sandyf

Quite, too complicated. If they had followed the UK model, £82 on economy long haul and £180 on premium long haul seating, they wouldn't have a problem.

It would be a reflection on the mentality for anyone to believe that immigration will convert visa status so that you don't need to apply before leaving your home country. The London Thai embassy clearly state the visa requirements required for UK nationals travelling to Thailand. Those that try and circumvent the requirements are abusing the system, although they will convince themselves otherwise and then argue the toss.

That would have to be proven, you are going on the word of those that have probably tried to abuse the system.

The decision to hand Hong Kong back was taken in 1971, you either accept that or you don't, I am not going to say how I know. HSBC Holdings was dormant company in London for many years prior to 1991, it was the issue over Hong Kong that brought it to life. The Midland acquisition was necessary to sustain life.

I have just logged on to the E-visa site and this message popped up. I wasn't aware and obviously neither were those that advocated circumventing the insurance. No valid reason for the OP not getting the visa before travel. Attention : From 1 July 2022, proof of quarantine hotel/hospital booking is no longer required. Health insurance(s) are required only for Special Tourist Visa (STV), and Long-Stay Visas (Non-Immigration OA and OX) applications.

That is not true. Following the decision to return Hong Kong to China the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation relocated the headquarters to London as HSBC Holdings Ltd on the London Stock Exchange with the original HSBC becoming a subsidiary of HSBC Holdings Ltd. They built a new global HQ which opened at Canary Wharf in 2002. When they first established in UK they took over the Midland bank to gain a high street presence, up until quite recently my account still had a Midland Swift code.

The legal grounds are exactly that, Thai immigration law. It is your responsibility to be aware of the applicable laws so why are you asking?

When all else fails!!

You, and others, have become tunnel visioned. Visas are not normally issued within a country's borders, you have no right to getting a visa from immigration. It is a concession and abuse very often leads to concessions being withdrawn. Should that come about it would obviously be the fault of immigration, not those that promoted the abuse.

There was no specific request. There is a big difference between insurance for OA and arriving on Non O. "NB I am 78 yrs old, so medical insurance for OA is difficult, and I hope that I can continue in Thailand as before on Non O retirement." The OP also said he wanted an "easy" entry, what would be easier than arriving on a Non O visa. The problem is not as difficult as the OP suggested, as I pointed out. Removes all need for "backup" plans which could end up costing a great deal more than doing the visa in the UK.. Attempting to circumvent requirements is never without risk, and shouldn't be seen as the first option. Life is all about choices and people are perfectly free to tread whichever path they choose. How smooth that path will be will only ever be known when the destination has been reached.

Insurance for a retirement visa is not a "what if" and if I planned to be here on retirement basis I would have the appropriate visa before leaving the UK. Of course you are free to disagree with that way of doing things. Non-Immigrant Type O (Retirement (pensioner aged 50 or above with a state pension who wants to stay in Thailand for no longer than 90 days) - single entry only) Financial evidence e.g. A copy of pension statement if the applicant is a pensioner, or a copy of 1-month bank statement showing your income from pension, or 3-month bank statement of at least £10,000 Confirmation of legal residence in the UK or Ireland. Copy of health insurance that covers COVID-19 related medical expenses, both inpatient and outpatient, no less than 100,000 USD for the whole period of your stay in Thailand. Non-Immigrant visas - Royal Thai Embassy, London

Take it you do not see the OP as being current. He should apply for the visa in the UK, but obviously free to ignore the potential risk and follow alternative advice.

Then they start whinging when something a blind man could see comes about. Hope for the best and prepare for the worst.

To be sure of being trouble free I would suggest you consider getting the visa before leaving the UK. It is all done online now and no need to send passport away. I understand your concerns over insurance, I am 75, but you would only need a policy to get over the initial hurdle. Worth having a look at this website https://partner.fwdgi.co.th/en/fwdgi/corona-virus-inbound-insurance?utm_source=asqbroker I have come back twice since restrictions lifted, not quite as daunting as it may appear. I was lucky, when I first returned I had free insurance with my air ticket, but just in case I had a couple of companies lined up as backup. I will also be returning late August but on a new marriage visa which doesn't need the insurance. Good luck.

Take it "become" went over your head.

The history is irrelevant, it would not be out of the question for the requirements for a Non O based on retirement to become the same. The UK has been doing Non O based on pension for a long time and they added the requirement to the visa even though the COE was a separate process which required insurance. The way things are now, many will do as the OP and arrive visa exempt in the hope of circumventing the insurance. This could well lead to a rise in conversions which may very well make it much more difficult. Telling people that there won't be a problem converting visa exempt to Non O retirement may not be the best advice going forward.

The 700 baht became the "passenger service charge" and it is still 700 baht. The 300 baht will be a separate additional tourist tax. London Heathrow charges £30.19 for "passenger service charge" and anywhere between £13 and £180 for "air passenger duty", £13 for short haul, £82 for economy long haul and above for premium long haul. Over and above the outrageous airport charges, Scotland and Wales are proposing to implement a tourist tax on foreign nationals collected by accommodation providers.. Of course the narrow minded will only see a money grab in Thailand, obviously would have been more acceptable to follow other countries, charge everyone and not say what the money would be used for.

You could try this place, between Bang Saen and Chonburi if you cannot find anywhere nearer. I think this is where we had our pickup done, good job, think about 1000 baht for one seat. https://www.facebook.com/yonsilpseat

How common in recent months? To obtain a Non O based on retirement in the UK there is now an insurance requirement. Who can say that will not become a requirement at immigration for the same visa. Considering all the fuss that was made over insurance for COE and TP, little has been said about it sneaking on to the retirement visa requirements.

I went to UK with Emirates in May and had to show Vacc certificate on check-in, ok on phone, not required at Dubai. Emirates policy at the time was to wear a mask on the flight, and also at Dubai airport, not sure if that is still in place. I came back early June with Austrian and again had to show at check-in at Heathrow but it wasn't asked for when I entered EU at Vienna nor when I boarded for BKK.

BA are currently quoting a similar economy flight on the same dates at 112K, and EVA at 73K, wouldn't fly with Thai. Of course you are welcome to live in the believe that prices will improve, but some of us need to plan.

Your emails may well have ended up in their junk folder. Email monitoring has become quite strict in recent years and you may have had the same problem with any new email account. I am not sure if they can tell how long an account has existed but lack of previous connection can be a problem.

I did mine the same way last year. There was a message on the website saying delays due to covid so when my son advised me a couple of days later that a letter had come from DVLC I thought it was some problem. Turned out to be the new licence.

I have just booked to go to UK next May, cost 65K for the 2 of us with Emirates. Some of the European airlines were offering cheaper prices but turned out to be carry on only, with the same baggage same price. In 2016 I was 63K to go to UK , In 2017 that was down to 54K and been around 45K since then till recently. Hopefully time will see history repeat itself.

I think a few weeks ago Lazada rebuilt the website, appear to be many changes and the English being used is terrible. Rather than using alternative text, may be trying to translate Thai directly. Since then I have not been able to login directly from the first page, i have to right click on "Login" and select "open in new tab" to get the login box. I use Chrome and the login details have been saved so no problem from there. You may need to create a new account to resolve the issue.