@Kool ******

less strong tea?

@Jae ****

I never suggested leaving--I said there is "no need to leave". The Tribunal process is complicated, but I have never known anyone involved in it. A good agent will know your chances.

Greg, I used this company successfully in Melbourne run by Thais. Also started off with a tourist visa, then student visa to improve my partner's English. You can then make the application from within Australia and no need to leave, because she will be on a bridging visa while a decision is being made.

@Andi **********

where did you see that about language courses? Without actually applying for the DTV, I could only find this on the Embassy's site ("activities such as...":

@Andi **********

it seems to me that the DTV is going to be rorted for sure...

@Andi **********

that seems strange (though I believe you), because aren't other cultural activities included for the DTV covered by other visas?

Proof of confirmation to attend the activity...how rigorous is this? Do language classes qualify?

@KO *******

As I said. the money spent is probably much greater than the tax, so not significant. Thail people who don't pay tax (and there are lots of them) are not making that contribution, so this whole issue is not really about community responsibilty but the financial aspect. It doesn't matter to a foreigner whether the Thai Govt or Thai Banks are having free use of their money, and tieing it up, they are losing out. To not pay tax on your super in Australia is not beause it is a tax haven but rather because tax has been paid on that money for many years to set up a retirement free of tax. I'm not sure Thailand will charge people tax on that super money in any case.

@KO *******

”And it costs Thailand nothing”...what does it cost Thailand? What you spend is probably considerable (and most likely a lot more than Thailand would gain from tax). It's more than "a few bucks" tied up in the bank while you are here...