@Kim *****************

you make a comment like that? Why are you here then? Sounds a bit hypocritical

@Von *****

who said anything about an age restriction? I'm talking about reality. In one of the three Thailand related groups I'm in, sometime in the recent past, I've seen a post by someone that Thai authorities are clamping down on visa applications that don't seem realistic. Besides, it's very unlikely that the DTV will, besides initial applications in the first few months, be as simple as it seems right now. Show me proof that anyone has had a DTV approved for a two week cooking course that some seem to think would be approved. I'm sure a 73 year old man isn't going to sign up for a six month cooking course where he's obligated to attend 20-40 hours of cooking classes every week.

Of course, I'm also assuming that by your return response, you're just trying to be humerous.

@Jim *******

who cares? Then I won't care when someone empties out your bank account while you're sleeping 🤣

@Andy ***********

so someone does something illegal, then others follow suit, does that make it right? To some extent, these things have occurred throughout human history, but in modern society, it's rampant and one of the causes of a very 'sick' society. Then people wonder why there's so many problems facing them or their friends and families 🤷🏼

Keep in mind that your pension amount that you're receiving while in Australia is more than it will be if you move to Thailand to live... about 5.5k Baht less.

Not having the 800k required, you can do what has been suggested by a few... using an Agent to get the Visa for you. Doing that, you should be aware that these Agents only put the 800k in a bank account until the Visa has been approved and then they'll take out again. They're actually bribing an Immigration Officer to get the Visa for you. Going this route will depend on you're comfortable being a part of something, which while it might seem from some comments to be fine and accepted by a lot of people, it's still illegal. Also, if you go that route, you are quite likely to be stuck with using agents every year. Also, there are some Immigration Officers who will refuse to deal with Foreigners who use Agents to obtain Visas when it comes to doing Extensions, so doing Extensions on your own might not work out.

@Von *****

Do you think a 73 year old would have a realistic chance of getting the DTV approved for a cooking course? Better chance of pigs flying.

@Bigd *********

yeah, by bribing an Immigration Officer

@Andy ***********

that's not an excuse for fraud

@Graham *****

Dreamers, fraudsters...

@Andy ***********

"Easiest visa ever"? How can you say that? Maybe it is if you fit the criteria for "applying", but down the track when Immigration are fully involved, it might be a different story, they'll be the ones that say 'you can't do this, you can't do that, this is what you must do'. It's only one month since the first applications were lodged and nobody knows how they'll operate day to day. You refer to your friends and "scam agents". Yes, those agents are bribing Immigration Officers to approve Visas and Extensions, so it's a scam, it's dishonesty, it's fraud. Honest people who have the required funds as per the requirements for the Visas and Extensions don't need to participate in fraudulent activities. There's not that much difference between 800k and 500k really, so is it so much easier to meet the requirement?