maccra

Lately I have been looking around for health insurance (not because of visa requirements or coronavirus) for my own personal reasons. I am 53 years old. I have been looking at a Worldwide (except USA) plan to cover me when travelling and also in Thailand.

However I am unsure on the what annual coverage amount I need for this. I have been quoted one for 3.25M THB (about 100K USD) and another for 16M THB (about 500k USD) coverage. My tendency is to go for the 3.25M THB coverage but I have no idea if this would be enough to cover the typical costs of hospital/medical expenses. I don't really know what the typical costs are in Thailand or even for that matter in other countries. Costs for surgeries, room costs etc or even say longer term cancer treatment.

I am not asking for a concrete recommendation but just trying to get a feel for what realistic and practical amount of coverage I need. Any comments are appreciated.

Cheers

In the middle of June my Non-O retirement visa is due for another 1 year extension at Bangkok Immigration. Have the document requirements changed compared to last year, specifically;

    1. Health Insurance requirements: From reading some posts here in the forum it seems that health insurance is not required as of today. Are there any rule changes coming where it would be required in middle June?
    2. Over the last year I have been updating my Bank Book monthly as proof that I have held the sufficient funds in my account throughout the year. Is this monthly Bank Book update acceptable for Immigration or is there now some special Bank letter requirement (in addition to standard Bank account letter confirmation).
    3. Is a TM30 receipt still necessary. Due to various reasons I have not been able to travel and therefore I still have my same TM30 receipt from last year. Would they accept this or would I need a new one?

Cheers

I received the necessary documents from my landlord. He also filled in the TM30 form, signed it and sent it to me to print out. The other documents also I can print out.

 

My concern now is regarding the TM30 dates. This is the first time the landlord will submit TM30. He dated it 29.05.2018. The "On date" on page 1, he has put 31.10.2015. That is the date I first moved into the condo and the start of the rental contract. On page 2, the "arrival date" is 11.10.2017, the last time I entered Thailand. Just last week I spent 3 nights in a hotel in Jomtien.

 

I feel that with these dates from 2015 and 2018 that this is just asking for trouble and unnecessary questions from immigration (and fine!). Would it be better to just fill out TM30 based on my last return from Jomtien i.e. Form dated 29.05.2019, "On date" 23.05.2019  and forget about the history from 2015, 2018?

 

As alternative, I think I could self file and fill the form in myself, as possessor (because I am the leasee).

I have been looking through a few threads (of the many) on this topic and have not come across a sample TM30 form filled in. Would highly appreciate if someone could add a link to a sample. Thanks

On page 2 of the TM30 form, "Names of Aliens in Residence" I have some questions:

- the column "Date of Arrival": is that the date of last entry into Thailand or the date of arrival at the residence?

- the column " Expire date of stay": is that the "permission to stay" date or the end date of my lease agreement?

 

- the column "Relationship": would be "Leasee"

 

I ask about the date of arrival because I last arrived in Thailand on 11.10.2017, but came back from 3 nights in Jomtien last week (Thursday 23.05.2019)

 

Thanks

Thanks for the information regarding the stamps for the Power of Attorney. As I understand from your link to the other thread, the PoA is so that I can fill in, sign and submit the TM30 instead of the Landlord. For reference, I have attached a photo of the QR code on the CW immigration front desk which links the Power of Attorney document (also attached).

 

I just received a copy of the TM30 form my landlord. It is dated 29.05.2018, exactly one year ago. So it looks like he has already submitted it at least once before, although it could not be complete as he never asked for passport copy, arrival card, and other details.

power of attorney form.pdf POA_English-Thai.pdf

Today I was at CW to extend my Non-O visa based on retirement. I only got as far as the information desk where you pick up the forms. The lady behind the desk told me that I needed to submit a TM30. She kindly gave me the form and showed me the list of documents required. I asked whether this is a new requirement and she said, yes, since the beginning of the year. The thing about this is that the lady did not check the system and just simply informed me I needed to submit a TM30.

 

She also said that if the landlord/owner does not come personally to CW, the landlord/owner needs to issue a Power of Attorney so I can submit/sign the forms. To be honest I didn't quite understand if it was for signing the forms or submitting the forms! (On the desk there is a nice QR code which you can scan and it gives you a link to a Power of Attorney document to download).

 

I have contacted my landlord/owner and he is cooperating and sending me a filled in TM30 form and the supporting documents required.

 

If I have understood some posts here in this thread I can take the TM30 form and supporting documents to CW at the same time I go to do my extension. I will probably get sent to B desk first to submit the TM30 (maybe pay an 800 THB fine, maybe not) and then later to L desk for my extension. Is that a correct understanding?

If the landlord/owner has filled in the forms, do I really need the Power of Attorney from the landlord/owner?

 

Or.. should I have to send in the TM30 form and documents and wait to receive the receipt, which seems like it could take a week or so and only after I receive the receipt go to CW to do my extension.

 

Well in my opinion Vientiane has changed.

I went back again to the Thai Consulate to apply for Non-O based on retirement. I was rejected again and given the same document asking for medical certificate and criminal record check. I kindly said that I am applying for a NoN-O visa and not a Non-OA visa. The lady behind the counter politley answered that these documents are required for Non-O. The consular lady told me that the document must be in Thai and can be issued from Thailand, so if anyone considering applying for a Non-O (retirement) they should consider getting these documents in Thaialnd before they go to Vientiane (of course don't forget bank account/bank letter and other documents also which are required).

There was also another guy in front of me who was also rejected for same reason of not having these documents, so I was not alone in this.

 

So, Unless someone can confirm that they have received a Non-O based on retriement without these documents in recent days or in the near future, then in my opinion the requirements have changed compared to what people have written about in this forum in the past.

 

Needs to watched for further developments I think.

 

Cheers

A preemptive question. If Vientiane don't issue me a Non-O via, what are the requirments in Savannakhet. I could travel there and try for the visa there.  Are the document requirments in Savannakhet different from Vientiane?

@ubonjoe; So what you suggest I should do. Go back tomorrow and try to apply again andif they reject ask them to check?

Well what a surprise.

I just came back from the Thai Consulate in Vientiane ( I am still here in Vientiane). I tried to apply for the Non-O visa based on retirement. I had all the documents which I thought I needed, after reading here on the forum. I had;

- Passport and copy

- Copy of Lao entry stamp and visa

- Updated bank book and copies (Bangkok bank) and with over 800k.

- Letter from bank (Bangkok bank)

 

These above documents were not questioned and seem correct.

 

The lady at the windown politely rejected my application and gave me a document stating that I need some extra documents. These extra documents are;

- Criminal check from contry of residence

- Medical certifiicate.

 

She said the documents need to be in Thai and I can get both in Thailand. Criminal check from Police and medical certicicate from doctor.

 

I never read anywhere here on the forum that these extra documents are required, except fro residents of Lao. Does anybody have an idea if these are now new requirements?

 

Now I have to go back to Thailand (as a tourist) and get those documents. I think the medical certificate is no problem, but will the Thai ploice issue a  criminal check document to a tourist?

 

Now trrying to decide what to do, try to get SETV, (but this will be my 3rd TV visa, 2 other from different countries), but I read now in the forum many SETV applications are getting rejected. Of course there is still visa exempt, but it seems I am slowly running out of options to stay long term in Thailand based on retirement.

 

Cheers

 

 

@nalmal;

Ok.. Thanks for the additional info. I will take that also with me.

@ubonjoe,

Thanks for the info and confirmation. Highly appreciate your assistance.

All looks clear to me now, hope I don't miss anything

 

Cheers

HI..

I am also planing to get a Non-O Visa in Vietiane based on retirement.

Goingthrough the different posts here on this forum I understand the following documents are needed:

 

1. Passport and passport copies (photo details page)
2. Copy of entry stamp into Lao.
3. Photos 2ea, on white back ground (available outside Embassy, if needed)
4. Updated Bank Book and copies
5. Letter from Bank

 

My Questions:

2. I already have photo with blue background (from Thailand). Do I really need photos on white background?

5. What is this letter from the bank. This is not clear to me! Is this the same letter you get when you want to apply 1-year extension or want to make Visa coversion based on retirement?

OR is this same special letter only for Thai emabassy/consulate overseas.

 

I just want to be able ti go to my Bank (Bangkok Bank) and ask for the correct letter.

 

regards

@Ubonjoe; Like I said, my last foreign transfer was in 2012. What I did was keep the money I did not need regularly, in a Mutual Fund. In July I transfered the 800k from the Mutual Fund to my savings account bank book and have kept it above 800k since July 2016 (I still have a lot more in the Mutual Fund)

I could do what you suggest ( I suppose immigration could just reject it again).

I suppose worst case I would need to go to Vientiane someday.

@Card, I agree with you.

I currently have a BKK account. I am on a tourist visa. The BKK websites even states that foreigners on Tourist visa can open a bank account, but every branch I have been so far have ask me for a Work Permit, (have only been to 5 branches so far).

Can you suggest any BKK branches in Bangkok?

The 800k have been since July 2016. My current Bank Book shows it from 14.11.2016.

They did not really look at my bank book much. Immigration just ask for the Foreign Transaction form from the bank.

I thought about that too. If I do a new transfer then I will have about 1.7m, say. I don't do it because I figure they may ask where the previous 800k came from. I just thought open new account would be "clean" with no history to try explain, or get rejected.

All,

Thanks for the information. In my case, my application for a change of status to Non-O was not accepted. I needed a document from the bank that shows that the 800k was a foreign transfer. All my money in my Thai bank account has been from a foreign transfer, but mylast transfer was in 2012, and I could not get any document from the bank because it was too long ago, so I could not prove it. Immigration ask me if I was working here (maybe they suspected I was getting local money)

 

Anway, not sure what to do now.

I have been trying to open an other bank account but every branch/bank I go to say I need a Work Permit, which I don;t have, because I am not working here. I figured if I could open another account and make a new foreign transfer then that shouyld satisfy Immigration (at BKK).

 

If I can not open another bank account I can only see my option to go to Vientiane and get a Non-O there.

Is it required to proof of the source of the 800k at Vietiane, or is just Bank Book and Bank letter only required.

 

Thanks

 

 

ubonjoe... Many thanks for the reply.

 

Ok.. So that means I can go this week and apply for the Non-O visa, and for the extension (in about 80-90 days from now), I will have the history as required.

 

Again many thanks.

I may have an issue with the pages of a Bank Book. I have in my savings account more than 800K since about end of  July this year. However I never used to update my bank book very often because I use the internet online banking. The last time before July I had updated my Bank book on the 29.04.2016 (which shows less than 800k). I then updated it in November 2016 and the entries  jumped from 29.04.2016 to 27.10.2016 (it skipped about 6 months of entries).

In reality I have had the 800K since end of July (You can see this when you look at the online Banking).

 

I was planning to go to BKK Immigration this week and apply for Non-O (Change from Tourist Visa to Non-O, based on retirement, I am already over 50yr).

 

Now, My bank book does not show that I have continuous 800k for the last 3 months.

 

Is there any other document I can get from the Bank (BKK Bank), which will testify that I have had the 800k for more than 3 months? Is it possible to get a statement from the BBK bank for at least 3 months?

 

Would a print out from the online Banking site be useful as an additional backup document, as this would show that I have had the 800k for 3 months?

 

Exactly how many months do I need to show? In the list of supporting documents I have, it does not indicate any time frame at all!

Thanks ubonjoe,

 

1. I am located in BKK. I am already on an 30 day extension which finishes on 30.11. Visa finishes 23.11. I could just leave next week and reneter to get another 60 days which would give me plenty of time to change status.

2. I don't qualify yet for any income statement so only Bank Book.

 

It seems like Option 1 would be less hassle. 60 days to change status should be plenty of time. For both 1 or 2, I need to leave the country, For Laos I need a visa, hotel costs etc.

 

For change of status what documents are required. Only Bank Book and letter from the bank with 800k baht? Application is made at BKK Immigration Chaengwattana. Is there any risk to this that an application would be rejected?

 

Thanks

Hello, I would appreciate some clarification,

I am now over 50 years of age, Australian passport.

I am current on a METV which expires soon on 23 Nov. I want to get a long term NoN-O or NoN-OA  visa to stay long term for retirement purposes. From reading this forum I understand the following options:

1.       Convert (change status) of current METV to NON-O visa. It takes 15 days in BKK with two visits.

- Now I don’t have time to do this before my visa expires, but if I left and re-entered before expiry I would get 60 days, and during this time I could convert the visa. Correct?

-          Is there a link to information and requirements (documents, medical, financial?) to change visa status and what are the costs.

-          Is this a multi-entry visa or single entry

 

2.       Travel to neighbouring country (Penang or Vientiane seem common) to get a NoN-O visa, 90 day single entry based on retirement purposes. After about 60 days, apply for 1 year extension based on retirement

-          What are the requirements for NON-O visa, e.g. Financial requirements, medical certificate?

-          I understand to extend for 1 year that only financial statement is required (800k THB for 3 months)

-          The visa is single entry, but is this 1 yr extension a multi-entry. If it stays at single entry can it be changed to mult-entry?

-          Is there a link for requirements, What documents are required. Only passport, photo?

 

3.       Go back to citizenship country and get NON-OA visa. Lots of documents and costs, travel involved.

 

My preference would be either 1 or 2 above, but I think option 2 would be most reasonable since I need anyway to leave (and re-enter) Thailand before my Visa expires.

Have I understood the above options correctly, have I missed anything important? I don’t want to leave Thailand and find out I forget some document or something and have to go back to Australia to get it or whatever.

 

Would appreciate any bodies recommendation what is the least risk of having any hassles.

 

Thanks

Hello, I will be traveling back to Sydney, Australia next week to get a METV. The requirements at Sydney do not seem to require financial statements, compared to most other consulates/Embassy in Australia. I am an Australian citizen. Has anyone got recent experience getting a METV in Sydney?

Thanks

I am just resurrecting my post because it is time for me to consider next steps. My current double entry tourist visa runs out end of April. I need to wait until middle September (when I turn 50) before I can apply for a retirement visa.

I have been considering the following:

1. Go back to Australia and get a METV. That should easily bridge the gap (and more) until mid September.
   
2. After the METV go to a nearby embassy/consulate and get a 90-day single entry Non-O (or is a multiple entry advisable?)
   
3. During last month of Non-O get an 1 year extension based on retirement.
   

My questions are:

1. How do you get a Non-O visa at a nearby embassy/consulate, I mean what reason do you need to give. Do they accept retirement as a reason, because essentially I am retired already?
   
2. Can I get a Non-O before I turn 50, or I have to wait until I turn 50. Essentially can I go when my current visa runs out and get a Non-O visa in May (but I will only be 49).
   
3. I was considering getting a retirement visa in Australia but a post above recommends not to do it in Australia, so that means avoid Australia when I need a Non-O.
   
4. Regarding any requirement for financial proof, do the consulates (which ever one) accept a Thai Bank Book and do I need a letter from the Bank as confirmation?
   

Gratefully appreciate any comments and recommendation about the best way bridge the gap from end of April.