Your questions are a little confusing - some information that might be helpful for you 1 - You only need a tourist visa to enter Thailand for a holiday - check the Thai goverment website for who can enter as a tourist Visa free. It is good for 60 days. 2 - A DTV Visa is something you apply for - it has a fee - it is offered in specific circumstances and documentation is as required by the Thai Government - again google Thai Government requirements for DTV Visa - if issued it is good for 5 years and multiple entries. 3rd - and what may be confusing you is the requirement to complete a TDAC - Thai Digitial Arrival Card - you do this online for any entry to Thailand - no matter if you are coming as a tourist or a Visa holder. So to sum - if you are coming as a tourist - depending on your passport you may not require any kind of visa - but do check - you do not say your nationality so no advice to give you - you can also check your country department of state who may have info. If you want to stay longer you should explore visa options - and no matter how you come, how long you want to stay, what visa you have or do not have you must complete the DTAC no earlier than 3 days before your arrival

You need to show the printed copy every time you enter

Anonymous participant 612 don't do this - why give up the visa in hand until you have the new one? If somethying changes, goes wrong etc you will be without any visa.....

I would suggest staying - extend your hotel and rebook your flight - pick an option that allows you to rebook without penalty (Air Asia for all its points of stress lets you do this pretty easily). If all is well your visa should come along soon - once it is approved you have to enter the country again to activate it - so if you leave and it is approved the next few days after you will need another trip - my DTV was approved in Hanoi in 9 working days a few weeks ago as a reference point.

Print it - and keep with your passport - you will have to show it every time you enter. With the DTV you can stay up to 180 consecutive days - it is possible to extend for another 180 days but many do not recommend it as you may be asked to resubmit all the paperwork. So you should plan on leaving the country before you reach 180 days - even one day is fine now that you have the visa ( it is good for multiple entries during the issuance period.) Another thing you should know is that if you stay 90 consecutive days you need to report your residence to the immigration authorities - the first time you do so you should do in person - after that you can do online - you can do the registration I think 2 weeks before - if you report late you get a fine - try to avoid that. Hope this is helpful

If you sign a one year lease and do not get a Visa you are still accountable for the lease - so might be best if as suggested you do short term rental air bnb or other - some places will offer month to month leases but understand you pay more - usually in newer buildings in very small apartments - but lots of services. The big thing for you to know if the lease is not tied to your Visa - some will have "diplomatic clauses" but because you will not be here via a work visa - you will not be able to access as they generally speak to being transferred by your workplace - originaly for diplomats but also applicable for private sector employment. Hope this is responsive to your question

Anonymous participant 711 maybe don't be a jerk.....

no one is going to be able to give you a definitive answer - but from what you have said you likely will be ok, but no one here knows the answer to your question no matter what they say - suggest you have printed documentation of your flights, bank balance and hotel reservations in case asked - don't offer but if asked it would be good to be able to quickly and calmly share - have a nice break and good luck in Uni next year.

@Roland *******

maybe some, but its a crap shoot who to rely on - the kid is at risk of being separated from his family - time to get fully serious and not rely on a random group of strangers

Anonymous participant honestly this sounds a little sketchy - just do the straightforward thing -