use your western bank account with over 500k thb under current conversion rates. It doesn't need to be in thai baht or a thai account specifically.

3. You can apply from an embassy in any country outside of thailand, I personally used taipei and im american. Some embassies are e-visa applications and may take a weeks or a few weeks and others are still doing walk ins with turn around time of just a few days if your documents are in order.

You should be using atleast regular tourist visa not exemptions. If you're going to your home country either apply for a 6 month multi entry tourist visa. If you get the last 60 day stamp just before it expires you can get 8-9 months out of it without questions or even better get a DTV visa using a soft power and don't worry about visas for 5 years.

@Daniel *********

that sucks you may be right. I originally opened my accounts on just a 6 month tourist visa but that was over a year ago so things may have changed.

Of you are only coming this year you could apply for a 6 month multi entry tourist visa or apply for the dtv

I stayed in thailand almost 2 years on 6 month tourist visas and such then recently switched to dtv. They will most likely ask you about your employment to make sure you aren't working illegally in thailand. I showed over a million baht in the bank and applied under soft power, but they asked for additional documents showing how I earned money outside of thailand and brought it in. I showed them deposits/withdrawals from my us bank I use to receive contracted work payments and that was enough. So long story short if you've been in thailand awhile be prepared to show how you have been and will continue to be able to support yourself without working illegally in thailand. As for taxes over 180 days you are responsible for filing taxes in thailand, but some countries have a tax treaty so everyone's situation is a little different. For usa we get credit for the taxes already paid on income in America and would be responsible to remit payment for anything owed beyond that based on thailands tax brackets.

You can only apply from outside of thailand, not while you are in the country.