khm2412

UK citizen and passport holder, retired and living full time in Thailand.

O-A Visa and extensions since 2014. I tried to upgrade my health insurance coverage from 1 million to 3 million Baht, but was refused. Therefore I do not meet the health insurance requirements for a Non O-A extension. (I have International health insurance elsewhere).

Therefore when I returned from the UK from a holiday in December, I cancelled my Non O-A extension and insisted on a 45 day visa exempt, which was granted at Suvarnabhumi after considerable discussion.  My plan was to apply for a Non O Visa in Thailand.

Today at Phetchaburi Immigration my application for a Non O was refused, because they insisted that I need to show that the 800,000 Baht came from outside Thailand.  My 800,000 Baht has been sitting dormant in my Fixed Account since 2014 and I would have extreme difficulty showing the original source of the funds.

Therefore what should I do?

A) Phetchaburi Immigration suggested I leave Thailand and get a Non O in Laos.  Is this the best option?

B) Transfer the 800,000 Baht to the UK and immediately transfer it back to my Thai Bank, showing evidence that the funds came from overseas.

C) Provide evidence of historical regular monthly income from the UK to Thailand via Wise. I guess they would require a 12 month statement?  Would I require then to continue with monthly statements for a year after the Non O was granted?  I want to return to the 800,000 Baht method as soon as possible.

D) Use an agent.

Any suggestions or comments gratefully received. I have a 30 day extension of my visa exempt until mid February.

Many thanks in advance.

5 hours ago, rwill said:

It looks like all you need is a letter of refusal from your insurance company to sell you a 3 million baht policy.  (5.3.1)

That's how it

reads to me too.  So if you get this letter, you don't need insurance? Hmmm.

Dear All,

Since I last went through the process, there have been a number of changes to the requirements for health insurance, notably the opportunity to self insure.  I have copied the relevant information below.  I have AETNA insurance, but they will not increase my cover to the 3 million Baht now required.  I have an overseas policy from AXA, which meets the 3 million Baht requirement, but I am at a loss at how this can be accepted by Immigration, as the English translation below is not clear to me.  Could somebody kindly clarify the steps that need to be taken to certify my overseas policy?  I doubt that my embassy would help. I have no idea what the reference to "letters of refusaI" is. I am British and my Immigration Office is Tha Yang.  Thanks in advance.

The Immigration Office for Cha-Am is currently at Tha Yang. See here https://huahin-vacations.com/immigration-office-phetchaburi/

Vaccinated with one dose Astra Zeneca, second dose Astra Zeneca imminent - 12 week interval.

46 minutes ago, Burma Bill said:

Is there a lift/elevator to the basement for wheelchair access??????

There is a lift and also a travelator to the basement which facilitate wheelchair access.

On 7/20/2021 at 9:37 PM, NCC1701A said:

could you be more specific? would this be near the Tesco Lotus express west of the traffic circle? 

Exactly right. First shop on North side West of the roundabout. Probably the best pharmacy in Hua Hin. I did not check the price.

The pharmacy at the beginning of Soi 88 near the railway tracks had them yesterday.

For vaccination information at Hua Hin Hospital you need to go here. https://www.facebook.com/pagehuahinhospital/
Input your 13 digit code and that will give you your queue number. You can then consult the regularly updated lists which show which day and time to attend. Sometimes there is no vaccine available and appointments will be cancelled. This will be communicated via the Facebook page. Next scheduled vaccinations from 12 July.

Had debilitating flu like symptoms the day after my first Astra Zeneca jab, which more or less confined me to bed. Symptoms had subsided by noon of the third day. I was expecting a reaction, as I’d had similar symptoms after a flu jab a few years ago.

Province:  Phetchaburi

Date: 1 July 2021

Location: Bangkok Hospital Phetchaburi

Are you over 60/chronically ill? Age 67.  Coronary artery disease.  3 stents.  Not chronically ill

How did you register: Mor Prom - using details on pink ID. 

Vaccination received: Yes

Type of vaccine :  AstraZenica

My Covid 19 Vaccination Report

Appointment booked through Mor Prom App in May 2021, using Pink ID Card details.

Appointment arranged for 1300 on 1st July at Bangkok Hospital Phetchaburi and sent to the App - I am Cha-Am resident.

Phone call the day before from the hospital to remind me of the appointment.

Arrived at 1245, registered at first desk, Pink ID seemed to be the clincher.  Given number 40.  Called to second desk for blood pressure check, height, weight etc.  I get white coat syndrome, so blood pressure too high - Systolic 166.  They will not give vaccine if BP is over 160. Waited 15 minutes and blood pressure now 156.  Waited another 10 minutes, then called to third desk.   Simple health questionnaire, any recent illnesses?, previously had COVID?, do you have any concerns about the vaccine?.  Another ten minute wait then called to booth for vaccination.  Very fine needle, honestly did not feel a thing.  Sticking plaster applied.  Told to wait for thirty minutes, to confirm no immediate side effects. After thirty minutes went to final desk, was asked if any side effects - none.  Blood pressure taken again - now 139.  Details updated on computer and appointment for 23 September given.  More Prom app immediately showed the update. Requested to report any symptoms the next day via Mor Prom App. Allowed to go home.  Very useful to have a Thai speaker with you, I was the only farang there.  Mornings are much busier than afternoons.  After effects, some tiredness, but fine after a short nap.  So far so good.  The process was smooth and professional and free.  Astra Zeneca vaccine.

I would suggest that you are overthinking this.  In our Mooban, we employ a security firm and a gardening company.  The owners of those companies take care of contracts and taxation of their employees.  I have a running three month contract with my pool man and he takes care of all the employment issues pertaining to his staff.

I am on an O-A extension of stay.
1. If I obtain a TIN to claim back withholding tax, are there any downsides? 2. Will I have to file an annual tax return in Thailand?

3. Will the tax people start looking at my foreign income?

4. Will I be liable for double taxation?

5. What documents are required at the tax office? (Passport, Yellow Book?).

Many thanks for all replies.

This may be useful.  https://www.gov.uk/tax-uk-income-live-abroad

I use this company for increased cover when hiring a car, including excesses. https://www.worldwideinsure.com/car-hire-excess-insurance.php

Postscript. Finally today at Phetchaburi Immigration, at the third attempt I was issued with my annual retirement  extension to my original O-A visa. The original version of the insurance certificate from AETNA signed personally by three directors, which had been sent by EMS, was scrutinised intently and they were again reluctant to accept it. After some deliberation, the chief IO gave assent and the paperwork was completed. There was no need to provide further documents, as my application had been under consideration. As an aside and a confirmation, I entered at Suvarnabhumi on 9th December on an re-entry permit and was not required to show any medical insurance documents. 

The lady that does the document checking consulted the senior officer several times on my behalf, but to no avail. The e-mail certificate copy was dispatched using a high security website which required clicking several links in order to access the document, so obviously AETNA thought the copy was sufficient. Requiring three AETNA directors to personally sign hundreds of original documents for their policy holders seems a bit cumbersome to me.

When I upgraded my policy to 40,000 THB Outpatient cover, I adjusted the policy date to coincide with my extension renewal date, so now both are the same.

A word of warning. Not Chaeng Wattana admittedly. I upgraded my AETNA policy to include 40,000 THB outpatient cover. AETNA sent me the official certificate by secure e-mail. Yesterday at Tha Yang I attempted to renew my permission to stay based on a previous O-A visa, using the e-mailed certificate. Tha Yang Immigration refused this document, insisting that they had to have the original certificate signed by three company directors. A copy was not acceptable. The IO tried to suggest other visa types to me by way of being helpful, but I declined since the health insurance situation may well extend to other visas in the future. They stamped my passport with a one month under consideration stamp and I have to return when AETNA send me the original certificate by post. Apart from the certificate, I submitted my AETNA Membership card and the policy documents. I even asked the AETNA Head Office representative to speak direct to the IO on the phone, all to no avail. Another issue was that the IO wanted a receipt to prove I had paid for the insurance. I was able to show the receipt for one month only, since I pay monthly by direct debit. After some discussion, this was finally accepted.

We tip our two security guards in our Mooban 6000THB each at Christmas, taken from community funds. They do a good job for us, including taking in parcels and recorded letters when we’re not around.

Another report from this morning - October 18th - confirming the situation at Phetchaburi Immigration.

"I encourage everyone to check on their own personal circumstances and situation, but here’s our experience and insight:

We talked with the Sr. Immigration officer at Phetchaburi office;

He indicates the law (after October 31, 2019) requires all new OA Visas, AND  any annual retirement extensions based on those visas to have health insurance."

Not old news.  Only a few hours old and just a confirmation of the post yesterday stating the same thing.  I hope this information is useful for those in the Phetchaburi area with extensions of stay renewals happening soon, so that there are no surprises when they turn up at Tha Yang.