Tuvoc

My guess is that all of that was required as proof of address. I provided all of that with my retirement application. Normally with a retirement extension they'd want to see a rental contract etc.

Yep, lots of complaints about them too.

And they're all committing fraud.

Is this requirement specific to only some immigration offices ? When I did my extension in Chiang Rai, The passbook itself and a photocopy of the last 12 mths of the passbook was all that was needed (and a letter from the bank confirming the balance on that day)

Ah well, not such a bad thing ????

Yes, they will probably do a soft-check on your credit report. If you aren't on the electoral roll you're right, you will probably fail.

I'm currently in the UK and I just got a Thailand pass for re-entry on a Non-O retirement extension. They did not require insurance through to the next extension, which is 9 months away. I actually bought 60 days which was accepted. 30 days probably would have been as well.

I just don't understand why people don't have insurance when visiting a foreign country (or have sufficient funds), and don't check what it covers and what it doesn't. Nevertheless I hope he has a good outcome and wish him and his family the best.

Are you using a VPN ?

It is possible to open an account without visiting a branch - or at least it was 2 years ago, with Lloyds. Everything done via the website. Now with a change of address, things vary. I did this recently - with one bank it was done in the mobile app, another bank required me to visit the branch to do it.

OK, yes I use them but not for my bank accounts. It is obviously a business address and I'm surprised you got away with it at all initially. The company below has an address which is not obviously a business address. They claim that it can be used for DVLA, Banks etc and I spoke to them about that and assured me that their clients have had no problems with that. I will be switching to them, but in your case though the horse has bolted already. Mail Forwarding | Mail Scanning | Mail Redirection | Mail Address (myukpost.com)

I just got mine approved. I ticked "returning to Thailand" and it accepted my 60-day cover, even though my permission to stay runs to Feb 2023. Who knows if they even checked that. I will be staying almost 60 days before flying out again which is why I chose that option, I do actually want the cover. As DrJack pointed out, I did not have to enter a return date so it is slightly different, but similar in that they did not insist on cover until Feb 2023.

So this was someone like UK Postbox ?

It was a very simple process for me when I did it 18 months ago.

I just got mine approved, under 12 hours. I submitted it before I went to bed and it was there in the morning. Fast service.

Last time I looked, yes OK if you live in Bangkok but living anywhere else it is helpful by phone only which isn't great.

Yes, and I think New Zealand has the same thing. And the USA for years has had the ESTA system even pre-Covid. Thailand is far from being the only country that has a system for entry.

More interesting would be claims experience. It seems ambiguous. Either you supply them with a PCR test within 72hrs before travel (why would you do that, if it is not required either by airlines or Thailand itself) or you have the 14 day exclusion period. They were quite clear with me by email that the policy started on the date of your arrival and not before. To my eyes this one looks better altough more expensive https://www.msig-thai.com/directmsig/inboundta

It is ambiguous. I don't interpret it that way. The policy can only start on the date of your arrival in Thailand. It cannot start earlier. When I tried the application form, the question was very specifically what your arrival date was, not what date you wanted the policy to start. Therefore if you don't take the PCR test, you have no cover for your first 14 days in Thailand. Just my interpretation.

Yes correct, I am the same, and have no exclusions at all with Cigna Global. It is so difficult to choose policies I found it a nightmare, but the brokers Pacific Prime were helpful. AA were not when I tried them previously.

I'm not so sure. I just emailed them and got this response. It seems that the Covid test prior to the policy is mandatory.

I'm currently out of the country, but have a 1 year extension of stay based on retirement, expiring Feb 2023 (with re-entry permit!). Just to be completely clear in these changeable times, as things stand I can re-enter Thailand on a one-way ticket ?

I remember when Korean cars first came out, there was the same degree of scepticism towards them as we're seeing now with Chinese cars as international availability expands. Korean cars have international acceptance and credibility now, and the same will happen with Chinese cars as well.

It will be interesting for sure. Thailand is not alone in keeping some restrictions - other countries have a "Thailand Pass" type of pre-entry form as well. I'm sure the test on arrival will remain in some form, and that makes sense to me. I'm planning a trip in June and I'm not expecting substantial relaxation of the rules before then.

For those of us who don't live in Bangkok, this isn't so bad. After a long flight I would stay in a hotel overnight anyway before heading home to the provinces the next day. More expensive for sure, but hopefully these Covid requirements should go away eventually.