Suggest you learn some Thai and travel for 1st year. Every province is different, pattaya or Jomtien has bad reputation BUT I don't drink and have great life here. Easy to get involved with sport, golf, sailing, charity work and then make friends with good hearted and business ladies
not at all as immigration did not have the info until you handed it to him. Now it's in the computer and they don't even stamp your passport, so super fast