@Andre **********

he could also use accounts like Charles Schwab that refund all atm fees every month to avoid the fees even without a thai account.

I used a thai bank account. The only additional questions where proof of where those funds came from outside thailand. I had to show transfers from us accounts etc to prove I wasn't earning money in thailand

@Vidar *******

usd is going to tank as we go into a recession. Low consumer confidence and increased inflation.

I flew back in on February 18th to chiang mai had zero questions just stamped for 180 days and on my way.

They want to know how you make money. How did you get the 500k to start with? How do you plan to earn money going forward it's that simple. Seems like a reasonable question. If your answer is I don't have a plan and I only have 500k baht they will most likely denie you. They assume that you'll end up working illegally in thailand if you don't have a previous source of income to fall back on.

Careful with leasing land. Thai Supreme Court just ruled on some 30 year lease renewals for land in phuket. Even though the contracts had agreements for renewals they aren't enforceable and its upto the owner if they want to let you renew, which given the skyrocketing land prices in phuket they did not and the land was forfeit. So land lease renewals even with agreed on terms aren't safe past the first 30 years.

Wrong information about tourist visas and exempt being the same. A tourist visa can be upto 6 months multi entry not just 60 days.

I attend the wall chiang mai and they provided everything I needed for my visa in a nice packet for immigration including copies of all licensing, course schedule etc. Highly recommend.

It's useful for splitting checks with your friends especially if they are thai.

@Us ****

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