@Brian *********

Stuart Cumming I'm aware in this instance, he said he didn't have the ฿800k in the bank, but anytime anyone mentions using an agent, everyone jumps on the bandwagon, saying you will be tied to them forever!! But I have met people that did have the ฿800k in a Thai bank, but just used an agent for the first year, simply because they didn't want to deal with the Thai bureaucracy of the immigration office, needing to have all the extra documents for the first year of applying for the non O, and then the 12 month extension, after that they did it themselves, by using the 800k or the monthly method, nobody ever talks about that. 🤷

@Frank *********

use the cardless withdrawal function in the banking application, for out of province withdrawals it's free, you only get that ฿15 charge if using the physical card.

@Andy *******

cardless out of province ATM withdrawals are free, it's usually around ฿15 if you use the physical card out of province, most people just open an account wherever they can get one, when you get settled somewhere permanently, and your on a long-term visa, you can open another account anywhere yourself.

@Tony ********

Phil Lewis cardless ATM withdrawals are free for out of Provence withdrawals, you only get the small ATM fee, if you use the physical card, which I personally would rather not do, just in case the ATM swallows the card, and for some reason you can't get it returned.

@Chris ****

the comment i replied to, they were advising people wherever they are in the world, to apply at the LA embassy through the E-visa website, you would need at least to be in America, you say LA will allow people from nearby states to apply, I wasn't aware of that, but it's good to know.

@Yhadnapa **************

there are "hundreds" some days over a thousand people, entering the country illegally, Asylum Seekers/illegal immigrants, a lot are Muslims, arrive on the beaches everyday in boats, and the British government put them in hotels, and give them money every week to live on, and also house them, all paid for by the British tax payers, it's not as good as what thai people think.

@Yhadnapa **************

the problem is, Thai people think all farangs are rich, and they are not!! they have seen the "two week millionaires" in places like Pattaya, throwing money everywhere like confetti, so they think they live like that everyday in their home country, when in fact they have been working long hours and saving up money for months, to go on that blow out holiday, or they see some rich older fella move to Thailand, that has worked all his life, and has got his life saving, and also sold his house and car, and probably spent 25 years paying off his house, also got good pensions coming in every month, he has turned up in Thailand and buys a brand car, and builds his Thai wife a ฿4 million baht house, not everyone can do that, there are thousands of people live on the streets in the UK, most Thai people wouldn't even know that.

@Yhadnapa **************

why do people think the streets are paved in gold in the UK?? it is an awful place to be, it's expensive, cold and miserable, high crime rates, miserable people, with the cost of living constantly rising, a lot of people are just working long hours to live, and to pay bills and debts, the amount of people that suffer with depression and anxiety is shocking, if you are very rich, and live in an affluent area, and it's summer time, it's not to bad 👍😂

The general advice seems to be, don't leave the country for the duration of an ED visa, you seem to be in quite a strong position, by attending a university and actually having a good understanding of the Thai language, and having all the paperwork as proof, I would say compared to some people, you have a lot lower risk of being denied upon arrival back to Thailand after a short break. But nobody can give you a 100% answer to your question, only a risk assessment based on circumstances.

@Shuvam ******

it seems agents can only help with doing all the paperwork, then you need to leave the country, and go and apply yourself at a Thai consulate or embassy in a neighbouring country??