Are you creating a AVCHD project/sequence? If so, you should see 2 option in the media browser in Premiere. It should say AVCHD or File.
I normally don’t see the clips as thumbnails… but you can double click them and they will preview.
2. Copy everything in the file structure on the camera to a folder. That way Premiere should still see it like it’s still on the camera. But yes, is the simple answer.
3. Depending on your hardware you still have to render.