SpokaneAl

I think that if one reads the police report part concerning the expiration of the visa as of the date of the annual expiration of the insurance, it could be difficult, going forward, to actually get one year out of a one year visa.

In that one must have the necessary insurance in force prior to applying for the non imm o-a, which could be a short period, or a more significant time frame prior to the actual departure/arrival date, there seems to be no way to time and match the insurance with the arrival date.

And if, at some point, this insurance requirement expands, it could mean the end of virtually every extension of stay etc in achieving the one year term that was promised and paid for.


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12 hours ago, Don Mega said:

they should accept a foreign insurance certificate.

 

https://longstay.tgia.org/document/overseas_insurance_certificate.pdf

The insurance certificate requires the signature of two directors from one’s insurance company. That sounds like an impossible task to me.

Well, i just got a new OA visa from the London Embassy (just a few days before the insurance was required for the application) and its dated 9th October. Does anyone know if I will be expected to have the health insurance when I go back to Thailand in November? Will immigration really start asking for and checking insurance documents?  Seems unfair if I have to have the insurance when it wasnt required when I applied.(in which case I wouldn't have applied for the visa).

 
The Immigration memo to officers, regarding existing O-A visas, talks about the trigger point being the date of entry into Thailand, not the date the O-A visa was issued.
 
So the way that read was, anyone wanting to enter Thailand on an O-A after Oct. 31 would be subject to the new insurance requirement, seemingly whether they got their visa in early November OR if they got it in early 2019 and are just now using it for their final visa entry.
 

 
The "guidelines" document for the O-A health insurance program on the TGIA website specifically says that foreign insurance policies, if they meet the required coverage amounts, WILL be accepted for the FIRST year.  That's why they have a PDF certification form on the website specifically for foreign insurance companies to fill out on your behalf.
 

I am capable of confusing most anything.
 
Hypothetical question. A person gets an O-A visa in his/her home country after October 31, 2019 and enters Thailand. They then stay for 5 years without exiting by using extensions. Do they continue to need insurance each of those 5 years of extensions? In your view.

I'm one of the unlucky ones.  Been here on a Non O-A for several years.  Others I know have changed to a Non O.
If I understand this, the options are:
1.  Pay the insurance. 
2. Leave to a neighboring country, obtain a Non O visa based on retirement or get in Thailand ?
3. Leave Thailand.
 
I have BCBS insurance that reimburses me for overseas care.  I pay upfront.
This Thai policy is not really something I want to pay for.  
It's taken me a year to accept putting money in a Thai bank (which I haven't done yet as my extension is in January) and then this.  
 
Nice short notice.   555 
 
 
 

2 options for fingerprint background checks:  
 
1.  Fieldprint.com
2. Applicantservices.com
 
Both companies will complete an FBI LiveScan background check.  
The company you choose will be dependent on your location(how far you are willing to drive).  On both sites you have to complete a lengthy application form with a lot of personal information.  Then you choose the date, time and location.  

Do you think you needed the BUPA Plan? I have Medicare but no BUPA.

Same experience here but I think the price has gone up. Used the same FedEx shop across the street to do it all by mail both ways. Very little documentation required when using their service. Lightning fast turn around too. Think I was without my passport for 3 business days. Probably 3rd time I have used them over the years. 

Glad I found this thread. It is pertinent to my situation. I'm heading to LA Consulate for my (US) first Non-imm O-A retirement visa in November. It has been a confounding and crazy-making process so far with all the changes and bad information, and value everybody's experience with this process. 4 copies, 2 copies, 3 copies. Plane ticket, no plane ticket, back to plane ticket. Notary, no notary, fellow at Consulate says wrong, it's all notary, now only med. cert. notary...

Is this process always a moving target? Is this a manifestation rising from the turmoil in Thai Immigration?

I have purchased seven non imm o-a multi entry visas from the LA Thai Consulate via USPS (never been there in person) over the past eight years (most recently in a July of this year) and have seen few, if any changes. Follow the requirements from that specific Consulate’s website and you should have no problems.

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I'm considering getting a nonOA in LA as well.  But, the only place I've found to do the medical certificate here in Las Vegas wants $400.  That seems ridiculous.  Has anyone found a better deal somewhere in LA?
 
Thanks.

21 hours ago, imjmn said:

Then he asked me if I had medical insurance - I told him that I had Medicare but I also have a BUPA plan and he wanted to see the card of which had took a copy.

Of course you know that Medicare is of no value in Thailand. 

And, if they do televise it, the first half of the first game will be in Thai language only.

 

 

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Every game that I have watched has always been in English. Or perhaps I misunderstood and it is just the first half of the first game of the season? If so, I apologize.

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I disagree that the Baht will continue strengthening.
 
You may not be aware, but 3 of Thailand’s largest companies are going public this summer: (1) the retail arm of state-owned oil company PTT Pcl, (2) the hospitality business owned by Charoen Sirivadhanabhakdi, and (3) a unit of Central Group. These entities are all controlled by immensely powerful people in Thailand. Since a large portion of the IPO allocation will be to international investors, there may be some pressure to maintain a strong Baht in order to “gild the lily” for these wealthy parties.
 
Yes, I am alleging that the manipulation of the Baht is intentional by the government in order to help these powerful entities.
 
Once these IPOs are completed, I suspect the Baht will start coming down.
 
Once we see a recession in the world, the Baht will drop quite hard: too much dependence on economically-sensitive tourist arrivals, too many real estate projects nearing completion that are unsold, and a general lack of industrial competitiveness as compared to Malaysia and Vietnam, which are comparable economies.
 
Cheer up, it will get better.
 

23 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Tempted to do the same to avoid 90 day immigration dealings while they sort out the TM30 issue.

 

You won't have a problem with any of the things you mention. 

Not sure what you are expecting concerning the TM30. 

Why not use the LA Thai Consulate? I have bought several non imm o-a multi entry visas from them over the years, all via the USPS, and have always gotten good, professional service and a reasonable turnaround time of two weeks or less.

In reference to your question, I would give them a call and ask.


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Two weeks ago I mailed O-A visa application and it was processed in 2 days but they did not mail it till a week later. Speedy processing anyway.
 
 
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OP, you will get various advice. IMO you only need to submit a tm30 if your going to visit immigration. For example extensions etc. Your obtaining an O-A. apart from your 90 day reports you will have no reason to go to imm. Even those can be done online. 

Your reentry permit, if required can be obtained at airport. Best listen to more experienced folk than myself.

For example I'm typing this from Saigon. Back Monday. I won't do a tm30. I need visit bkk immigration Oct for extension. I will be doing a tm30 upon reentry from my last trip away from "home address" be that within los or out. If I did a tm30 "by the rules", I would be doing a couple per week. 

 

I highly recommend the OP complete the tm30 within 24 hours of entering the country or he may find himself being fined when he completes his first 90 day report, which must be accomplished in person.

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Ok, thanks everybody for the help. Back to my original post, i'm only looking to stay for a year. Based on this, I'll apply for the Visa now this way I know I won't need the health insurance and I already meet the other requirements. I should get it in a few weeks and i'm set. Ill go in November and get my full year stamped and i'm good. I'll only have to do the 90 day thing 3 times if I only stay the year, which is no big deal. The Washington DC embassy seems the easiest here. All the embassy's here ask for the same basic stuff but some have different rules, 4 copies, notarized etc... DC only asks for 2 copies of the applications, plus the bank and background stuff etc..., and they do it by mail.

Know that if the reports are correct, you could be required to show that you have medical insurance if you buy your non imm o-a after June 30, in that the medical insurance requirement supposedly goes into effect on July 1.


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I also think that people get confused because their extension of stay is stamped on the Visa page of their passport. 

My advice for those considering going for an O-A visa is to allow plenty of time for the process. There are potential hold-ups on the road. The OP has discovered this.

If they were to change the area from the sex capital then there will be no more income for Pattaya.Pattaya has no clean beaches until you go to Jomtien and even that is getting more polluted. Sex.,drinking orgies and partying goes hand in hand all over the world.The large part of the tourist dollar that Thailand counts on comes from the sex tourist .They are westerners that have been here for 30 or 40 years that have never been to a temple out side of a friends burning or wedding.No Sex in Pattaya,No Money in Pattaya.